The Commonwealth Essay Competition is an international education project open to all young Commonwealth citizens under the age of 18. This year the British Council Young Learners Centres in Colombo is offering those of you born in 1990 or after a chance to show your writing skills and get your work published on the British Council web site.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?
There are four different age bands, which are called Classes. Each Class offers five topics, plus the Commonwealth Question.

CLASS A – if you were born in 1990 or 1992
All questions can be answered by writing an essay or a story which explores the topic in an interesting and relevant way. (1400-1750 words)

Topics

			Can I help you?
			Bullying is an issue which concerns young people throughout the Commonwealth. Why does it matter and what can be done about it?
			It is 200 years since Charles Darwin was born and 150 years since the publication of “On the origin of Species”. In your view, what evolutionary developments are needed to ensure the continuing survival and well-being of humanity?
			EITHER Unlikely friends OR An unexpected friendship
			The match
			EITHER the Commonwealth Question OR Charlton Athletic Community Trust Question.

CLASS B – if you were born in 1993 or 1994
All questions can be answered by writing an essay or a story which explores the topic in an interesting and relevant way.

(1200-1500 words)

Topics

			Tracks.
			What makes a good teacher?
			Who’s the boss in your family?
			Sport ~ love it or loathe it?
			The long way home…
			EITHER the Commonwealth Question OR Charlton Athletic Community Trust Question

CLASS C-if you were born in 1995 or 1996
500-700 words

Topics

			Your assignment is to interview an animal for your local newspaper or radio station. Send us the transcript of your interview!
			What three plants or trees are most important for life in your country? Why?
			What I don’t want to do when I’m grown up
			A distant cousin who lives in a very different Commonwealth country is coming to visit for the first time. Write a letter introducing yourself and your home.
			Write a story about the sea or a mountain or both.
			EITHER the Commonwealth Question OR Charlton Athletic Community Trust Question

CLASS D-if you were born in 1997 OR LATER
300-600 words

Topics

			There is a fuel shortage in your area. How does your family cope?
			You have decided to stand for leader of your community. Write a short speech stating what you will do to improve where you live.
			The day was perfect for a swim …
			The most exciting day of my life.
			Write about what your life would have been like if you had been born a hundred years ago.
			EITHER the Commonwealth Question OR Charlton Athletic Community Trust Question.

COMMONWEALTH QUESTION

The Commonwealth Question is open to all candidates and entries will be judged according to the relevant criteria used in the four Classes (A to D).

If you choose to answer the Commonwealth Question please DO NOT submit another essay and keep to your Class word count.

The value of the prize is equivalent to that of the 4th prize in the relevant class. Any entrant selecting the Commonwealth Question as their topic will also have their essay considered for a main prize.

Over half of the 1.8 billion people in the Commonwealth are aged 25 or under. What changes in your country would enhance the lives of young people?   

Charlton Athletic Community Trust Question

The Beautiful Game’: Why does football inspire such passion around the world?  

HOW TO ENTER
BEFORE beginning your essay you MUST read the RULES and the NOTES FOR GUIDANCE.

You are also strongly advised to make use of the CHECKLIST FOR ENTRANTS before beginning your essay.

Rules and regulations

			This competition is open to all members who were born on 1st January 1990 or after.
			all essays must be written in English
			Entrants may only submit one essay which must be written on a single topic. If you send two entries      (e.g. through the school and the British Council) your entry will be rejected and you will be disqualified from entering this competition.
			essays are liable for disqualification on the following criteria:     - no date of birth is given     - the essay writer is above the specified age limit     - the essay is too long or too short in relation to the specified word count
			all essays become the property of the British Council with the right to publish
			WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ENTRIES WHICH ARE POSTED – all entries should be handed over -to the British Council Young Learners Centre Colombo on or before 15 January 2009.
			You must write your full name, Young Learners Centre membership number and a day time contact number of a parent and the name of the parent on the last page of your essay
			you must attach a photocopy of your birth certificate to your entry

Checklist for entrants

			Use white A4 paper only
			write only on a single side of the paper
			write your name and the title of the essay on the top of each page and number all pages clearly (You can use this sample page - print off as many copies as you require)
			put the correct word count at the end of the essay

Notes for Guidance

			It is the essence of the Competition that candidates take full responsibility for what they write. Teachers and families must not intervene in any way which compromises a candidate’s responsibility or the trust on which the Competition is based
			Candidates must pay attention to the topics which have been set and ensure that within the specified word count they fully answer what they have been asked to do. Otherwise the Examiners will not consider them eligible for the prizes and awards
			Examiners expect candidates to show a competent command of English as a written language. This includes a good standard of spelling and punctuation, neat presentation and clear handwriting or word processing. Examiners take into account whether English is the first, second or third language of the candidate.
			Prize-winning entries may vary enormously in the way they are written. But they will invariably engage the reader’s attention in an entertaining, interesting or thoughtful manner. Qualities shown by candidates may include originality, imagination, creative writing skills, clarity of thought, sincerity of voice, skilful story telling, sound scholarship or well-documented research
			When giving Commended or Highly Commended awards, Examiners will usually choose those entries which have shape and structure, keep to the point and demonstrate care and effort on the part of the writer.
			Where appropriate, candidates are encouraged to carry out research by reading suitable books and articles and/or by making use of the internet. It is expected that they consult more than one identifiable source of information, attribute quotations by means of footnotes and list their sources at the end of the entry.
			Candidates must not plagiarise material. Remember that Examiners have access to the internet and can easily identify material published on-line
			In the younger Classes (C and D), Examiners enjoy entries which are illustrated by hand or by using computer generated images and photographs, provided the illustrations are relevant to the subject-matter of the entry and do not detract from the writing

The prizes
We have invited a distinguished panel of judges to select the winners. Please note that the judges’ decision will be final.

			The British Council will give prizes and certificates to the top four candidates of each age band.
			we will also submit the top four entries to the global Commonwealth Essay competition. Please check the Royal Commonwealth Society website where you will see that the following prizes are offered:

CLASS A (Born 1990-1992)

			1st - £500
			2nd - £300 (Stephen Kemp Memorial)
			3rd - £150 (British Council Association Prize)
			4th - £120 (Margaret Best Endowment)

CLASS B (Born 1993-1994)

			1st - £350 (Patricia Kelsey)
			2nd - £200 (Sheila Ramsay Lochhead Memorial)
			3rd - £150 (Cambridge University Commonwealth Society)
			4th - £100

CLASS C(Born 1995-1996)

			1st - £250 (Bob and Betty Thorp prize)
			2nd - £150
			3rd - £120
			4th - £100

CLASS D (Born 1997 or later)

			1st - £200
			2nd - £150
			3rd - £120
			4th - £100

COMMONWEALTH QUESTION PRIZE
The Commonwealth Question prize is equivalent to that of the 4th prize in the relevant class. The Commonwealth Question is open to all candidates and entries will be judged according to the relevant criteria used in the four different Classes.

If you choose to answer the Commonwealth Question, please DO NOT submit another essay and keep to your Class word count.

SPECIAL PRIZE
In each class there is a special prize available for a disabled entrant (Sir Alwyn Ezra Endowment). The value of the prize is equivalent to that of the 4th prize in each of the respective Classes.  

CHARLTON ATHLETIC COMMUNITY TRUST PRIZE
Charlton Athletic Community Trust uses the universal language of football, sports and arts to create a better society. The best entry answering the Charlton Athletic Community Trust Question will win for their school £250 for equipment and a Charlton Athletic Football Kit. Entrants will also be eligible for the individual Class prizes.  

IMPORTANT

			It is important that your ENTRY FORM, COPYRIGHT FORM and a photocopy of your BIRTH CERTIFICATE are attached securely to your essay on submission. We will not be able to publish your essay if these are not properly completed and attached to your work
			The deadline for all entries is 15 January 2009

Contact us

Colombo
British Council
49 Alfred House Gardens
Colombo 00300
T (011) 2582449, 4521521
F (011) 2587079
info.lk@britishcouncil.org

Kandy
British Council
88/3 Kotugodella Veediya
Kandy
T (081) 2234634, 4471188
F (081) 2234284
enquiries.kdy@britishcouncil.org