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Criteria
Content (60%)
Originality:
The inaugural address must be completely original and must never use direct quotations of other works.
Inspiration, Vision, Unity:
The student must understand the significance of an inaugural address by successfully laying out a specific vision based on the times and addressing the theme of unity.
Presentation (40%)
Quality of Writing:
Vocabulary, rhetorical style, clarity
Organization:
Clear and appropriate paragraph structure
Convention:
Appropriate spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax
Important: Students' political affiliations do not matter in this contest. The judges will not show any bias towards students. Grading will be purely based off of rhetoric, delivery, and message.
Judging
All inaugural addresses will be graded by a committee of one English and one History teacher and a three-student panel. These three students will not be allowed to submit addresses of their own.
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