Purpose

To enhance students' humanistic literacy, writing skills, and critical thinking, and to promote a culture of reading and creative writing on campus.

Organizers

• Organizer: Higher Education Services Office
• Undertaking Organizer: Macao Literary Critics Association

Competition Categories

1. Critique Category: Humanistic interpretation of literary works.
2. Poetry Category: Ode to Macao.

Writing Scope

• Critique Category: Choose one of the listed literary works to provide a humanistic interpretation of its ideas and artistry.
• Poetry Category: Ode to Macao. In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Macao's handover in 2014, works can focus on the social development since the establishment of the Macao SAR Government.

Eligibility

1. Students enrolled in bachelor's degree or higher diploma programs at Macao's higher education institutions.
2. Macao residents studying for bachelor's or higher diploma degrees outside of Macao.

Competition Rules

• Participation is individual.
• Contestants may enter both categories but are limited to one submission per category.
• Critique entries must be between 3,000 and 5,000 words (including punctuation).
• Poetry entries must be between 10 and 50 lines.
• Submissions must be typed (specifications: A4 paper, 14-point MingLiU font, single line spacing).
• Proper citation using the Citation Order System is required for any referenced material.
• Plagiarism or simultaneous submission to other contests is prohibited and will result in disqualification.
• Submissions will not be returned.
• The organizer and award winners will jointly hold the usage rights of the winning works, which may be published in an anthology.

Awards

Critique Category

• Champion (1): MOP 10,000 scholarship and certificate.
• 1st Runner-up (1): MOP 8,000 scholarship and certificate.
• 2nd Runner-up (1): MOP 6,000 scholarship and certificate.
• 3rd Runner-up (1): MOP 4,000 scholarship and certificate.
• Merit Award (6): MOP 1,000 scholarship and certificate each.
• Honorable Mention (10): Certificate each.

Poetry Category

• Champion (1): MOP 6,000 scholarship and certificate.
• 1st Runner-up (1): MOP 4,000 scholarship and certificate.
• 2nd Runner-up (1): MOP 2,000 scholarship and certificate.
• 3rd Runner-up (1): MOP 1,000 scholarship and certificate.
• Merit Award (6): MOP 500 scholarship and certificate each.
• Honorable Mention (10): Certificate each.

(Note: Judges reserve the right not to award any prize if the submission standards are not met.)

Judges

Judges will be prominent figures from the cultural and educational sectors.

Submission Method

1. Contestants must register online via the "Macao Tertiary Student Blog" before the deadline.
2. During registration, contestants must upload the following:
   • The entry (in Word format)
   • A copy of their ID card (front and back)
   • A copy of their student ID card (All uploaded files must not exceed 1024KB.)

Key Dates

• Submission Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2014
• Results Announcement: Late May 2014, announced on the Macao Tertiary Student Blog. Winners will be notified via email or SMS.
• Awards Ceremony: To be held in late May 2014. Specific arrangements will be announced separately.

Contact

• Phone: 28345403
• Fax: 28322340
• Email: studentblog.gaes.gov.mo