[Carolyn_Grace]

First: Don't panic. Just relax and do the best you can. It's not graded paper. The fact that you are even attempting a Chairman's Award submission is awesome and feat of itself. Check out this rubric that I've give other teams to use:

1. Make a list of:
a. What your team does to promote FIRST
b How your team is managed
c. What puts your team apart from other teams
d. How you help other teams
e. What your relationship is like with your sponors
f. What your student-mentor relationships are like
g. What students get out of FIRST and being on your specific team
h. What mentors get our of FIRST and being on your specific team
i. What your relationship with your school is like

2. Do the Executive Summary (short concise sentences. Try to include as much as your list as possible, but at least make sure you include the most important things on your list)

3. Use the Executive Summary and list as a rough draft for your paper. Write a rough draft....basically, you're expanding on your Executive Summary here....don't worry about an intro or conclusion til the end.

4. Reorganize as needed and have other people read it.

5. Write opening paragraph and conclusion. (They should draw everything together...introduce a theme here...use "buzz" words...be a bit goofy but professional...make it fun, exciting, and interesting)

6. Edit the entire paper....check your word count (you shouldn't be worried about word count until the end....it's way easier to cut down on words than it is to add words)....cut down if necessary.

7. Find pictures.

8. Submit.


Other tips:
Don't exaggerate your team's accomplishments. It's unnecessary. Let your team stand alone, it'll be enough: afterall, just being a FIRST Robotics team is an amazing accomplishment.

Add "buzz" words and try to incorporate your team's personality in your essay. Don't be afraid to put some corny sentences in there.

Send it to me....I'll read it over for you. I have my degree in English, and my team has been successful with their Chairman's Awards for the past two years, winning at the Michigan State Championship Event...I've been helping a few other teams out with their essays, and I can definitely help you guys out too.
I see you blocked Private Messaging, so I'll just post my email here: CarolynGraceB at hotmail dot com