My I-Search Paper

Writing like Stephen King

Announcement: ‘There is a writing competition’. I was heard first time in the school in this year and I thought how they do only one competition in Robert College. Robert College deserves more competition and challenges. Maybe we have an Orhan Pamuk between us and they can’t find an opportunity for show. I grabbed this idea and I started off. That moment some questions came to my mind: “How can I extend the competitions?”, “How can I start a competition?”, and “What will be the topic of competition?”

I already knew Stephen King is best horror book author ever and he has millions of fans. There are many fans in Turkey, too. Also, he won a lot of award with his novels. I know Stephen King but I don’t know anything about competitions until interview with Mr. Laraia.

I should learn just two things. How can I consult for a competition? I try to learn and I search. Second problem is real problem for me. The problem is topic of competition. How can I adapt to Stephen King? My topic will be about Stephen King, writing like his style but how can I adapt and how can I spread his style to people? I should learn these questions because these are building block of this competition for me.

I thought competitions and my favorite author and I chose my question: “How can I create a competition in RC about Stephen King?” now you’ll say ‘how can I write about Stephen King?’ I mean writing like his style. Horror stories… My project is create a competition in RC about Stephen King.

My search took about one month and it was terrific, I learnt very useful things and very valuable answers. I started to my search with search the key words in the web. My key words were competition, challenge and create challenges. I found some useful sources but major useful source was interview. I learnt the prize system and general topics from web. They were useful but they weren’t useful lonely. I added my results from my interview and a perfect result. I learnt almost everything from my interview. The sponsors, the topic of competition, the steps… Shortly, this project about, create a writing competition in RC about Stephen King.

After I searched my question didn’t change. How can I create a competition in RC about Stephen King? But this not means I haven’t narrowing. I have narrowing. I learnt how can I do it and I erased my unanswered questions. My research question remained same.

1-

First thing I found is detecting the target and where because I need specify the topic as far as my target “Determine who you will target with the contest. While essay contests are generally thought of as student competitions, think of which sectors of the public that you would like to open this contest to.” Before start, I should detect the crowd of people participation and specify the place of competition. This is also first step of create a competition.

2-

After I found my target I should specify my topic. “Topic is important and you can choose what do you want, topic is your choice.” (Mr. Laraia)Topic is a very important part because topic will designate the participant number so it should be famous and different. Also, this topic should be attracted.              

3-

When I specified the target and topic, the time is finding the sponsor. Ms. Kelly said to me: “We find sponsors for prize because we can’t give money to students so, sponsors are most important part of a competition.” Why I should find sponsor? Because, I need prize for give to winner and I can do it with sponsors because the school doesn’t approach to give money. At previously competitions, they had some sponsors; D&R, Remzi Kitabevi... I need to talk with these companies and I need arrange the prize.

4-

After these steps I will have everything for create and I should make formal the competition. “Get listed on scholarship websites like FastWeb where many students solicit support during their scholarship search. If it is a local contest, a school announcement, ad in a local newspaper or posting in the local library may be more appropriate.”  I need go to Writing Center and I should consult. For consult, I should talk with Mr. Laraia or Ms. Kelly and if I convince them to create this competition, my competition will be ready.

5-

Last found is advertisement as Mr. Laraia said: “You need announce it and you can only with advertisements.”I created, okay but people should hear this competition for participate. There are a lot of kinds for advertisement. Announcements best advertisement type for me. Also, brochures and posters are best advertisement type, too.

After doing the research, I understood, how can I create a competition and I did a list:

1.     Prepare the competition: I am going to specify the topic, place and prize. While I preparing to this I think I can ask for my friend or my teacher.

2.     Find the sponsors: I guess hardest part of create a competition. I am going to try the connection with famous companies and I am not sure they will be sponsor.

3.     Advertisement: I should connect with Lise Office or Mrs. Halıcıoğlu for announcements and publish my competition to daily announcement. Also, I need an attracted posters, who seen these posters can participate to competition.

My self-confidence improved. I did interview with an adult. My web search skills improved, too. My planning skills got better, I planned everything with an order and I used the time with successful. My problem solving tactics are much better now.           

Finally, my thesis statement remained same; I am going to work with this thesis and my question: “How can I create a writing competition in RC about Stephen King?”

Works Cited

Education Division. Wikidot.com, 2007. Web. 1 Oct. 2009. 
     <http://ieee-edu.wikidot.com/competitionorg>. 

Writer's Digest. F+W Mediaa, 2014. Web. 2014. <http://www.writersdigest.com/ 
     competitions/writing-competitions>. 

Ehow. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.ehow.com/ 
     how_5859211_create-essay-contest.html>. 

TED. Creative Commons, 2006. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ted.com/playlists/ 
     how_to_tell_a_story>. 

Next Avenue. Twin Cities, 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.nextavenue.org/ 
     article/2013-02/creating-your-challenge-statement-innovate>. 

Andrew Laraia

Maura Kelly