ASHG is proud to guide National DNA Day through the yearly DNA Day Essay Contest.

ASHG is proud to guide National DNA Day through the yearly DNA Day Essay Contest.

DNA Day commemorates the completion associated with the Human Genome venture in April 2003 therefore the finding for the dual helix of DNA in 1953.

This competition is available to pupils in grades 9-12 all over the world and asks pupils to examine, concern, and think about crucial principles in genetics. Essays are required to be well-reasoned arguments that indicate a deep comprehension of clinical ideas pertaining to the essay concern. These are generally examined by ASHG people through three rounds of scoring.

Ancestry assessment is a type of direct-to-consumer testing that is genetic to see customers about their hereditary ancestry. You can find generally speaking three kinds of ancestry assessment: Y chromosome screening, mitochondrial DNA evaluation, and DNA that is autosomal assessment. If somebody did all three ancestry tests, what forms of information could they read about their hereditary ancestry and exactly how performs this ancestry that is genetic compare and contrast making use of their social heritage (family members traditions, etc. )?

Essential Dates

  • Early January 2020: Submission site opens
  • Wednesday, March 4, 2020: Submission site closes
  • Friday, April 24, 2020: champions and Honorable Mentions announced
  • Saturday, April 25, 2020: DNA Day

First destination Winner: $1,000 for pupil $1,000 genetics materials grant

2nd Put Winner: $600 for student $600 genetics materials grant

Third Put Winner: $400 for student $400 genetics materials grant

Honorable Mentions: 10 student awards of $100 each

The rubric below is utilized by judges to guage every essay when you look at the third and second rounds of judging.

Total points feasible:

Criteria Points
Overall precision for the science content 0-6
Use of proof to get an argument/answer; essay well-focused in the question/topic chosen 0-6 quality that is writingclear thesis, structure, sentence structure, syntax, spelling) 0-5
recommendations and citations (quality and appropriateness) 0-3
20

Rules & Needs

  • Essays should be submitted by a trained teacher or administrator and compiled by senior school pupils (grades 9-12) into the U.S. And internationally. Moms and dads may submit essays in the event that learning pupil is home schooled.
  • Essays needs to be published by one specific pupil; team submissions aren’t allowed.
  • Essays should be in English with no significantly more than 750 terms. Term count includes in-text citations, yet not guide listings.
  • Submissions must not are the student’s title within the essay text. This can help with unbiased judging.
  • Essays must consist of one or more reference. Recommendations should really be plainly documented with both citations that are in-text in the references list. The guide list must be individually entered into the “References” element of the distribution web page.
  • APA or MLA design may be used for citations. There’s no restriction on what numerous recommendations pupils could use, nonetheless they should avoid way too many recommendations, as judges need to know the student’s viewpoint in the concern and never the viewpoint of this resources.
  • Quality of sources may be considered by judges whenever scoring.
  • Just class room instructors qualify for the gear grant.

Please be aware Text from essays might be utilized for research purposes to spot misconceptions, misunderstandings, and aspects of pupil fascination with genetics. Pupil text might be posted in the ASHG site, publication, or perhaps in other ASHG publications.

Plagiarism will never be tolerated. The writing associated with the student’s essay needs to be his / her words that are own quotations are clearly noted. If plagiarism is suspected during any point regarding the competition, the essay under consideration will likely to be analyzed. Essays discovered to retain the work that is uncited of is supposed to be disqualified plus the student’s teacher would be notified. Plagiarism.org provides a explanation that is helpful of plagiarism is. Instructors of first-place champions from 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 aren’t entitled to equipment funds in 2019.

Just just just How essays that are many one pupil submit? Only 1 entry per pupil.

Just How numerous essays can one instructor submit on the behalf of pupils? Each instructor may submit as much as best essay writing service six student essays per class, for approximately three classes.

Exactly what are low-quality a sources that are high-quality? A low-quality supply is just the one that does not guarantee information that is accurate such as for instance Wikipedia. Top-quality sources include research journals, like those available through PubMed.

What’s within the 750-word count, and what exactly is maybe perhaps perhaps not?

  • All text into the essay, in-line citations/references, headings and games, and image captions are within the term count
  • The guide list may be the only text perhaps not within the word count.

Should references have split web page? The reference list will be submitted individually within the “references” portion of the distribution site. Every thing shall be included using one web web web page when the essay is submitted.

Can there be a font that is standard margin size preferred? No. After the essay is copied and pasted in to the submission web site, it should be formatted to suit our standard margins and fonts.

How can I submit my essay if my instructor cannot get it done for me personally? Try to look for just about any guidance or teacher therapist at your college who is able to submit for you personally. If that isn’t an alternative, please e-mail us at dnaday@ashg.org.

Can my guidance therapist or another college administrator distribute my essay for me personally? Yes.

Am I able to submit for my pupil that is presently learning abroad? Students should be their studies at the exact same school as the teacher whom submits their essays.

Can I alter information once I have actually submitted? No, please make certain all given info is proper before publishing as it will likely to be last.

How exactly does the instructor attest to the originality associated with student’s work? Your distribution represents your verification that the essays would be the initial work of one’s pupils.

We submitted later. Will my essay be judged? Later submissions will never be judged.

Where’s the confirmation e-mail? It might take some time for the e-mail to make it to you. By the end of the day, either check your junk mailbox or double check that the email address you provided is correct if you haven’t received it. If neither of the options work, email dnaday@ashg.org.

Summarized here are a few of the most typical problems judges note in reading submitted essays.

  1. Too focus that is much details. A concentrate on details to your detriment of showing a clear knowledge of the big photo. Judges are much more forgiving of mistakes in details than mistakes in fundamental principles and bigger some ideas.
  2. Overstating. Sweeping and grandiose overstatements regarding the current/future state and/or energy of biotechnology or science that is biomedical.
  3. Inaccuracy in technical language. Judges understand that you do not understand all of the “science jargon, ” so don’t feel obligated to utilize it.
  4. Not enough in-text citations in, or not enough citations for information which is not considered well known. In the event that you got the information from someplace else, cite the foundation.
  5. Utilizing out-of-date sources. Scientific understanding modifications really quickly, and recommendations which can be a lot more than 5 years old are going to have ideas that are outdated.
  6. Making use of a lot of quotes. Although periodic use is warranted, a lot of quotes lead judges to believe mcdougal does not grasp the subject.