FOR

PRIMARY SCHOOLS
RULES AND GUIDELINES
POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION
FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
1
RULES AND GUIDELINES
1.0 Introduction
Poetry Recitation is a competition organized by the Ministry of Education. The
competition aims at encouraging the use of English through meaning, sound
and rhythmic language of pupils. It builds confidence in pupils to memorize,
speak, render and express themseles in English.
2.0 Co!"tition Ru#"$
!." Eligibility
!."." This competition is open to#
pupils of primary schools

!.".! This competition is open to pupils of goernment$aided primary schools
from Y"%r & to Y"%r ' only. %ear & pupils are allo'ed to participate if
they are from under enrolled schools.
!.".& Each Poetry Recitation team comprises members from the $%"
school.
!.! Time
!.!." (or the primary school category, each team is gien a presentation
time limit of & to ' minutes. Marks 'ill be deducted thereafter.
!.& Team
!.&." Each team should comprise 2 pupils.
!.&.! Each team should be accompanied by a teacher$in$charge.
!.) Text
!.)." The poem must be entirely %ut("ntic %nd ori)in%# and must neer
hae been published or hae 'on a prize in any other competition prior
to this competition. The text of the poem 'ill be based on t(""$
decided by the organizers.

!.).! Participants are not allo'ed to refer to any notes or printed materials
during the presentation.
2
!.).& Materials presented must not touch on sensitie issues, such as race,
religion, stereotyping, politics etc.
!.).) & copies of the poem must be submitted to the organiser t*o *""+$
prior to the competition.
!.).* +ritten poetry must be typed ,Times -e' Roman . /rial, font size "!0.
!.* Type of poem
It is highly recommended that poems are 'ritten #
!.*." in metre or erse expressing arious emotions1
!.*.! using a ariety of techni2ues including metaphors, similes,
onomatopoeia1

!.*.& based on actiities of language such as repetition, metre and rhyme ,to
distinguish prose from erse01
!.*.) 'ith a good dose of imagery and erse association to coney emotions
2uickly and clearly1
!.*.* in stanzas that coney the specified theme1
!.*.3 so that presentation . recitation of this poem 'ill coer the time frame of
the competition.

!.3 /ttire

!.3." 4ontestants can use costumes or school uniform 'hen competing.
5o'eer no marks 'ill be allocated
!.6 Exclusions
!.6." There should be no inclusion of singing, music, drama, costume, props
or artificial sound effects.
!.6.! /ny inclusion of skit or physical moement should enhance and not
dominate the presentation. ,A t("%tric%# !"r-or%nc" o- t(" !o" i$
*(o##. di$cour%)"d./
!.7 8tage /rrangement
!.7." The participants may re2uest for more than " microphone.
!.9 :udges
3
!.9." -ational leel competitions should be ;udged by 3 ;udges ,*
performance ;udges < " accuracy ;udge0.
!.9.! The ;udges 'ill be appointed by the =iision of 4o$curriculum and /rts,
Ministry of Education.
!."> =ecisions

!.">." Points 'ill be a'arded according to the score sheet.
!.">.! :udges 'ill collectiely determine the placing by a clear ma;ority ote.
!.">.& The decision of the ;udges is final.
!.">.) Indiidual marks 'ill not be disclosed.
!."" Prizes
!.""." 4ertificates of achieement 'ill be a'arded to the 'inning teams.
!."".! 4ertificates of participation 'ill be a'arded to all participating teams.
-ote#
The 'inning team from the preious year may participate in the current year
but the text and presentation must not be an exact replica.
This concept paper is alid until further notification or reision from the
Ministry of Education and can be used at all leels for competitions organized
by the Ministry.
D"-inition
?Poetry Recitation is about coneying a poem@s sense 'ith its language. /ll 'ords of
the poem must be pronounced correctly, paying attention to the olume, rhythm and
intonation to enhance the recitation.
/ strong performance 'ill rely on a po'erful internalization of the poem rather than
distracting dramatic gesturesA.
=iision of 4o$curriculum and /rts
Ministry of Education, Malaysia
4
FOR
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
AD0UDICATION FORMS
POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION
FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
NATIONAL LE1EL YEAR 22222222
5
TIMING
CONTESTANT
NO.
Ti"
1
2
3
&
4
'
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
1&
14
1'
Ti"+""!"r8$ N%"
Si)n%tur"
D%t"
6
Please -ote# :udges are not allo'ed to refer to texts 'hile the teams are performing.
SCORESHEET
POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
NATIONAL LE1EL YEAR 2222222
4ontestan
t
-o.
Physical
Presence
,"> m0
Boice C
/rticulation
,&> m 0
=ramatic
/ppropriateness
,!> m0
Deel of
4omplexity
,"> m0
Eidence of
Enderstanding
,"> m0
Ferall
Performance
,!> m0
Total Time
".
!.
&.
).
*.
-ame of :udge # GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 8ignature #GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG =ate # GGGGGGGGGGGGG



SCORESHEET

7
Maximum Marks Bery Poor Poor (air Hood Excellent
"> "$ ! &$ ) *$ 3 6$ 7 9 $">
"* " $ & ) $ 3 6 $ 9 "> $ "! "& $ "*
&> " $ 3 6 $ "! "& $ "7 "9 $ !) !* $ &>
8
Accuracy Evaluation
NAME OF STUDENT
TITLE OF POEM
maximum score 8 points
inaccuracy deduction (subtract) points
prompt deduction (subtract) points
FiNaL accuracY score points*
*o!est possibe score is 1 point
Minor Inaccuracies, Resultin In A ! Point
De"uction, Inclu"e#
Ma$or Inaccuracies, Resultin In Larer
De"uctions Per Occurrence, Inclu"e#
""
con"usin# a pronoun ($%e& instead o" $s%e&)
""
con"usin# an article ($a& instead o" $t%e&)
""
'lurali(in# a !ord or vice)versa ($%orses& instead o" $%orse&)
""
replacin# a !ord !it% a similar !ord ($*ump& instead o" $leap&)
""
con"usin# t%e order o" !ords
($%ops and s+ips& instead o" $s+ips and %ops&)
""
s+ippin# a !ord
""
repeatin# a !ord
""
Addin# a !ord
""
one line out o" order )2 'oints
""
repeatin# a line )2 'oints
""
s+ipped one line,s+ipped t%ree or more
!ords in t%e same line )3 'oints
""
reversed t!o stan(as )5 'oints
""
s+ipped one stan(a )6 'oints
use oF %rom%ter#
eac% time a student uses t%e prompter- 3 'oints !ill be
deducted "rom t%e "inal accuracy score.
Accurac& 'u"e# /ollo! alon# !it% t%e te0t o" t%e poem as t%e competitor recites. 1ar+ t%e te0t eac% time
t%ere is an error in accuracy. you may !ant to mar+ all minor inaccuracies t%e same (since eac% is !ort% a 1
point deduction)- and "la# t%e bi##er mista+es di""erently. A"ter t%e recitation- use t%e #uidance belo! to
assi#n a point deduction to eac% mista+e. to #et t%e "inal accuracy score- count up t%e point deductions- and
subtract t%em "rom t%e ma0imum score o" 8 points.
E0ample2 i" t%e competitor repeated a !ord ()1 point)- con"used an article ()1 point)- and s+ipped one line ()3
points)- t%at !ould be 5 points subtracted "rom t%e ma0imum score o" 8. t%e "inal accuracy score !ould be 3
3
points.
14
FRE9UENCY COUNT
POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION
FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
NATIONAL LE1EL YEAR 22222222222
PLACING TIME
0UDGE FINAL
PLACING 1 2 3 & 4
TEAM NO.
1
2
3
&
4
'
5
6
:udge " # IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. 8ignature # ..
IIIIIIIII
:udge ! # IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. 8ignature # ..
IIIIIIIII
:udge & # IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. 8ignature # ..
IIIIIIIII
:udge ) # IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. 8ignature # ..
IIIIIIIII
:udge * # IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. 8ignature # ..
IIIIIIIII
FOR
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
RESULTS
RESULT
POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
NATIONAL LE1EL YEAR 222222222222
CHAMPION
Cont"$t%nt No. : ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
St%t" : ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
2
ND
PLACING
Cont"$t%nt No. : ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
St%t" : ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
3
RD
PLACING
Cont"$t%nt No. : ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;...
St%t" : ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
-ame 8ignature
4hief :udge #
:udge ! #
:udge & #
:udge ) #
:udge * #
FOR
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
ATTACHMENT
E(aluation )riteria# A )om%re*ensi(e +ui"e ,or )om%etitors an" 'u"es
P-YSI)AL PRESEN)E
E&e contact- .o"& lanuae, and %oise.
Ti%s#
'resent yoursel" !ell and be attentive. 5se #ood posture. oo+ con"ident.
5se eye contact !it% t%e entire audience. 6on7t "ocus solely on t%e *ud#es.
8ervous #estures- poor eye contact !it% t%e audience- and lac+ o" poise or con"idence !ill detract "rom your score.
9ela0 and be natural. En*oy your poem:t%e *ud#es !ill notice.
/ualities o, a stron recitation#
Ease and com"ort !it% t%e audience. En#a#ement !it% t%e audience t%rou#% p%ysical presence- includin# appropriate body
lan#ua#e- con"idence- and eye contact:!it%out appearin# arti"icial.
0OI)E AND ARTI)ULATION
0olume- %ace- r*&t*m- intonation- and %ro%er %ronunciation.
;eep in 1ind2 <ontestants !ill use a microp%one at t%e 8ational /inals
Ti%s#
'ro*ect to t%e audience. <apture t%e attention o" everyone- includin# t%e people in t%e bac+ ro!. =o!ever- don7t
mista+e yellin# "or #ood pro*ection.
'roceed at a "ittin# and natural pace. Avoid nervously rus%in# t%rou#% t%e poem. 6o not spea+ so slo!ly t%at t%e
lan#ua#e sounds unnatural or a!+!ard.
>it% r%ymed poems- be care"ul not to recite in a sin#)son# manner.
1a+e sure you +no! %o! to pronounce every !ord in your poem. Articulate.
ine brea+s are a de"inin# "eature o" poetry. 6ecide !%et%er a brea+ re?uires a pause and- i" so- %o! lon# to pause.
/ualities o, a stron recitation#
All !ords pronounced correctly- and t%e volume- r%yt%m- and intonation #reatly en%ance t%e recitation. 'acin# s%ould be
appropriate to appropriate to t%e poem.
DRAMATI) APPROPRIATENESS
9ecitation is about conveyin# a poem7s sense !it% its lan#ua#e. @t is closer to t%e art o" oral interpretation t%an t%eatrical
per"ormance. (A%in+ storyteller or narrator rat%er t%an actor.) A stron %er,ormance 1ill rel& on a %o1er,ul
internali2ation o, t*e %oem rat*er t*an "istractin "ramatic estures3 Bou represent t%e poem7s voice- not a
c%aracter7s. Bou must subtly en%ance t%e understandin# and en*oyment o" t%e poem !it%out overs%ado!in# t%e lan#ua#e.
Ti%s#
6o not act out t%e poem. Aoo muc% dramati(ation distracts "rom t%e lan#ua#e o" t%e poem. 1ovement or accents
must not detract "rom t%e poem7s voice.
Bou are t%e vessel o" your poem. =ave con"idence t%at your poem is stron# enou#% to communicate !it%out a
p%ysical illustration. et t%e !ords o" t%e poem do t%e !or+.
6ependin# on t%e poem- occasional #estures may be appropriate- but t%e line bet!een appropriate and overdone is
a t%in one. >%en uncertain- leave t%em out.
Avoid monotone delivery. =o!ever- too muc% ent%usiasm can ma+e your per"ormance seem insincere.
/ualities o, a stron recitation#
A%e dramati(ation subtly underscores t%e meanin# o" t%e poem !it%out becomin# t%e "ocal point. A%e style o" delivery is
more about oral interpretation t%an dramatic enactment. A lo1 score in t*is cateor& 1ill result ,rom recitations t*at
*a(e a,,ecte" c*aracter (oices an" accents, ina%%ro%riate tone an" in,lection, sinin, "istractin an" excessi(e
estures, or unnecessar& emotin3
LE0EL OF )OMPLE4ITY
A poem !it% comple0 content conveys di""icult- sop%isticated ideas- t%at are c%allen#in# to compre%end and e0press. A
poem !it% comple0 lanuae !ill %ave intricate diction and synta0- meter and r%yme sc%eme- and s%i"ts in tone or mood.
'oem lent* is also considered in comple0ity. 'lease +eep in mind t%at lon#er poems are not necessarily more di""icult.
'oems !it% si#ni"icantly c%allen#in# content and lan#ua#e may not need len#t% to score !ell.
Ti%s#
/or competitions beyond t%e classroom level- select poems o" various styles- time periods- t%emes- and tones.
6iversity o" poem selection !ill allo! *ud#es to see your mastery o" various elements o" comple0ity.
1a+e sure eac% poem you c%oose is one t%at spea+s to you. @" you are able to connect !it% a poem- t%at
internali(ation !ill ripple positively t%rou#%out all o" your scores.
E0IDEN)E OF UNDERSTANDIN+
A%is cate#ory is to evaluate !%et%er you e0%ibit a true understandin# o" t%e poem in your recitation.
Ti%s#
Bou must understand t%e poem "ully. Ce attentive to t%e messa#es- meanin#s- allusions- irony- tones o" voice- and
ot%er nuances in your poem.
Ce sure you +no! t%e meanin# o" every !ord and line in your poem.
/ualities o, a stron recitation#
A%e meanin# o" t%e poem is po!er"ully and clearly conveyed to t%e audience. A%e interpretation deepens and enlivens t%e
poem. Meanin, t*emes, allusions, iron&, tones o, (oice- and ot%er nuances are captured by t%e per"ormance. A lo! score
!ill be a!arded i" t%e interpretation obscures t%e meanin# o" t%e poem.
O0ERALL PERFORMAN)E
A%is cate#ory is to evaluate t%e de#ree to !%ic% t%e recitation %as become more t%an t%e sum o" its parts.
6id you captivate t%e audience !it% t%e lan#ua#e o" t%e poemD
6id you brin# t%e audience to a better understandin# o" t%e poemD
6id your p%ysical presence- voice and articulation- and dramatic appropriateness all seem on tar#et and uni"ied to
breat%e li"e into t%e poemD
6id you understand and s%o! mastery o" t%e art o" recitationD
Eud#es may also consider t%e diversity o" your recitations !it% t%is scoreF you are less li+ely to score !ell in overall
per"ormance !%en *ud#es note t%at your style o" interpretation remains t%e same re#ardless o" poem c%oice. A lo! score
!ill be a!arded "or recitations t%at are poorly presented- ine""ective in conveyin# t%e meanin# o" t%e poem- or conveyed in
a manner inappropriate to t%e poem.
A))URA)Y
A separate *ud#e !ill mar+ missed or incorrect !ords durin# t%e recitation- !it% small deductions "or eac%. ('lease re"er to
t%e accuracy score s%eet "or details).A