Designed and produced by Quattro.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7766 5225

RCS Essay Competition 2008
6/16/08
11:14 AM
Page 3
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:14 AM Page 4

3
4
alth 5
o mm onwe
C 6
odern
The M Aims 8
om petition
C 9
Prizes
10
Topics
es 11
Rules r Ca ndidat
nce fo
Guida er
to Ent
How
Form
Entry

2
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:14 AM Page 5

The Commonw
ealth is a unique
member countr global family of
ies, encompassin 53 dropped from th
religions and inst g a multitude of e association’s tit
itutions. From A cultures, new reality. In th le to reflect the
Pacific to the Car frica to Asia, fro e following two
ibbean, from Eu m the Commonwealth decades, the
the Commonw rope to North A , with its comm
ealth’s 1.8 billio merica, and national sove itment to racial
quarter of the w n people make reignty, became equality
orld’s populatio up a a natural associat
population of th n. Moreover, ha choice for many ion of
e Commonwea lf of the newly independ
Commonwealth lth is aged 25 or justice became ent nations. Issu
countries reflect under. key as the Com es of racial
development, fro every stage of ec behind the caus monwealth thre
m least develope onomic e of freedom an w its weight
wealthy and indu d and highly inde d equality.
strialised, and ra bted to The Commonw
island like Nauru nge in size from ealth has thus be
, with a populatio a Pa cific growing associat come a vibrant
which is 1000 m n of 10,000, to ion of states in tu and
illion strong. Yet India, world. In 1991, ne with the mod
English as a com members emph the Harare Com ern
mon working la asise set the associatio monwealth Dec
systems of law, ng uage and share n firmly on a ne laration
public administra similar democracy, good w course, prom
tion and educat governance, hu oting
The modern C io n. law, and sustaina man rights, the
ommonwealth ble economic an rule of
imperial past. T evolved out of B Today, the Com d social developm
his process was ritain’s monwealth cont ent.
Pakistan’s indepe set in motion w in global affairs, inues to be an ac
ndence in 1947 ith India and helping to build tive force
Declaration of 19 and sealed by th world. From a cl consensus arou
e London ub of former co nd the
49, where the w modern internat lonies, it has grow
ord ‘British’ was ional association n into a
ready to meet th proud of its dive
e challenges of rsity and
the future.

3
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:14 AM Page 6

cal and
important lo
• To highlight ge their
ompetition
inspires and encoura
ay C global issues anner.
weal th E ss rganised by a positive m
ry ye ar, th e Common al l o ve r th e world. O discu ssion in
Eve from been
ung writers petition has e
thou sa n ds of yo
alth Society , th e C om areness of th
ommonwe d as a highly
• To raise aw manitarian values
the Royal C fir m ly establishe u
over 100 ye
ars an d is
tion project ethical and h
, enjoying e
running for ternat io n al ed u ca
wealth. at th e heart of th
d popular in e Common which lie s.
ga rde d an u gh o ut th ealth’s etho
re
m and supp
ort thro Commonw
much estee tion are: ands.
lt h E ss a y Competi anised in four age b
monwe a rg
of the Com etition is o
The aims o ls th ro u gh out the The Comp
o
unity for sch tional project
. These are
:
vid e a u n ique opport o b al e d u ca
• To pro part in a gl
ealth to take nguage in
Commonw ad ing world la lass A 16-1
8 years
ngl is h as a le C
the use of E 5 years
• To promote e way. C lass B 14-1
tiv
a fun, attrac or scholastic
, w h at e ve r their social eers from Class C 12-1
3 years
u n g p e o p le with th eir p
• To enable yo compete on equal terms der 12 yea
rs
backgro un d , to Class D un
world. dards of
around the to high stan ROYAL
pe o p le to as p ire
T O R EACH THE
ge youn g IES
• To encoura olarship and creative writing. OR ENTR RCH 2009
h D E ADLINE F S OC IE TY IS 1 MA
academic sc of modern WEALTH
p le in to go od utilisation COMMON
young peo ion skills.
• To stimulate chnology and communicat
te
4 information
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:15 AM Page 7

3
Ages 12-1 rp Prize)
Class C Betty Tho
o b a n d
1st £250 (B
50
Ages 16-1
8 2nd £1
Class A 3rd £ 1 20
£5 00 e m o ria l) £ 1 00
pM 4th
1st
3 0 0 (S te phen Kem ssociation Prize)
2nd £ Council A wment) s
50 (British o Under 12
3rd £1 (Margaret Best End Class D
20
4th £1 1st £200
50
Ages 14-1
5 2nd £1
Class B Pri ze ) £ 1 20
3 5 0 (P a tr icia Kelsey c h h e a d M emorial)
S oc ie ty ) 3rd
£ 1 00
£ Lo alth
1st
2 0 0 (S h e ila R amsay rs ity C ommonwe 4th
2nd £ e
ridge Univ es ritten on
£ 1 50 (Camb u es tion Priz e b est entry w nt
3 r d wealt h Q
lasses to th is equivale
4th £1
00 Common arded in all four C e value of the prize
aw ion. Th
d These are w e alth Quest relevant Class.
is a b le m o n
ble for a d the Com ze in the
c ia l P r izes a sp e c ia l prize availa of the prize is th a t o f the 4th pri
e ere is to
Sp
e Class th The value lasses. side the
In each ag Ezra E nd owment). o f the re spective C e s o rg an ised along
ir Alwyn ch riz
entrant (S prize in ea Local Pr
izes
untries ha
ve local p nd,
to th a t of the 4th w in g c o R A L IA Queensla
a le n t e fo llo A U S T ADA
eq u iv
y T r us t Priz e
la n g u ag e of T h
z e s: A N TIGU A ,
e rn A u st ralia, C N INICA,
A
it
universal main p ri est
Commun ictoria, W rio, DOM
lto n Athletic n ity T ru st uses the ty. The best entry u th A ustralia, V c , To ro nto, Onta
C h a r omm u
a better so
c ie S o u e b e ITIUS,
rlto n Athletic C c re a te st Q u e stion will ti sh C olumbia, Q , KIRIBATI, MAUR ngton,
C h a
sp o rt s and arts to
c C o m m unity T ru
tb a ll K it for B ri
A N D IS L ANDS C h rist c hurch, Welli & NEVIS,
football, ton Athleti harlton Athletic Foo al class FALKL Auckland, T. KITTS
n sw e ri n g the Charl t a n d a C e in d iv id u N E W Z EALAND A , S T . H ELENA, S D S, TONG
A,
a u ipm e n le fo r th G U IN E N IS L A N
for eq e eligib EW
PAPUA N CHELLES, SOLOM cotland, VANUAT
O U.
win £250 Entrants will also b Y , S
o o l. A , S E sh ir e
their sch SAMO Oxford
UK Jersey,
prizes. TUVALU,

5
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:15 AM Page 8

Class A Born 1990 - 1992

1400 - 1750 words
All questions can be answe
red by writing an essay
or a story which explores
the topic in an interesting or
relevant way.
1 Can I help you?
2 Bullying is an issue which
concerns young people thr Class B
Commonwealth. Why do oughout the Born 1993 - 1994
es it matter and what can 1200 - 1500 words
about it? be done
All questions can be answe
red by writing an essay or
3 It is 200 years since Charle explores the topic in an inte a story which
s Darwin was born and 15 resting or relevant way.
since the publication of “O 0 years
n the origin of Species”. In 1 Tracks.
what evolutionary developm you r view,
ents are needed to ensure 2 What makes a good tea
continuing survival and we the cher?
ll-being of humanity?
4 EITHER Unlikely friends 3 Who’s the boss in your
OR An unexpected friends family?
hip. 4 Sport ~ love it or loathe
5 The match. it?
6 Commonwealth Question 5 The long way home...
OR Charlton Athletic Comm
Trust Question. unity 6 Commonwealth Quest
ion OR Charlton Athletic Co
Trust Question. mmunity

6
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:15 AM Page 9

words
la te r 300 - 600
or
orn 1997
C lass D B
words our area.
500 - 700 a fue l sh ortage in y
is
5 - 1996 1 There cope? mmunity.
C Born 199 u r lo c al o w d o e s your family r of your co
Class a l fo r yo H r le a de prove
nim nd fo
is to in te rview an a tra n sc rip t of your ha v e d ec ided to sta h at y o u w ill do to im
ignment nd us the 2 You ch stating w
1 Your ass r ra d io station. Se W rite a short spee
r o
newspape live.
w ! p o rta nt for life in where you im ...
inte rv ie
tre e s are most im
w a s p erf ect for a sw
or 3 The da
y
ree plants of my life.
2 What th h y ? xciting day e if you
your co u n tr y ? W
m g ro w n u p .
4 T h e m o st e
w o uld h ave been lik
I’ t your life
do when nwealth
t I d o n’t want to e re n t Commo W rite about wha years ago.
3 W ha
e s in a very d iff
a letter 5
b o rn a hundred letic
ista n t c ousin w h o liv
th e first time. W ri te had b e e n
n O R C harlton Ath
d visit fo r stio
4 A
coming to ealth Que
country is d y ou r h ome 6 C ommonw Q uestion.
y o u rself a n bo th. u n ity Trust
u c in g un ta in o r C o m m
introd a or a mo ity
out the se Commun
5 Write a
st o ry ab
O R C harlton A th le tic
y T r u st Question
Questio n munit
6 Comm
onwealth
n A t h letic Com assion
st Q u e st ion. C h arlt o
tb a ll in sp ire such p
Tru y does foo
n a u ti fu l G ame’: Wh
uestio ‘The B e
o m m o n wealth Q m m o n w ealth are ro und the w
orld?
C th e C o ha nce a
people in would en
alf o f th e 1.8 billion s in y o u r country
Over h e
hat chang
g e d 2 5 o r under. W
a ple?
liv e s o f young peo
the

7
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:15 AM Page 10

1 It is the e
ssence of t
responsibility
for wha
: not interven
g criteria e in any
n o n the followin responsibility
atio or the t
disqualific
ies a re liable for ifie d .
8 Entr cert 2 Candidat
try is not es must pay
re a citiz
en of or • the en g iv e n . ntered. and ensure a
h o a of birth is e Class e that, within
to studen
ts w
. • no date ate is too old for th in relatio
n to the answer wh
o n is open r territory c a n d id o sh o rt at they have
o m p e ti ti c o try o
u n • the ng or to examiners w
1 Th e C
monw e a lth
or youth y is too lo er Class.
si de nt in a Com a sc h oo l, college • the entr ord count. an fo u r entries p awards.
ill not cons
re ugh specified
w re th
itted thro itted mo
s m u st be subm sc h o o l has subm C ommonw
ealth
2 All entr
ie • the the R o ya l 3 Examiners
on. entry form perty of expect cand
org ati
an is a c o py of the e co me the pro of English as id
panied by e school,
9 All entr
ie s b
to publish
. a written lan
m u st b e accom b e r o f staff of th h the right of spelling an
ies mem w it d punctuatio
3 All entr ied by a Soc ie ty
h h a s b een certif itting the e
ntry. writing or w
ord process
whic is atio n subm ntrants English is th in
r org an ist for E e first, seco
college o nglish . C heck L
y? nd
tten in E be writte
n on your entr
tr ie s m u st be wri ich m u st u .. . to th e front of 4 Prize-win
ning entries
4 All en ne entry
wh Have yo entry fo
rm
written. Ho may v
submit o a ched the count? wever they
ates m a y o n ly ❑ A tt
te word d the to
pic
attention in will
5 Candid O M O R E
d e an ac c u ra
f the entry an an entertain
a single to
pic.
tries in to
tal an d N ❑ M a titl
ame, the rst page?
e o Qualities sh
own by can
ing,
si xteen en A SS. itte n your n e fi didat
m a y only su b m it
E B A ND O R C L ❑ W r
r a t the top
o f th
)?
creative wri
ting skills, cl
6 Schoo
ls PER AG mber num be possible story telling, arity o
F O U R ENTRIES b e o n 31 Dece a p e r (w herever sound scho
THAN wil l eir 4p larsh
age they s with th ❑ Used A arly?
c alc ulate the at co rrespond ll th e pages cle ?
ates sho u ld Class th
Number
e d a the topic
7 Candid a to p ic from the ❑ t a nd an swered
select the poin
2008 and . ❑ Kept to
a t d a te
age on th
8
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:15 AM Page 11

1 It is the e
ssence of th
responsibility e Competiti
for what the on that can
not interven y write. Teac didates take
e in any way hers and fam full
responsibility , which com ilies must 5 When givi
p romises a ca ng Comme
or the trust ndidate’s Commende nded or Hig
on which th d awards, e hly
2 Candidat e Co m pe titi u su xaminers w
es must pay o n is b ased. ally ch oose those ill
and ensure attention to h av e sh entries whic
that, within the topics w ap e and struct h
answer wh the specified hich have b the point an ure, keep to
at they have word coun een set d demonstra
examiners w been asked t, th ey fully effort on th te care and
ill not consi to do. Othe e part of th
awards. der them e rw ise the e w riter.
ligible for th 6 Where ap
e prizes and propriate, ca
3 Examiners encouraged ndidates are
expect cand to carry out
of English as idates to sh re ad ing suitable research by
a written lan ow a comp books and ar
of spelling an gu age. This in e te n t co mmand an d /or by makin ticles
d punctuatio cludes a go g use of the
writing or w n , neat presen o d standard It is expected th in ternet.
ord process
English is th ing. Examin
tation and cl
e ar h an d of informatio at they consult more th
e first, seco ers take into n, attribute an one iden
nd or third account wh their source quotations b tifiable sourc
language of ether s at th e e y means of e
4 Prize-win the candidat nd of the en footnotes an
ning entries e. try. d list
written. Ho may vary en 7 Candidat
wever they ormously in es must no
will invariab th e way they examiners h t plagiaris
attention in
an entertain ly engage th are ave access to e or copy material. Re
ing, interest e re material pu the internet member th
Qualities sh
own by can ing or though ader’s blished on-l and can eas at
creative wri didates may tful manner. ine. ily identify
ting skills, cl include origi 8 In the yo
story telling, arity of thou nality, imagin unger Class
sound scho ght, sincerity ation, es (C and D
larship or w of voice, sk are illustrate ), examiners
ell-docume ilful d, by hand enjoy entrie
nted resear an d p h o or by using s whic
to computer ge
ch.
subject-mat
graphs, pro
vided the ill nerated imag h
ter of the e u stra tions are re es
ntry and do levant to th
not detract e
from the w
riting. 9
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:16 AM Page 12

BY POST
Please complete yo VIA THE INTER
ur entry form in blo
attach it to the front ck capitals and NET
of your essay. Full details and an ele
ctronic entry form
Competition web pa are given on the
Send entries to: ge of the RCS webs
Please read all the inf ite: www.rcsint.org
ormation and follow
the instructions care
COMMONWEALT fully.
H ESSAY COMPE Please make sure
THE ROYAL COM TITION that you
MONWEALTH SO • give the name of your schoo
25 NORTHUMBE CIETY
RLAND AVENUE l as the “subject” of
• submit BOTH your entry de your email.
LONDON WC2N tails AND your essay
5AP SINGLE ATTACHME /story as a
UK NT to the email.
• use a font which is betwee
n 11 and 14pt.
• check that your page margi
ns are no more tha
n 3cm in width.
Please do not send
your essay/story as
attachment. This ma an email. Send it as
kes processing your an
entry much easier.
CONTACT DET
AILS
Telephone
+ 44 (0) 20 7930
Facsimile 6733
+ 44 (0) 20 7930
Email 9705
essay@rcsint.org
Website
www.rcsint.org

✂
10
RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:16 AM Page 13

Please write clearly in black ink and tick the appropriate boxes
Candidate Details (to be completed by student) Information from Schools
I certify, as a member of staff of the school, that:
Country: (a) the entry details given here are correct.
Family name: (b) the student composed and hand-wrote or word-processed this essay.
First name: (c) a maximum of 4 entries have been submitted by this school for this
Class in the Competition.
Date of birth:
Name (in capitals):
Gender ❏M ❏F Signature:

Essay Class ❏A ❏B ❏C ❏D Name of School:

Topic number ❏1 ❏2 ❏3 ❏4 ❏5 ❏6 Full School Address:

Exact number of words used:

I understand that by submitting this form I take full responsibility for

Email:
my entry. I certify that it is my own work and does not contain
Is English the first, second or third/fourth language of the candidate?
material copied or plagiarised from another source.
First ❏ Second ❏ Third/fourth ❏
Special prize: Is there a relevant disability which would entitle the candidate
Signature: Date: to be considered for one of the Special Prizes? Yes ❏ No ❏
✂

If so, please specify:

RCS Essay Competition 2008 6/16/08 11:14 AM Page 2

Commonwealth Essay Competition

The Royal Commonwealth Society
25 Northumberland Avenue
London WC2N 5AP

Designed and produced by Quattro. Tel: +44 (0)20 7766 5225

UK

Telephone: + 44 (0) 20 7930 6733

Facsimile: + 44 (0) 20 7930 9705
Email: essay@rcsint.org
Website: www.rcsint.org

Reg. Charity 226748

With special thanks to Charlton Athletic

Community Trust

Acknowledgements:
Front and Back cover:
School children in Tamil Nadu, South India
Picture credit: Claire Anholt, RCS