Texas Citizen Bee Competition · Texas Citizen Bee 6 SECTION 1. CITIZEN BEE OVERVIEW Program Description The Texas Citizen Bee is a citizenship academic competition for ninth-through

The Guide To Citizen Bee Competition Planning 2015

Texas Citizen Bee Competition

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The Guide To Citizen Bee Competition Planning Welcome Thank you for agreeing to coordinate the Texas Citizen Bee competition! Whether you are a rookie or a veteran Texas Citizen Bee competition coordinator, we hope you will find this manual to be a comprehensive, step-by-step guide that covers every aspect of organizing a competition. Please feel free to email Jan L. Miller ([email protected]) or Janie Worst ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns. Good luck with your competition! We would like to extend our heartfelt “thank you” to the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation for their ongoing support of this endeavor. We would also like to thank the Bill of Rights Institute for the initial creation of the Citizen Bee Study Guide and the testing materials being used. Our thanks also go out to LFEI and the committee for all of their efforts and assistance in the implementation of the Texas Citizen Bee .

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TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1. Citizen Bee Overview ...................................................................... 6 SECTION 2. Planning for the Citizen Bee Competition ........................................ 9 SECTION 3. The Competition Day ..................................................................... 16 APPENDIX ....................................................................................................... 18

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SECTION 1.

CITIZEN BEE OVERVIEW Program Description The Texas Citizen Bee is a citizenship academic competition for ninth-through twelfth-grade students. The Texas Citizen Bee enhances student understanding of our national heritage, while the competitions reward interest and achievement in studying our history. The program is easy to implement, and creates new interest in American History and government. Texas Citizen Bee Material The competition guide for the Regional and State competitions is the comprehensive The Study Guide, an easy-to-use website (located at www.citizenbee.org), containing information on the following topics: The Constitution Documents People Landmark Supreme Court Cases Civic Values and Skills Current Events (see Rules of Competition for topics) Students prepare for all levels of competition by utilizing The Study Guide, www.citizenbee.org and current events as reported by newspapers, news magazines and the electronic media. This website is the final authority for all questions used for the written and oral questions at both the regional and state competitions. The Role of the Competition Coordinator The competition coordinator is responsible for: Organizing and implementing a specific competition, including recruiting and

training officials Identifying the facility and setup assuring that the competition runs smoothly and according to the rules of the

competition.

The Law-Related Education Department selects the Competition Coordinator for each region.

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Texas Citizen Bee Competition Timeline

December- Law Related Education Department

Grant approval by Hatton W. Sumners Foundation Notify competition coordinators in each region of grant approval

January

Regional coordinators recruit participation from area schools Secure a date and location for the regional contest after

investigating the local school districts’ calendars Promote and publicize the program Begin registration of contestants

February Recruit regional competition officials Inform schools of regional sites, dates and times Send a copy of the “Rules of the Competition” to each participating

school. Be sure to let the teachers know that a copy of these will be posted on the texaslre.org (Citizen Bee link) website for interested parents and observers. Remind teachers it is their responsibility to cover the rules of the competition with the students.

March 1 to April 12

Regional competitions held around Texas—March 2 to April 11 Submit all required paperwork at the end of the competition. Regional winner and teacher information form to the LRE office of

the State Bar of Texas by April 13: Email—[email protected] Mail—Law-Related Education State Bar of Texas 1414 Colorado Austin, Texas 78701 Attention—Jan Miller Fax—512 427-4374 STATE COMPETITON—AUSTIN, TEXAS APRIL 25, 2015

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PLANNING FOR THE CITIZEN BEE COMPETITION

The main tasks in organizing a Citizen Bee are: Registration of schools Managing the funding of the contest Preparing the materials for the competition

Securing site Recruiting and training competition officials Promoting the event and communicating with participating schools

Registration of Schools for Regional Competition In the appendix we have placed a sample Regional Competition School Registration form for you to use when contacting schools who might be interested. When a school has registered, please send each school a copy of the 2015 Rules for the Competition, which has been sent separately. Funding of the Competition Each regional coordinator will receive $350 to help run their regional competition. This money is to be used for printing, facilities, refreshments, and prizes. NOTE: No more than $150.00 can be used for prizes in the form of gift cards or scholarships. Savings bonds are no longer to be used due to the changes in the method they have to be obtained. The LRE Department will provide a reimbursement form to document and request the funding. Receipts must be sent in for reimbursement. Some regional competitions ask for a $25 registration fee per school to enter the competition. This is optional. Materials for the Competition If requested, Law Focused Education, Inc. will furnish a PDF copy of the complete website to each registered school or home school network. The regional coordinator may request this copy to be sent to the schools as they register for the competition. Send the request(s) to Janie Worst, Coordinator for Citizen Bee with the following information:

School Name Name of teacher(s) Physical Address of the School (no P.O. Box, Rt., etc.) Phone Number Email address

Send the request to one of the following: Email—[email protected] Mail— Janie Worst 1304 Stonewood Drive Carrollton, Texas 75006

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All sites will receive: Questions and answers for the oral and written rounds of competition Citizen Bee Certificates for the participating students Pocket Constitutions for the participating students Thank you gifts for judges, competition workers, and teachers Paper copy of the “Study Guide” from the website for the judges (will be sent to you) State competition registration form for winning student and teacher

representing the region at the state competition Site/Auditorium Selection Competitions have been held in auditoriums, high schools, libraries, courthouses, capitol buildings, museums and television studios. Sites should be centrally located for participating schools and have ample parking or access to public transportation. Historic sites add atmosphere to the competition. The number of participants determines the size of room that is required. The Texas Citizen Bee competitions should be promoted as public events. With adequate promotion and publicity, it is possible to fill a small or medium-sized auditorium. Discuss the anticipated size of the event with Law-Related Education, assess the needs of the event, and plan accordingly. Regional Education Service Centers and universities, in particular, have found the Texas Citizen Bee to be an excellent way to increase their visibility in the community, and often contribute a site. Public officials, especially those serving as competition officials, may be able to arrange the use of public facilities. Meeting halls of local service clubs are also an option. The most important considerations are location, facilities, size, and cost. Additionally, check the insurance needs. Verify with the site location with any questions about insurance if necessary. Space Requirements for the Written Test A separate room that can be setup like a classroom is needed for the written test. Students should sit at individual desks or widely spaced at tables. Possibilities include lecture halls, committee meeting rooms, or cafeterias. If no separate room is available, students can use clipboards in the audience seating area. Only the students, the competition coordinator, the proctor and the timekeeper are allowed in the room during the written component.

X X X X X X

X X X X X X

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Procter Timekeeper

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Requirements for the Oral Component General Seating for 50-100 people. A stage or large open area with room to seat 39 students and a place for the moderator's podium. On stage, the students' chairs should be arranged in a slight curve (semi-circle) to focus attention on the student currently answering a question. Three microphones—IF NECESSARY (for the announcer, the moderator and the students). An extra microphone on stage can speed up the competition, allowing one student to wait while another answers a question. A space in front of the stage for two tables. One table is for the judges; the other is for the announcer, the scorekeeper and the timekeeper. If necessary, the judges may sit on stage, but they should not block the view of the contestants, nor should the judges be in close proximity to the students. The scorekeeper, the timekeeper and the announcer can sit in the first row of seats or to one side of the auditorium. A space to the side of the stage for the appeal area. The competition coordinator sits here during the competition to advise students. The appeal area requires three seats and a table or clipboards. It is essential for students to have a quiet place to compose appeals. A separate room or private area where the competition officials can meet prior to the competition.

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AUDIENCE

Judges

Announcer; Scorekeeper and Timekeeper

Moderator

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Student

Student Contestants

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Once the site is chosen, the competition coordinator should: Inform the state coordinator (Janie Worst) of the date, time, and location of

the regional competition. This can be done by email: [email protected] or by mail: 1304 Stonewood, Carrollton, Texas 75006.

Confirm that the building will be open and the room set up at the scheduled

time. The site must be available at least two hours early so that the competition coordinator can complete the last-minute details.

Obtain the name and telephone number of a contact person at the facility in

case a problem arises. Determine what time the officials arrive, registration begins, and the

competition starts. Reconfirm the site two weeks prior to the competition. Arrive two hours early on the day of the competition to check the room setups

and complete the final details. Complete the competition-planning checklist (found in the Appendix).

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Selection of the Officials There are nine roles for officials in a Texas Citizen Bee competition. Some officials may serve in more than one role. For example, the registrar may also serve as the proctor or a grader. Volunteers may include university faculty, Texas Citizen Bee sponsors and state and local officials, television and radio personalities, university students, and members of service clubs and professional associations. It is important to match the qualifications of the volunteer to the requirements of the role. NOTE: In some cases, local high school teachers are suitable; however, to reserve the integrity of the program, educators from participating schools and parents of competitors should not serve as judges. Additionally, the proctor and grader should not be a teacher who has students competing in the competition. The roles of the officials and desired qualities are described below. For more detailed information, please consult "Roles of the Competition Officials" (found in the Appendix). 1. Announcer: The announcer reads aloud each student's name in turn

during the oral rounds and informs the audience and participants of timeouts and breaks. Good pronunciation and public-speaking skills are essential.

2. Appeal Judge: The appeal judge decides if an appeal by a student

warrants consideration by the panel of three judges. The appeal judge does not vote but may take part in the discussion of the judges.

3. Graders: Each competition requires two graders to correct the written

component. Each grader double-checks the work of the other. This position does not require content knowledge. The graders might also serve as proctors or registrars.

4. Judges: The three voting judges possess the sole and final authority to

judge student answers. Rulings are based upon the Citizen Bee materials and the judges' knowledge, expertise and common sense. The judges review the questions in advance and may delete an oral question that is considered unfair by a majority of the judges. The judges consider appeals upon the request of the appeal judge.

5. Moderator: The moderator sets the tone for the oral rounds. He or she

introduces officials, teachers and parents; reviews the format and rules with the audience and participants; reads the questions; communicates the judges’ rulings; and reads the correct answer if the student’s answer is incorrect. The moderator should be outgoing, articulate, professional and comfortable speaking before large groups.

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6. Proctor: The proctor sets the tone for the written component. He or she reads the directions and administers the test. The proctor should be articulate, professional and comfortable in front of students. The proctor is also responsible for securing the tests. Students can look at their written test after the competition under the proctor’s supervision. The proctor should collect all the tests from the students and return them to the coordinator of the contest for disposal. Students should never be allowed to leave the contest room with a test.

7. Registrar: The registrar greets the students, checks them in and provides them

with a nametag and a program. Each student should then draw a number randomly to determine his/her order in the oral rounds. The registrar informs each participant of the location and time of the student briefing. Finally, the registrar works with the scorekeeper to complete the score sheet . Students should be listed in the order in which they will answer questions in the oral round.

8. Scorekeeper: The scorekeeper helps the registrar prepare an accurate score

sheet, keeps an accurate tally of the number of points earned by each contestant in the oral and written components, and identifies the winners. (See sample score sheet in Appendix)

9. Timekeeper: The timekeeper ensures that all students have 30 minutes to complete the written component and 60 seconds to begin a substantive answer to an oral question. The timekeeper assists the proctor during the written exam. Press Release Attendance by the community contributes to the success of a Citizen Bee by encouraging coverage by the local media and fostering a greater awareness of the academic accomplishments of local students. Correspondence with Citizen Bee Schools Several weeks before the competition, the Regional Coordinator sends the details (site, date, time and list of participating schools) to each school. The “Rules of the Competition” should be given to each school as they register. A few weeks before the event, the competition coordinator sends notices to the Texas Citizen Bee teachers whose schools are assigned to the competition, including:

The date, time and location. A reminder to arrive at least one hour early. Directions and parking information. A reminder inviting parents, faculty, administrators and students. Any special information, such as handicapped accessibility or procedures

for inclement weather delays. The competition coordinator emails or calls the teachers several days before the event to remind them of the competition and to answer any last-minute questions. Remind the teacher to review the rules of the competition with the competing students.

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SECTION 3

THE COMPETITION DAY Two Hours before the Event You should arrive approximately two hours early to open the room, confirm the set-up, check the heating or air conditioning, post signs and set up refreshments near the registration area. One Hour before the Event Greet the officials as they arrive and briefly review the competition format and their respective roles. The judges meet for a final review of the questions. The judges inform the moderator of any deleted questions. Check the video camera or tape recorder and microphone (if this equipment is being used). Registration Students arrive at least one hour before the start of the competition. The registrar greets them, checks them in and provides them with nametag and a program. Each student draws a number randomly to determine his or her order in the oral rounds. The registrar informs each participant of the location and time of the student briefing. Finally, the registrar works with the scorekeeper to complete the score sheet. Students should be listed in the order in which they will answer questions in the oral round. The scorekeeper works with the registrar to complete the score sheet. Students are listed in the order in which they will answer questions in the oral competition. Student Briefing The students meet in the room designated for the written competition 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the written component. Only students and officials are allowed in this room. The competition coordinator or proctor encourages the students to relax and feel at ease. Using the sample script (found in the Appendix), the competition coordinator briefs the students on the writing component. Written Component The competition coordinator introduces the proctor. The proctor explains his or her role and reviews the format and rules. The proctor reads the directions aloud. The timekeeper announces when 20 minutes remain, when 10 minutes remain, and when time has elapsed. The competition coordinator then briefs the students for the oral rounds, and the announcer checks the pronunciation of students' names. Schedule a 10 minutes break after the written component.

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Oral Component After the break, all students, officials and the audience are seated in the designated room or auditorium. The beginning of the competition follows the format of the sample script for the moderator (Appendix). The competition coordinator opens the event by welcoming everyone and introducing the moderator. The moderator introduces the officials, calls the students to the stage, recognizes the teachers and parents, reviews the format and rules of the competition, and asks the students to briefly introduce themselves as they are called on stage. Coordinators can use the random selection method for the oral rounds that is used at the state competition. With this method, the student comes up to the podium when their name is called and draws a number before the moderator reads his or her question. Then the moderator will read the question from that round that coordinates with the number drawn. For instance, if a student draws #2 for his or her first round question, the moderator would ask that student question #2. Laminated numbers for this method will be provided by the LRE office. The graders correct the written component during the oral rounds. Each grader double-checks the work of the other grader. The graders fill in the written score for each student on a score sheet and turn it over to the scorekeeper. Conclusion and Thanks After the winners are determined, an awards ceremony takes place. This is a chance to publicly reward the students for their accomplishments as well as a chance for news coverage, interviews, and photographs. It is also an opportunity to thank officials and teachers. After the competition, the proctor can supervise the students looking at their written test. At no time should a student be allowed to leave with a test. The top finisher and teacher complete the "Winner Information Form" and give it to the competition coordinator before leaving the facility. The competition coordinator gives the winners information about the next level of the competition, such as the date, time and place. Please have the second and third place winners fill out the forms, just in case the first place student is not able to participate in the state competition. These should be mailed to the LRE office (address found on page 7) The competition coordinator collects and secures all the Citizen Bee materials, including the tests, oral questions with answers, and score sheets. These should be shredded at the appropriate time. At this time the contest evaluation (in the Appendix) is due to Janie Worst: Email—[email protected] Mail— Janie Worst 1304 Stonewood Drive Carrollton, Texas 75006 Within a week, the competition coordinator may want to send letters to the officials and funders to express thanks. The competition coordinator may also send congratulatory notes to the students.

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COMPETITION PLANNING CHECKLIST

SITE ARRANGEMENTS (as far in advance as possible) ____ Confirm competition date and time ____ Confirm competition site ____ Confirm location for training officials at least one month before the competi-

tion ____ Confirm facility needs (e.g. room set-up, microphone) ____ Obtain name and phone number of facility contact person in case of problems

on the day of the competition ____ Obtain directions and map to building and parking lot ____ Inform Law-Related Education of the competition date, time, location and per-

tinent information ____ Reconfirm the site and set-up two weeks prior to the competition OFFICIALS (two months prior to the competition) ____ Announcer ____ Moderator ____ Appeal Judge ____ Proctor ____ Competition Coordinator ____ Registrar ____ Graders (2) ____ Scorekeeper ____ Judges (3) ____ Timekeeper ____ Competition Coordinator (if other than yourself) COMPETITION PREPARATION ____ Print competition programs ____ Tape recorder or video camera ____ Pencils for the written component and appeal area ____ Stopwatch or a watch with a second hand ____ Texas Citizen Bee signs for the registration area ____ Red and green cards for the head judge to signal the panel's decisions ____ Yellow cards for the timekeeper to signal ten seconds remaining ____ Numbered slips of paper for students to draw to determine the order in which

they will answer oral questions. ____ Awards (e.g. certificates, plaques) to formally present to the students

(Savings bonds will be sent at a later date.) ____ Endorsement letters and early-registration flyers ____ Copy of the “Study Guide” for the appeals judge ____ Several copies of the “Rules of the Competition” for reference ____ Copy score sheet for scorers

APPENDIX

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AUDIENCE RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION ____ Contact local media (TV, radio, newspaper) to arrange for coverage ____ Send press releases to media contacts ____ Send invitations to local elected officials, funders, service clubs (Kiwanis,

Rotary, League of Women Voters, etc.) and philanthropic organizations ____ Invite teachers to bring their government, civic, or AP classes to the

competition CORRESPONDENCE ____ Send a final information letter to participating schools two weeks before

the competition ____ Call or email participating Citizen Bee teachers two to four days before the event

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COMPETITION DAY CHECKLIST PROVIDED BY LAW-RELATED EDUCATION: ____ Written test ____ Answer sheet ____ Answer key ____ Copies of the oral questions/answers for one moderator and four judges ____ Score sheets ____ Appeal forms ____ List of registered students ____ Blank nametags ____ List of sponsors for thank-you letters from students ____ “Winner Information Forms” ____ Competition Evaluation ____ Cards for random selection method (if requested) PROVIDED BY COMPETITION COORDINATOR OR FACILITY: ____ Sound system with three or four microphones ____ Tape recorder and tape ____ Pencils for the written component and appeal area ____ Clipboards, if needed, for the written component or appeal area ____ Stopwatch or watch with a second hand PROVIDED BY THE COMPETITION COORDINATOR: ____ Competition programs ____ Citizen Bee signs for the registration table ____ Red and green cards for the head judge ____ Yellow card for the timekeeper ____ Numbered slips of paper (1-50) ____ Awards ____ Press kits for the media (optional) ____ Endorsement letter and early registration flyers (optional)

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POST COMPETITION CHECKLIST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE COMPETITION: ____ Meet with the winners to distribute the information on the next level of

competition ____ Have the winner and alternate complete “Winner Information Sheet” ____ Collect all Texas Citizen Bee materials, including the tests, oral questions

and answers, score sheets, appeal forms, and “Winner Information Sheets.” Please keep until state competition and then destroy.

____ Complete the competition survey ____ Clean up the facility SEND TO LAW-RELATED EDUCATION (within a week) ____ “Winner Information Sheets” (address found on page 7) ____ All Citizen Bee materials (listed above) ____ Competition Evaluation sent to Janie Worst within a week of your your contest ____ Samples of the competition program CORRESPONDENCE FOLLOWING THE COMPETITION ____ Thank-you letters to competition officials ____ Thank-you letters to local and national funders (Send copies to Law-

Related Education) ____ Congratulatory letters to winning students

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2015 Citizen Bee Evaluation Region: Regional Director: Date of Regional Contest: Total number of students participating in the contest:

Number of public schools involved:

Number of private schools involved:

Number of home schools: Number of volunteers that helped with the contest: Did you use the suggested random question selection for the oral portion of the contest? If not, what method did you use? Additional comments, concerns, or suggestions for improvement: Send to Janie Worst 1304 Stonewood Carrollton, Texas 75006 OR [email protected]

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Texas Citizen Bee Regional Teacher/Sponsor Information Sheet

PLEASE PRINT

Region: _____________________________

TEACHER/SPONSOR INFORMATION Name: ________________________________________________________________ Home Address: __________________________________________(Apt. #)_________ City: ____________________________ State:_______ Zip:_______________________ Phone: ( )______________________________________________ Home E-mail Address:____________________________________________________ School E-mail Address: ___________________________________________________

SCHOOL INFORMATION

School/Home School Name:_______________________________________________ School/ Home School Address:_____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Principal’s or Home School Teacher’s Name:_________________________________ School/Home School District: ______________________________________________

STUDENT INFORMATION Winning Student Name: __________________________________________________ Place: ___________________ PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND GIVE IT TO THE COMPETITION CO-ORDINATOR BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

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Texas Citizen Bee Regional Student Winner Information Sheet

PLEASE PRINT

Region: ____________________

STUDENT INFORMATION

Student Name:__________________________________________________________ Student Address: ________________________________________(Apt. #)_________ Student City: _______________________________ State:_______ Zip:_____________ Student Phone: ( )______________________________________________ Student Email Address:___________________________________________________ Grade Level: (Circle one) 9 10 11 12 Place in Competition:______________ Student’s Social Security # ________________________________________________ Name of parent(s) or guardian(s): ______________________________________________________________________ Parent E-mail: __________________________________________________________

SCHOOL INFORMATION School/Home School Name:_______________________________________________ School/ Home School Address:_____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Teacher/Sponsor: _______________________________________________________ Principal’s or Home School Teacher’s Name:_________________________________ School/Home School District: ______________________________________________ PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND GIVE IT TO THE COMPETITION COORDINATOR BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

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ANNOUNCER Role Description The announcer calls out the name of a student when it is his or her turn to answer an oral question. The announcer calls the conclusion of each oral round. Responsibilities 1. The announcer checks the pronunciation of the students’ names during the

student briefing for the oral rounds. 2. During the competition, the announcer sits next to the scorekeeper and reads the names from the score sheet. At the end of each question, the announcer calls the name of the next student to the microphone. 3. The announcer informs the participants and audience of time-outs, breaks, and the consideration of appeals.

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APPEAL JUDGE Role Description The appeal judge is a non-voting judge who decides if an appeal should be considered by the three voting judges. The primary function of the appeal process is to allow students to appeal decisions they consider incorrect or unfair. Responsibilities The following rules must be followed precisely to ensure that students are treated fairly: 1. The appeal judge decides if the judges should review an appeal. In making this

evaluation, the appeal judge considers the student's written argument, original answer, the question and answer supplied by Law-Related Education, personal knowledge and expertise, The Citizen Bee Guide to American Studies, and the rules of the competition.

2. If the appeal judge decides that the judges should reconsider the previous ruling,

the form is given to the panel of judges. During oral rounds, a time-out is called. The appeal judge may provide background information, personal knowledge or expertise, or act as an advocate for the student, but he or she does not vote.

3. If the appeal is denied, the appeal judge gives the student a written explanation of

the decision. 4. If the appeal judge is not certain of what decision should be made, an appeal form should be given to the panel of judges for consideration. Appeal Procedural Rules A student must comply with the following rules in order to file an appeal: 1. Unless a question specifically asks for a first name, only the last name needs to be

given. A correct last name with an incorrect first name must be judged incorrect because the student named the wrong person.

2. The judges must accept the first answer given by a student. Neither the judges nor

the moderator can ask a student to repeat or clarify an answer. The judges can only replay the tape.

3. Contestants who wish to appeal a decision on an oral question must do so before

they receive their next oral question. Contestants forfeit their right to appeal if they do not proceed directly to the designated appeal area from the stage or their seat, or if they communicate with anyone prior to filing an appeal.

4. Contestants complete an appeal form in writing and give it to the competition coordinator, who takes it to the appeal judge. The student remains in the appeal area while the decision is deliberated. 5. An appeal is accepted if the majority of the voting judges agree to overturn the

previous decision.

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SCOREKEEPER Role Description The scorekeeper maintains an accurate tally of the written and oral scores. The scorekeeper works with the registrar to determine the order in which the contestants will be presented during the oral rounds. Responsibilities 1. During registration, the scorekeeper prepares the score sheet in conjunction with

the registrar. The student’s name and school are listed on the form. 2. During the oral component, the scorekeeper enters the number of points earned by

each contestant in each round. 3. The scorekeeper records the number of points each student earned in the written

rounds. 4. At the conclusion of the oral rounds, the scorekeeper totals the oral and written

scores. 5. The scorekeeper gives the names of winners, their rankings, and their schools to

the competition coordinator for the awards ceremony.

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JUDGES Role Description The three voting judges possess sole and final authority to judge student answers. Judges base decisions on the answer given by the student, the question and answer from The Citizen Bee Guide to American Studies, a personal knowledge of the subject, expertise, logic and common sense. The judges lend academic and professional credibility to the event and must display confidence and decisiveness in making decisions. One judge serves as the head judge and, upon consultation with the two other voting judges, conveys their decision to the moderator. A fourth person serves as the appeals judge, who decides if written appeals warrant consideration by the voting judges. Responsibilities These rules must be followed precisely to ensure that students are treated equitably: 1. The judges review the oral questions prior to the competition and eliminate any

question considered unfair by a majority of judges. The questions are rigorously reviewed; however, judges may use their discretion to

eliminate oral questions under certain circumstances. There are a limited number of questions.

NOTE: Judges should not delete written questions, because all students in the

competition face the same advantage or disadvantage. Also, no extra written questions are provided.

If a majority of voting judges finds an oral question unfair or ambiguous, the

question is cut. Keep in mind that all questions, except for current events, are derived from The Citizen Bee Guide to American Studies so that all students have a common resource.

The judges notify the moderator of any eliminated question. 2. During the competition, the judges will confer after the student answers the

question. The judges must decide if the response sufficiently answers the question, but all attempts should be made to be sure the student answers the “essence of the question” as provided in the key.

3. The judges may use a variety of resources in determining if a student’s answer is

correct. For each question, there is a reference to The Citizen Bee Guide to American Studies. (References are not provided for current events questions). In some cases, additional information is provided in parentheses for clarification. The judges should consider the student’s answer, using personal knowledge and expertise, The Citizen Bee Guide to American Studies, the videotape of the original response, the rules of the competition and common sense.

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4. After a consensus is reached, the head judge communicates the decision to the moderator by using a red card for an incorrect response and a green card for a correct response.

5. Students are not allowed to repeat or clarify an answer. If the judges are in doubt

about a student’s response, they call a time-out to replay the tape of the answer. 6. Unless a question specifically asks for a first name, only the last name needs to

be given. A correct last name with an incorrect first name may be judged incorrect because the student named the wrong person.

7. For “Section III: Landmark Cases & Civic Values,” the student must include BOTH parties in his/her answer. For example, if the student’s answer is Texas v. Johnson, Texas will not be a correct response, and neither will Johnson. The student MUST answer Texas v. Johnson to be correct. 8. Students have 60 seconds to give an answer. A substantive answer includes

information the judges can use in evaluating the response. Openings such as “The answer is ….” or a restating of the question are not substantive responses.

9. Contestants who appeal a decision on an oral question must do so before they

receive their next oral question. Contestants forfeit their right to appeal if they do not proceed directly to the designated appeal area, or if they communicate with anyone prior to filing an appeal.

Contestants complete a written appeal form and give it to the competition

coordinator, who takes it to the appeal judge. The student remains in the appeal area while the decision is deliberated.

10. When the judges receive an appeal during the oral component, they call a time-

out. The judges reevaluate their previous decision, taking into consideration the student’s written appeal, original answer, the question and answer provided in The Study Guide, the video tape or tape of the original response, any comments of the appeal judge, and the rules of the competition. The judges may use other reference sources, such as an encyclopedic dictionary or world atlas. An appeal is accepted if a majority of judges agree to overturn the previous decision.

Judges must never allow the Texas Citizen Bee questions to be unattended. At

the end of the competition, all questions must be returned to the competition coordinator.

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MODERATOR Role Description The moderator sets the tone of the competition. He or she reads the questions, communicates the decisions of the judges to the students and audience, and reads the correct answer when a student's answer is ruled incorrect. The moderator should be outgoing, articulate, professional, and comfortable speaking before large groups of people. As the most visible official throughout the competition, the moderator must have a thorough knowledge of the competition rules and procedures. Responsibilities The following is a chronological summary of the responsibilities of the moderator before and during the competition: 1. The moderator reviews the competition questions and sample script in order to

become comfortable with difficult pronunciations. 2. The moderator consults the judges to check if any questions have been

eliminated. 3. The moderator briefs the audience on the format and rules of the competition. 4. During the competition the moderator:

Reads the questions.

Repeats the whole question, or part of a question, upon the request of a

contestant.

Looks to the judges for the ruling before conveying the decision to the student and audience.

Conveys the judges’ ruling to the student and audience.

Reads the correct response if a student's answer is deemed incorrect.

Announces a time-out when called by any competition official.

5. The moderator may not pass judgment on any student's response during the course of the competition. The moderator cannot ask for clarification or repetition of a student's answer. The moderator avoids body language or facial expressions that might convey whether a student is giving a correct answer.

6. The moderator assists the competition coordinator with the awards presentation at the conclusion of the competition.

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Texas Citizen Bee

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR A CITIZEN BEE COMPETITION

MODERATOR Thank you. I am very glad to be a part of today’s event. The Citizen Bee is a wonderful opportunity for young people to share with us their knowledge of events that have shaped America’s past and present. Through the knowledge they have gained preparing for the Citizen Bee, they are better equipped to be active participants in America’s future. INSERT PERSONAL NOTE ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I am your host for this event. I will ask the contestants the questions. I will communicate to the contestants and to you, the audience, the decisions of the judges. And I will maintain order today in accordance with the rules of the competition. First, let me introduce the officials. The head judge is (name) _______________(title) ____________________________ The other judges are: (Name) (Name) The judges will use the answers provided by Law-Related Education and their own knowledge and experience in judging the answers. Only the head judge will communicate with the moderator. The head judge will raise a green card to indicate that an answer is correct and a red card to indicate that an answer is incorrect. I would like to emphasize that the judges possess the sole authority for ruling on students’ answers. The appeal judge today is (name) _______________. If a student files an appeal on a question he or she has answered, the appeal judge will decide whether the student’s answer warrants reconsideration by three voting judges. Students who wish to file an appeal must proceed directly to the appeal area. Our announcer is (name) ________________ who will guide the contestants by calling out the name of the contestant to be asked the next question. The order in which the students answer questions was determined by a random drawing. The scorekeeper, (name) _______________ will tally the scores from the written component and will keep track of the points earned during the oral rounds. The timekeeper is (name) _______________ who will watch the clock to make sure that each contestant has a full 60 seconds to begin answering a question. And now, it is my privilege to introduce to you the most important people in the Citizen Bee, the students. These students, through their hard work, discipline, commitment and knowledge, are the winners of their respective schools.

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Students, as you are introduced, I would like to ask you to say a few words about yourselves—what school you attend and any career or academic goals you may have. You will be called in the order that you will be asked questions. (THE ANNOUNCER INDIVIDUALLY CALLS EACH STUDENT TO THE MICROPHONE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF OR HERSELF.) Please join me in giving these contestants a warm round of applause to recognize their remarkable accomplishments. These students would not be here today without the support, dedication and hard work of their teachers and parents. I would like to ask them to please stand. Now let me review the rules and the format for the audience. The announcer calls each student’s name in turn to come to the microphone. I then ask the student a question. Time starts as soon as the question has been completely read. He or she has 60 seconds to answer the question. After 50 seconds, the timekeeper will hold up a yellow card and give an audible warning to indicate that ten seconds remain. The judges cannot ask a student to repeat, clarify, or elaborate an answer. The judges rule on a student’s first response. A student may ask the moderator to repeat a question or part of a question or ask for the spelling of a word or name, but that is part of the 60 seconds. Please note that if a question asks for a name, students need only give the last name of the person unless the question specifically asks for a first name. If a first name is volunteered but is incorrect, the answer will be judged as incorrect because the student has named the wrong person. If a student wishes to appeal a decision, he or she proceeds directly to the appeal area, where the appeal judge reviews the request. If the appeal warrants further review, a time-out is called so the panel of judges can discuss the appeal. If a student communicates with anyone or goes elsewhere, he or she forfeits the right to appeal. All competition questions are provided by Law-Related Education and are based on The Study Guide and current events as reported in newspapers, news magazines and television broadcasts. The students have already completed the written component of the competition, which is now being graded. After the oral component, the students have the opportunity to review their work on the written component. The scores will then be totaled and the winners announced. We are about to start the four oral rounds of the competition. All questions within a round have the same number of parts in the answer and are worth the same number of points. All questions have been thoroughly reviewed by the Law-Related Education staff and panel of educators to ensure fairness and accuracy. Will the announcer please call the first contestant.

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PROCTOR Role Description The proctor is responsible for explaining the rules and format of the written component to the students and administering the exam. This person should not have a student competing in the competition. Responsibilities 1. After an introduction by the competition coordinator at the end of the student

briefing, the proctor reviews the rules and format of the written component. 2. The proctor reads the directions while the timekeeper distributes the papers. 3. The proctor administers the written component according to the sample script. 4. The proctor delivers the students’ test papers to the graders. 5. The proctor admits late arrivals to the written exam, but must collect their papers

at the same time as the other students. Students who arrive late may not make up missed time.

6. At the conclusion of the contest, allow students to review their written exam under

your supervision. Do not allow any student to leave the contest room with a written exam. Collect all of the written tests and return to the regional coordinator.

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SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR THE WRITTEN COMPONENT

PROCTOR Thank you. I am glad to be here today. INSERT PERSONAL NOTE. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Each student should have two pencils with erasers. If you do not, please raise your hand and we will get one for you. (PAUSE BRIEFLY) You may not use any resource material during the test. If you have a copy of The Study Guide or any textbook or notebook with you, please put it away. It should not be visible to you or any other contestant. (PAUSE WHILE PROCTOR AND TIMEKEEPER MAKE SURE THAT NO AIDS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY STUDENT.) The written exam you are about to take is divided into four sections. Keep in mind that you will have 30 minutes to complete all four sections. You may divide the time in any way you wish. The point value of each section is marked at the beginning of the section. You will be reminded when 20 minutes remain and when 10 minutes remain. When the timekeeper announces that time is up, immediately put your pencils down. If you have any problems during the test, please raise your hand and one of us will assist you. We cannot, however, answer any questions on the content of the test. Carefully mark your answers in the test booklet. Any item with more than one letter marked will be marked incorrect. There is no penalty for guessing. If you finish early, you may double-check your work in any section. Are there any questions before we begin? (PAUSE TO ANSWER ANY STUDENT QUESTIONS.) The test booklets are now being distributed. Leave it face up on the desk. DO NOT OPEN the test booklet until you are told to do so. (PAUSE WHILE THE TEST BOOKLETS ARE HANDED OUT.) You may begin. (AT THE END OF THE TEST) Please put your pencils down and sit silently until all booklets are collected. The written component will be graded during the oral rounds. You will have the opportunity to review your written answers at the end of the oral rounds, but you will not be able to leave the testing room with the exam. (THE TIME KEEPER COLLECTS THE TEST BOOKLETS.) (WHEN ALL ARE COLLECTED) Thank you for your cooperation. The coordinator has a few reminders for you concerning the oral rounds.

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TIMEKEEPER Role Description During the oral rounds, the timekeeper assures that each student has the full 60 seconds to begin an answer, warns students as time runs out, and announces when time is up. Responsibilities 1. During the oral rounds, the timekeeper should start the clock when the

moderator finishes reading a question. NOTE: A few questions direct the moderator to read a lengthy question twice. In these cases, the timekeeper starts the clock after the question has been read the second time. 2. When 50 seconds have passed, the timekeeper holds up a yellow card and

verbally cautions the student that ten seconds remain. When ten seconds have elapsed, the timekeeper announces that time is up.

3. The timekeeper keeps the following rules in mind:

If a student asks to have a question repeated or a word spelled, that is part

of the 60 seconds. A student must begin a substantive answer within 60 seconds. If a student

gives a seemingly rambling answer, announce that time is up at the end of 60 seconds. The judges then determine if a response is substantive.