Chapter Competitions
What the Competitions are About
Each year, the Boston and Northern New England chapters of the
Society for Technical Communications (STC) hold competitions for technical communicators.
You can enter your work or judge in one or more of three competitions:
| Competition |
Type of Documentation |
| Online Communication |
Online media (electronic documentation such as online help
and Web sites) |
| Technical Art |
Physical media or online technical art products |
| Technical Publications |
Physical media (printed documentation) |
The competitions accept entries in a wide range of categories,
including hardware and software user documentation, training materials, marketing
materials, reference guides, magazine design, technical illustrations, quick
reference cards, and annual reports.
Judging in the Competitions
Judges in each competition attend an orientation session in
early autumn. During orientation, judges will learn about the consensus judging
process, review the criteria for evaluating entries, and spend time practice
judging.
All judges attend consensus judging in November. Judges work
in teams to review their assigned entries, discuss their evaluations, agree
on an award level, and fill out feedback forms for the entrants.
In some cases, judges will be able to review their assigned
entries prior to consensus judging day. Judges in the Technical Publications
competition receive their entries to review in the weeks preceding consensus
judging. In addition, judges in the Online Communication competition who elect
to judge Web entries will be able to review their assigned entries via URL until
consensus judging day. All judges attend consensus judging to complete their
evaluation with their judging team members.
For more detailed information about judging in the competitions,
go to the Judges Overview page.
When you are ready to register to judge in one or more competitions, fill out
the online registration
form.
Entering the Competitions
To enter your work, you must register online and make your entry
available for consensus judging in November. For more detailed information about
entering the competitions, go to the Entrants
Overview page.
You do not have to be a member of the STC to enter the competitions,
and you can submit more than one entry. Your peers judge your entries, and you
receive detailed feedback from judges who are experienced in technical writing
and art.
When you are ready to enter your work, fill out the online
registration form.
Awards
Some entries earn an award from the STC. Awards represent levels
of accomplishment based on STC standards. Three levels of awards are given,
as follows:
- Merit: Consistently meets high standards in most areas. There
may be a number of major or minor flaws, but the entry still exemplifies proficient
technical communication.
- Excellence: Consistently meets high standards in all areas.
There may be a single major flaw and a few minor flaws. The entry clearly,
though slightly imperfectly, exemplifies an exceptional understanding of technical
communication principles.
- Distinguished: Clearly superior in all areas. There are no
major flaws, and few, if any, minor flaws. It is an outstanding example of
technical communication principles.
STC International Competition
Winners of the STC-Boston/Northern New England competitions'
Distinguished award have the option to advance their entries to the International
Competition for entries from around the world. This entails an additional entry
fee of $125.
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