NOTE: All work MUST be original and created by the competitor(s) himself. By submitting your work you are agreeing that MIST has the right to return or keep all work/submissions/entries.

Important Note:Submissions must be emailed to dcmist@gmail.com no later than February 4th, 2008.All submissions must be in PDF format. If you do not have a PDF converter, you can convert your word document to PDF for free using one of the following links:

• PDF Online
• Adobe PDF Online

In addition to emailing your submissions, you must also turn in 3 copies during Registration and Orientation on the first day of the tournament. You are responsible for bringing your submission, not MIST and not the judges.

Competitors shall write about ONE of the following topics:

• Topic Choice 1: Think about the characteristics of puzzle pieces where each one of us is a different piece of the puzzle. Just like us, the pieces are also comprised of different sizes, shapes, and colors. When you take those varying pieces from the same box, you know that they will eventually come together to form a cohesive picture. What happens when certain pieces do not fit together properly? Do you apply force and smash them together, or is there a more gentle approach to finding a place for each of the pieces to fit in the bigger picture?
• Topic Choice 2: Consider what it takes to interact with diverse individuals and groups in order to unite the local and global Muslim community. Are conformity, tolerance, respect, or understanding involved? How and to what extent? What are some of the challenges that are faced when striving toward unity? What issues need to be resolved before a our diverse communities are able to unite prosperously?

Whatever your selection, be sure to refer to authentic sources of Islamic knowledge, as well as to facts from history.

The following is a list of rules and procedures for this event:

1. No more than 2 students from each team can register for this competition.
2. This competition is NOT a team effort. Each competitor must turn in a separate piece of work.
3. MIST ID will be pre-assigned on a random selection basis.
4. The written essay must be typed or word-processed and double-spaced. It must be on white, 8.5 X 11 paper and must be stapled in the left corner.
5. The essay MUST have a cover page. The cover page must include the title and MIST ID only. If the contestant name appears anywhere on the essay, it will be disqualified.
6. Three (3) copies of the written essay must be taken to MIST and turned in by the competitor to the event section leader at the competitor‘s orientation. MIST will NOT copy any work for contestants. Contestants are solely responsible for bringing their own copies.
7. The written essay shall be a maximum of 2000 words. All abbreviations, acronyms (excluding a, an, the) will be counted. Only the first 2000 countable words will be read.
8. In previous years, some competitors have turned in very poor work. To prevent low scores from winning 1st, 2nd, or 3rd places, the following score limits will be applied:
   1. 1st place winner must score above 90%
   2. 2nd place winner must score above 80%
   3. 3rd place winner must score above 75%
   4. If no competitors score within the above ranges, there will be no winners for the Prepared Essay competition.
9. Judging criteria will be based upon the official MIST National Ballot.