I. AWARDS

First, second and third place monetary prizes will be awarded.  First place will also present their essay during Saturday’s program (20 minute time limit).

II. ELIGIBILITY

A. Students must be enrolled in a Nationally Accredited Radiation Therapy Program as of the date of submission of the essay.  A letter from the program director must be submitted as proof.
B. Students participating in the tournament must be a student member of a radiological professional organization (such as ASRT, state and/or local society).  Students must submit a copy of their membership card.

III. JUDGING

C. Papers will be sent to the chair of the essay committee, who will then submit the unidentified copies of the essays to the judges.
D. The essays will be evaluated by three (3) judges.  There will be enough judges available to avoid conflicts of interest.  All decisions of the judges are final.
E. A paper will have to receive a minimum of 75 points from each judge to be considered for an award.  If no paper meets the minimum standard no award will be given for the year.
F. Copies of the manuscripts will be retained by the essay committee until the judging is complete.  No paper will be returned to the author.
G. The author(s) submitting a manuscript shall do so with the understanding that if it is accepted for the scientific program, the author(s) or representative(s) will be present to read the paper.  Students assume responsibility for their own expenses.
 

IV. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING
 
A. Originality Evidence of original work performed by the author(s), originality,unique, unprecedented, new approach.
0 - 20points
B.  Educational or technical value. Relevancy, contributes to higher radiological standards, updates,  expands or enhances existing knowledge
0 - 20points
C.  Scholarship
     1. Mastery of the subject matter                        
         0 - 15points
     2. Research of literature
         0 - 15points
D.  Development of an orderly, logical sequence
         0-15points
E.  Mechanical: neatness, grammar, spelling, punctuation, use of correct terms
         0-20points
 
                                                           
V. MANUSCRIPTS

A.  Manuscripts shall be at least 1,500 words.  Presentation shall be limited to 20 minutes.
B. Manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced, in AMA reference style guidelines on one side of good grade white paper 81/2 x 11 inches in size, with 1-inch margins, and numbered pages; fastened securely on the left side.
C. Four (4) copies must be submitted.
D. One (1) copy shall have a title page that contains the name, address and phone number of the program and student.
E. Three (3) copies are to contain only the title of the essay.  Any paper that can be identified as to the author (s), program or hospital shall be rejected.
F. Do not submit manuscripts in folders or binders.  You may use a document protector without a spine.
G. If illustrations are used they must be numbers to correspond with information in the text, labeled with a suitable legend, mounted and incorporated into the text in proper sequence.
H. Illustrations shall carry no identification of the author (s), place or person. Faces of individuals appearing as patients, therapists or physicians which could lead to identification shall be blocked out.
I. Slides in addition to the material contained in the submitted text may be used only in the presentation if they do not expand the presentation beyond the 20 minutes time limit.

VI. DEADLINE

All manuscripts must be mailed before 12:00 pm March 1st, 2010. Any manuscripts sent after 12:00 pm March 1st, 2010, will not be considered for judging.

Please send manuscripts to:

Chicago Area Radiation Therapists
207 East Ohio, Suite #105
Chicago, Il  60611

*Rules and Regulations Subject to Change**