The Creative Arts(CAP) Programme is targeted at Secondary 2 and 3, and JC 1/Year 5 students.
A) Secondary Level
The Secondary CAP is open to ALL Secondary 2 and 3 students in Singapore. It is multi-lingual (English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil). Each successful applicant will attend the relevant creative writing workshops in the language that he/she is selected for at the Creative Arts Seminar.
An interested applicant should get ready a creative writing portfolio. Each portfolio should comprise literary works in only 1 language. If an applicant wishes to submit works in more than 1 language, he/she needs to hand in his/her works in separate portfolios as they would be assessed by different writers. Please note that every successful applicant will only be chosen for 1 language, and is expected to attend the seminar workshops in that language.
Each portfolio could include creative works from 1 literary genre or a range of genres (i.e. prose and/or poetry and/or play). Please note that expository and argumentative essays should NOT be included in the portfolio.
The minimum number of creative works to be included in each portfolio is 5, and the maximum 8. (If an applicant wants to submit portfolios in different languages, each portfolio must meet the minimum number of works mentioned above.)
For prose, short stories or novel excerpts should not exceed 1,500 words per piece. For novels with chapters, up to 3 individual chapters, each not more than 1,500 words in length, will be counted as part of the number of works to be included. In other words, each chapter will be considered as one submitted piece. The portfolio should not consist only of chapters from one novel. Portfolios that exceed the limit in terms of number of pieces or words are discouraged and will be assessed at the judges’ discretion.
B) Junior College Level
The Junior College CAP is open to ALL Year 1 Junior College / Year 5 students in Integrated Programme Schools in Singapore. The Junior College CAP is offered only in English. Each successful applicant will attend the relevant creative writing workshops in the literary genre that he/she is selected for at the Creative Arts Seminar.
An interested applicant should get ready a creative writing portfolio. Each portfolio should comprise creative works in only 1 literary genre (prose, poetry or play). Please note that expository and argumentative essays should NOT be included in the portfolio.
A separate portfolio is required if an applicant wishes to submit works in more than 1 literary genre. Please note that every successful applicant will only be chosen for 1 literary genre and is expected to attend the Seminar workshops in that genre.
The
number of creative works to be included in each
portfolio is as follows.
Poetry: Minimum of 5, maximum of 8
Prose: Minimum of 5, maximum of 8
Play: Minimum of 3, maximum of 5
If an applicant wants to submit portfolios in different literary genres, each portfolio must meet the minimum number of works mentioned above.
For prose, short stories or novel excerpts should not exceed 1,500 words per piece. For novels with chapters, up to 3 individual chapters, each not more than 1,500 words in length, will be counted as part of the number of works to be included. In other words, each chapter will be considered as one submitted piece. The portfolio should not consist only of chapters from one novel. Portfolios that exceed the limit in terms of number of pieces or words are discouraged and will be assessed at the judges’ discretion.
To apply for the Creative Arts Seminar, students must submit the following:
a) 3 copies of the creative writing portfolio. (Please note that the portfolios will NOT be returned to you.)
b) 3 copies of the application form (i.e. the original and 2 photocopies of it.)
c) 1 copy of the undertaking form.
d) 1 copy of the teacher recommendation form. The recommendation form must be in a sealed envelope with the teacher’s signature across the seal.
Download all forms for Secondary Students here.
Download all forms for Junior College students here.
The creative writing portfolio (3 hard copies), together with the application form (3 hard copies), undertaking form and teacher recommendation form must reach us by 27 January 2012 (for secondary school students), and 2 April 2012 (for JC1 / Year 5 (IP) students).
Please note that plagiarism is a serious offence. Do acknowledge the intellectual contributions of others in the portfolio. Students found to be guilty of plagiarism will be disqualified from the Seminar.
Please send the portfolio to the following address:
Creative Arts Programme
Gifted Education Branch
Ministry of Education
51 Grange Road
Block 1, #01-09
Singapore 249564
CAP Mentorship Attachment Application
To apply for the CAP Mentorship Attachment, students must submit the following:
- 2 copies of the
application form. (i.e. the original and
the photocopy)
- 1 copy of the
undertaking form.
- 1 copy of the teacher
recommendation form. The recommendation form
must be in a sealed envelope
with the teacher’s signature across the seal.
- 1 hard copy of the
portfolio
- 1 soft copy of the portfolio (in a CD)
Please note the following:
- You will only be chosen
for mentorship in 1 genre. Please submit the
portfolio in the genre that you are strongest
in.
- All your creative works
in soft copy should be saved in ONE document in
a CD with your name and school at the top of
each literary work. Your document should
be named after yourself and your school.
(e.g. Helen Chua_Nowhere Secondary School)
- Please do not submit your original portfolio as it will NOT be returned to you. Late entries will not be accepted.
Number of works for the mentorship portfolio:
The maximum number of works to be included in each portfolio is 3. For prose, short stories or novel excerpts should not exceed 1,500 words per piece. For novels with chapters, up to 3 individual chapters, each not more than 1,500 words in length, will be counted as part of the number of works to be included. In other words, each chapter will be considered as one submitted piece. The portfolio should not consist only of chapters from one novel. Portfolios that exceed the limit in terms of number of pieces or words are discouraged and will be assessed
Click to download the CAP Mentorship Attachment application form and FAQ for CAP Mentorship Attachment 2012-2013.
Please send all the above by 6 July 2012 to the following address:
Creative Arts Programme
Gifted Education Branch
Ministry of Education
51 Grange Road
Block 1, #01-09
Singapore 249564
The following criteria will be used to assess the creative writing portfolios submitted for Creative Arts Seminar and the Mentorship Attachment:
- Sense of form
- Precision with language
- Truthfulness of feeling
- Originality of thought and imagination
- Sensitivity to the world at large
Information on portfolio development and the rubrics of the portfolio evaluation can be found here.
Portfolios which contain plagiarised materials will be disqualified.
A) Creative Arts Seminar
Secondary School
Letters on the results of application will be sent to respective schools by mid April.
Junior College
Letters on the results of application will be sent to respective colleges by early May. Schools with more than 5 selected participants are required to send a liaison teacher to the seminar.
B) Mentorship Attachment
Secondary School and Junior College
Letters on the results of application will be sent to respective schools by mid August. Successful applicants will be asked to attend a Mentorship briefing on 24 August 2012.
