How to Get Points
All About Points
You are checking out this page for two reasons, right? You want to go to the Youth Leadership Summit and you want to know how! We are here to help. Below are the different things you can do to earn points to attend the Summit. As always, if you have questions, call us at (202) 887-9040 or shoot us an email at info@thepeoplespeak.org.
Just as a reminder, 10 U.S. schools and 6 international schools will win the trip. The trip pays for four students (i.e. the debate teams!) and two teachers or debate coaches. It'll be fun, you should be there. So get cracking on those points!
Please remember that the Global Debates will happen throughout the entire month of October '08 and that the deadline for ALL points is December 31st, 2008!
For 2008/2009 we are introducing NEW ways to get points! Stay tuned for details.
- Mash-Up
- Blog with RSS feed
- Video Game
- Recorded Song
- Lesson Plan
- Video Interviews
- Climate Change Website
What: It can be easy to get press coverage for your event. Newspapers like stories about go-getting high school students who care about the world. What do you need to do?
- Download our Sample Press Release and fill in the specifics about your school. You'll notice what you need to do because it's highlighted for you.
- TSend the press release to your local paper. You can find where to send the release by calling the main number for the paper. Ask for the metro or education desk. Explain that you have a press release you would like to send in and ask for their email address.
Try to send the press release about a week before your Global Debate and follow up a day before your event.
How: Upload your press release in the FILE UPLOAD field.
Points: Limit 2 press releases per school (one release on the debate event, one for the voting results for 100 points each).
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What: Did your paper write an article about you? We're not surprised, but we do want to see a copy!
How: First off, ALL press clips should be sent with information identifying:
- name of the publication (if being submitted from another country, please provide the title in English)
- location
- author
- date
If you paper is online, cut and paste the URL of the article into the URL Field. You can also scan a copy into a PDF and upload that in the FILE UPLOAD field. Or, if your paper doesn't have a site, send us an original or photocopy of the article by snail mail at:
The People Speak Global Debates
United Nations Foundation
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Fourth Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Points: 50 points for each article.
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What: A picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case, 3 photos from your debate are worth 75 points.
How: Upload 3 jpg photos into the FILE UPLOAD field or send them to us in an email (with your school name and state please!) at info@thepeoplespeak.org
Points: Limit 3 photos for 25 points each. (Though if you want, you can send more pics!)
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What: Got media skills? Send us a up to 5 minute video with your debaters telling us the best arguments they used for each side of the debate. Once you make your video, upload it to a video sharing site like YouTube.
How: Upload your videos onto YouTube and then send us the URL in the URL UPLOAD field. It will look something like this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZOl5Hd3A-7g. Or you may email us, FTP or snail mail the video. Please check that it is in an approved format, such as .MOV.
Points: Limit 1 video per school, worth 1000 points!
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What: Send in a 60 second PSA showcasing part of your plan to significantly reduce climate change. A PSA is a public service announcement, almost like a commercial, but intended to raise awareness about a specific issue.
How: Once you make your video PSA, upload it to a video sharing site like YouTube. Copy and Paste the URL in the URL UPLOAD field. It will look something like this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZOl5Hd3A-7g
Points: 500 points for each video. Limit four (4) PSAs per school
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What: Write a 250 word essay about why you think addressing climate change is important for young people. Show us you learned something while doing your research. Why do you think young people should care about climate change? What is it about your action plan that is so significant? What are your future goals regarding climate change and how do you anticipate achieving them?
How: Please upload ALL essays in ONE word document Each essay must have a title and the author's name at the top. with the name of the person who wrote the essay in the FILE UPLOAD field.
Points: Limit 15 essays per school, worth 25 points each (maximum of 375 points).
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What: Like any good blog post, keep it short and simple (no more than 300 words!). We will publish the best entries on the TPS blog. We have two sets of topics for you:
- Tell us 3 ways you are going green
- Tell us the top three reasons why you think young people should care about climate change
How: Upload a word document in the FILE UPLOAD form. Make sure to include the author of the blog. We want to give credit where credit is due!
Points: Limit 8 blog posts per school, worth 25 points each.
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What: Tell your city or town about your climate change plan and why it is so important to adopt in a Letter to Editor.
Start reading the Op-Ed section of your paper to see what other Letters to the Editor look like. It’s always good to comment on a recent article and then say your point of view. Since climate change seems to be in the news all the time, this should be easy. The paper will have information about where to send the letter to the editor.
How: Upload a word document with your letter to the editor in the FILE UPLOAD field.
Points: Limit 1 per school for 100 points.
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What: Did they print your letter? Great job!
How: If you paper is online, cut and paste the URL of the letter to the editor into the URL Field. You can also scan a copy to a PDF and upload that in the FILE UPLOAD field. Or, if your paper doesn't have a site, send us an original or photocopy of the article by snail mail at:
The People Speak Global Debates
United Nations Foundation
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Fourth Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Points: Limit one per school for 50 points.
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What: Do you know your state’s or local community’s policy regarding issues detailed in your action plan? Now's your chance to find out. Send a letter asking your elected leaders what they are doing about climate change and present to them your plan.
You can write to your local officials (mayors or city leaders), state leaders (state representatives or senators) or your U.S. Member of Congress or U.S. Senator.
How: Upload your letter to in the FILE UPLOAD field.
Points: Limit 10 letters per school for 50 points each.
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What: Invite local leaders to attend your event. You might be surprised at how many people say yes!
How: Send us an email at info@thepeoplespeak.org with up to 3 photos showing the elected leader attending the event and let us know who they are. We know a lot, but not every elected leader.
Points: Up to 200 points per school, plus the experience of meeting your elected leaders!
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