As DECA advisors, one of our crucial roles is helping student members navigate the technical requirements of written events. These requirements are set to maintain fairness for all competitors and assist with consistent evaluation by judges. While the content of the project is critical, an outstanding paper can lose valuable points due to formatting and structural errors.
This guidance is issued on how penalty points are assessed at DECA’s International Career Development Conference. Please consult your chartered association advisor regarding penalty points at the district/regional and association levels of competition.
Use the following to guide your student members in avoiding common penalty point deductions.
- Penalty Point Checklist on page 60 in the DECA Guide
- Written Event Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity on page 61 in the DECA Guide
- Written Entry Guidelines, included in the specific competitive event guidelines in the DECA Guide
Use the Penalty Point Checklist on page 60 of the DECA Guide and the information below to help your student members avoid common penalty point deductions.
Understanding the Critical Components
The Written Statement of Assurances (15 Points)
The most substantial single penalty point deduction comes from incorrectly submitting the Written Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity. Coach your student members on these key points:
- Only physical or digital signatures are acceptable.
- Typed names in fonts will not be accepted.
- All participants and the chapter advisor must sign.
- Make sure the chapter advisor also signs the Written Event Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity.
- The statement must be uploaded separately from the paper when submitted electronically.
- Additionally, explain to your student members the primary purpose of the Written Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity Form, which is instituted to ensure that the highest ethical standards are maintained by the competitors. Make sure your student members understand that they agree that the contents of the written entry are the results of their work and that credit has been appropriately attributed.
Page Requirements and Formatting
Guide student members through these essential formatting requirements:
- Strict adherence to page limits specified in guidelines – 5 points deduction per each page over the limit. Note: The title Page and Table of Contents are not included in the page count.
- 8½ x 11-inch page size: This is the most common infraction. DECA members who use platforms such as Adobe Express, Canva, etc., often do not realize the page size may be incorrect
Page Numbering and Organization
Emphasize the importance of proper sequencing:
- Page numbers must start with the executive summary and be visible on each page – the title page and table of contents should not be numbered
- Continue through to the bibliography and final appendix page (if an appendix is included)
- Avoid separate section title pages
- Maintain continuous numbering without breaks
Content
- Make sure the Title Page includes all items listed in the Written Entry Guidelines for the event in the DECA Guide. The title page is not numbered.
- Ensure each main section in the outline of the body in the Written Entry Guidelines is addressed, has a title and is in sequence.
- A bibliography must be included; however, DECA does not specify a required format.
Best Practices for Advisors
Implement a Multi-Stage Review Process
- Early Review: Check outline compliance and basic formatting (such as page size) weeks before submission
- Mid-Point Check: Review page counts and section organization
- Establish a Student Peer Review Team
- Final Verification: Complete a thorough penalty point checklist review
Common Pitfalls to Address
Watch for these frequent issues that cost students valuable points:
- Wrong page size (not 8.5 x 11 inch)
- Inconsistent page numbering
- Improper signatures or missing signatures on Written Statement of Assurances
- Excessive pages beyond guidelines
- Incorrect section ordering
Final Submission Strategy
Create a final verification process for students:
- Cross-check against the penalty point checklist
- Cross-check against the Written Entry Guidelines for the competitive event in the DECA Guide
- Have a peer verify all requirements
- Obtain all required signatures early
Remember, your role as an advisor is to guide students through this process while maintaining their ownership of the work. By helping them understand and implement these requirements early in the project development phase, you'll help them avoid unnecessary point deductions and allow their hard work to shine through in competition.