Embedded Files
UIL Academics will hold an information session after school on Wednesday, October 1st. Join us to eat snacks and learn more about UIL Academics.
Below is a list of all the academic contests we compete in here at Shadow Creek.
Below is a list of all the academic contests we compete in here at Shadow Creek.
You can compete in multiple contests, but some contests may overlap in timing preventing multiple entries. Check the UIL Conflict Pattern for problems.
Click on the contest name below for more information about the coach, the contest, and some helpful links
Accounting
Accounting
The contest focuses on the elementary principles and practices of accounting for sole proprietorship, partnerships and corporations, and includes bookkeeping terminology, the work sheet with adjustments, income statement, balance sheet, trial balance, account classification, journalizing, posting, bank reconciliation, payroll and other items related to the basic accounting cycle.
Contact
Contact
Michael Abner
Accounting Coach
Email: mabner@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
Sample Accounting Tests and Keys
Calculator Applications
Calculator Applications
The contest includes calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, roots, powers, exponentiation, logarithms, trigonometric functions and inverse trigonometric functions. In addition to straightforward calculation problems, the contest includes geometric and stated problems similar to those found in algebra, geometry and trigonometry textbooks, previous contests and League materials related to the contest.
Contact
Contact
Purnima Saride
Calculator Apps Coach
Email: psaride@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
UIL Calculator Apps Website
Sample Tests and Keys
List of Calculator Types Used
Computer Science
Computer Science
The Computer Science Contest challenges high school students to gain an understanding of the significance of computation as well as the details of Java programming, to be alert to new technology and information, to gain an understanding of the basic principles of computer science and to get a start in one of the most important fields of the Information Age.
Contact
Contact
No current coach
Computer Science Coach
Email: rlechleiter@alvinisd.net for more information about how to participate in this event
Starting Resources
Starting Resources
UIL Comp Science Website
Sample Tests and Keys
Current Issues and Events
Current Issues and Events
The contest focuses on a basic knowledge of current state, national and world events and issues. The contest consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and an essay that challenges students to understand not just what is happening in the world today, but why and how it’s happening and what it means to us as citizens of the United States.
Contact
Contact
Michael Geronimo
Current Issues and Events Coach
Email: mgeronimo@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
Debate (Cross Examination and Lincoln Douglas)
Debate (Cross Examination and Lincoln Douglas)
UIL Academics Debate offers both Lincoln Douglass (LD) and Cross-Examination (CX) style debate formats. Check out the topics linked below to see what is being debated this year.
There is a Debate specific class offered here at Shadow Creek, and it is highly suggested that students who are interested in participating in UL Academics debate are enrolled in that class, as it will help focus and improve all skills needed for UIL competition.
Contact
Contact
No current coach
Email: rlechleiter@alvinisd.net for more information about how to participate in this event
Starting Resources
Extemporaneous Speaking (Persuasive and Informative)
Extemporaneous Speaking (Persuasive and Informative)
This contest gives students a choice between Informative or Persuasive speaking:
Informative Speaking
The purpose of this contest is to stimulate an active interest in current affairs at the state, national and international levels, and to teach the student to present extemporaneously in a clear and impartial manner the facts about a subject as they appear in the best available sources of information. This contest is an exercise in clear thinking and informing the public on the issues and concerns of the American people. The objective is to present information orally in an interesting way, and an attempt should not be made to change the listener’s mind beyond presenting the information.
Persuasive Speaking
The purpose of this contest is to stimulate an active interest in current affairs at the state, national and international levels and to train students to analyze a current issue, determine a point of view, and then organize and deliver extemporaneously a speech that seeks to persuade listeners to agree with that viewpoint. The objective is to reinforce the views of listeners who already believe as the speaker does, but even more so, to bring those of neutral or opposing views around to the speaker’s beliefs or proposed course of action.
Format of the Contest
Contestants draw five topics, select one and have thirty minutes to prepare a persuasive speech on the topic. Topics shall be based on current news events and include topics from state, national and international levels. They will be chosen from the general areas of political, social, economic, educational and cultural interests.
Contact
Contact
No current coach
Email: rlechleiter@alvinisd.net for more information about how to participate in this event
Journalism (Editorial, Feature, News, Headline, and Copy Editing)
Journalism (Editorial, Feature, News, Headline, and Copy Editing)
Editorial writing teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on mechanical and stylistic precision, news judgment, and the ability to think deeply, to compare and contrast and to argue or defend a point of view persuasively.
Feature writing teaches student to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly, and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on the same writing skills as other UIL Journalism Contests, as well as the ability to write descriptively.
News writing teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on mechanical and stylistic precision, lead writing, use of direct and indirect quotes and news judgment.
Headline writing teaches students to read critically, to digest and prioritize information quickly and to write clearly, accurately and succinctly. Emphasis is placed on the ability to discern key facts and to write with flair and style in order to tell and sell a story.
Copy Editing teaches students the vital skills of proofreading and editing to create accurate, clear and succinct writing. Emphasis is placed on the ability to find and correct grammatical, spelling, punctuation, AP style and factual errors.
Contact
Contact
Robert Lechleiter
(temporary) SCHS Journalism Coach
Email: rlechleiter@alvinisd.net
Sample Tests and Keys (for each event)
Literary Criticism
Literary Criticism
The UIL Literary Criticism Contest is a ninety-minute contest in which the competitor's familiarity with the concepts associated with literary analysis and the authors and works that represent English-language literary history is assessed.
Three sets of items comprise the scored part of the test; a required tie-breaking essay that invites the competitor to exercise his or her skill in literary analysis completes the test.
Part 1: Knowledge of Literary Terms and Literary History (30 one-point questions)
Part 2: The UIL Reading List - differs year to year (20 two-point questions)
Part 3: Ability in Literary Criticism (15 two-point questions)
Part 4: The Tiebreaking Writing Prompt
The 2024-25 Book, Play, and Poems (further information on these titles provided in a link below)
Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and Other Stories, Elizabeth L. Bradley
William Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing
Emily Dickinson's The Poems of Emily Dickinson: Reading Edition, R. W. Franklin, ed.
Contact
Contact
No current coach
Literary Criticism Coach
Email: rlechleiter@alvinisd.net for more information about how to participate in this event
Starting Resources
UIL Literary Criticism Website
Sample Tests and Keys
Information About the Chosen Book, Play, and Poem for 2024-25
Mathematics
Mathematics
The Mathematics Contest consists of a 40-minute, multiple-choice exam with 60 questions, designed to test knowledge and understanding in Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-calculus, AP Calculus (BC) and AP Statistics. A few director's choice topics will also be tested.
Contact
Contact
Purnima Saride
Calculator Apps Coach
Email: psaride@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
Number Sense
Number Sense
The Number Sense Contest involves a ten-minute, 80 question mental math test covering all high school mathematics courses (See the sequence chart link in the right sidebar). Short cuts need to be developed and practiced in order to compete and finish the test.
Contact
Contact
Purnima Saride
Calculator Apps Coach
Email: psaride@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
Oral Interpretation (Poetry and Prose)
Oral Interpretation (Poetry and Prose)
Oral Interpretation brings writing to life by asking students to add their own personal flair to their chosen poems or prose excerpts and perform those pieces live. Whether you choose to read poetry or a prose excerpt, each group focuses on specific categories each year. Your selections must meet the following category topic.
2024/25 Prose and Poetry Categories
Category A: Recognizing Joy: Focusing on the Little Things
The goal of this category is to recognize joy in even the simplest of things. The overall tone of the performance should be joyful.
Category B: Inspiring Change: Striving for a Better Tomorrow
The goal of this category is to explore developments that have enhanced our world and to celebrate the positive change over time that has led to a better future. For this reason, students should consider using prose that spans different time periods.
Contact
Contact
Amber Stevener
Oral Interpretation Coach
Email: astevener@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
UIL Oral Interpretation Website
2024/25 Prose Category Information
Science
Science
The purpose of the Science Contest is to challenge high school students to do a wide range of reading in biology, chemistry and physics, to gain an understanding of the significance of experiments rather than to recall obscure details, to be alert to new discoveries and information in the areas of science, to gain an understanding of the basic principles as well as knowledge of the history and philosophy of science, and to foster a sense of enthusiasm about science and how it affects our daily lives.
As the contest consists of questions concerning Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, upperclassman who have taken these courses usually perform better. However, awards are given out for all contests, so specialty knowledge in only one discipline can still be your ticket to winning.
Each year a "study text" is chosen for the contests. (copies of the book are provided by SCHS)
This years (physics) study text is:
How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog, by Chad Orzel
Contact
Contact
Raziyya Khatoon
Science Coach
Email: rkhatoon@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
Social Studies
Social Studies
The Social Studies Contest consists of 45 objective questions and an essay. Students are expected to master primary reading selections, as well as specific documents, and to be familiar with general-knowledge social studies concepts and terms. Each year, the contest focuses on a different topic area and a reading list that is provided by UIL.
Additional Information
2024-2025 TOPIC: The Rise of Factionalism, Partisanship, and the “Vices of Democracy” in the early United States (1795-1850)
Primary Reading Selection: A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign by Edward J. Larson
The Reading List and Supplemental Resource list can be found on in the "Starting Resources" links below
Contact
Contact
Michael Geronimo
Social Studies Coach
Email: mgeronimo@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
Spelling and Vocabulary
Spelling and Vocabulary
Each year, the UIL Spelling and Vocabulary Contest is based on a different vocabulary list provided by UIL and consists of a three-part test:
Part I: A fifteen-minute section of 30 multiple-choice items focused on vocabulary and proofreading
Part II & III: The hand-written spelling of 70 words pronounced aloud to contestants, as well as a tiebreaker section of 20 additional pronounced words
Additional Information
Eighty percent of the test will come from the UIL “Word Power” list that changes each year. Twenty percent will come from outside sources, such as commonly used words, proper names/words in the news, and words that are representative of important elements of the English language.
The “Word Power” list is a free digital download found In the "Starting Resources" links below
Contact
Contact
Michael Geronimo
Social Studies Coach
Email: mgeronimo@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
Starting Resources
Ready Writing
Ready Writing
In the Ready Writing Contest, the students are given two hours to write expository compositions. They have a choice between two prompts, each an excerpt from literature, publications (past and present) or speeches. The prompts are meant as a springboard to inspire ideas for your composition, and do not need to be responded to, or included, in your composition.
The point of expository writing is to explain your ideas clearly and creatively using examples pulled from literature, history, current events, pop culture, and anything else you can relate back to the theme of the prompt.
Contact
Contact
Robert Lechleiter
Ready Writing Coach
Email: rlechleiter@alvinisd.net
Starting Resources
Starting Resources
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