As DECA advisors, one of our crucial roles is helping student members navigate the technical requirements of prepared 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
- Prepared Event Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity on page 61 in the DECA Guide
- Prepared Event Guidelines, included in the specific competitive event guidelines in the DECA Guide
Use the Prepared Event 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 Prepared Event Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity (15 Points)
The most substantial single penalty point deduction comes from incorrectly submitting the Prepared Event 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 Prepared Event Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity.
- The statement must be uploaded separately from the submission when submitted electronically.
- Additionally, explain to your student members the primary purpose of the Prepared Event 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 for 20-page written entries, but the cover slide is included in the numbering for the 20-slide pitch decks in prepared entries.
- 8½ x 11-inch page size for 20-page written papers: This is the most common infraction. DECA members who use platforms such as Adobe Express, Canva, etc., often do not realize that the page size may be incorrect.
- Pitch decks must be typed and use a 16:9 aspect ratio at 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall.
Page Numbering and Organization
Emphasize the importance of proper sequencing:
- For prepared events that have a 20-page written paper the 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
- For prepared events that require a 20-slide pitch deck, the cover slide is included in the numbering. However, the cover slide does not need to be numbered, and the title slide can begin with a number “2”.
- Continue through to the bibliography and final appendix page (if an appendix is included)
- Do not use separate section title pages
- Maintain continuous numbering without breaks
Content
- Make sure the Title Page or Title Slide includes all items listed in the Prepared Event Guidelines for the event in the DECA Guide.
- Ensure each main section in the outline of the body in the Prepared Event Guidelines is addressed, has a title and is in sequence.
- A bibliography must be included; however, DECA does not require a specific 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) for 20-page written entries
- Wrong aspect ratio for slide decks (not 16:9 at 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall.)
- Inconsistent page numbering
- Improper signatures or missing signatures on Prepared Event 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 Prepared Event 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.
