Department of English Student Essay Contests
English 100-Level Student Essay Contest
Any student enrolled in ENGL 110, 111, 112, or 190 during the 2009-2010 school year may enter this contest by submitting essays written for these courses.
Guidelines:
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Submissions must respond to literature in some way and should not consist entirely of narrative without reflection.
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Submissions must include a rough draft that demonstrates substantial revision.
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No more than two submissions per student.
Format for Submissions:
Essays should be typed, double-spaced. Please paperclip the formal essay pages together—do not staple—and attach your rough draft to the back of the essay by paperclip. Since it will be judged blindly, do not include your name on the essay itself, just a title. With your essay, submit a cover sheet that includes your name, the essay title, the class for which the essay was written, the instructor’s name, and your on-campus mail number. You have the option of discussing your essay submission with your instructor for revisions and suitability. Please note that submitted essays will not be returned. Finally, if a particular category (ENGL 110, ENGL 111/112, or ENGL 190) does not receive a minimum number of entries, it may be excluded by the faculty judges and no prize will be awarded in that category.
Deadline:
Essay(s) must be received by the English Department administrative office (JRC 333) by 3 p.m., Friday, March 19, 2009.
Prize:
Three $75 cash prizes will be awarded to the writers of the best ENGL 110 essay, the best ENGL 111 or ENGL 112 essay, and the best ENGL 190 essay.
Read the Bulletin Today article about our three 2008-2009 essay winners and their paper topics!
English Major Student Essay Contest
Any undergraduate student who has 48 or more total credits and has officially declared a major in English, a major in English with Writing Emphasis, a major in English with a Teacher Education Emphasis (5-12), or a major in Literary Studies may enter this contest by submitting essays written for any 300-level or above English course (includes ENGL 300, 305, 324, 325, 334, 337, 341, 360, 361, 362, 364, 365, 366, 367, 370, 371, 372, 373, 380, 390, 395, 411, 481, and 490) during the current 2009-2010 academic year.
Guidelines:
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Submissions must analyze a text (literature, poetry, or drama) or a topic related to literary studies (such as film pedagogy, writing theory) from one or more critical perspectives.
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Essays will be judged on the thesis, the use of evidence to support that thesis, the strength of conclusions, academic merit, literary merit, and creativity of thought.
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Submitted essays must be fifteen pages or less (this page count does not include the works cited page).
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No more than one submission per student.
Format for Submissions:
Essays should be typed, double-spaced. Please paperclip the formal essay pages together—do not staple. Since it will be judged blindly by a panel of English faculty, do not include your name on the essay itself, just a title. With your essay, submit a cover sheet that includes your name, the essay title, the class for which the essay was written, the instructor’s name, and your on-campus mail number. You have the option of discussing your essay submission with your instructor for revisions and suitability. Please note that submitted essays will not be returned.
Deadline:
Essay(s) must be received by the English Department administrative office (JRC 333) by 3 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2010.
Prize:
A first prize of $150 and one second prize of $75 will be awarded.
5/4/09 Update: Congratulations to Sarah Houtler for winning first prize for her essay "Fear and Dread in 'The Black Cat.'" Caitlin Miller was awarded second prize for her essay "A Work of Art: Reflections on Mrs. Ramsay & Lily Briscoe in To the Lighthouse." Finally, an honorable mention was given to Bryan Campion for his essay "Contemplating Sexuality and Class in Society: A Queer-Marxist Critique of Oscar Wilde's 'The Happy Prince.'" We congratulate these English majors on their accomplishment and thank everyone who submitted an essay!
