The entry deadline is Dec. 13, 2013, for a student competition focused on human rights that will award cash prizes totaling $3,600. Categories include: research papers, journalism, electronic media, creative writing, photos, and world languages
The Center for Writing Excellence has launched its inaugural Elon Writing Contest, a competition open to undergraduate and graduate students in all majors with a theme this fall of “human rights and social justice.”
Students may submit entries in a wide variety of forms, ranging from printed texts to television and radio stories, interactive media, photographs with captions, and performances of poems or songs they have written. As entries are received, they will be posted the Writing Center’s website for the Elon community to read or view.
“We look forward to watching the range of issues and creative forms of expression expand as the contest continues,” said Paul Anderson, director of Elon’s Writing Across the University program. “The contest provides a way we can showcase the excellent writing of Elon students. It invites students to explore ways they can use writing to address moral and ethical issues that are important to them.”
The contest offers $3,600 in prizes, with three $200 prizes in each of six categories: research papers, journalism, electronic media, creative writing, photos, and world languages. The last category is for students who prepare an entry in any of the other categories using one of the languages taught by the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Elon faculty and staff from across the university will judge the entries.
“The Writing Center invites students to talk about their entries with our consultants at any stage of the writing process,” said Associate Professor Paula Rosinski, director of the university’s Writing Center. “The consultants can help them brainstorm ideas, develop their materials, and polish their submissions in any of the categories. Students can make appointments online or drop in.”
The range of topics is wide open. Students may dramatize a social injustice, inspire others to action, propose a solution, explain how science or technology can help, or argue on behalf of an ignored human right. “We encourage students to write on the issues they are passionate about,” Anderson said.
Students may submit items they’ve written for class or prepared on their own. They may submit new materials or items about human rights and social justice that they have prepared in the past. They may make one submission in each of the six categories.
Contest sponsors include all of Elon’s academic divisions: College of Arts and Sciences , Martha and Spencer Love School of Business , School of Communications , School of Education , School of Health Sciences , and School of Law. Other sponsors include the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community, Honors Program, Periclean Scholars Program, and the departments of English and music.
The deadline for entries is December 13. Winners will be announced spring semester at a special awards event.
More information is available at the Writing Center website.