Student Resources

Writing Contest Category Descriptions

First Year Writing
  • 2-6 page piece, based on an inquiry, analysis, and/or argument assignment. May contain research and its proper documentation.
  • 7-15 page essay, based on an inquiry, analysis, and/or argument assignment. Must incorporate research and its proper documentation.
  • Personal narrative/memoir, lyric essay, creative argument, literary journalism, and the like
  • Compositions presented in digital form that include some combination of visual, aural, and textual rhetoric.
Upper Divison Writing
  • Research-based projects completed by students in WRTG 3020 Topics in Writing, WRTG 3007 Writing in the Visual Arts, or majors other than Engineering in WRTG 3030 Writing on Science and Society. For personal essays or creative non- fiction, please submit to the CNF Prize. For Engineering majors, please submit to the Mackison Prize.
  • Personal narrative/memoir, lyric essay, creative argument, literary journalism, and the like -- as well as digital multimodal creative nonfiction (for example, photo essay or digital storytelling video).
  • Exclusive to College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) majors in WRTG 3030 Writing on Science and Society and WRTG 3035 Technical Communication and Design. Only CEAS majors writing on an engineering-related topic are eligible. Entries must be documents. No videos or other primarily digital forms (e.g. digital storytelling or web pages) are accepted. Awarded each semester (separate form).
  • Team project completed for client/community parter in upper-divison courses, such as WRTG 3025. Only one team member should submit on behalf of the entire team.
  • Research-based projects completed by students in WRTG 3040 Writing on Business and Society.
Diversity Writing
  • Traditional or multi-modal essays written for any PWR class in any genre that pertains to diversity. Submissions may address diversity in the broadest sense, including such topics as social class, gender, sexuality, age, race, ability, mental health, ethnicity, or cultural difference.
  • We welcome submissions that address diversity in its broadest sense, including such topics as: social class, gender, sexuality, age, race, ability, ethnicity or cultural differences. The award is offered for outstanding traditional or multimodal essays in any genre on topics pertaining to diversity. The multilingual prize is awarded to students writing on a diversity-related topic using or incorporating multiple varieties of English, including students writing English as a Second Language. ESL students are especially encouraged to submit.

 

Contest & Prize Submission Forms

  Mackison Prize Form

Deadlines:

  • Jan. 31, 2025 (for Fall 2024)
  • May 15, 2025 (for Spring 2025)
  • Sept. 20, 2024 (for Summer 2024)

  All Other PWR Prizes Form

Deadline:

  • March 1, 2025