Student Writing Awards
The First-year Seminar Writing Awards
Outstanding writing done by students in WCAS first-year seminars is honored annually. The papers are nominated by the first-year seminar faculty. The winners and honorable mentions are then selected by Charles Yarnoff and peer consultants from the Writing Place.
The 2021-22 award winners are listed below, along with the paper title, instructor, and course:
- Alison Clarke, “The Interdependence of Labor Rights and Environmental Justice.” (Prof. Melissa Rosenzweig, Chicago Environmental Justice)
- Grace Wang, “How does the transparency/regularity of different counting systems affect young children’s learning of addition?” (Prof. Lance Rips, Concepts of Infinity)
These students received honorable mentions:
- Kaitlyn Shi, “The Science Behind the Criminalization of Mass Incarceration of African Americans” (Prof. Stephanie Knezz, The Science Behind Oppression)
- Emmeline Murphy, “Victims of the Victims: Catastrophe, Consciousness, and Claims” (Prof. Roberto Mazza, Jerusalem its History and Politics from 1517 to 2022)
- Cooper Hanley, “Science v. The Scientist” (Prof. Veronica Berns, Science and the Scientist)
The Writing Program Essay Awards
Students from English 105 (Expository Writing), English 205 (Intermediate Composition), and English 305 (Advanced Composition) are eligible for prizes for outstanding essays in those courses. Nominations for prizes are made by faculty. A First Prize and Honorable Mention are awarded in each category. One student each year receives the Jean Reeder Smith Award. Names of winners, along with the titles of the winning essays, are published in the Daily Northwestern.
Writing Program faculty, under the leadership of Charles Yarnoff, administer the First-year Seminar Writing Award for the most outstanding papers written in WCAS first-year seminars. Judging for these awards is done by Writing Program faculty and Writing Place peer consultants. Criteria for judging include a clearly articulated thesis; cogent development with well-chosen specific details; clear, thoughtful analysis; logical organization; and polished style. Winning papers are published on the Writing Place website.