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 2024-25 award winners are listed below, along with the paper title, instructor, and course:
- Katie Chang, "U.S. Government Wanted! for Controlling Women’s Social Authority,” from Prof. Adrienn Kacsor’s course, “The Art of Propaganda,” SQ 2024
- Elisha Mwesigwa, " "The Weight of History: Racial Embodiment and the Health Crisis of Systemic Racism,” from prof. Emma Cohen’s course, “Body Building,” WQ 2025
These students received honorable mentions:
- Abby Pearson, “Counting to 100: The Key for Understanding Infinity?” from Prof. Lance Rip's course, “Concepts of Math Infinity,” WQ 2025
- Haley Kleinman, “The Border Patrol, Femicide, and Santa Muerte: Additions to AP Curriculum,” from Prof. Elizabeth Shakman Hurd’s course, “American Borders” WQ 2025
- William Pashby, “Moral High Ground, Legal Loopholes: The Genocide Convention’s Legacy of Inaction," from Prof. Ipek Kocaomer Yosmaoglu's class “What is Genocide?,” WQ 2025
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.