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 2025-26 award winners are listed below, along with the paper title, instructor, and course:
- Max Polosky, “The Green Machine: Historical Origins and Modern Continuances of Green Colonialism,” from Prof. Martin Naunov’s course, “Biases, Discrimination, and Inequalities,” SQ 2025
- Jian Choo, “Mapping the Unseen: The Graphic Novel as a Site of Resistance,” from Prof. Jacob Brown’s course, “Afro-Brazilian Writing, Culture, and Perspectives,” WQ 2026
These students received honorable mentions:
- Olivia Zeman, “Corporate Radio and the Policing of Country Music: The Blacklisting of the Dixie Chicks,” for Prof. Ian Hurd’s course, “Banned! Songs too Dangerous to Hear,” WQ 2026
- Marina Mason, “She’s the Man,” for Prof. Lauren Johnson’s course, Women in Sports: Race, Gender, and Athleticism in 21st Century Literature and Film,” WQ 2026
- Sidhartha Basu, “The Men Problem: A Strategy Memo for the Democratic Party on Gendered Mobilization," for Prof. Ann Shola Orloff’s course, “Political Gender Gaps across the Generations,” WQ 2026
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.