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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:

These students received honorable mentions:

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.