Olivia J. Gudger First-Year Writing Contest

Announcing the 2011-2012 Gudger First-Year Writing Contest

You are invited to submit one essay from your Language 120 class to be judged in this annual contest for first-year writers, sponsored in memory of former Literature and Language Professor Olivia J. Gudger. Papers MUST have been written for your Language 120 class.

Note: To be eligible to enter, you must have no more than 30 hours of college credit.

This year we will award prizes in two categories: Narrative essays (personal essays with no research component) and Research papers (essays that showcase information literacy.)

In each category, judges will determine three awards: the Winner will earn $100; the Runner-up will win $75; and the Honorable Mention will win $25. Awards will be deposited in your UNC Asheville student account.

Procedure:

To enter, submit an electronic version of your essay to BOTH jdrigger@unca.edu and elocklea@unca.edu. Your work should be saved as a Word document and attached to the email.

The subject line of your email should read: First-Year Writing Contest, Narrative Submission OR First-Year Writing Contest, Research Submission.

To maintain your anonymity, invent a pen name to use on your essay. Remember to take your real name off the header, and do remove your teacher’s name from the heading.

In the message that accompanies your attached essay, write the following information:

1. Your pen name;
2. Your real name;
3. Your student ID number;
4. Language 120 course information – number, section, and instructor’s name;
5. The following statement, copied and signed: I give my permission to have my essay copied and distributed throughout the Literature and Language Department for publicity and possible use a as model essay in Language classes.

Your essay must be submitted no later than noon on Tuesday, December 13 (Fall classes) or noon on Friday, May 5 (Spring classes.)

Entries not following the format outlined above will be discarded.

Essays from Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 will be considered together and judged at the end of the spring semester. You will be notified in June 2012 if your work has earned a prize.