The program recognizes outstanding achievement in nonfiction prose writing. Two awards are given for each of our courses: ENG 101, 151, and 291. One award in each course is for expository writing (e.g., personal narrative, description, or profile). One award in each course is for a research project (e.g., critical response, book review, or researched argument).

Entries in any category may be in paper format (such as essays) or digital format (such as Powerpoints or other multi-media writing projects).

A faculty awards committee conducts the judging. Each winning student receives a certificate and a check for $50 during the department’s annual awards ceremony in the spring. Some essays will be published in Pentangle.

Criteria: Winning entries will . . .

• Exhibit originality and a writer's unique voice;
• Present a focused, compelling thesis if needed;
• Support the thesis thoroughly in an interesting, organized manner;
• Employ varied sentences and precise, vivid wording;
• Be free of errors in grammar and mechanics;
• Document sources correctly according to an appropriate format (e.g., MLA, APA, CMS).

Please click here to read about previous award recipients.

Eligibility: All students in ENG 101, 151, and 291 are eligible. The faculty member must nominate the student's work. The writing project must have been written within one year of the deadline date.

Nomination: The faculty member must give the student's work to the WIP director with a cover sheet that includes the instructor’s name and the student’s name, telephone number, mailing address, and email address.

Limit: Each faculty member may nominate a maximum of two student projects annually.

Deadline: Nominated work must be submitted no later than Monday, 9 March 2009.


(Thanks to Dr. Robert T. Rhode for assistance in developing the criteria.)