IU East Community Engagement Writing Contest

In an original work of 1,000-2,000 words, explore one of the following:

• Community Dynamics: Investigate how an individual, team, or organization (business, non-profit, community group, school, etc.) or a unique event or product (locally made) has contributed to our region. Your audience is someone new to the area and who might like to get involved, attend the event, or purchase the product. Why does the individual, team, organization, event, or product matter to our community or region? What is its history? It’s future? Include one or two interviews and other primary or secondary research (as needed). See Primary and Secondary Sources: Permissions for the identification between the sources of information and whether you need to obtain permission to use them.
• Local Landscape: Describe the significance of a specific building, town, or natural site in our region. Why does that particular place matter? What is its history? How has it impacted how we experience the area today? What challenges does it face? Your reader has never visited the site before, and your goal is to offer them one reason or more to do so. Include one or two visual images of your own source (not from a third party) and other primary or secondary research (as needed). See Primary and Secondary Sources: Permissions for the identification between the sources of information and whether you need to obtain permission to use them.
• Personal Narrative: Share your personal connection through a particular experience unique to our area. How has your experience shaped what our region means to you? Has your perspective changed due to the experience? If so, how? And why does it matter? Your aim is to convey a specific idea, point, or claim about our region to someone unfamiliar with the area, using your experience or story as evidence (rather than just a general description of your life here). For this option, you will be writing from your own perspective (your “I” view). You may include primary or secondary research for this option, but it is not necessary. See Primary and Secondary Sources: Permissions for the identification between the sources of information and whether you need to obtain permission to use them. 

All photos, images, graphs, charts, or tables must be your own--no third-party or Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated images, please. Permission is needed for professional headshots. Your article must be written by yourself. AI-generated articles will not be accepted for consideration.

All submissions must include the following: 

• Informative title
• In-text citations and references list, using either APA or MLA (as needed)
• Single-spaced, size 12 font
• All images, tables, charts, etc., appropriately captioned
• Completed submission form 
• Completed permission form(s): Interview Release and Organization Release, if applicable, for all non-publicly available information, including but not limited to interviews. If missing, the submission will not be accepted for consideration.
• Accurate information
• A well-developed and supported point of view
• Organization of information that aligns with the document's purpose
• An understanding of the intended audience’s needs and expectations
• Visuals, if any, that enhance textual content
• Purposeful application of research (as needed). Remember that nothing speaks for itself!

Complete the entry form in full (will open on August 26, 2024, see the Eligibility section below), then upload your .doc, .docx, or .pdf file and any other needed information no later than December 15, 2024. No other file formats are supported. Submissions will only be accepted through the online submission platform. Contest organizers are not responsible for incomplete entries or damaged, missing, or lost files. Each participant is limited to one article only.

The contest is open from August 26, 2024, to December 15, 2024, to all IU East undergraduate or graduate students (must be registered for at least one class in Fall 2024).

The first 50 entrants will receive a free book on writing! Choose from one of the six great titles listed below. Make your choice when you upload your article.

• Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott
• The Writing Life, Annie Dillard
• The Antiracist Writing Workshop, Felicia Rose Chavez
• On Writing, Stephen King
• The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century, Steven Pinker
• How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill, Brown, Jericho, Taylor, Darlene

One winner and two finalists will be awarded in each topic area (Community Dynamics, Local Landscape, Personal Narrative) for each level group (“Freshman and Sophomore,” “Junior and Senior,” and “Graduate”). All cash prizes are paid into students’ bursar accounts (or in the form of a gift card, if applicable).

• Winner (1 @ $200)
• Finalists (2 @ $100 each)

All submissions will be judged based on the criteria listed below.

• Article explores one of the three topic areas (Community Dynamics, Local Landscape, Personal Narrative) in a meaningful way, reflecting the writer’s personal engagement with, and knowledge of, the region that is both inviting and authentic.
• Content is accurate and informative, supporting a well-developed point of view or claim (not merely a compilation of data or facts).
• Information is organized clearly and cohesively, with attention to the document’s purpose and the intended reader’s needs.
• Visual elements, including photos, graphics, tables, or charts, if any, enhance textual content and are informatively captioned.
• Primary and/or secondary research is integrated effectively, well-explained, or applied, supporting the document’s purpose.
• Sources are documented accurately through in-text citations and a references list, using APA or MLA
• Design/formatting is consistent and polished, offering a professional presentation. Grammar, spelling, and other conventions are appropriate for document purposes and the intended reader’s needs or expectations.

The contest will be judged by the IU East faculty and administrator listed below, who will make a final decision.

• Oi Lin (Irene) Cheung, Ph.D., Director of the Business and Economic Research Center
• Tanya Perkins, MA, MFA, Chair of the English Department
• Eleni Siatra, Ph.D., Director of Academic Support Programs (and Writing Center Manager)
• Gregg Woodruff, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting
• Ken Christmon, Vice Chancellor, External Affairs

All awarded articles will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Student Research at IU East. Students will work with a faculty editor to prepare manuscripts for publication, anticipated Fall 2025.