Essays

When writing an essay, there are basic guidelines that should be followed in order to make your essay clear, specific and informative. Your essay should contain the following:

  • An introduction, which contains an explanation of your position. The objective is to demonstrate that you understand the essay contest question and have formed a response to it.
  • A body, which develops your argument. The process of analysis may include comparing and contrasting, differentiating among several ideas or events, critiquing a variety of perspectives, interpreting results, or drawing inferences.
  • A conclusion, which summarizes your position and sets forth your conclusions. Drawing on ideas already presented, you should demonstrate that your conclusions support the position you put forward in the opening paragraphs.
  • A bibliography, which is a list of the works that you have referred to in your essay or have consulted in order to write it.

How to submit your essay

  • Please e-mail all essays to contest@yourvisionyourvoice.com.
  • In the body of the e-mail, please include your name, your school and the grade that you are currently in.
  • Particpants must have an Official Form signed by a parent and the participant. the submission will be declined if the Official Form is not received by 11:59 p.m. EST on April 15, 2008. All Official Forms must be mailed or faxed to Your Vision, Your Voice, 100 W. 10th St., Ste. 704, Wilmington, De 19801, 302-571-1538. The Official Form will not be accepted by e-mail.

You must:

  • Answer the essay contest question in a well-organized, well-reasoned essay of 400-1,400 words and double-spaced.
  • Write the essay in English and address all parts of the Your Vision Your Voice essay topic.
  • Number the pages of your essay.
  • Include your name and the title of your essay in the header/footer.

Your essay will be disqualified if:

  • It is not on the topic.
  • It is submitted after the deadline of April 15, 2008.
  • It has profanity or insulting language towards another party or group of people
  • It plagiarizes—that is, uses someone else's statements or ideas as your own.

For help writing your essay, visit our How To page.