University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
American Library Association Banned Books Week Essay Contest
Length: <500 words
Possible Topics, Pick one:
· How would the world be different if a particular work had been banned;
· Describe your experience with a particular book challenge incident;
· What is your relationship with a particular book from the list of challenged and banned books;
· Discuss the importance of protecting books from banning.
A list of the most frequently banned books can be found at the following site: http://www.ala.org/bbooks .
Submissions: Submit your essay to the front desk of Nash Library by 4:00 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012.
Decisions will be made and announced on Monday October 8, 2012.
Prizes: 1st prize – 2 banned books and $25 gift certificate to the USAO bookstore
2nd prize – 1 banned book and a banned books t-shirt
Eligibility: Only USAO students are eligible to participate.
Format: Type your essay, double-spaced (on one side of white 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper.) Include your name and e-mail address on a cover sheet. [This cover will be removed from your essay before it is judged, i. e., the judge will not know your name while your paper is being judged.]
How Will Your Essay Be Judged?
The decision of the judge is final. Your essay will be judged based on five criteria:
1. Focus: how well your essay responds to the chosen topic
2. Organization: the structure of your essay and the strength of your thesis statement
3. Originality: Creativity in writing
4. Voice: how well your writing engages the reader
5. Style and Mechanics: how well the essay is written in terms of grammar, spelling, and punctuation, as well as word choice and sentence construction
