The 8th Annual SLC Undergraduate Writing Contest: Now Open!

A pencil that looks like a rocket, blasting off

The Student Learning Commons invites all undergraduate students to enter the 8th annual writing contest. 

Quick info and rules

 Students: You are invited to submit a paper you wrote for an SFU undergraduate course during the 2024 calendar year (January-December). 

 Instructors: Learn more at Support and uplift your students: the Undergraduate Writing Contest offers unique opportunities.

 Although papers must have originally been written for a course, they can be revised for the writing contest to ensure they meet the contest criteria. 

  Cash prizes will be awarded to the first and second place winners in each category.

 All contest winners and honourable mentions will be published in an open access writing contest journal. 

 Co-authored papers can be submitted to the contest. In such cases, one author will complete the submission process, however, all co-authors must agree to the submission. In the case where a co-authored paper wins, the prize money will be divided equally among all co-authors. 

 Plurilingual Prize Category

For the Plurilingual Prize category only, you can choose to submit a paper you already wrote, or write a paper specifically for the contest. 

The Plurilingual Prize is designed to celebrate excellent writing that engages with multiple languages, multiple Englishes, and a variety of plurilingual rhetorical strategies. 

How to enter and other details

For more, including all contest details, the submission page, and past winners, see the SLC Writing Contest journal Contest Information page.  

 Deadline: Submit your entry by January 5!

Spotlight on previous contest winners 

Nat Begg won First Prize for the paper: "Han Father, Minzu Children: Gender and Family in China’s Ethnic Governance." 

Here is what Nat had to say about the contest: 

After hearing about the SLC Writing Contest from a classmate, I thought I'd submit a paper I was proud of from the prior semester to the Fourth Years Category. Noticing that my paper focused on political language in China, the folks at the SLC helpfully suggested I move it to the plurilingual category, where it won first prize. Planning for graduate studies, I'm always looking for ways to take my work further and develop on ideas from class, so this was a wonderful opportunity for me. The undergraduate experience can often feel cut off from so much of the vibrancy and activity that happens in a university institution, and opportunities like the SLC Writing Contest are a fantastic way to bridge that gap.

Nat Begg

Gabrielle Wong won First Prize for the paper: "Placemaking or Placekeeping? The Dual Role of the Arts in the Gentrification of Manhattan’s Chinatown" 

Here is what Gabrielle had to say about the contest:

Entering the SLC Writing Contest is a low-barrier way to practise the writing process from beginning to end. From revising my work for submission to sharing the final publication with others, the contest was a great experience. I encourage you to consider submitting a paper even if you don't see yourself as a 'great writer'! Good ideas and arguments are best shared with others.

Gabrielle Wong

Audrey Heath won an Honourable Mention for the paper: "Differing Viewpoints: Cultural Perspectives on Canis lupus"

Here is what Audrey had to say about the contest: 

I never considered myself a particularly great writer, but writing about topics I am passionate about helped me to get excited about writing, and want to share my work. The SLC Undergraduate Writing Contest was a great opportunity for me to step outside of my comfort zone, while getting to share my story with the community.

Audrey Heath

 

Date(s)
Enter by January 5
Contact for further information
slc-writing-contest@sfu.ca