How to Create an Essay Contest
An essay contest is a great way to encourage students and young adults to become engaged in civic matters, think about issues analytically, and to participate in causes; not to mention, it could potentially create an effective publicity opportunity for your organization, school or cause. Launching an essay competition is also a great way to demonstrate community involvement and to illustrate that your organization takes its social responsibility seriously.
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Instructions
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How to Create an Essay Contest
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Determine who you will target with the contest. While essay contests are generally thought of as student competitions, think of which sectors of the public that you would like to open this contest to.
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Choose a well-conceived topic. Draft a few topics that can illicit poignant and thoughtful essay responses. Make it lucid as possible. The topic should be a question and could even be prompted by a quote. The Ayn Rand Institute popularly holds an annual essay contest prompted by her novel "The Fountainhead" for high school upperclassmen.
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Establish a handsome prize. Get sponsors to donate a prize or money as a reward for the winner and/or finalists. If this is a student contest, make the prize a college scholarship that the student receives upon proof of enrollment. Offer additional awards or honors, like a subscription to your organization's publication, a gift certificate to a national chain or a mention in your company newsletter. Determine if the winning essay can be published in your organization or school's newsletter, or if it will be available to be read online as additional incentive for the winner and/or finalists.
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Set up firm rules. Set up a clear, short list of eligibility requirements. Be clear in the rules about how long the essay must be and the criteria for winning. Disclose how the competition will be judged.
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Assemble a panel of judges. Employees, esteemed community members or perhaps members of the board of directors from your organization add regard to the contest and bring high profile names that will help as you publicize the contest.
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Generate publicity. Get listed on scholarship websites like FastWeb where many students solicit support during their scholarship search. If it is a local contest, a school announcement, ad in a local newspaper or posting in the local library may be more appropriate.
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