Writers Portfolio Contest

The Writer's Portfolio Contest is sponsored annually to encourage BYU students to develop a wide variety of writing skills-a kind of writer's pentathlon. It is challenging and rigorous-perhaps the most challenging of the BYU writing contests. It is open to all full-time undergraduate or graduate BYU students. The contest awards a single $500 prize-though the prestige and satisfaction of winning this contest are perhaps more important than the money.

Requirements and Judging:

Entrants will submit a portfolio of five pieces of writing conforming to the categories listed below. At least one of the items must have been printed in or accepted by a publication having a professional editor. Student publications may count if they are under formal faculty supervision. Published items may be submitted as xerox copies of printed pages, but should be clearly marked to show date and place of publication. Items accepted for publication must be accompanied by a copy of the letter of acceptance. One piece of writing might fit in more than one category, so each item must be clearly labeled to show under which category it is submitted. An item will be judged under only one category. Class papers may be used if they fit the requirements.

Entries will be submitted according to the English Department's printed schedule and will be judged by experienced writers who have published in several of the forms. If no portfolio achieves competence in all five forms and excellence in several, the judges may decide not to give the award.

Scholarly Paper or Article:

For the purpose of this contest, a scholarly paper or article will be in a subject such as history, philosophy or one of the humanities. The submission should demonstrate that the writer is capable of evaluating sources and can draw valid conclusions from those sources. The sources may be primary or secondary and conclusions are drawn from qualitative evidence. Length should be 2000-5000 words.

Technical Paper:

For the purposes of this contest, a technical paper will be in engineering, technology, or a physical, biological or social science. The conclusions must be based on quantitative evidence gathered from laboratory, field, or printed sources or combination thereof. The text should be supplemented as appropriate, by graphics. Length should be 2000-5000 words.

Popular Article:

For the purpose of this contest, a popular article will be an informative article on any subject, but the article should be suited to an educated non-professional audience. The entry should contain a notation of the publication it is intended for. Graphics should be included as appropriate. Length should be 2000-3000 words.

Fiction or Drama:

Ordinarily this item will be a short story or one-act play, but a segment of a novel or longer drama may be submitted if accompanied by summaries of preceding and following action. Length should be 1500-5000 words.

Poetry:

The poetry entry may be one or several poems on any subject in any poetic form, rhymed or unrhymed, though doggerel will not do. The form must be suited to the subject and treatment. Length will be 100-200 lines.

Flyer | Cover Sheet