University of Toledo undergraduate students have the opportunity to exhibit their writing talent to win a $500 cash award at the 2015 Shapiro Essay Revision Contest.
“The Shapiro Essay Revision Contest is the largest and most inclusive writing contest on campus,” said Dr. Deborah Coulter-Harris, associate lecturer in the UT Department of English Language and Literature.
Students from any major are welcome to participate, and no pre-registration is required.
“Students arrive at one of the eight sessions and will be given a badly written essay,” Coulter-Harris said. “They will then have two hours to edit, revise, and make the essay their own.”
Judges will review the modified essays the following week and will notify the winners after spring break.
Participants have the chance to win 15 awards ranging from $75 to $500.
“Three awards must go to a freshman and three to a sophomore, a condition laid out by Dr. Shapiro, so that leaves nine awards that could go to anyone,” Coulter-Harris said.
In addition, the top five winners will be invited to attend the Shapiro Festival celebration in April.
The contest sessions will be held in Memorial Field House Room 2420 to accommodate students’ schedules. Sessions will take place:
• Monday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 24, from noon to 2 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m.
“Students can bring pens and pencils, a thesaurus and a dictionary, but no electronics,” Coulter-Harris said. “Thesauruses and dictionaries will be available in the testing room.”
The contest is named for and supported by funds established by Dr. Edward Shapiro, professor emeritus of economics, who retired from the University in 1989 after 22 years of service.
For more information, contact Coulter-Harris at deborah.coulter-harris@utoledo.edu or 419.530.4416.
