They're older - some of them are mothers returning to school. There's really a broad range of applicants. The categories for the writing contest reflect what students would be assigned to write in class. The essays can be interpretations of other written works, or they can look back on a student's personal experience. Students can submit essays based on traditional research from the library or electronic research, and there is also a category for multi-genre research essays, which can be composed from library research, interviews, or personal observations.
Students also can choose to place their essay in an open category competition.
Students must submit their essays and completed application forms to their English Composition professor or English department by April 24. The submissions must also have a reflective cover letter. Students can get application forms from their English professors. May. Winning essays from the first two years were published by McGraw-Hill Companies and edited by Wenner and Marlene Miner, of Raymond Walters College. Prize-Winning Essays from First Year Composition, can be used as a textbook for English Composition classes at the access colleges.