Professional Writing Contest

All WCU undergraduate English Studies majors and minors regardless of concentration and all WCU graduate English Studies students regardless of concentration.

There is no fee. Please email your paper to wcupwrcontest@gmail.com by January 31, 2024.

• 10-12 pages
• Double spaced
• One-inch margins
• 12 pt. Times New Roman.
• APA Style

The page limit includes front matter, body, and back matter. Photos, illustrations, or other relevant graphics are also included in the page limit. Do not include your name anywhere in the submission.

A white paper is a hybrid document of a research paper and proposal. Please use the following sections for the white paper.

• Title Page: All papers should include a unique, descriptive title; do not include your name on the title page or anywhere else in the document.
• Table of Contents: Include a table of contents for all major sections of the white paper.
• Executive Summary: This is a one-page summary of the topic, current situation, problem, and solution(s).
• Introduction: Introduce the topic of your paper and explain its relevance to the contest theme as well as its importance in wider conversations about the environment.
• Current Situation: Use current and relevant research to document the current situation regarding the topic.
• Problem Statement: Explain clearly, and with detail and description, what the problem is and who it is a problem for.
• Solution(s): Explain clearly, and with detail and description, each solution considered in solving the problem identified earlier.
• Recommendation: Identify a solution for the problem, and explain how that solution will solve the problem identified earlier.
• Conclusion: Explain how will the idea presented in this paper contribute to overall environmental conversations and/or improve the environmental matter addressed?
• List of References
• Back Matter (if relevant)

Long-form professional writing genres, such as academic/scholarly papers or articles, web sites, proposals, etc.  

All papers should include credible outside research sources to support claims throughout the paper and include at least three visuals.

All papers must be submitted as a pdf document. For graduate students who are submitting a web site, please submit the link to the web site in your submission email.

A team of professional writing and rhetoric professors will read and select winners for the award. Winners will be notified by email by February 14, 2024. Criteria for selection includes clear demonstration of critical thinking, creativity, feasibility, and interesting, persuasive, and correct writing.

Winners will be asked to attend and deliver a short five-minute presentation of their work at the Professional Writing and Rhetoric Contest Speaker Event on February 22, 2024.