http://www.yesmagazine.org/for-teachers/writing-competition-essays/spring-2018-national-student-writing-competition-letters-of-hope

The Writing Prompt

Students, please respond to the writing prompt below with an up-to-700-word letter:

Think about what matters most to you about our country’s future. Write a letter to someone important to you, describing that future you imagine and hope for.

 

Who is Eligible?

• You must be a classroom teacher—homeschool cooperative, resource centers, supervised writing groups, and schools outside the U.S. included—for your students to participate.
• Student writers should be in grades 6-8, grades 9-12, college/university, or adult continuing education.

 

How does it work?

• Complete the competition registration form by March 9, 2018 (see link at bottom of page).

• Students respond to the YES! article with an essay up to 700 words.

• Submit up to three essays per class period, along with student release forms, by April 20, 2018.

• For each of the following categories, YES! staff (and possibly the author of the article) will select one essay that we feel is well-written, compelling, and captures the spirit of the article:

  • Middle School (Grades 6-8)
  • High School (Grades 9-12)
  • College/university
  • Powerful Voice (for an author whose essay is uniquely powerful or thought-provoking)

• The selected essays will be featured on the YES! Magazine website and in our online education newsletter, reaching thousands of YES! readers, including over 11,000 teachers.