Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.

Find the perfect editor for your next book

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Best Essay Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 48 contests that match your search.

Climate Change Writing Competition

Write the World

Genres: Essay, Memoir, and Non-fiction

This month, dear writers, ahead of COP27, help us raise the voices of young people in this urgent fight. In a piece of personal narrative, tell the world’s leaders gathering in how climate change impacts you. How has this crisis changed your environment, your community, your sense of the future? Storytelling, after all, plays a critical role in helping us grasp the emergency through which we are all living, igniting empathy in readers and listeners—itself a precursor to action.

Additional prizes:

Runner-up: $50

📅 Deadline: October 18, 2022 (Expired)

Askew's Word on the Lake Writing Contest

Shuswap Association of Writers

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Essay, Memoir, and Short Story

Whether you’re an established or emerging writer, the Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest has a place for you. Part of the Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival in Salmon Arm, BC, the contest is open to submissions in short fiction (up to 2,000 words), nonfiction (up to 2,000 words), and poetry (up to three one-page poems).

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $11

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

International Essay Competition 2023/24

Avernus Education

Genres: Essay

Welcome to our prestigious International Essay Competition. At Avernus Education, we are thrilled to provide a platform for young minds to showcase their prowess in Medicine, Engineering, Law, Economics, Psychology, History and Politics. These varied subject categories underscore the importance of interdisciplinary study, a crucial foundation for future leaders in our increasingly interconnected world. Winners receive an exclusive Avernus Education Scholarship worth over £5000 - granting them free entrance to our exclusive summer camp at Oxford University! Outstanding Runners Up receive 5 hours worth of Credits for Avernus Education courses, conferences and tutoring services.

100% Scholarship Award to our Oxford University Summer Programme (worth £5995)

Partial scholarship

📅 Deadline: February 19, 2024 (Expired)

Craft your masterpiece in Reedsy Studio

Plan, write, edit, and format your book in our free app made for authors.

Learn more about Reedsy Studio .

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel

Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what's possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD.

2nd: writing coach package

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024

Indignor Play House Annual Short Story Competition

Indignor House Publishing

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

Indignor House Publishing is proud to announce that our annual writing competition (INDIGNOR PLAYHOUSE Short Story Annual Competition) is officially open with expected publication in the fall of 2024. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual anthology.

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)

Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest

Lazuli Literary Group

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, and Script Writing

We are not concerned with genre distinctions. Send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. We want art that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous phrases executed with thematic intent.

Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"

📅 Deadline: March 24, 2024 (Expired)

Rigel 2024: $500 for Prose, Poetry, Art, or Graphic Novel

Sunspot Literary Journal

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story

Literary or genre works accepted. Winner receives $500 plus publication, while runners-up and finalists are offered publication. No restrictions on theme or category. Closes: February 29. Entry fee: $12.50. Enter as many times as you like through Submittable or Duotrope

$500 + publication

Runners-up and finalists are offered publication

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)

Narratively 2023 Memoir Prize

Narratively

Genres: Essay, Humor, Memoir, and Non-fiction

Narratively is currently accepting submissions for their 2023 Memoir Prize. They are looking for revealing and emotional first-person nonfiction narratives from unique and overlooked points of view. The guest judge is New York Times bestselling memoirist Stephanie Land.

$1,000 and publication

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2023 (Expired)

African Diaspora Awards 2024

Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Up to $1000 in cash prizes for the African Diaspora Award 2024. African-themed prose and poetry wanted. Top finalists are published in Kinsman Quarterly’s magazine and the anthology, “Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora.”

Publication in anthology, "Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora" and print and digital magazine

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024

Vocal Challenges

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story

Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.

$1,000 — $5,000

📅 Deadline: March 07, 2024 (Expired)

Share Your Story

FanStory.com Inc.

Genres: Essay and Memoir

Write about an event in your life. Everyone has a memoir. Not an autobiography. Too much concern about fact and convention. A memoir gives us the ability to write about our life with the option to create and fabricate and to make sense of a life, or part of that life.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: September 15, 2022 (Expired)

swamp pink Prizes

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

From January 1st to January 31st, submit short stories and essays of up to 25 pages or a set of 1-3 poems. Winners in each genre will receive $2,000 and publication.

Stories of Inspiration

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

Nonfiction stories of inspiration wanted (between 500 to 2,000 words). Submissions should highlight the struggle and resilience of the human spirit, especially related to cultures of BIPOC or marginalized communities. Stories must be original, unpublished works in English. One successful entry will be awarded each month from April 2024 and will be included within Kinsman Quarterly’s online journal and digital magazine. Successful authors receive $200 USD and publication in our digital magazine. No entry fee required.

Publication in Kinsman Quarterly's online magazine

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

Annual Student Essay Contest

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

For this year’s Essay Contest, we are asking students to think about why the story of the Oklahoma City bombing is important today.

📅 Deadline: March 04, 2024 (Expired)

A Very Short Story Contest

Gotham Writers Workshop

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, and Non-fiction

Write a great short story in ten words or fewer. Submit it to our contest. Entry is free. Winner of the bet gets a free Gotham class.

Free writing class from Gotham Writers Workshop.

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024

Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award

Trio House Press

We seek un-agented full-length creative nonfiction manuscripts including memoir, essay collections, etc. 50,000 - 80,000 words.

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024

Military Anthology: Partnerships, the Untold Story

Armed Services Arts Partnership

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Partners are an integral aspect of military life, at home and afar, during deployment and after homecoming. Partnerships drive military action and extend beyond being a battle buddy, wingman, or crew member. Some are planned while others arise entirely unexpectedly. Spouses, family, old or new friends, community, faith leaders, and medical specialists all support the military community. Despite their importance, the stories of these partnerships often go untold. This anthology aims to correct that: We will highlight the nuances, surprises, joy, sorrow, heroism, tears, healing power, and ache of partnerships. We invite you to submit the story about partnerships from your journey, so we can help tell it.

$500 Editors' Choice award

$250 for each genre category (prose, poetry, visual art)

Great American Think-Off

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas that connect to your life at the gut level. The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, sponsors this annual philosophy contest.

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

Environmental Writing 2024

The writer and activist Bill McKibben describes Environmental Writing as "the collision between people and the rest of the world." This month, peer closely at that intersection: How do humans interact with their environment? Given your inheritance of this earth, the world needs your voices now more than ever.

Best entry: $100

Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50

📅 Deadline: April 22, 2024

Creative Nonfiction Prize

Indiana Review

Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction

Send us one creative nonfiction piece, up to 5000 words, for a chance at $1000 + publication. This year's contest will be judged by Lars Horn.

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

Annual Contest Submissions

So To Speak

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Non-fiction, and Poetry

So To Speak is seeking submissions for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction with an intersectional feminist lens! It is no secret that the literary canon and literary journals are largely comprised of heteronormative, patriarchal, cisgender, able-bodied white men. So to Speak seeks work by writers, poets, and artists who want to challenge and change the identity of the “canonical” writer.

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)

Young Sports Journalist 2024

The Young Sports Journalist Competition, 2024, seeks well-argued articles from aspiring journalists aged 14-21. Winning entries will be published online and printed in the Summer Issue of Pitch. Critiqued by our panel of accomplished judges, winners will also receive a £50 cash prize and offered work experience here at PITCH HQ. The competition runs from 7 February 2024 to 5 April 2024. And winners will be announced in May.

Publication in magazine and online

📅 Deadline: April 05, 2024 (Expired)

Journalism Competition 2024

What are the most important issues taking place close to home? Perhaps a rare bird sighting near your town? Or a band of young people in your province fighting for access to higher education? This month, immerse yourself in a newsworthy event inside the borders of your own country, and invite us there through your written reporting.

📅 Deadline: July 22, 2024

Work-In-Progress (WIP) Contest

Unleash Press

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Young Adult

We aim to assist writers in the completion of an important literary project and vision. The Unleash WIP Award offers writers support in the amount of $500 to supplement costs to aid in the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Writers will also receive editorial feedback, coaching meetings, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit.

Coaching, interview, and editorial support

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024

Bacopa Literary Review Annual Writing Contest

Writers Alliance of Gainesville

Bacopa Literary Review’s 2024 contest is open from March 4 through April 4, with $200 Prize and $100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Free Verse Poetry, Formal Poetry, and Visual Poetry.

📅 Deadline: April 04, 2024 (Expired)

Tusculum Review Nonfiction Chapbook Prize

The Tusculum Review

A prize of $1,000, publication of the essay in The Tusculum Review’s 20th Anniversary Issue (2024), and creation of a limited edition stand-alone chapbook with original art is awarded. Editors of The Tusculum Review and contest judge Mary Cappello will determine the winner of the 2024 prize.

📅 Deadline: June 15, 2024

Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest

Jane Austen Society of North America

Genres: Children's and Essay

JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers. Students world-wide are invited to compete for scholarship awards in three divisions: high school, college, and graduate school.

$1,000 scholarship

Two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2022 (Expired)

National Essay Contest

U.S. Institute of Peace

This year, AFSA celebrates the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service. Over the last century, our diplomats and development professionals have been involved in groundbreaking events in history – decisions on war and peace, supporting human rights and freedom, creating joint prosperity, reacting to natural disasters and pandemics and much more. As AFSA looks back on this century-long history, we invite you to join us in also looking ahead to the future. This year students are asked to explore how diplomats can continue to evolve their craft to meet the needs of an ever-changing world that brings fresh challenges and opportunities to the global community and America’s place in it.

Runner-up: $1,250

WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

WOW! Women On Writing

Genres: Non-fiction and Essay

Seeking creative nonfiction essays on any topic (1000 words or less) and in any style--from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay and hybrid, and more! The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives. Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award

Killer Nashville

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, and Thriller

The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is committed to discovering new writers, as well as superlative books by established authors and, upon discovery, sharing those writers and their works with new readers. There are a large number of both fiction and non-fiction categories you can enter.

💰 Entry fee: $79

Literary and Photographic Contest 2023-2024

Hispanic Culture Review

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry

As we move forward we carry our culture wherever we go. It keeps us alive. This is why we propose the theme to be “¡Hacia delante!”. A phrase that means to move forward. This year we ask that you think about the following questions: What keeps you moving forward? What do you carry with you going into the future? How do you celebrate your successes, your dreams, and your culture?

Publication in magazine

📅 Deadline: February 07, 2024 (Expired)

NOWW 26th International Writing Contest

Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)

Open to all writers in four categories: poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and critical writing.

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50

💰 Entry fee: $7

Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, and Short Story

The Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing will be administered to the winner of a literary contest designed to champion innovative hybrid and cross-genre work.

💰 Entry fee: $22

📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Red Hen Press Women's Prose Prize

Red Hen Press

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, and Novel

Established in 2018, the Women’s Prose Prize is for previously unpublished, original work of prose. Novels, short story collections, memoirs, essay collections, and all other forms of prose writing are eligible for consideration. The awarded manuscript is selected through a biennial competition, held in even-numbered years, that is open to all writers who identify as women.

Publication by Red Hen Press

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)

The Hudson Prize

Black Lawrence Press

Each year Black Lawrence Press will award The Hudson Prize for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. The prize is open to new, emerging, and established writers.

💰 Entry fee: $28

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course: How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

How to Craft a Killer Short Story

The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction

How to Write a Novel

Understanding Point of View

Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love

Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character

Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine

On Editing:

Story Editing for Authors

How to Self-Edit Like a Pro

Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites

How to Write a Short Story in 7 Steps

How to Write a Novel in 15 Steps

Literary Devices and Terms — 35+ Definitions With Examples

10 Essential Fiction Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft

How to Write Dialogue: 8 Simple Rules and Exercises

8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character

Bonus resources

200+ Short Story Ideas

600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You

100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors

Story Title Generator

Pen Name Generator

Character Name Generator

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Reedsy Marketplace UI

Save your shortlist

Enter your email address to save your shortlist so that you don't lose it!

By continuing, you will also receive Reedsy's weekly publishing tips and access to our free webinars.

Reedsy Marketplace UI

We sent over your shortlist. Thank you for using Reedsy's Writing Contest Directory, happy publishing! 🙌

Prompts | Prompts Sans Serif | 2024-03

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.

Reedsy Marketplace UI

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

essay writing contest topics

Essay Writing Contests: The Ultimate List of 2024

essay writing contest topics

Did you know that the very first recorded essay contest can be traced back to the early 16th century, initiated by none other than the renowned philosopher and essayist Michel de Montaigne? In 1580, Montaigne published his collection of essays titled 'Essais,' which not only marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of the essay as a literary form but also contained an implicit challenge to his readers. He encouraged them to engage with his ideas and respond by writing their own essays, essentially laying the groundwork for what we now recognize as essay contests.

Fast forward to the vibrant year of 2024, and this tradition of writing competitions has evolved into a global phenomenon, offering emerging writers from all walks of life a captivating platform to share their thoughts, emotions, and narratives with the world.

In this article, our essay writer will review essay writing contests, presenting you with an exclusive selection of the most promising opportunities for the year ahead. Each of these competitions not only provides a stage to demonstrate your writing prowess but also offers a unique avenue for personal growth, self-expression, and intellectual exploration, all while competing for impressive writing awards and well-deserved recognition.

Top Essay Writing Contests in 2024

If you enjoy expressing your thoughts and ideas through writing, you're in for a treat. Essay writing competitions in 2024 offer you a chance to do just that and win some great prizes in the process. We've put together a list of contests specially designed for students like you. These contests cover various interesting essay topics , giving you a unique opportunity to showcase your writing skills and potentially earn cash prizes or scholarships. So, let's jump right into these fantastic opportunities.

Top Essay Writing Contests in 2024

2024 International Literary Prize by Hammond House Publishing

The 2024 Writing Competition beckons writers with over £3000 in cash prizes, publication opportunities in anthologies, and a chance to participate in a televised Award Ceremony. Sponsored by the University Centre Grimsby, this annual contest, now in its eighth year, draws entries from approximately 30 countries worldwide. Entrants can vie for prizes across four categories, gaining exposure at the televised award ceremony and receiving expert feedback at the annual literary festival.

And if you're determined to learn how to overcome writer's block for this contest, we have a wealth of expert tips and strategies to guide you through the process!

Deadline: 30th September 2024

  • 1st Prize: £1000
  • 2nd Prize: £100
  • 3rd Prize: £50

Ready to Break Free From Essay Stress?

Let our writing wizards rescue your grades with a tailor-made essay that'll make your professors do a double-take!

International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition by Vine Leaves Press

Vine Leaves Press welcomes writers worldwide, prioritizing voices from marginalized communities such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities, among others. Submissions, which must be in English and previously unpublished, are accepted from February 1, 2024, until July 1, 2024. Manuscripts can be either narrative (50,000 – 80,000 words) or experimental (at least 100 pages), adhering to specific formatting guidelines, including anonymity to ensure impartial judging. Each submission requires a $25 entry fee via Submittable, and multiple entries are allowed. Entries will be judged based on originality, creativity, writing quality, and adherence to genre, with finalists announced in October 2024, shortlisted in January 2025, and winners in March 2025.

Deadline: July 01, 2024

  • The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000.
  • Publication of the winning manuscript will occur in 2026 by Vine Leaves Press.
  • Runners-up will also be considered for publication.

Solas Awards by Best Travel Writing

The Solas Awards, continuing a tradition since 1993, celebrate travel stories that inspire. They're looking for engaging tales that capture the essence of exploration, whether funny, enlightening, or adventurous. Winners may get published and join a community of fellow storytellers. Entries in essay, non-fiction, and travel genres are welcome with a $25 submission fee.

Deadline: September 21, 2024

  • $1,000 Gold
  • $750 Silver
  • $500 Bronze

Vocal Challenges by Creatd

Vocal, in partnership with Voices in Minor (ViM), announces a creator-led challenge in celebration of International Women's Day, open to all Vocal creators. Participants are invited to write a 600-800 word piece about a woman who has inspired them for International Women's Day in the Year of the Dragon 2024. Submissions must adhere to specific length criteria and can be of any genre or format. Vocal will review entries and create a shortlist, from which ViM will select two co-grand prize winners and ten runners-up.

Deadline: Mar 12, 2024

  • 2 Co-Grand Prizes: $200
  • 10 Runners-up: $20

Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition 2024

The Re:think Essay Competition welcomes students aged 14 to 18 worldwide to participate in crafting essays under 2000 words, following MLA 8 citation style, with submissions undergoing plagiarism and AI checks. Essay prompts cover diverse themes, such as the role of women in STEM , provided by distinguished professors from prestigious institutions like Harvard, Brown, UC Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT. To maintain anonymity during review, submissions should be in PDF format without personal details.

Deadline : 10th May, 2024

  • Gold: $150 cash, $500 CCIR scholarship, digital certificate, interview, Cambridge invite.
  • Silver: $100 cash, $300 CCIR scholarship, digital certificate, interview, Cambridge invite.
  • Bronze: $50 cash, $200 CCIR scholarship, digital certificate, interview, Cambridge invite.

The Hudson Prize by Black Lawrence Press

Each year, Black Lawrence Press presents The Hudson Prize, inviting submissions for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. This competition is open to writers at all stages of their careers, offering the winner book publication, a $1,000 cash prize, and ten copies of the published book. Entries are read blind by a panel of editors, requiring manuscripts to adhere to specific formatting guidelines, including pagination and font choice. Poetry manuscripts should be 45-95 pages, while prose manuscripts should range from 120-280 pages.

Deadline : March 31, 2024

  • Top prize $1,000

essay contest 2024

Irene Adler Prize by Lucas Ackroyd

Introducing The Irene Adler Prize essay writing contest, offering a $1,000 US scholarship to the winner, with up to two $250 awards for honorable mentions. Open to women pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degrees in journalism, creative writing, or literature worldwide, regardless of age. Unlike previous years, this year's competition welcomes applicants from any country. The application period runs from January 30, 2024, to May 30, 2024, with no late submissions accepted. Each application requires a 500-word essay on one of five provided prompts and a completed entry form, both submitted via email.

Deadline : May 30, 2024

  • 2x honorable mentions: $250

100 Word Writing Contest by Tadpole Press

With a doubled first-place prize of $2,000 USD, participants are invited from all corners of the globe, regardless of age, gender, or nationality. Pen names are accepted, and winning entries will be published under those names. Previously published pieces are also welcome, with no restrictions. Any genre is accepted, with the theme centered around creativity. Each entry must be 100 words or less, including the title.

Deadline : April 30, 2024

  • 1st place: $2,000 USD.
  • 2nd place: Writing coaching package valued at $450 USD.
  • 3rd place: Developmental and diversity editing package valued at $250 USD.

African Diaspora Awards 2024 by Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

The African Diaspora Award 2024 seeks original works from Afro-descendants, including short stories, flash fiction, essays, poetry, or visual art. Winners can earn up to $1000 USD and publication in Kinsman Quarterly and "Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora." Submissions reflecting cultural themes are due by June 30, 2024. Authors retain copyrights, and entrants must be 18 or older. No plagiarism is allowed, and Kinsman Quarterly employees cannot enter. Various genres are accepted with specific word count limits.

Deadline : June 30, 2024

  • Grand Prize: $1000 cash and publication in Kinsman Quarterly & anthology.
  • 1st Runner Up: $300 cash and publication 
  • 2nd Runner Up: $200 cash and publication 
  • 3rd Runner Up: $50 cash and publication
  • Top 6 Finalists: $25 Amazon gift card and publication 
  • 6 Honorary Mentions: Publication in Kinsman Quarterly & anthology.

Work-In-Progress (WIP) Contest by Unleash Press

The Unleash WIP Award 2024 offers $500, feedback, coaching, and a feature in Unleash Lit to help writers with their book projects in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. All writers can apply. So, if you're looking for resources like free Harvard online courses to hone your writing skills, consider entering this competition. Submissions of the first 25 pages and answers to questions are due by July 15, 2024. Multiple entries are okay, but follow the rules, especially keeping your submission anonymous. Unleash also welcomes previously self-published works.

Deadline : July 15, 2024

  • Top prize: $500
  • Additional prizes: Coaching, interview, and editorial support

Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award by Trio House Press

Open to all writers, the poetry manuscripts should be 48-70 pages, and the prose manuscripts should be up to 80,000 words. Submissions must be from U.S. residents and must be original works. AI-generated submissions and translations are not eligible. Manuscripts should be sent as a single Word doc. or docx. file with no identifying information, and a cover letter with bio and contact details should be uploaded separately.

Deadline: May 15, 2024

  • $1,000, publication, and 20 books

2024 International Literary Prize by Hammond House Publishing

Poetry & Spoken Word Competition 2024 by Write the World

Young writers aged 13 to 19.5 are invited to enter this upcoming competition, with submissions of 50 to 500 words. Inspired by Audrey Lorde's words and the power of poetry, participants are encouraged to craft original poems or spoken word pieces advocating for change and self-expression. Winners, including top prizes for written and recorded performances, will be announced on June 14. Malika Booker, a renowned British poet, serves as the guest judge. To enter, writers should sign up on Write the World, respond to the prompt, and submit their final entries before the deadline.

Deadline : May 27, 2024

  • Best entry: $100
  • Best Peer Review: $50

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award

The Killer Nashville essay writing contests seek to uncover new talent and recognize outstanding works by established authors, aiming to introduce their works to a broader audience. With numerous fiction and non-fiction categories available, writers have the opportunity to showcase their talent across a wide range of genres. The top prize includes a $250 award, and entry requires a fee of $79. Genres eligible for entry encompass crime, essay, fantasy, fiction, humor, memoir, mystery, non-fiction, novel, poetry, science fiction, script writing, short story, and thriller.

Deadline : June 15, 2024

  • Top prize: $250

Journalism Competition 2024 by Write the World

In this upcoming competition, young writers aged 13 to 19.5 are invited to participate, with entries ranging from 400 to 1000 words. Participants are tasked with exploring and reporting on significant events within their own country, fostering a deeper understanding of local issues. Optional draft submissions for expert review are available until July 8, with feedback returned to writers by July 12. Winners will be announced on August 9. To enter, writers must sign up for a free account on Write the World, respond to the prompt, and submit their final entries before the deadline.

Deadline : July 22, 2024

National Essay Contest by U.S. Institute of Peace

This year, AFSA is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service. They've been involved in important events throughout history, like making decisions about war and peace, supporting human rights, and responding to disasters. Now, AFSA wants students to think about the future of diplomacy. They're asking students to imagine how diplomats can adapt to the changing world and its challenges. It's a chance for students to explore how diplomacy can continue to make a difference in the world.

Deadline : April 01, 2024

  • Top prize: $2,500
  • Additional prizes: Runner-up: $1,250

In 2023, the world of writing competitions offers a diverse tapestry of opportunities for writers across the globe. From exploring the depths of nature to delving into the mysteries of microfiction, these competitions beckon with enticing prizes and platforms for your creative voice. So, pick your favorite, sharpen your pen, and embark on a journey of literary excellence!

Unlock the Essay Enchantment!

Our expert wordsmiths are standing by, wands at the ready, to craft your essay masterpiece. No potions, just perfect prose!

Related Articles

 How to Write a Policy Analysis Paper Step-by-Step

essay writing contest topics

Essay  COMPETITION

2024 global essay prize, registrations are now open all essayists must register  here  before friday 31 may, 2024.

The John Locke Institute encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style. Our Essay Competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the school curriculum.

Entering an essay in our competition can build knowledge, and refine skills of argumentation. It also gives students the chance to have their work assessed by experts. All of our essay prizes are judged by a panel of senior academics drawn from leading universities including Oxford and Princeton, under the leadership of the Chairman of Examiners, former Cambridge philosopher, Dr Jamie Whyte.

The judges will choose their favourite essay from each of seven subject categories - Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law - and then select the winner of the Grand Prize for the best entry in any subject. There is also a separate prize awarded for the best essay in the junior category, for under 15s.

Q1. Do we have any good reasons to trust our moral intuition?

Q2. Do girls have a (moral) right to compete in sporting contests that exclude boys?

Q3. Should I be held responsible for what I believe?

6591aadd752124.36008550.jpg

Q1. Is there such a thing as too much democracy?

Q2. Is peace in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip possible?

Q3. When is compliance complicity?

Q1. What is the optimal global population?  

Q2. Accurate news reporting is a public good. Does it follow that news agencies should be funded from taxation?

Q3. Do successful business people benefit others when making their money, when spending it, both, or neither?

AdobeStock_80176451.webp

Q1. Why was sustained economic growth so rare before the later 18th century and why did this change?

Q2. Has music ever significantly changed the course of history?

Q3. Why do civilisations collapse? Is our civilisation in danger?

Q1. When, if ever, should a company be permitted to refuse to do business with a person because of that person’s public statements?

Q2. In the last five years British police have arrested several thousand people for things they posted on social media. Is the UK becoming a police state?

Q3. Your parents say that 11pm is your bedtime. But they don’t punish you if you don’t go to bed by 11pm. Is 11pm really your bedtime?

pri80631202.jpg

Q1. According to a study by researchers at four British universities, for each 15-point increase in IQ, the likelihood of getting married increases by around 35% for a man but decreases by around 58% for a woman. Why?

In the original version of this question we misstated a statistic. This was caused by reproducing an error that appeared in several media summaries of the study. We are grateful to one of our contestants, Xinyi Zhang, who helped us to see (with humility and courtesy) why we should take more care to check our sources. We corrected the text on 4 April. Happily, the correction does not in any way alter the thrust of the question.

Q2. There is an unprecedented epidemic of depression and anxiety among young people. Can we fix this? How?

Q3. What is the difference between a psychiatric illness and a character flaw?

Q1. “I am not religious, but I am spiritual.” What could the speaker mean by “spiritual”?

Q2. Is it reasonable to thank God for protection from some natural harm if He is responsible for causing the harm?

Q3. Does God reward those who believe in him? If so, why?

woman praising.png

JUNIOR prize

Q1. Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Q2. Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Q3. Is there life after death?

Q4. How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools, while leaving food production to private enterprise? 

Q5. When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Q6. Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies? 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & FURTHER DETAILS

Please read the following carefully.

Entry to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition 2024 is open to students from any country.

Registration  

Only candidates who registered before the registration deadline of Friday, 31 May 2024 may enter this year's competition. To register, click here .  

All entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on  the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024 .  Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on that date. (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be fourteen years old, or younger, on that date.)

Entry is free.

Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, endnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration). 

The filename of your pdf must be in this format: FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf; so, for instance, Alexander Popham would submit his answer to question 2 in the Psychology category with the following file name:

Alexander-Popham-Psychology-2.pdf

Essays with filenames which are not in this format will be rejected.

The candidate's name should NOT appear within the document itself. 

Candidates should NOT add footnotes. They may, however, add endnotes and/or a Bibliography that is clearly titled as such.

Each candidate will be required to provide the email address of an academic referee who is familiar with the candidate's written academic work. This should be a school teacher, if possible, or another responsible adult who is not a relation of the candidate. The John Locke Institute will email referees to verify that the essays submitted are indeed the original work of the candidates.

Submissions may be made as soon as registration opens in April. We recommend that you submit your essay well in advance of th e deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.

Acceptance of your essay depends on your granting us permission to use your data for the purposes of receiving and processing your entry as well as communicating with you about the Awards Ceremony Dinner, the academic conference, and other events and programmes of the John Locke Institute and its associated entities.  

Late entries

If for any reason you miss the 30 June deadline you will have an opportunity to make a late entry, under two conditions:

a) A late entry fee of 20.00 USD must be paid by credit card within twenty-four hours of the original deadline; and

b) Your essay must be submitted  before 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 10 July 2024.

To pay for late entry, a registrant need only log into his or her account, select the relevant option and provide the requested payment information.

Our grading system is proprietary. Essayists may be asked to discuss their entry with a member of the John Locke Institute’s faculty. We use various means to identify plagiarism, contract cheating, the use of AI and other forms of fraud . Our determinations in all such matters are final.

Essays will be judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style and persuasive force. The very best essays are likely to be those which would be capable of changing somebody's mind. Essays which ignore or fail to address the strongest objections and counter-arguments are unlikely to be successful .

Candidates are advised to answer the question as precisely and directly as possible.

The writers of the best essays will receive a commendation and be shortlisted for a prize. Writers of shortlisted essays will be notified by 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 31 July. They will also be invited to London for an invitation-only academic conference and awards dinner in September, where the prize-winners will be announced. Unlike the competition itself, the academic conference and awards dinner are not free. Please be aware that n obody is required to attend either the academic conference or the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London.

All short-listed candidates, including prize-winners, will be able to download eCertificates that acknowledge their achievement. If you win First, Second or Third Prize, and you travel to London for the ceremony, you will receive a signed certificate. 

There is a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category, and the winner of the Junior category, is a scholarship worth US$2000 towards the cost of attending any John Locke Institute programme, and the essays will be published on the Institute's website. Prize-giving ceremonies will take place in London, at which winners and runners-up will be able to meet some of the judges and other faculty members of the John Locke Institute. Family, friends, and teachers are also welcome.

The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship, which comes with a US$10,000 scholarship to attend one or more of our summer schools and/or visiting scholars programmes. 

The judges' decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

R egistration opens: 1 April, 2024.

Registration deadline: 31 May, 2024. (Registration is required by this date for subsequent submission.)

Submission deadline: 30 June, 2024.

Late entry deadline: 10 July, 2024. (Late entries are subject to a 20.00 USD charge, payable by 1 July.)

Notification of short-listed essayists: 31 July, 2024.

Academic conference: 20 - 22 September, 2024.

Awards dinner: 21 September, 2024.

Any queries regarding the essay competition should be sent to [email protected] . Please be aware that, due to the large volume of correspondence we receive, we cannot guarantee to answer every query. In particular, regrettably, we are unable to respond to questions whose answers can be found on our website.

If you would like to receive helpful tips  from our examiners about what makes for a winning essay or reminders of upcoming key dates for the 2024  essay competition, please provide your email here to be added to our contact list. .

Thanks for subscribing!

oxf-essay-competition-16SEP23-723-CR2_edited_edited.jpg

The John Locke Institute's Global Essay Prize is acknowledged as the world's most prestigious essay competition. 

We welcome tens of thousands of submissions from ambitious students in more than 150 countries, and our examiners - including distinguished philosophers, political scientists, economists, historians, psychologists, theologians, and legal scholars - read and carefully assess every entry. 

I encourage you to register for this competition, not only for the hope of winning a prize or commendation, and not only for the chance to join the very best contestants at our academic conference and gala ceremony in London, but equally for the opportunity to engage in the serious scholarly enterprise of researching, reflecting on, writing about, and editing an answer to one of the important and provocative questions in this year's Global Essay Prize. 

We believe that the skills you will acquire in the process will make you a better thinker and a more effective advocate for the ideas that matter most to you.

I hope to see you in September!

Best wishes,

Jamie Whyte, Ph.D. (C ANTAB ) 

Chairman of Examiners

Q. I missed the registration deadline. May I still register or submit an essay?

A. No. Only candidates who registered before 31 May will be able to submit an essay. 

Q. Are footnote s, endnotes, a bibliography or references counted towards the word limit?

A. No. Only the body of the essay is counted. 

Q. Are in-text citations counted towards the word limit? ​

A. If you are using an in-text based referencing format, such as APA, your in-text citations are included in the word limit.

Q. Is it necessary to include foo tnotes or endnotes in an essay? ​

A. You  may not  include footnotes, but you may include in-text citations or endnotes. You should give your sources of any factual claims you make, and you should ackn owledge any other authors on whom you rely.​

Q. I am interested in a question that seems ambiguous. How should I interpret it?

A. You may interpret a question as you deem appropriate, clarifying your interpretation if necessary. Having done so, you must answer the question as directly as possible.

Q. How strict are  the age eligibility criteria?

A. Only students whose nineteenth birthday falls after 30 June 2024 will be eligible for a prize or a commendation. In the case of the Junior category, only students whose fifteenth birthday falls after 30 June 2024 will be eligible for a prize or a commendation. 

Q. May I submit more than one essay?

A. Yes, you may submit as many essays as you please in any or all categories.

Q. If I am eligible to compete in the Junior category, may I also (or instead) compete in another category?

A. Yes, you may.

Q. May I team up with someone else to write an essay?  

A. No. Each submitted essay must be entirely the work of a single individual.

Q. May I use AI, such as ChatGPT or the like, in writing my essay?

A. All essays will be checked for the use of AI. If we find that any content is generated by AI, your essay will be disqualified. We will also ask you, upon submission of your essay, whether you used AI for  any  purpose related to the writing of your essay, and if so, you will be required to provide details. In that case, if, in our judgement, you have not provided full and accurate details of your use of AI, your essay will be disqualified. 

Since any use of AI (that does not result in disqualification) can only negatively affect our assessment of your work relative to that of work that is done without using AI, your safest course of action is simply not to use it at all. If, however, you choose to use it for any purpose, we reserve the right to make relevant judgements on a case-by-case basis and we will not enter into any correspondence. 

Q. May I have someone else edit, or otherwise help me with, my essay?

A. You may of course discuss your essay with others, and it is perfectly acceptable for them to offer general advice and point out errors or weaknesses in your writing or content, leaving you to address them.

However, no part of your essay may be written by anyone else. This means that you must edit your own work and that while a proofreader may point out errors, you as the essayist must be the one to correct them. 

Q. Do I have to attend the awards ceremony to win a prize? ​

A. Nobody is required to attend the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London. But if we invite you to London it is because your essay was good enough - in the opinion of the First Round judges - to be at least a contender for First, Second or Third Prize. Normally the Second Round judges will agree that the short-listed essays are worth at least a commendation.

Q. Is there an entry fee?

A. No. There is no charge to enter our global essay competition unless you submit your essay after the normal deadline, in which case there is a fee of 20.00 USD .

Q. Can I receive a certificate for my participation in your essay competition if I wasn't shortlisted? 

A. No. Certificates are awarded only for shortlisted essays. Short-listed contestants who attend the award ceremony in London will receive a paper certificate. If you cannot travel to London, you will be able to download your eCertificate.

Q. Can I receive feedba ck on my essay? 

A. We would love to be able to give individual feedback on essays but, unfortunately, we receive too many entries to be able to comment on particular essays.

Q. The deadline for publishing the names of short-listed essayists has passed but I did not receive an email to tell me whether I was short-listed.

A. Log into your account and check "Shortlist Status" for (each of) your essay(s).

Q. Why isn't the awards ceremony in Oxford this year?

A. Last year, many shortlisted finalists who applied to join our invitation-only academic conference missed the opportunity because of capacity constraints at Oxford's largest venues. This year, the conference will be held in central London and the gala awards dinner will take place in an iconic London ballroom. 

TECHNICAL FAQ s

Q. The system will not accept my essay. I have checked the filename and it has the correct format. What should I do?  

A. You have almost certainly added a space before or after one of your names in your profile. Edit it accordingly and try to submit again.

Q. The profile page shows my birth date to be wrong by a day, even after I edit it. What should I do?

A. Ignore it. The date that you typed has been correctly input to our database. ​ ​

Q. How can I be sure that my registration for the essay competition was successful? Will I receive a confirmation email?

A. You will not receive a confirmation email. Rather, you can at any time log in to the account that you created and see that your registration details are present and correct.

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR SUBMISSION

If you are unable to submit your essay to the John Locke Institute’s global essay competition, your problem is almost certainly one of the following.

If so, please proceed as indicated.

1) PROBLEM: I receive the ‘registrations are now closed’ message when I enter my email and verification code. SOLUTION. You did not register for the essay competition and create your account. If you think you did, you probably only provided us with your email to receive updates from us about the competition or otherwise. You may not enter the competition this year.

2) PROBLEM I do not receive a login code after I enter my email to enter my account. SOLUTION. Enter your email address again, checking that you do so correctly. If this fails, restart your browser using an incognito window; clear your cache, and try again. Wait for a few minutes for the code. If this still fails, restart your machine and try one more time. If this still fails, send an email to [email protected] with “No verification code – [your name]” in the subject line.

SUBMITTING AN ESSAY

3) PROBLEM: The filename of my essay is in the correct format but it is rejected. SOLUTION: Use “Edit Profile” to check that you did not add a space before or after either of your names. If you did, delete it. Whether you did or did not, try again to submit your essay. If submission fails again, email [email protected] with “Filename format – [your name]” in the subject line.

4) PROBLEM: When trying to view my submitted essay, a .txt file is downloaded – not the .pdf file that I submitted. SOLUTION: Delete the essay. Logout of your account; log back in, and resubmit. If resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “File extension problem – [your name]” in the subject line.

5) PROBLEM: When I try to submit, the submission form just reloads without giving me an error message. SOLUTION. Log out of your account. Open a new browser; clear the cache; log back in, and resubmit. If resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “Submission form problem – [your name]” in the subject line.

6) PROBLEM: I receive an “Unexpected Error” when trying to submit. SOLUTION. Logout of your account; log back in, and resubmit. If this resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “Unexpected error – [your name]” in thesubject line. Your email must tell us e xactly where in the submission process you received this error.

7) PROBLEM: I have a problem with submitting and it is not addressed above on this list. SOLUTION: Restart your machine. Clear your browser’s cache. Try to submit again. If this fails, email [email protected] with “Unlisted problem – [your name]” in the subject line. Your email must tell us exactly the nature of your problem with relevant screen caps.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU EMAIL US.

Do not email us before you have tried the specified solutions to your problem.

Do not email us more than once about a single problem. We will respond to your email within 72 hours. Only if you have not heard from us in that time may you contact us again to ask for an update.

If you email us regarding a problem, you must include relevant screen-shots and information on both your operating system and your browser. You must also declare that you have tried the solutions presented above and had a good connection to the internet when you did so.

If you have tried the relevant solution to your problem outlined above, have emailed us, and are still unable to submit before the 30 June deadline on account of any fault of the John Locke Institute or our systems, please do not worry: we will have a way to accept your essay in that case. However, if there is no fault on our side, we will not accept your essay if it is not submitted on time – whatever your reason: we will not make exceptions for IT issues for which we are not responsible.

We reserve the right to disqualify the entries of essayists who do not follow all provided instructions, including those concerning technical matters.

  • Link to facebook
  • Link to linkedin
  • Link to twitter
  • Link to youtube
  • Writing Tips

7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

  • 7-minute read
  • 28th December 2022

Essay contests are not only a great way to exercise your essay-writing skills but also an awesome way to win cash prizes, scholarships, and internship or program opportunities. They also look wonderful on college applications as awards and achievements.

In this article, you’ll learn about 7 essay writing contests to enter in 2023. Watch the video below, or keep reading to learn more.

1. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 

essay writing contest topics

Deadline: Now–April 30, 3023

Who may enter:

This is an international contest for people of all ages (except for residents of Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus due to US government restrictions).

Contest description:

●  The contest is organized by Winning Writers, located in MA, USA.

●  They accept stories and essays on any theme, up to 6,000 words each. This contest defines a story as any short work of fiction and an essay as any short work of nonfiction.

●  Your stories and essays must be submitted in English.

●  You may submit published or unpublished work.

Entry fee: USD 22 per entry

●  Story: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  Essay: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  10 Honorable Mentions will receive USD 300 each (any category).

●  The top 12 entries will be published online.

Official website

Please visit the competition’s official website for more information on judges and submissions.

2. 2023 Calibre Essay Prize 

essay writing contest topics

Deadline: Now–January 15, 2023, 11:59 pm

Who may enter: All ages and any nationality or residency are accepted.

●  This contest is hosted by the Australian Book Review.

●  Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.

●  You may submit nonfiction essays of all kinds, e.g., personal, political, literary, or speculative.

●  You may enter multiple essays but will need to pay separate fees for each one.

●  Your essay must be unpublished.

Entry fee: AU 30 for non-members

Prize: AU 7,500

Official website:

For more information on this contest, please visit its official website.

3. John Locke Institute Essay Competition 

essay writing contest topics

Deadline: June 30, 2023

●  Students from any country.

●  Students aged 15 to 18 years by the competition deadline.

●  Students aged 14 years or younger by the competition deadline are eligible for the Junior prize.

●  The contest is organized by the John Locke Institute.

●  Your essay cannot exceed 2,000 words.

●  There are seven subjects or categories for essay submissions: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law.

Entry fee: Free to enter

●  The best overall essay winner receives an honorary John Locke Fellowship, which comes with a USD 10,000 scholarship to attend one or more summer schools or gap year courses.

●  There is also a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category and the Junior category is a scholarship worth USD 2,000 toward the cost of a summer program.

●  All winning essays will be published on the Institute’s website.

For more information about this competition and the John Locke Institute, please visit the official website . Also, be sure to check out our article on all you need to know about this contest.

4. The American Foreign Service Association 2023 Essay Competition 

essay writing contest topics

Deadline: April 3, 2023

●  Students in grades 9–12 in any of the 50 states, DC, the US territories, or if they are US citizens or lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

●  Students attending a public, private, or parochial school.

●  Home-schooled students.

●  Your essay should be 1,000–1,500 words.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

●  You will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country or region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.

●  Your essay should follow MLA guidelines.

●  Your essay should use a variety of sources.

●  The first-place winner receives USD 2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and their parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.

●  The runner-up receives USD 1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

Please visit the American Foreign Service website for more information.

5. The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) 2023 Essay Contest 

essay writing contest topics

Deadline: Mid-February 2023–June 1, 2023

Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide.

●  The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals.

●  High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.

●  Undergraduate and graduate students should discuss at least two Austen novels of their choice.

●  Your essay must be in MLA format and 6 to 8 pages (not including your Works Cited page).

●  Your essay must be written in English.

●  First place wins a USD 1,000 scholarship.

●  Second place wins a USD 500 scholarship.

●  Third place wins a USD 250 scholarship.

●  Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit JASNA’s official website .

6. 2023 Writing Contest: Better Great Achievements by EngineerGirl

Deadline: February 1, 2023

●  Students in Grades 3–12. If international or homeschooled, please select your grade level based on if you were attending a public school in the U.S.

●  This contest is organized by EngineerGirl.

●  Students should write a piece that shows how female or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements.

●  You should choose one of the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century as a topic and explore the technologies developed in the last century and the new ones being developed today. Make sure to follow the specific guidelines for your grade level.

●  Essays should be 650–750 words based on your grade level.

●  Please visit the contest’s website to see specific requirements based on your grade.

Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:

●  First-place winners will be awarded USD 500.

●  Second-place entries will be awarded USD 250 .

●  Third-place entries will be awarded USD 100 .

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit the official website .

7. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Who may enter: Students enrolled in Grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools and home-study programs worldwide.

●  Your essay must address the following issue: In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?

●  Your essay should be 1,000 words.

Prizes: USD 500

For more information and submission requirements, please visit the contest’s official website.

Essay contests are a great way to expand your writing skills, discuss a topic that is important to you, and earn prize money and opportunities that will be great for you in the long term. Check out our articles on writing thesis statements, essay organization, and argumentative writing strategies to ensure you take first place every time.

If you need help with your essays and would like to make sure that every comma is in place, we will proofread your first 500 words for free !

Share this article:

' src=

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

3-minute read

What Is a Content Editor?

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

4-minute read

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

2-minute read

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

What Is Market Research?

No matter your industry, conducting market research helps you keep up to date with shifting...

8 Press Release Distribution Services for Your Business

In a world where you need to stand out, press releases are key to being...

How to Get a Patent

In the United States, the US Patent and Trademarks Office issues patents. In the United...

Logo Harvard University

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

PrepScholar

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 17 best writing contests for high school students.

author image

Other High School

feature_write

If you're a writer—fiction, non-fiction, or fanfiction—you can put those skills to work for you. There are tons of writing contests for high school students, which can award everything from medals to cash prizes to scholarships if you win .

Not only will a little extra money, whether cash or scholarships, help you when it comes time to pay for college, but the prestige of a respected reward is also a great thing to include on your college application.

Read on to learn more about what writing contests for high school students there are, how to apply, and what you could win !

Writing Contests With Multiple Categories

Some high school contests accept entries in a variety of formats, including the standard fiction and non-fiction, but also things like screenwriting or visual art. Check out these contests with multiple categories:

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

  • Award Amount: $1,000 to $12,500 scholarships
  • Deadline: Varies between December and January, depending on your region
  • Fee: $10 for single entry, $30 for portfolio

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards celebrate art by students in grades seven through twelve (age 13 or older) on a regional and national scale. These awards have a huge number of categories and styles, including cash prizes or scholarships for some distinguished award winners . Categories include science-fiction and fantasy writing, humor, critical essays, and dramatic scripts, among others.

Deadlines vary by region (but are mostly in December and January), so use Scholastic's Affiliate Partner search to find out when projects are due for your area.

Scholastic partners with other organizations to provide prizes to winners, so what you can win depends on what you enter and what competition level you reach. Gold medal portfolio winners can earn a $12,500 scholarship, and silver medal winners with distinction can earn a $2,000 scholarship , as well as many other options in different categories.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are open to private, public, or home-schooled students attending school in the US, Canada, or American schools in other countries. Students must be in grades seven through twelve to participate. Eligibility varies between regions, so consult Scholastic's Affiliate Partner search tool to figure out what applies to you .

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have a $10 entry fee for individual submissions and $30 for portfolio submissions, which may be waived for students in need . These fees may vary depending on location, so be sure to check your local guidelines .

Ocean Awareness Contest

  • Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500
  • Deadline: June 13, 2023 (submissions open in September)

The Ocean Awareness Contest asks students to consider the future of a coastal or marine species that is under threat from climate change. Submissions are accepted in a variety of art forms, but all must consider the way that climate change impacts ocean life .

Submissions for all categories, including art, creative writing, film, interactive and multimedia, music and dance, and poetry and spoken word are due in June, although the exact date varies slightly each year.

Winners may receive prizes of up to a $1,500 scholarship , depending on which division they fall into and what prize they win.

The contest is open to all international and US students between the ages of 11 and 18.

River of Words

  • Award: Publication in the River of Words anthology
  • Deadline: January 31, 2023

The River of Words contest asks students to consider watersheds—an area that drains into the same body of water—and how they connect with their local community. Students can explore this concept in art or poetry, with winners being published in the annual River of Words anthology .

Entries in all categories must be submitted by January 31, 2023. 

The River of Words contest is primarily for recognition and publication, as the website doesn't list any prize money . The contest includes specific awards for certain forms, such as poetry, some of which may have additional prizes .

The contest is open to International and US students from kindergarten to grade 12 (ages 5 through 19). Students who have graduated from high school but are not yet in college are also eligible.

Adroit Prizes

  • Award Amount: $200 cash award
  • Deadline: Typically April of each year

Sponsored by the Adroit Journal, the Adroit Prizes reward high school students and undergraduate students for producing exemplary fiction and poetry. Students may submit up to six poems or three works of prose (totaling 3,500 words) for consideration. Submissions typically open in spring .

Winners receive $200 and (along with runners-up) have their works published in the Adroit Journal . Finalists and runners-up receive a copy of their judge's latest published work.

The contest is open to secondary and undergraduate students, including international students and those who have graduated early . The Adroit Prizes has a non-refundable fee of $15, which can be waived.

YoungArts Competition

  • Award Amount: Up to $10,000 cash awards
  • Deadline: October 15, 2022; application for 2024 opens June 2023

Open to students in a variety of disciplines, including visual arts, writing, and music, the YoungArts competition asks students to submit a portfolio of work. Additional requirements may apply depending on what artistic discipline you're in .

Winners can receive up to $10,000 in cash as well as professional development help, mentorship, and other educational rewards.

Applicants must be 15- to 18-year-old US citizens or permanent residents (including green card holders) or in grades 10 through 12 at the time of submission . There is a $35 submission fee, which can be waived.

body_pinecone

Fiction Writing Contests for High School Students

Many contests with multiple categories accept fiction submissions, so also check out the above contests if you're looking for places to submit original prose.

EngineerGirl Writing Contest

  • Award Amount: $100 - $500 cash prize
  • Deadline: February 1, 2023

This year's EngineerGirl Writing Contest asks students (though the name of the organization is "EngineerGirl," students of any gender may participate) to submit a piece of writing that shows how female and/or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements. Word counts vary depending on grade level.

At every grade level, first-place winners will receive $500, second-place winners will receive $250, and third-place winners will receive $100 . Winning entries and honorable mentions will also be published on the EngineerGirl website.

Students of any gender from third to 12th grade may submit to this contest. Home-schooled and international students are also eligible.

body_laptop-7

Nonfiction Contests for High School Students

Like fiction, non-fiction is often also accepted in contests with multiple categories. However, there are quite a few contests accepting only non-fiction essays as well.

The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest

  • Award Amount: $1,250 to $2,500
  • Deadline: April 3, 2023

The American Foreign Services Association sponsors a high school essay contest tasking students with selecting a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe, in 1,500 words or less, how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals in this country/region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years .

One winner will receive $2,500 as well as a Washington D.C. trip and a scholarship to attend Semester at Sea . One runner-up receives $1,250 and a scholarship to attend the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference.

Entries must be from US students in grade nine through 12, including students in the District of Columbia, US territories, or US citizens attending school abroad, including home-schooled students.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest

  • Award Amount: $100 - $10,000
  • Deadline: January 13, 2023

The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage contest tasks students with writing an essay between 700 and 1,000 words on an act of political courage by a US elected official serving during or after 1917 , inspired by John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage . Each essay should cover the act itself as well as any obstacles or risks the subject faced in achieving their act of courage. Essays must not cover figures previously covered in the contest, and should also not cover John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, or Edward M. Kennedy.

One first-place winner will receive $10,000, one second-place winner will receive $3,000, five finalists will receive $1,000 each, and eight semi-finalists will win $100 each.

The contest is open to students in grades nine through 12 who are residents of the United States attending public, private, parochial, or home schools . Students under the age of 20 in correspondence high school programs or GED programs, as well as students in US territories, Washington D.C., and students studying abroad, are also eligible.

SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

  • Award Amount: $300 - $1,000 scholarships
  • Deadline: February 19, 2023 (submissions open in November)

The SPJ/JEA high school essay contest , organized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association, asks students to  analyze the importance of independent media to our lives (as of now, the official essay topic for spring 2023 is TBD) . Essays should be from 300 to 500 words.

A $1,000 scholarship is given to a first-place winner, $500 to second-place, and $300 to third-place.

The contest is open to public, private, and home-schooled students of the United States in grades 9-12 .

body_play

Playwriting Contests for High School Students

For those who love the stage, playwriting contests are a great option. An original play can earn you great rewards thanks to any of these contests!

VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition

  • Award: Participation in professional development activities at the Kennedy Center
  • Deadline: January 4, 2023 (Application opens in October)

The VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition asks students with disabilities to submit a ten-minute script exploring their personal experiences, including the disability experience . Scripts may be realistic, fictional, or abstract, and may include plays, screenplays, or musical theater.

All entries are due in January. Scripts may be collaborative or written by individuals, but must include at least one person with a disability as part of the group .

One winner or group of winners will be selected as participants in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Winners will have access to professional assistance in developing their script as well as workshops and networking opportunities.

This contest is open to US and international students in ages 14 to 18 . Groups of up to five members may collaborate on an essay, but at least one of those students must have a disability.

Worldwide Plays Festival Competition

  • Award: Professional production in New York
  • Deadline: March (official 2023 deadline TBD)

In the Worldwide Plays Festival Competition , students from around the world can submit an eight-minute script for a play set in a part of a neighborhood —specifically, at a convenience store, outside a character's front door, or at a place where people convene. Each play must have roles for three actors, should not have a narrator who isn't also a character, and should not contain set changes.

Entries are due in February. Winners will have their play produced by professionals at an off-Broadway New York theater . Scholarships are also available for winners.

Any student, including US and international, in first through 12th grade may submit work for consideration.

  • Award Amount: $50 - $200 cash prize
  • Deadline: 2023 deadline TBD (application opens January 2023)

Students may submit a one-act, non-musical play of at least ten pages to YouthPLAYS for consideration . Plays should be appropriate for high school audiences and contain at least two characters, with one or more of those characters being youths in age-appropriate roles. Large casts with multiple female roles are encouraged.

One winner will receive $250, have their play published by YouthPLAYS, and receive a copy of Great Dialog , a program for writing dialog. One runner up will receive $100 and a copy of Great Dialog.

Students must be under the age of 19, and plays must be the work of a single author.

The Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest

  • Deadline: Spring of each year

Students in grade 11 may submit a ten-minute play for consideration for the Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest . Plays should be 10 pages long, equivalent to 10 minutes.

One first-prize winner will receive $500, one second-prize winner will receive $250, and one third-prize will receive $100.

All entries must be from students in the 11th grade .

body_poetry-1

Poetry Writing Contests for High School Students

For those who prefer a little free verse or the constraints of a haiku, there are plenty of poetry-specific contests, too.

Creative Communications Poetry Contest

  • Award Amount: $25
  • Deadline: December

Students in ninth grade or below may submit any poem of 21 lines or less (not counting spaces between stanzas) for consideration in the Creative Communications Poetry Contest .

Students may win $25, a free book, and school supplies for their teacher .

Public, private, or home-schooled US students (including those in detention centers) in kindergarten through ninth grade may enter.

Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize

  • Award Amount: $500-$1500
  • Deadline: November 

Students in 11th grade may submit up to three poems for consideration in the Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize . Submissions are due in November .

One first-prize winner will receive $1500, one second-prize winner will receive $750, and a third-prize winner will receive $500. Poems may be published on arts.princeton.edu. All entrants must be in the 11th grade.

Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

  • Award Amount: $500 - $5,000 renewable scholarship, $350 cash prize
  • Deadline: October 31, 2022

Women poets who are sophomores or juniors in high school may submit two poems for consideration for the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest .

One first-place winner will receive a $350 cash prize, publication in and ten copies of Cargoes , Hollins' student magazine, as well as a renewable scholarship of up to $5,000 for Hollins and free tuition and housing for the Hollinsummer creative writing program. One second-place winner will receive publication in and two copies of Cargoes, a renewable scholarship to Hollins of up to $1,000, and a $500 scholarship to attend Hollinsummer.

Applicants must be female students in their sophomore or junior year of high school .

What's Next?

If you're looking for more money opportunities for college , there are plenty of scholarships out there— including some pretty weird ones .

For those who've been buffing up their test scores , there are tons of scholarships , some in the thousands of dollars.

If you're tired of writing essays and applying for scholarships, consider some of these colleges that offer complete financial aid packages .

author image

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

Student and Parent Forum

Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com , allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers.

Join the Conversation

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

  • For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

essay writing contest topics

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

How to Win Essay Contests: A Step-by-Step Guide

10 Steps to Writing Contest-Winning Essays

  • Creative Contests
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Dream Vacations
  • Win Electronics
  • Home and Garden
  • Win Vehicles
  • Jewelry and Clothing
  • Types of Contests
  • Frugal Living
  • Fine Arts & Crafts
  • Card Games & Gambling
  • Cars & Motorcycles
  • Playing Music

essay writing contest topics

  • University of Maryland

Did you know that you can win prizes with your writing skills? Essay contests are a fun way to turn your creativity and your command of the written word into great prizes. But how do you give your essay the edge that gets it picked from among all of the other entries?

Here's a step-by-step guide to writing essays that impress judges. Follow these steps for your best chances of winning writing contests.

Read the Essay Contest Rules

The first thing that you should do to win essay contests is to read the rules thoroughly. Overlooking one small detail could be the difference between winning the contest and wasting your time.

Pay special attention to:

  • The contest's start and end dates.
  • How often you're allowed to enter.
  • The word or character count .
  • The contest's theme.
  • The criteria that the judges will use to pick the winners.
  • Who the sponsoring company is, and what their branding is like.
  • And any other details the sponsor requires.

It might help you to print out the sweepstakes rules and highlight the most important elements, or to take notes and keep them close at hand as you write.

If you summarize the relevant rules in a checklist, you can easily check the requirements off when you've finished your essay to ensure you haven't overlooked anything.

Brainstorm Your Essay Ideas

Many people want to jump right into writing their essay, but it's a better idea to take some time to brainstorm different ideas before you start. Oftentimes, your first impulse isn't your best.

The Calgary Tutoring Centre lists several reasons why brainstorming improves your writing . According to their article, brainstorming lets you:

"Eliminate weaker ideas or make weaker ideas stronger. Select only the best and most relevant topics of discussion for your essay while eliminating off-topic ideas. Or, generate a new topic that you might have left out that fits with others."

For a great brainstorming session, find a distraction-free area and settle in with a pen and paper, or your favorite method to take notes. A warm beverage and a healthy snack might aid your process. Then, think about your topic and jot down quick words and phrases that are relevant to your theme.

This is not the time to polish your ideas or try to write them coherently. Just capture enough of the idea that you know what you meant when you review your notes.

Consider different ways that you can make the contest theme personal, come at it from a different angle, or stand out from the other contest entries. Can you make a serious theme funny? Can you make your ideas surprising and unexpected?

Write down all your ideas, but don't judge them yet. The more ideas you can come up with, the better.

Select the Essay Concept that Best Fits the Contest's Theme and Sponsor

Once you've finished brainstorming, look over all of your ideas to pick the one you want to develop for your essay contest entry.

While you're deciding, think about what might appeal to the essay contest's sponsor. Do you have a way of working the sponsor's products into your essay? Does your concept fit the sponsor's company image?

An essay that might be perfect for a Budweiser contest might fall completely flat when Disney is the sponsor.

This is also a good time to consider whether any of your rejected ideas would make good secondary themes for your essay.

Use a Good Hook to Grab the Reader's Attention

When it's time to start writing your essay, remember that the first sentence is the most important. You want to ensure that your first paragraph is memorable and grabs the reader's attention.

When you start with a powerful, intriguing, moving, or hilarious first sentence, you hook your readers' interest and stick out in their memory when it is time to pick winners.

Writer's Digest has some excellent tips on how to hook readers at the start of an essay in their article, 10 Ways to Hook Your Reader (and Reel Them in for Good) .

For ideas on how to make your essay unforgettable, see Red Mittens, Strong Hooks, and Other Ways to Make Your Essay Spectacular .

Write the First Draft of Your Essay

Now, it's time to get all of your thoughts down on paper (or on your computer). Remember that this is a first draft, so don't worry about perfect grammar or if you are running over your word count. 

Instead, focus on whether your essay is hitting the right emotional notes, how your story comes across, whether you are using the right voice, and if you are communicating everything you intend to.

First drafts are important because they help you overcome your reluctance to write. You are not trying to be good yet, you are trying to simply tell your story. Polishing that story will come later.

They also organize your writing. You can see where your ideas fit and where you need to restructure to give them more emotional impact.

Finally, a first draft helps you keep your ideas flowing without letting details slow you down. You can even skip over parts that you find challenging, leaving notes for your next revision. For example, you could jot down "add statistics" or "get a funny quote from Mom" and come back to those time-consuming points later.

Revise Your Essay for Flow and Organization

Once you've written the first draft of your essay, look over it to ensure that it flows. Is your point well-made and clear? Do your thoughts flow smoothly from one point to another? Do the transitions make sense? Does it sound good when you read it aloud?

This is also the time to cut out extraneous words and ensure you've come in under the word count limit.

Generally, cutting words will improve your writing. In his book, On Writing , Stephen King writes that he once received a rejection that read: "Formula for success: 2nd Draft = 1st Draft – 10%." In other words, the first draft can always use some trimming to make the best parts shine.

If you'd like some tips on how to improve your first draft, check out these tips on how to self-edit .

Keep an Eye Out for "Red Mittens"

In her fantastic book, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio , Terry Ryan talked about how her mother Evelyn used "red mittens" to help her be more successful with contest entries.

As she put it:

"The purpose of the Red Mitten was almost self-explanatory -- it made an entry stand out from the rest. In a basket of mittens, a red one will be noticed."

Rhyme, alliteration, inner rhyme, puns, and coined words were some of the red mittens that Evelyn Ryan used to make her entries pop. Your essay's red mitten might be a clever play on words, a dash of humor, or a heart-tuggingly poignant story that sticks in the judges' minds.

If your first draft is feeling a little bland, consider whether you can add a red mitten to spice up your story.

Put Your Contest Entry Aside

Now that you have a fairly polished draft of your essay contest entry, put it aside and don't look at it for a little while. If you have time before the contest ends, put your essay away for at least a week and let your mind mull over the idea subconsciously for a little while.

Many times, people think of exactly what their essay needs to make it perfect... right after they have hit the submit button.

Letting your entry simmer in your mind for a while gives you the time to come up with these great ideas before it's too late.

Revise Your Essay Contest Entry Again

Now, it's time to put the final polish on your essay. Have you said everything you wanted to? Have you made your point? Does the essay sound good when you read it out loud? Can you tighten up the prose by making additional cuts in the word count?

In this phase, it helps to enlist the help of friends or family members. Read your essay to them and check their reactions. Did they smile at the right parts? Were they confused by anything? Did they connect with the idea behind the story?

This is also a good time to ensure you haven't made any grammar or spelling mistakes. A grammar checker like Grammarly is very helpful for catching those little mistakes your eyes gloss over. But since even computer programs make mistakes sometimes, so it's helpful to have another person — a good friend or family member — read it through before you submit it.

Read the Essay Contest Rules One Last Time

If you've been following these directions, you've already read through the contest rules carefully. But now that you've written your draft and had some time to think things over, read them through one more time to make sure you haven't overlooked anything.

Go through your checklist of the essay requirements point-by-point with your finished essay in front of you to make sure you've hit them all.

And now, you're done! Submit the essay to your contest, and keep your fingers crossed for the results !

  • Red Mittens, Hooks, and Other Ways to Make Contest Entries Spectacular
  • Essay Contests: How to Stay Under the Character Count
  • How To Win Video Contests (Even If You're Not a Pro!)
  • How to Get Votes for Your Contest Entries (Without Breaking the Rules)
  • How to Win Halloween Costume Contests
  • How to Win Pumpkin Carving Contests for Halloween
  • 7 Great Contests for Kids: Creative and Academic Contests for Children
  • A Guide to the Different Types of Sweepstakes to Enter
  • Want to Win the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest? Here's What You Need to Know
  • Learn How to Write and Finish a Novel
  • Why Do Companies Run Sweepstakes?
  • 8 Reasons Why You're Not Winning Sweepstakes
  • How to Enter Facebook Giveaways and Win Prizes
  • Enter Online Sweepstakes Like a Pro: How to Get Started
  • How to Write a Profile or Interview-Based Article
  • 6 Great Resources to Randomly Pick Contest Winners

189 Competition Essay Topics & Examples

🏆 best competition topics & examples, 👍 good essay competition topics, ⭐ most interesting essay writing competition topics, 💡 simple & easy topics about competition, 📝 current topics for essay on competition.

  • Role of Advertising in Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly Advertising The goal of product differentiation and advertising in monopolistic competition is to make sure the the market is under control, and as a result, charge a higher price.
  • Pros and Cons of Competition That is, because of human selfishness and egocentrism, most individuals working in a competing work scenario will rarely assist their co-workers or friends, although they may have the potential to do so. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
  • The History of Print Media and Its Competition With the Internet Print media remain one of the areas within the media industry that have undergone considerable suffering due to the emergence of the internet.
  • Starbucks vs. Tim Hortons: Companies Competition Altogether, delving into the vital spheres of these companies functioning, the report improves the basic comprehending of the situation within the given industry and assists in the determination of the character of the potential employers.
  • Pepsi and Coke Competition The degree of rivalry in the carbonated soft industry is highlighted by two major brands: Pepsi and Coke. In the past decade, Pepsi and Coke have entered into the bottled water market.
  • Boeing and Airbus Competition With the background that includes the visions of the two companies, the paper seeks account for the difference in the visions, analyse the events of competition between the two companies, give an analysis of the […]
  • Market Structures: Monopolistic Competition According to Mankiw, a monopolistic competition market structure is characterized by the presence of numerous small firms, each being relatively small in comparison to the overall market size.
  • Competition in the Society: Positive and Negative Effects Diversity is one of positive effects of competition on the society. Competition that fails to satisfy the needs of consumers and entire society fosters negative human aspects.
  • Procter & Gamble: Vision, Mission, Competition The firm success has been attributed to its innovation strategy, which ensures that the firm produces new brands in the market to address the need of the consumers.
  • World History: Is Competition Good? Proponents of competition assert that throughout history, the growth and development of human societies has always been a factor of competition.
  • Caterpillar Company’s Competition and Strategy Caterpillar Inc.is the world’s largest manufacturer of construction equipment and machinery. The company’s retail statistics are a testament to the efficiency of its product strategies and show that global sales increased from 4 to 12 […]
  • McDonald’s Company’s Strategy and Competition He adds that the company’s main competitors, the Burger Kings and Wendy’s, have taken a large share of the company’s markets and are doing well, despite the hard economic challenges.
  • Amazon’s Competition With Alibaba and Wal-Mart Regarding gross margin, Amazon also showed a steady growth between 2012 and 2016, which is evidence of the company’s strategy to achieve long-term growth is working.
  • Competition in the Market 2 The presence of competition in the market will ensure that there is efficiency as competitive markets equate the marginal cost to the average cost of goods that are brought to the market.
  • Competition & Consumer Behavior: Reebok-Adidas Merger It is evident from the case that the current situation of Rebook and Adidas has progressed especially in the face of the rising competition from rivals.
  • Reading Competition: “Malcolm X” by Helfer and DuBurke Probably, it is because they realize neither the best way to read nor the importance of reading to their future. Likewise, I have learned to read using competition to encourage me, thus it is my […]
  • Globalization and Increasing Competition in the World When we look at some of the businesses in the world that are on the forefront in the world of successful business, we find businesses such as the banking institutes, medical providing institutions, academic institutions, […]
  • High Skies Competition: Etihad Airways & Emirates Airlines To investigate the defining elements and the implications of the rivalry between the Etihad Airways and the Emirates Airlines To determine the long term prospects of the two airlines in relation to their existing marketing […]
  • Cooperation Versus Competition Approach in Learning and Evaluation of Student Achievement Cooperative learning is the instructional utilization of group dynamics in the learning process, which enable the learners to work together in the effort of enhancing their own benefits as well as that of other students […]
  • Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony Competition Companies dealing in technology products engage in product-orientation approach to attract more customers than the other players in the market. The focus on younger generation customers who form the bulk of the customers contributed to […]
  • Oligopoly Market and Monopolistic Competition The market price falls until the firms in the market start to make economic losses. In the long-run, the economic losses make the firms to exit the market.
  • An Analysis on Market Growth Rate & Competition in Juice Industry The market growth rate in juice industry has gone up to 68% with very high competition amongst the companies. The market have reached to maturity level yet the market growth rate is 42% with high […]
  • Groupon Company’s Information Technology and Competition This has helped the company to be competitive in its target markets. In other words, the Groupon Company gains a competitive advantage by integrating information in its operations.
  • Apple’s Competition in Chinese Smartphone Market The analysis will examine the following forces that affect the company: industry competition, the bargaining power of suppliers, the bargaining power of consumers, the threat of new entrants, and the threat of substitute products.
  • Genzyme Company’s Focus on Orphan Drugs and Competition On the whole, Genzyme decided to concentrate on the development and production of orphan drugs since they would have virtually no competitors in the market; the niche was free.
  • Energy Drink Competition Analysis The short product life cycle in this industry requires an effective research and development strategy to ensure that new products are availed to the market at the opportune time.
  • Monopolistic Competition of Smart Phones In the flurry of the responses that followed, there was concern whether the smart phone market was becoming monopolistic. This was a clear indication that the competition in the smart phone market was becoming monopolistic.
  • Chanel Cosmetics Competition Analysis The management of this firm has been keen on adopting new market trends, which has ensured that the firm remains relevant in this industry.
  • Competition in Economics Because of the differing levels of competition in the market, different market structures emerge with varying effects in the market. A supplier will generate the quantity that capitalizes on the profit of the company; this […]
  • Non-Price Competition in Monopoly and Oligopoly As such, it is overbearing that the digital company apply the unsurpassed strategies for the notebook in an effort of maximizing its revenue as well as enjoying pure monopoly.
  • Baskin-Robbins Competition The leader of the international ice-cream market, Baskin-Robbins is faced with numerous challenges. The premium ice-cream sector is growing, too: in the United States alone, dozens of ice-cream producers are trying to beat Baskin-Robbins and […]
  • Monopolistic Competition as a Market Structure However, due to the fact that each of the firms has a slightly unique product compared to the rest of the firms, then each firm has a specific consumer and hence each of the firms […]
  • Microsoft: A Case of Unethical Competition The company’s financial strength allows it to put a lot in innovation and research in order to stay ahead of the competition.
  • UK Construction Industry: Structure and Competitive Strategies Used The UK construction industry is one of the core economic sectors, and the output of the industry is a component of the Gross Domestic Product.
  • Lululemon Athletic’s Competition in Italian Market One of the most critical obstacles that a company should consider in the frame of extension is the competitive environment. First and foremost, it is essential to target the main competitors that can challenge Lululemon’s […]
  • Competition and Oligopolistic Behaviors in the Airlines Industry When the firm increased the price from P1 and others did not follow, the demand was D1, meaning that the price was kinked at P1 and the firm faced a more elastic demand than its […]
  • Healthcare Marketing: The Effective Company’s Performance and Competition Within the Industry The differences which can be determined in relation to food production marketing and health care marketing are affected by the challenges of the health care industry.
  • Competition in American Society: Benefits and Disadvantages It is argued that competition is beneficial only when it encourages people to make their personal achievements, but when it praises only the best one in a group, it discourages others from trying.
  • RAC Motoring Services Company’s Competition Challenge That reduced labor turnover to 6%, with the scheme saving RAC 6m a year by lowering the use of contractors. That is because of the RAC patrol’s attendance and quick response time.
  • Cooley Distillery Company’s Competition Struggles It is suggested that the use of the MBO tool as the primary exit strategy and the following rearrangement of the firm’s priorities will help Cooley re-establish itself as a globally renowned brand. Much to […]
  • Service Marketing: Online Shopping Competition Their website allows customers to register with them and be able to do their shopping from the comfort of their homes.
  • Monopolistic Competition Practical Observation Regarding the design, Dove used the traditional for the company logo and color pallet with the additional images of the colorful-packaged chocolates included in the bag.
  • Tiffany & Co. Retailer’s Product Lines and Competition If to consider the most important product lines that Tiffany & Co offers to customers, luxury jewelry and gifts are the key items that should be discussed.
  • Hardball Strategies for Trouncing the Competition If a business enters a certain market segment dominated by its competitor and introduces a product or service similar to the competitor’s that is cheaper and of higher quality, then the business is said to […]
  • Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, Joie, Zara: Competition Comparative analysis shows that the style exhibited by Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, and Joie is a close arrangement of products with minimal spacing in stores, while Zara displays products with extensive spacing.
  • Wal-Mart and Amazon Competition The company’s new e-commerce strategy will make it easier to communicate and deliver its products to its customers. Amazon has a long way to go before it can successfully deliver products and services to its […]
  • Talents and Competition in Emerging Markets It is simple emerging markets are growing and suggest more and more opportunities, the number of young and talented people who are searching for those opportunities is enormous, and the study is needed to connect […]
  • Branding in the Digital Age: Navigating Technological Advancements and Competition In the contemporary era, it is believed that for a company or individual to succeed in branding, one needs to get acquainted with the technology to attract an audience.
  • The Concentric Circles of Competition and McDonald’s The first circle of competition for McDonald’s is in direct competition with fast food brands such as Burger King and KFC, whose menus are the same.
  • Philip Morris Inc.: Competition and Potential Risks The main objective of Philip Morris is to limit the harmful impacts of smoke on the environment and people. Imperial Brands Plc.is a worldwide consumer company, and it is among the largest tobacco organization in […]
  • The Limiting Competition Concept Thus, the interest group model of regulation cannot ensure equality in development opportunities in an environment where the concept of limiting competition is promoted.
  • Market Competition in Healthcare One of them is competition in the market, which on the one hand can have a number of advantages. In conclusion, it should be emphasized that market competition is of particular value for the formation […]
  • Monopolistic Competition Aspects Products aimed at higher end consumers usually have a brighter and higher quality packaging and are placed on the shelves in the eye of the consumer.
  • Need for Competition Due to Technological Progress Consequently, if one firm were to remain stagnant, their status quo would be challenged by the competitor and eventually lead to the extrusion from the market.
  • AMD vs. Intel: Price Discrimination and Market Competition This work will examine the conflict in this case to reveal the incentive for the decision and what act’s regulations and advice were ignored.
  • Analysis of Hierarchical Competition Structure In the hospitality industry, the development of a pricing strategy is intertwined with the overall marketing strategy due to the fact that a price is a powerful tool of direct influence on the market.
  • Inter Families’ Football Competition Event Based on my analysis, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the inter families football competition, the most important and interesting event in my community.
  • Kellogg’s Brans Cereal’s Competition Analysis At the same time, in spite of the solid level of recognition seen by Kellogg’s, the marketplace retains its intense competitiveness as several prominent brands continue to develop their portfolios of breakfast meals and cereals.
  • Customer Convenience Options Competition: Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Lowes For example, Target continuously combines the convenience of Amazon with the shopping experience, such as interactive displays and in-store events, and luxury that its local customers are accustomed to.
  • Competition in Nature Observation For example, it can be between plants and plants or animals and other animals or animals and plants, whereby the survival of one is threatened or lowered by the existence of another especially when there […]
  • Power and International Order, and Great Power Competition The economic and political rise of China in the world, radical personnel renewal of party and state structures, and other measures to regulate the country’s forces affect the foreign policy of the PRC.
  • The Impact of Unfair Competition on Business The New York Times reports about this with reference to analysts, sources in the US government, and a representative of the State Department.
  • Global Expansion and Competition A SWOT analysis can be performed to understand the position of the dominant global companies, hence, the nature of the global furniture industry.
  • Local Labor Market Effects of Import Competition in the US For the analysis of the US trade data, we consider the countries with the largest amount of trade volume with the US.
  • Healthcare Mechanisms Underpinning Competition in the US Whereas, the high cost of medical service is the object of the US population’s complaints the enormous healthcare spending is the focus of the government’s concern.
  • Cement Sector Competition Environment in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is also a major consumer of cement in the region because of its high population and high rate of cement consumption.
  • Systems Engineering Advances and Competition One of the radical changes that occurred in different areas of human activity is the growth of automation which influenced the employment and level of qualification and training.
  • Essential Facilities in Competition When refusal to deal was cited by the ECJ as a component of abuse, the Court opened a floodgate of victimization for dominant firms based on the notion that it was sowing a seed for […]
  • “Sperm Competition in Fish” by Taborsky The fundamental theory of the study proposed that the time, space, and opportunity of the fishes were the main determinates of the reproductive pattern of male fishes in the context of sperm competition.
  • Fierce Competition in the Grocery Business First of all, it was curious to know that Wisconsin is a state where the largest retailers of the United States compete in the grocery business.
  • Acquisition Process and Competition Requirements For instance, competitive procurement has different contracting techniques that are characterized by distinct levels of competition as established in the following paragraphs: Sealed bidding: This depends on competitive bids known as sealed bids, and are […]
  • Price Control and Monopolistic Competition According to Charles Stein when the supply is limited and demand increases the prices rise and people are ready to pay more than these tickets really cost. There is a certain rule in the rise […]
  • Quality Function Deployment to Manage Market Competition In this phase, the production unit would use information from the customers to design a product that best meets the specifications of the customers.
  • The United Arab Emirates Competition Law The competition law in the UAE is overseen by the UAE Cabinet and the Ministry of Economy. A minimum of 51% of the ownership of all the companies established in the UAE must belong to […]
  • The Concept of Monopolistic Competition The operators are also free to set the prices of their products irrespective of the competitors’ moves or reaction as the competition is based on non-price related factors. This is simply because they are felt […]
  • AllSafe Insurance Company’s Ethics and Competition In this case, the customers of D & M Insurance Company are expected to buy more policies for the company as the prices of their policies would be expected to be lower.
  • Competition in Video Games Consoles The Xbox video game console is a product of Microsoft it being the first attempt by the company to enter the gaming market.
  • Quality Management for Domestic and Global Competition Quality management can be said to utilize quality assurance and control of processes as well as the actual products to achieve added consistency in quality”.
  • Free Markets, Perfect Competition and Globalization In this kind of a scenario, no one has the power to influence the price or the quality of goods or services provided on the market.
  • Protectionism as a Way to Protect Home Industries From Overseas Competition We have to realize that we are all part of the global economic crisis, we cannot solve these issues as individual entities; there is power in “we”.
  • The Economy of North Island Hospital and Competition in the Medical Market In the case of North Island Hospital, the financial ratios are applied to the market to examine current achievements and trends. The analysis will involve charges to patients and the cost of technology for the […]
  • Competition and Entrepreneurship by Kirzner Review Kirzner tries to portray the different theories of prices and develop a new model of the same to eliminate the problems in the orthodox theory.
  • InBev Company: Competition and Strategy The InBev Company is the largest Brewery in the world, that has the annual net income more than $3 billion. Anheuser-Busch InBev is one of the leading breweries in the world, that enters the top […]
  • What Leads to Cooperation and Competition It is the practice of individuals or larger societal entities working in common with mutually agreed-upon goals and possibly methods, instead of working separately in competition, and in which the success of one is dependent […]
  • Low-Cost Carriers Competition in Europe There are three major barriers to the emergence of new service providers that are connected to the maturity of the public transportation system in Europe.
  • “Clusters and the New Economics of Competition” by Porter For instance, a cluster can have an existing pool of employees that are experienced in the field and have needed knowledge for the firm to avoid additional costs of training. The growth of a cluster […]
  • Monopoly Pricing Strategies in Case of Competition When it comes to a monopoly, the managers should offer a pricing strategy based on establishing the highest possible price that a company can propose with no engagement in price gouging.
  • China-US Competition in the Banking Sector China and the United States are two of the largest economies in the world that are competing to dominate the banking industry.
  • German Competition Authorities Correcting Market Failures Lack of competition is one of the factors that affect the market, and when there is poor competition in the market the result is market failure.
  • The Psychology of Rivalry: Competition Analysis This is because rivalry leads to the demise of an individual, group, or corporation for the success of the other. This study therefore aimed at establishing the impacts of competition in the determination of the […]
  • Price Adjustments While Maintaining Competition at Alias The policy of the company about the pricing of products has not been favorable to the sales reps. The company has fixed prices, which the sales reps should follow.
  • Airport Competition and Marketing The full-cost traditional service is appropriate for large international airports, where customers are interested in the quality and types of the provided services. A low-cost service is appropriate for domestic airports in order to guarantee […]
  • Vertical vs. Horizontal Integration for Competition In this case, understanding the ins and outs of vertical and horizontal integration as a way of growth is necessary. In the oil industry, Shell is a quintessence of balanced integration.
  • Tamweel Outsourcing Strategy: Business Competition The focus of Rolex Company is on relatively wealthy clients who desire the best in the market. Since the target group for Rolex Company is already established, the company has managed to remain profitable and […]
  • Software Competition Strategy and Pricing The proprietary operating system enables a company to own all materials and products, particularly, software, ideas, and programs with the rights of ownership and primary developers.
  • Tourism Market and Competition in Luxembourg For instance, some countries have a concentration of the wealthy in urban areas or capital cities, and this may imply that luxurious items will do well there. Some luxury hotels and brands in Luxembourg have […]
  • Night Club Monopoly Competition in the UK The operations in this model are that a recent monopoly will continue enjoying the supernormal profits in the short run. This occurs in the long run after the entry of a new similar but differentiated […]
  • Justice and Conflict & Cooperation and Competition Interdependence on the goals of the parties involved in conflicts perhaps aids in understating the nature of the conflicts. On the other hand, in practical scenarios where the parties involved in conflicts have similar goals […]
  • Fair and Unfair Competition Under Trademarks The concept of defining the identity of business emerged because of the existence of companies offering similar products in the same environment.
  • The US Healthcare Market Competition in Retrospect The following events led to the emergence of market competition in healthcare. The dichotomy between market competition and public healthcare provides a barrier to understanding the realities of the sector which is usually neither of […]
  • Innovative Recycling Competition: Educating the Public However, for the initiative to be successful, it is pivotal to draw a sufficient number of participants to take part in the project.
  • Competition in the U.S. Cosmetics Industry At the moment, the cosmetics market in the U. The high level of rivalry peculiar to the beauty and personal care market demands an improved understanding of the competitive landscape.
  • Business Operation and Perfect Competition The paper also argues that another business operating under the condition of perfect competition makes supernormal returns in the short-run following the absence of competition and normal proceeds in the long term after rival businesses […]
  • McDonald’s Corporation and Its Competition This is owed to the fact that departmental method of overhead allocation allows various departmental service costs to other service and operational departments in a sequence.
  • High Competition and Supply Chain Problems In the case of Panera Bread, it would be useful to develop a promotional strategy that would attract younger populations, such as teenagers and young adults.
  • Ford Company’s Innovation for Better Competition For instance, the introduction of the Ford Mustang in 1964 revolutionized the firm’s performance. The success of the firm led to the acquisition of Aston Martin in 1990 and Jaguar Cars in 1994.
  • TFC TV Company’s Competition Problem The TFC’s vulnerability to this threat is justified by a variety of factors, including the lack of audience-specific approach and relatively low revenues from CPM and advertising.
  • Google, Apple and Facebook Companies Competition The point of the article is that mobile computing and Internet services can be very profitable and that the company that dominates the market can earn a lot of money.
  • Antitrust Legislation and Competition Laws The latter regulation was the first act in the US history to outlaw monopolistic and predatory business practices; it was signed into law in 1890 and focused on the prevention of the trust practices that […]
  • Plentyoffish.com, Its Competition and Strategy Overall, it could be said that the company has to be prepared for changes in the nature and structure of the competition and its intensity, as the rival firms will react very fast to this […]
  • Infrastructure and Influence on Competition The occurrence of bottlenecks in a supply chain process is something that affects the performance of every organization. The importance of reverse logistics to the competition: Businesses should eliminate bottlenecks in order to achieve cost […]
  • Philips and Matsushita Companies’ Competition Both also experienced the effects of the world war and the great economic depression. This was to ensure that the activities and progress of the organisations was minitored.
  • Chief Marketing Officer’s Ethics and Competition In this instance, the actions of the CMO should be reflected as unethical since he/she should not violate the rights of the competitor by reading and reviewing the confidential information.
  • Supply, Demand, Externalities, Resources, Competition Boyes and Melvin state that one of the reasons for renewable resources to become scarce is that they are not privately owned, and the common property is overused.
  • Market-Driven Company’s Mission and Competition When it comes to satisfying customers and increasing the demand for the products or services of a company, Cravens advocates that companies should focus on the experience that customers have.
  • Hospital Competition and Strategic Planning The duty of a strategist is to perceive the competition within the field and be able to handle it. Competitive analysis of the service area is necessary to provide a better understanding of the company’s […]
  • Boeing’s Corporate Governance and Competition The strategic management model is the end destination and a requirement for all large companies and corporations that wish to be able to perform in the dynamic market and sustain their positions in the long […]
  • Organizational Entrepreneurship Aspects in Competition Environment The section ’empirical works’ is used by the authors to refer to the previous works in the field and to emphasize the importance of the middle manager’s inefficient organizational entrepreneurship.
  • Southwest Airlines’ Under-Staffing and Competition At first, the shortage of staff led to the delay of flights and overworking of the employees. Delay in the supply of goods makes the businesses undergo unwarranted losses, and this makes it hard to […]
  • Car Parking Case Competition and Experience The primary goal was to design the relevant solution to find the equilibrium between supply and demand related to the number of cars and a limited number of the parking lots.
  • Airlines Competition in the United Arab Emirates The analysis of the nature of competition and the definition of the key variables affecting the sustainability of the companies in the market are the initial steps in the context of the presented research paper.
  • Political Competition and Transparency in Iran Iran Guardian Council is part of a council in the Iranian constitution that has the right to provide changes in the constitution and “examine if the laws passed by the Majlis comply with the Iranian […]
  • The Competition Law in the UAE It is possible to consider major dos and do nots of the right competition practices to understand the benefits of the implementation of the Competition Law in the UAE.
  • Weight Watchers International Inc.’s Competition The founder of the company stressed that “love, information, companionship, and commiseration of fellow overweight individuals were the key components.for the effective formula.to succeed at weight loss”.
  • Energy Infrastructure and Competition in Europe To balance out the lack of competition in Europe’s energy market, there is a need to liberalize the energy industry in the region by ensuring equal access to the energy infrastructure.
  • College Students’ Challenges: Prices and Competition The most common challenges the students face nowadays are the high prices for college education and the high competitiveness in the college community.
  • Competition: Blue Ocean Strategy and Five Forces Model It is called Five Forces model and it states that businesses should ensure they are ahead of the game in order to defeat their competitors.
  • Marketing: Competition, Positioning and Market Mixing In other words, key questions that should be addressed by competition analysis include: “who are the customers of the company; who are the competitors of the company; what the unique selling proposition; how old are […]
  • UK Employment, Competition and Consumer Protection Laws For example, the transformation in the scope and content of business law has made it possible for both the employees and the employers to benefit from legal protection.
  • Economics: Foreign Firms and Domestic Competition Some of the factors include the structure of ownership of the foreign companies, the geographical distances, and the capabilities of the firms.
  • The US Competition and Antitrust Policy According to Whinston, the second of the half of the 19th century was characterized by major developments that significantly transformed the manufacturing industries in the U.S.
  • The La Fitness Centre: Competition Effects on Performance The La Fitness Centre is one of the renowned fitness centres in the Hatfield region. RO4: To purchase and modify the facilities to enable the La Fitness Centre to be competitive in the market.
  • Workplace Creativity: Collaboration and Competition Effects As a way of trying to be given these ranks, one can try to bring in creativity to make their work appear superior to that of the other workmates.
  • Balance of Trade: Global Markets and Competition Balance of trade is a measure of a nation’s monetary value of imports and exports within a specified period of time.
  • Japanese Symbolic Competition in Consumption This, aptly put, dictates that the consumption of the given product is influenced by the symbol attached to it, and the value appended is directly proportional to its symbol in society, such is regarded as […]
  • Competition Authorities Role in the UK Correcting Market Competition in any sector of the economy is beneficial both to the consumer and to the government. Other practices that lead to the unfair competition are when companies agree to limit their production to cause […]
  • The United Parcel Service’ Imperfect Competition Currently, the company operates in over 200 nations in the world, and it has harnessed the largest market share in the global market.
  • Monopolies or Competition – The Airlines Industry Consequently, it would be important to insert foreign exchange clauses in the repayment agreement to ensure that deficits are catered for by the subsidiary and hence avoid a situation where the profitability, cash flow, and […]
  • Fast Food War in Singapore: The Stiff Competition and Fight for Customers In this case, the market conditions will allow the firm to choose product attributes that counter the products of their competitors.
  • Competition at the Workplace An examination of the case study reveals that Wallace JD’s objective is to obtain employment in a company that will enable him to develop his career.
  • International Management: Airbus and Japan Airlines Competition In the recent past, the airline industry has been affected by a reduction in demand and the sharp increase of fuel prices. All these factors confirm that the move will lead to a growth in […]
  • Travel Industry Environment and Competition Based on the results of the research, a company may develop a list of needed resources that are necessary for the success of chosen strategy.
  • Microsoft and Netscape Competition Microsoft and AOL Deal The strategies put in place in the negotiations between AOL and Netscape were initially ineffective. Microsoft was unable to provide a match against Netscape in the bit of the deal with […]
  • Competition in the Airline Business These include the nature of the project, the activities involved, project duration, the expected outcome, the project value, and the nature of the project network.
  • Amazon and Aldi’s Market Positions Gender and sex are some of the factors that influence the strategies of the two grocery stores in an effort to dominate the market.
  • Twitter and Social Media Competition In the start of the year, many of the important investors like Borthwick reduced down their investment ratios by 52%. Another reason of preference of Facebook over Twitter is the design and structure of the […]
  • Microeconomics: Competition and Monopoly The following is a review of an example of an organisation in Maryland operating in a pure competition market and one in a pure monopoly market.
  • Big Box Store Competition The level of competition in the warehouse and wholesale club has grown steadily within the past one decade. Sam’s Club and Costco should embrace the power of corporate social responsibility in order to support many […]
  • IKEA and Market Competition
  • Competition Strategy: Tool for International and Strategic Marketing
  • Transforming the Economy to Address Climate Change and Global Resource Competition
  • Competition in Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks & Vitamin Enhanced Beverage
  • Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
  • Joint Ventures and Competition: Guiding Laws and Regulations
  • Using Information in Human Resources: Global Competition for Prominence and Performance
  • Competition Promotion in China
  • Branding British Tomatoes: Responding to New Foreign Competition Threats
  • Competition in the Australian Market for Groceries
  • Market Competition and Its Strategies
  • Post-Keynesian and Austrian Criticisms of the Standard Neoclassical View of Competition
  • Competition in the Golf Equipment in 2009
  • Price Discrimination and Monopolistic Competition
  • Important Management Practices in Service Competition
  • Market Failure: Failure in Competition
  • Financial Economics: Banks Competition in the UK
  • Competition in the Service Industry
  • How BAA Can Be Affected by Competition Commission Decision to Sell Two Airports
  • Market Growth and Competition
  • Microsoft Company and Competition Law
  • Cruise Competition in Tourism Industry
  • Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008
  • Foreign Direct Investment and Global Competition
  • Oligopolies and Monopolistic Competition
  • EU Competition Policy and Its Impact
  • Healthcare Organizations Consolidation Strategies and Competition
  • Production, Competition and Globalization
  • Competition in an Oligopolistic Market
  • Economic Analysis and Competition in Oligopolistic Firms
  • Competition in the Golf Equipment Industry
  • Apple Company’s Competition
  • Strategies and Competition in the Marketing Environment
  • Cournot Competition as an Economic Model
  • The Concept of Competition on the Market
  • Pure Competition vs. Monopolistic Competition
  • Competition for Status and Power Between Physicians
  • Monopolistic Competition
  • Perfect Competition
  • Competition Advantages for Producers and Consumers
  • The Effects of Quality Management on the Local and Global Competition
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 23). 189 Competition Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/competition-essay-topics/

"189 Competition Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 23 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/competition-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '189 Competition Essay Topics & Examples'. 23 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "189 Competition Essay Topics & Examples." February 23, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/competition-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "189 Competition Essay Topics & Examples." February 23, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/competition-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "189 Competition Essay Topics & Examples." February 23, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/competition-essay-topics/.

  • Monopoly Essay Topics
  • Public-Private Partnerships Questions
  • Competitive Strategy Research Ideas
  • Macroeconomics Topics
  • Procurement Research Ideas
  • Corruption Ideas
  • Market Research Titles
  • Consumerism Topics
  • Target Market Topics
  • Acquisition Essay Ideas
  • Initial Public Offering Ideas
  • Market Segmentation Titles
  • Business Structure Titles
  • Joint Venture Essay Topics
  • Organizational Design Topics

Essay Writing Guide

Essay Topics

Nova A.

A Catalog of 500+ Essay Topics for Students

36 min read

essay topics

People also read

An Easy Guide to Writing an Essay

Learn How to Write An Essay in Simple Steps

A Complete 500 Word Essay Writing Guide

Explore Different Types of Essays, their Purpose, and Sub-types

Essay Format: A Basic Guide With Examples

Learn How to Create a Perfect Essay Outline

How to Start an Essay- A Step-by-Step Guide

A Complete Essay Introduction Writing Guide With Examples

20+ Hook Examples to Grab Reader’s Attention

The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Thesis Statement

20+ Thesis Statement Examples for Different Types of Essays?

How to Write a Topic Sentence: Purpose, Tips & Examples

Learn How to Write a Conclusion in Simple Steps

Transition Words For Essays - The Ultimate List

4 Types of Sentences - Definition & Examples

Writing Conventions - Definition, Tips & Examples

Essay Writing Problems - 5 Most Paralyzing Problems

How to Make an Essay Longer: 14 Easy Ways

How to Title an Essay - A Detailed Guide

1000 Word Essay - A Simple Guide With Examples

Are you struggling to find the perfect essay topic that will not only captivate your readers but also ignite your own passion for writing?

It can be frustrating, right? 

The blank page stares back at you, and the pressure to choose an engaging essay topic feels overwhelming. You want something that's not only interesting but also meaningful—a topic that will make your essay shine.

In this comprehensive blog post, we've compiled an extensive essay topics list that covers a wide range of subjects. 

So, let's dive in!

Arrow Down

  • 1. Essay Topics for Kids
  • 2. Essay Topics for Grade 3
  • 3. Essay Topics for Grade 4
  • 4. Essay Topics for Grade 5
  • 5. Essay Topics for Grade 6
  • 6. Essay Topics for Grade 7
  • 7. Essay Topics for Grade 8
  • 8. Essay Topics for Grade 9
  • 9. Essay Topics for Grade 10
  • 10. Essay Topics for Grade 11
  • 11. Essay Topics for Grade 12
  • 12. Essay Topics for High School Students
  • 13. Best College Essay Topics
  • 14. Essay Topics for University Students
  • 15. Essay Topics for Different Types of Essays
  • 16. Essay Topics by Subjects
  • 17. General Essay Topics
  • 18. Tips for Choosing the Best Topic

Essay Topics for Kids

  • The Benefits of Reading Books for Fun
  • The Most Exciting Adventure I've Ever Had
  • What Makes a Good Friend?
  • My Favorite Hobby and Why I Love It
  • If I Could Visit Any Place in the World, Where Would I Go?
  • The Importance of Being Kind to Others
  • My Role Model and Why I Look Up to Them
  • How I Would Spend a Day Without Technology
  • My Favorite Season and the Activities I Enjoy During It
  • The Best Day of My Life and Why It Was Special

Essay Topics for Grade 3

  • My Favorite Animal
  • A Day at the Amusement Park
  • If I Could Fly
  • My Best Friend
  • My Favorite Season
  • A Special Family Tradition
  • If I Found a Magic Wand
  • The Importance of Being Kind
  • My Dream House
  • A Day in the Life of a Superhero

Essay Topics for Grade 4

  • My Favorite Book and Why I Love It
  • The Importance of Saving Money
  • If I Could Travel Back in Time
  • A Day Without Electricity
  • My Favorite Food and How to Prepare It
  • How I Would Spend a Day on a Deserted Island
  • The Benefits of Homework and Studying

Essay Topics for Grade 5

  • My Dream Vacation Destination
  • The Impact of Technology on My Life
  • The Importance of Environmental Conservation
  • My Hobbies and Why They Matter
  • If I Could Change One Thing About the World
  • The Role of Friendship in My Life
  • A Memorable Family Trip
  • The Power of Imagination
  • The Benefits of Physical Exercise
  • A Day in the Life of My Favorite Book Character

Essay Topics for Grade 6

Let’s explore essay topics for middle school students in grade 6 here:

  • My Personal Hero and Their Influence on Me
  • The Challenges of Growing Up
  • The Significance of Volunteering in the Community
  • The Impact of Social Media on Society
  • The Value of Setting Goals
  • If I Could Invent a New Holiday
  • The Role of Art and Music in My Life
  • The Benefits of Traveling and Experiencing Different Cultures
  • A Time I Overcame a Fear
  • The Importance of Time Management

Essay Topics for Grade 7

  • The Role of Technology in Education
  • The Impact of Bullying and How to Prevent It
  • The Value of a Good Education
  • The Pros and Cons of Social Networking
  • The Effects of Peer Pressure
  • If I Could Change One Thing About My School
  • The Benefits of Learning a Second Language
  • The Importance of Financial Literacy
  • A Time I Faced a Difficult Decision
  • The Significance of Gender Equality

Essay Topics for Grade 8

  • The Influence of Role Models in Our Lives
  • The Impact of Climate Change on the Environment
  • The Value of Diversity and Inclusion
  • The Role of Technology in Shaping the Future
  • The Importance of Critical Thinking Skills
  • If I Could Travel to Any Period in History
  • The Ethics of Animal Testing
  • The Benefits of Team Sports
  • A Time I Learned a Valuable Life Lesson
  • The Significance of Freedom of Speech

Essay Topics for Grade 9

  • The Power of Literature to Change Lives
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Society
  • The Value of Civic Engagement
  • The Role of Education in Achieving Success
  • The Ethics of Genetic Engineering
  • If I Could Meet Any Historical Figure
  • The Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle
  • The Importance of Financial Responsibility
  • A Time I Overcame a Personal Challenge
  • The Significance of Global Citizenship

Essay Topics for Grade 10

  • The Influence of Media on Public Opinion
  • The Impact of Climate Change Policies
  • The Value of Ethical Leadership
  • The Role of Science in Solving Global Challenges
  • The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
  • If I Could Change One Aspect of Society
  • The Benefits of Learning a Third Language
  • The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
  • A Time I Faced an Ethical Dilemma
  • The Significance of Cultural Exchange Programs

Essay Topics for Grade 11

  • The Role of Technology in Shaping the Job Market
  • The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
  • The Value of College Education in Career Development
  • The Ethics of Bioengineering and Genetic Modification
  • The Importance of Ethical Business Practices
  • If I Could Travel to the Future
  • The Benefits of Entrepreneurship
  • The Significance of Political Engagement among Youth
  • A Time I Challenged a Deeply Held Belief
  • The Role of Art in Social Change

Essay Topics for Grade 12

  • The Influence of Literature on Social Change
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment
  • The Value of Critical Thinking in Decision-Making
  • The Ethics of Privacy in the Digital Age
  • The Importance of Environmental Sustainability
  • If I Could Leave a Legacy for Future Generations
  • The Benefits of Internships and Work Experience
  • The Significance of Advocacy for Human Rights
  • A Time I Took a Stand for a Cause
  • The Role of Education in Shaping Values and Beliefs

Essay Topics for High School Students

Have a look at the following topics for high school essays to come up with your own ideas.

  • Does the fashion industry need to change the way they advertise?
  • Do beauty pageants carry any benefits for women?
  • Should women get plastic surgery?
  • What instigated World War 2?
  • What do people mean when they say “Fake news?”
  • Can constant use of drugs cause brain damage?
  • Can gun control help in regulating crime?
  • Is summer school designed to help children?
  • Methods that are used by professionals to get their dream job.
  • The ways to deal with on-campus violence.

Best College Essay Topics

  • Role of Modern Media in contributing to eating disorders.
  • Is technology turning people into zombies?
  • Is censorship on the internet necessary?
  • Will there be a 3rd World War?
  • Should every student have the right to choose the discipline they are interested in?
  • What does it take to become a politician?
  • The reasons behind high unemployment rates.
  • The aftermath of earthquakes.
  • Which countries have the most corruption?
  • Should there be a restriction on the sales and production of tobacco?

Essay Topics for University Students

  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Job Market.
  • The Ethical Dilemmas of Human Gene Editing.
  • The Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Movements.
  • The Influence of Climate Change on Global Security.
  • The Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Education.
  • The Intersection of Technology and Mental Health.
  • The Economic Implications of Renewable Energy Adoption.
  • The Future of Space Exploration and Colonization.
  • The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.
  • The Cultural Significance of Contemporary Art Movements.

Essay Topics for Different Types of Essays

For writing an essay, the first step is to decide on the topic.

Here, you can find interesting topics and ideas for different types of essays to help you get started.

Controversial Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Is Climate Change Primarily Caused by Human Activities?
  • Should Affirmative Action Policies be Continued in College Admissions?
  • Is Universal Healthcare a Viable Option for the United States?
  • Should Euthanasia be Allowed for Severely Disabled Newborns?
  • Is Genetic Engineering Ethical in Humans?
  • Should the Voting Age be Lowered to 16?
  • Is Internet Censorship Necessary to Protect National Security?
  • Should Hate Speech be Protected as Free Speech?
  • Does asking someone to reduce weight equate to body shaming?
  • Should kids be allowed to adopt e-gaming as a progressive career?

Funny Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Is pizza a proper breakfast food, and why should it be?
  • Should cats be considered superior to dogs as household pets?
  • Is it ethical for a sock to vanish in the laundry, and where do they go?
  • Are aliens avoiding Earth because they fear our reality TV shows?
  • Can you survive a zombie apocalypse using only office supplies?
  • Is procrastination an art form, and how can you perfect it?
  • Should kids' cartoons be considered educational for adults?
  • Can you convince your boss that napping at work increases productivity?
  • Is laughter truly the best medicine, and can it cure anything?
  • Can you convince your roommate that washing dishes is an ancient martial art?

In need of more debatable essay topics? We have a comprehensive list of more excellent argumentative essay topics to assist you.

Persuasive Essay Topics

  • Should Recycling Be Mandatory in Every Household?
  • Is Single-Use Plastic a Menace to the Environment, and Should It Be Banned?
  • Should Schools Implement Uniform Dress Codes to Promote Equality?
  • Is Standardized Testing an Effective Measure of Student Knowledge?
  • Is Online Learning as Effective as Traditional Classroom Education?
  • Should Vaccinations Be Mandatory for All Children to Ensure Public Health?
  • Is Animal Testing Justified in the Name of Scientific Progress?
  • Should Governments Impose Higher Taxes on Junk Food and Sugary Drinks?
  • Is Social Media Detrimental to Mental Health, and Should It Be Regulated?
  • Should College Athletes Be Paid for Their Participation in Sports?

Read our comprehensive guide to persuasive essay topics to find a trending topic or a good idea for your paper.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

  • Causes and Effects of Stress in Modern Society
  • The Consequences of Bullying on Mental Health
  • Environmental Pollution: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
  • The Influence of Parental Divorce on Children's Well-being
  • The Causes and Effects of Obesity in Developed Countries
  • The Causes and Effects of Economic Inequality
  • The Causes and Consequences of Academic Procrastination
  • The Impact of Social Pressure on Teenagers' Decision-Making
  • The Causes and Effects of Drug Addiction
  • The Influence of Early Education on a Child's Future Success

Check out this comprehensive guide on 100+ cause and effect essay topics for more ideas.

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

  • Comparison of High School vs. College Life
  • Contrast of Traditional Education vs. Online Learning
  • Comparison of Two Major Religions: Christianity vs. Islam
  • Contrasting the Novels of Jane Austen vs. Emily Brontë
  • Comparing Two Art Movements: Renaissance vs. Baroque
  • Contrasting Classical Music vs. Jazz
  • Comparing Two Smartphone Brands: iPhone vs. Android
  • Contrast of Two Political Systems: Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
  • Comparison of Traditional Medicine vs. Modern Medicine
  • Comparing the Characters of Romeo and Juliet vs. West Side Story

If you need more ideas, here are some interesting compare contrast essay topics for your help.

Narrative Essay Topics

  • My First Day of School: A Memorable Experience
  • The Day I Overcame My Greatest Fear
  • The Most Important Lesson I Learned from a Family Member
  • The Time I Achieved a Personal Goal, I Never Thought Possible
  • The Day I Discovered My Passion for a Hobby or Interest
  • The Impact of a Life-Altering Event on My Perspective
  • The Story Behind My Most Prized Possession
  • My Experience as a Volunteer or in Community Service
  • The Day I Realized the Power of Kindness
  • A Special Bond I Share with a Childhood Friend

Need more topics? Check out this extensive blog on narrative essay topics for your next assignment.

Expository Essay Topics

  • The Impact of Technology on Society: Past, Present, and Future
  • The Process of Photosynthesis and Its Importance in Nature
  • The History and Significance of the Industrial Revolution
  • Understanding the Basics of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology
  • The Role of Education in Shaping Future Career Success
  • The Significance of Cultural Diversity in a Globalized World
  • Exploring the Psychology of Human Behavior and Decision-Making
  • The Process of How a Bill Becomes a Law in Government
  • The Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Combating Climate Change
  • Understanding the History and Culture of a Specific Country or Region

Here are some more intriguing expository essay topics to assist you.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

  • Evaluating the Persuasive Strategies in a Self-Help Book or Article
  • Examining the Rhetoric of a Famous Political Campaign Ad
  • Analyzing the Persuasive Techniques in a TED Talk of Your Choice
  • Analyzing the Rhetoric of a Controversial News Article
  • Evaluating the Persuasive Techniques in a Super Bowl Commercial
  • Examining the Rhetorical Appeals in a Famous Courtroom Speech
  • Evaluating the Use of Rhetorical Devices in a Political Debate
  • Analyzing the Persuasive Strategies in a Feminist Manifesto
  • Evaluating the Rhetorical Appeals in a Social Justice Speech
  • Examining the Rhetorical Techniques in a Historical Letter or Document

Check out this extensive blog on 100+ rhetorical analysis essay topics for more topics.

Analytical Essay Topics

  • The impact of Martin Luther King's speech “I have a dream” on modern American politics
  • The significance of Pablo Picasso's artwork “The Old Guitarist”
  • Important characteristics of Denzel Washington Speech at the University Of Pennsylvania
  • Impact of the psychoanalytic theory on modern psychology
  • The impact of Romeo and Juliet on the modern concept of love
  • The significance of national security strategy 2018 on great power politics
  • How does the author's treatment of the subject matter in “The Catcher in the Rye” differ from that in “The Great Gatsby”?
  • How are the characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird” used to illustrate different aspects of racial prejudice in America during the 1930s?
  • How is the treatment of love different in Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet” and “Othello”?
  • How does the author use symbolism to develop the theme of good vs. evil in “The Scarlet Letter”?

Explore the blog to get some more ideas about interesting analytical essay topics .

Descriptive Essay Topics

  • A Walk Through a Peaceful Forest in Autumn
  • A Vibrant Farmers' Market on a Saturday Morning
  • A Day at the Beach: Sun, Sand, and Waves
  • The Serene Beauty of a Starry Night Sky
  • A Memorable Childhood Christmas Morning
  • The Sights and Sounds of a Carnival or Fair
  • The First Day of Spring: Nature's Reawakening
  • A Visit to a Historical Landmark or Museum
  • A Gourmet Dining Experience at Your Favorite Restaurant
  • The Excitement of a Music Concert or Festival

Check out this extensive list of descriptive essay topics ideas for your help.

Informative Essay Topics

  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Job Market
  • The History and Cultural Significance of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics
  • The Benefits and Risks of Gene Editing Technology
  • Exploring Renewable Energy Sources: Solar, Wind, and Hydroelectric Power
  • The Effects of Climate Change on Polar Ice Caps and Wildlife
  • A Comprehensive Guide to Effective Time Management
  • Exploring the Role of Nutrition in Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle
  • The Significance of Space Exploration: Past, Present, and Future
  • The Origins and Cultural Significance of a Traditional Festival
  • A Guide to Sustainable Farming and Agriculture Practices

Here’s a comprehensive list of interesting, 100+ informative essay topics .

Definition Essay Topics

  • The Meaning of "Success" in Modern Society
  • Defining the Concept of "Love" in All Its Forms
  • The True Definition of "Friendship"
  • The Ever-Changing Meaning of "Freedom"
  • Exploring the Notion of "Happiness"
  • Defining "Cultural Diversity" and Its Importance
  • The Multifaceted Definition of "Beauty"
  • The Various Interpretations of "Justice"
  • Understanding "Mental Health" and Its Stigma
  • Defining "Leadership" and Its Qualities
  • The Meaning of "Sustainability" in Environmental Contexts
  • Exploring the Concept of "Feminism"
  • Defining "Social Media" and Its Impact
  • The True Definition of "Equality"
  • Exploring the Meaning of "Art" in Contemporary Culture

Problem Solution Essay Topics

  • How to prevent social media bullying?
  • How to help a depressed person?
  • How texting affects face-to-face relationships?
  • How to prevent injuries in sports?
  • How can parents teach their children about time management?
  • How to deal with manipulative and dominating people?
  • How can schools and colleges be made safer?
  • How to prevent deaths due to drunk driving?
  • How to help families with a child with mental illness?
  • How to stop violence in schools?

Personal Essay Topics

  • A person you admire the most.
  • Are you addicted to games?
  • How did you learn to draw?
  • What is your life’s goal?
  • Things you hate the most?
  • Why do I prefer online shopping?
  • Your biggest achievement.
  • What does success mean to you?
  • What annoys you the most?
  • Why is volunteering important?

Proposal Essay Topics

  • Promoting Sustainable Transportation
  • Enhancing Cybersecurity Education
  • Implementing Recycling Programs in Schools
  • Reducing Plastic Waste in the Community
  • Supporting Small Local Businesses
  • Improving Mental Health Support in Schools
  • Implementing Renewable Energy Initiatives
  • Enhancing Campus Sustainability Efforts
  • Combating Food Insecurity in Underserved Communities
  • Promoting Gender Equality in the Workplace

Evaluation Essay Topics

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of online learning compared to traditional classroom education.
  • Evaluate the impact of social media on interpersonal relationships and communication.
  • Assess the quality and impact of a recent movie or television series.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of a specific diet or nutrition plan for weight loss.
  • Assess the environmental impact of electric vehicles compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars.
  • Evaluate the performance and features of a popular smartphone or electronic gadget.
  • Assess the impact of a particular social or political policy on society.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of a marketing campaign for a well-known brand.
  • Assess the impact of a recent technological advancement on daily life.
  • Evaluate the quality and impact of a famous work of literature or art.

Process Analysis Essay Topics

  • How to Plan and Organize a Successful Study Group.
  • The Process of Making Homemade Pizza from Scratch.
  • Steps to Mastering a Musical Instrument.
  • How to Write a Winning College Application Essay.
  • The Process of Brewing Your Own Craft Beer.
  • Steps to Launching a Small Business Online.
  • How to Effectively Manage Time and Prioritize Tasks.
  • The Art of DIY Home Renovation.
  • The Process of Creating a Stunning Piece of Art.
  • How to Cook a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner.

Check out some other process analysis essay topics for inspiration!

Illustration Essay Topics

  • Illustrate the Impact of Technology on Everyday Life.
  • Illustrate the Traits of a Successful Leader.
  • The Role of Music in Shaping Emotions and Moods.
  • Illustrate the Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle.
  • The Influence of Social Media on Personal Relationships.
  • Illustrate the Impact of Cultural Diversity in a Community.
  • The Importance of Effective Communication in the Workplace.
  • Illustrate the Evolution of Fashion Trends Over the Decades.
  • The Characteristics of a Memorable Family Vacation.
  • Illustrate the Process of Achieving a Personal Goal.

Here’s a list of some more creative and engaging illustration essay topics .

Exploratory Essay Topics

  • Exploring the Causes and Effects of Climate Change.
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Job Market: An Exploration.
  • Exploring the Role of Media in Shaping Public Opinion.
  • The Influence of Nature vs. Nurture on Human Behavior.
  • An Exploration of the Ethics of Genetic Engineering.
  • The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health: An In-Depth Examination.
  • Exploring the Challenges and Benefits of Online Education.
  • An Exploration of the Implications of Universal Basic Income.
  • The Dynamics of Family Relationships: An In-Depth Analysis.
  • Exploring the Impact of Literature and Art on Society.

Order Essay

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Classification Essay Topics

  • Types of Pet Owners: A Classification.
  • Classification of Musical Genres: From Classical to Hip-Hop.
  • Types of Travelers: Exploring the Adventurer, Relaxer, and Culture Enthusiast.
  • Classifying Different Types of Social Media Users.
  • Types of Students in a Classroom: From the Overachiever to the Laid-Back.
  • Classifying Different Styles of Fashion: Bohemian, Classic, and Trendy.
  • Types of Moviegoers: The Action Lover, Rom-Com Fan, and Film Buff.
  • Classifying Different Forms of Exercise: Yoga, Weightlifting, and Cardio.
  • Types of Foodies: From Gourmet Enthusiasts to Fast Food Lovers.
  • Classifying Various Types of Vehicles: Cars, Motorcycles, and Bicycles

Check out other compelling classification essay topics for more ideas.

Synthesis Essay Topics

  • The Electoral College as a tool to determine the outcome of Presidential elections.
  • Predicting animal adaptation by examining various evolutionary theories.
  • A side-by-side analysis of the theories behind JFK's shooting
  • Economic and social impacts of proposed legislation by Donald Trump
  • Comparing plans to attract more visitors and create business opportunities.
  • Examining crime rates in urban locations and the countryside
  • Analysis of different theories on the causes of the Great Depression
  • An account of the American Civil War from historical texts
  • A synthesis of different theories of motivation to create behavioral change
  • A unified approach to managing diabetes by examining global research from around the world
  • The scientific method as a means of acquiring knowledge

Explore the blog for some more synthesis essay topics .

Essay Topics by Subjects

Students are often asked by teachers to write essays on a variety of topics related to a particular subject. 

The sheer number of discussion areas can be overwhelming for students, making it difficult to choose a good essay topic. 

This list of essay topics by subject can help you narrow down your choices and find a topic that is both interesting and relevant to your studies.

Essay Topics on Languages

  • The change of language over time.
  • The use of text messages has ruined the modern language: is it true?
  • How to explore new languages.
  • Neuro-linguistic programming and how it works.
  • Physical communication or verbal communication: which is effective?
  • Explore the ways in which people can communicate.
  • Benefits of learning a second language.
  • Explain how learning languages work.
  • Is learning a new language in high school important?
  • Why is English important?

Essay Topics on Social Media

  • Influence of social media on youth.
  • What are the cons of social media?
  • Should texting and driving be illegal?
  • The impact of social media on the life of teenagers.
  • How does social media affect the relationship between parents and children?
  • Does social media like Pinterest should be used in the classrooms?
  • How to handle the problem of being bullied through social media?
  • What rules should students follow when posting to social media?

Essay Topics on Technology

  • Technology and the global economy.
  • The positives and effects of technology.
  • The role of 3-D printing  in Medicine.
  • What science has to offer to disabled people?
  • Face detection software and the problem of identity theft.
  • Adding connectivity to our home devices: is it helpful or not?
  • Cloud computing and artificial intelligence
  • How has technology changed our life?
  • Life without technology
  • Technology has its own rules

Essay Topics on Current Affairs

  • The Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lessons Learned.
  • Climate Change and Its Effects on Biodiversity and Weather Patterns.
  • The Role of Social Media in Shaping Modern Political Discourse.
  • Cybersecurity Threats in the Digital Age and Strategies for Protection.
  • The Influence of Artificial Intelligence on the Future of Work.
  • The Refugee Crisis: Challenges, Solutions, and Global Responsibility.
  • Racial and Social Justice Movements in the 21st Century.
  • The Geopolitical Impact of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
  • The Rise of Populism and Nationalism in Western Democracies.
  • The Implications of Space Exploration and Colonization for Humanity.

Essay Topics on Corruption

  • The Impact of Corruption on Economic Development
  • The Relationship Between Corruption and Inequality
  • The Role of the Media in Combating Corruption
  • The Impact of Corruption on Political Stability
  • The Relationship Between Corruption and Crime
  • The Use of Technology in Combating Corruption
  • International Cooperation in Combating Corruption
  • The Private Sector and Combating Corruption
  • Civil Society and Combating Corruption
  • The Causes of Corruption

Essay Topics on Climate Change

  • The effects of climate change on human health
  • The impact of climate change on global food security
  • The economic impacts of climate change
  • The role of the media in communicating the risks of climate change
  • The ethical implications of climate change
  • The Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture
  • The Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife
  • The Potential Solutions to Climate Change
  • The Challenges in Implementing Solutions to Climate Change
  • The Role of the Individual in Solving Climate Change

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

  • The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health and Well-being.
  • Social Media's Role in Shaping Political Discourse and Activism.
  • The Effects of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships.
  • Cyberbullying and Online Harassment: Challenges and Solutions.
  • Privacy Concerns in the Age of Social Media: Balancing Sharing and Security.
  • Social Media Influencers: Their Influence and Responsibilities.
  • The Use of Social Media in Education: Pros and Cons.
  • Social Media Marketing: Strategies, Trends, and Ethics.
  • Fake News and Misinformation on Social Media: The Role of Fact-Checking.
  • The Future of Social Media: Emerging Trends and Technologies.

Essay Topics on Democracy

  • The Evolution of Democracy: From Ancient Greece to Modern Times.
  • The Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century.
  • The Role of Media in Sustaining a Healthy Democracy.
  • Democracy and Its Implications for Economic Development.
  • Electoral Systems: Comparing First-Past-The-Post and Proportional Representation.
  • The Influence of Money in Politics and Its Impact on Democracy.
  • Direct vs. Representative Democracy: Which Is More Effective?
  • The Role of Civil Society in Strengthening Democracy.
  • The Importance of Civic Education in Sustaining Democracy.
  • Threats to Democracy: Populism, Authoritarianism, and Erosion of Institutions.

Essay Topics on Covid-19 

  • The current COVID-19 pandemic
  • COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on families
  • Coronavirus and its medication
  • How does coronavirus damage a person's health?
  • How did the world change after the coronavirus?
  • Negative side effects of Covid-19
  • Everything you need to know about the coronavirus
  • How did Covid-19 impact businesses?
  • What medicines are good for coronavirus?
  • How does covid-19 lead to cabin fever and anxiety symptoms?

Essay Topics on Social Issues

  • The Impact of Social Media on Social Isolation and Loneliness.
  • Homelessness in Urban Centers: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions.
  • Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System: Analyzing the Data.
  • Gender Inequality in the Workplace: Progress and Challenges.
  • The Opioid Epidemic: Root Causes and Approaches to Combat It.
  • Environmental Racism: Communities at Risk.
  • Access to Healthcare: A Basic Human Right or a Privilege?
  • Bullying in Schools: Strategies for Prevention and Intervention.
  • Immigration Policies and Their Effects on Society.
  • Aging Population: Challenges and Opportunities in an Aging Society

Essay Topics on Current Issues

  • The Global Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Future Preparedness.
  • Climate Change and the Urgency for Sustainable Solutions.
  • Cybersecurity Threats in the Modern World: Protecting Digital Assets.
  • Vaccine Hesitancy and Public Health: Addressing Misinformation.
  • The Role of Big Tech in Shaping the Digital Landscape.
  • Refugee Crises Around the World: Seeking Global Solutions.
  • Income Inequality: The Wealth Gap and Its Social Implications.
  • Political Polarization and Its Impact on Governance.
  • Food Security: Feeding the World's Growing Population.
  • The Ethics of AI and Automation in the Workforce.

Essay Topics About Mental Health

  • The prevalence of mental health disorders in the United States.
  • The impact of mental health disorders on individuals and society.
  • The causes of mental health disorders.
  • The treatments available for mental health disorders.
  • The challenges faced by individuals with mental health disorders.
  • CBT for obsessive compulsive disorders
  • Role of Antidepressants in treating Depression
  • Impact of noise pollution on mental health
  • Social media use leads to negative self-esteem
  • Attachment issues in adults are related to childhood parenting issues

Essay Topics about Music

  • The Influence of Music on Mood and Emotions.
  • The Evolution of Hip-Hop Culture.
  • The Impact of Music on Social Movements.
  • The Role of Music in Different Cultures.
  • The Connection Between Music and Memory.
  • The Influence of Music on Fashion and Style.
  • Music and Its Effects on Brain Development in Children.
  • The Significance of Music Festivals in Modern Culture.
  • Music Therapy: Healing through Sound.
  • The Impact of Technology on the Music Industry.

Essay Topics About Love

  • The Different Types of Love: Exploring Romantic, Familial, and Platonic Love.
  • The Impact of Love on Mental and Physical Health.
  • Love in Literature: Analyzing Famous Love Stories in Classic Novels.
  • The Role of Love in Shaping Our Personal Identities.
  • Unconditional Love: Examining the Bonds Between Parents and Children.
  • The Evolution of Love in the Digital Age: Online Dating and Relationships.
  • Love and Self-Esteem: How Our Self-Perception Affects Our Ability to Love.
  • The Connection Between Love and Empathy in Human Relationships.
  • Love and Attachment Styles: Understanding How We Form Connections.
  • The Cultural Variations in Expressing and Experiencing Love.

Essay Topics About Yourself

  • Introduce yourself in a unique way that captures your reader's attention.
  • Discuss an accomplishment that you are proud of, and how it has shaped who you are today.
  • Describe a time when you faced a challenge, and how you overcame it.
  • Share an experience that has helped to shape your values and beliefs.
  • What are your hobbies and interests?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • What are your career aspirations?
  • Describe a time when you faced a challenge and how you coped with it.
  • Tell us about a time when you were proud of yourself and why.
  • What are your plans for the future?

Essay Topics About the Environment

  • The Impact of Climate Change on Global Weather Patterns.
  • Deforestation and Its Effects on Biodiversity.
  • The Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Combating Climate Change.
  • Plastic Pollution: Analyzing the Impact on Marine Ecosystems.
  • The Importance of Environmental Education in Schools.
  • Urbanization and Its Environmental Consequences.
  • Sustainable Agriculture: Balancing Food Production and Environmental Conservation.
  • The Significance of Wildlife Conservation and Preservation.
  • The Ethics of Animal Testing in Scientific Research.
  • Environmental Justice: Addressing Disparities in Environmental Quality.

General Essay Topics

  • The Impact of Video Games on College Students.
  • The Importance of Physical Education in Schools.
  • Social Media Platforms and their Influence.
  • Negative Impact of Social Media on Students.
  • Public Schools vs. Private Schools: A Comparative Analysis.
  • Analyzing College Students' Point of View on Video Game Addiction.
  • Persuading for Environmental Conservation.
  • The Role of Social Media in Modern Marketing.
  • The Impact of Technology on the Job Market.
  • Analyzing Point of View in a Legal Context.

Tips for Choosing the Best Topic

Choosing the right topic for your essay is a critical step in the essay writing process. It sets the tone for your work and can greatly impact your ability to engage your readers. Here are some tips to help you select the best topic:

  • Consider Your Interests

Start by thinking about your own interests and passions. Writing about a topic you're enthusiastic about will make the entire process more enjoyable and may result in a more engaging piece.

  • Narrow or Broad

Decide whether you want a broad or narrow topic. Broad topics allow for a wide range of discussion, while narrow ones allow for deeper exploration of specific aspects. Your choice depends on your assignment and word limit.

Consider the relevance of the topic to your audience and context. Is it something your readers will find interesting or valuable? Is it aligned with the purpose of your essay, whether it's informative, persuasive, or analytical?

  • Research Availability

Ensure there's enough research material available on the topic. If you're writing a research-based essay, it's crucial to have access to credible sources to support your arguments.

  • Audience Considerations

Tailor your topic to your target audience. Consider their interests, knowledge level, and preferences when choosing a subject that will resonate with them.

  • Current Events

If it's appropriate for your essay type, explore current events and trending topics. They can add relevance and timeliness to your writing.

  • Brainstorming

Spend some time brainstorming ideas. Create lists, mind maps, or free-write to generate a variety of potential topics. Don't censor yourself during this process; just let the ideas flow.

In conclusion, selecting the best topic for your essay is a pivotal decision that can significantly impact the quality and engagement level of your writing. 

By considering your interests, you can set yourself up for success in crafting an exceptional essay.

At MyPerfectWords.com, we understand that the journey of essay writing begins with choosing the right topic.

Moreover, our team of experienced writers is here to assist you at every stage of the writing process, from topic selection to the final polished draft. Visit our essay writing service now and take the first step toward academic excellence. 

Your perfect essay is just a click away!

AI Essay Bot

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Nova A.

Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

Get Help

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

essay writing guide

Harvard International Review

HIR Academic Writing Contest

essay writing contest topics

The Harvard International Review is a quarterly magazine offering insight on international affairs from the perspectives of scholars, leaders, and policymakers. Since our founding in 1979, we've set out to bridge the worlds of academia and policy through outstanding writing and editorial selection.

The quality of our content is unparalleled. Each issue of the Harvard International Review includes exclusive interviews and editorials by leading international figures along with expert staff analysis of critical international issues. We have featured commentary by 43 Presidents and Prime Ministers, 4 Secretaries-General, 4 Nobel Economics Prize laureates, and 7 Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

The Contest

Inspired by our growing high school readership around the world, we have run the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest since 2020 to encourage and highlight outstanding high school writing on topics related to international affairs.

Contest Format

Participants in the contest submit a short-form article on a topic in international affairs. Each submission will be read and scored by the Harvard International Review .

A number of contestants will be selected as finalists, who are invited to participate in a virtual HIR Defense Day. At the Defense Day, students will have the opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to Harvard International Review judges.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions must adhere to the following requirements, as outlined in the Submission Guide below.

For the upcoming Spring 2024 contest, participants will have a choice of two different themes and must note which prompt they have chosen at the top of their submissions.

Theme A: Inequalities in a VUCA World

Theme B: Global Challenges and Collective Actions

Contestants may choose either topic above when writing the article.

Content: Articles should address a topic related to international affairs today. Potential categories include (but are not limited to): Agriculture, Business, Cybersecurity, Defense, Education, Employment & Immigration, Energy & Environment, Finance & Economy, Public Health, Science & Technology, Space, Trade, and Transportation. Articles should examine the theme from a global perspective rather than focusing on the United States.

Length: Articles should be at least 800 words but not exceed 1,200 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, or authorship declaration).

Writing Style: Submissions should present an analytically backed perspective on an under-appreciated global topic.  

AI Policy : The usage of ChatGPT is prohibited. Judges will be running all articles through multiple AI checkers, and articles that receive high AI generation scores across multiple checkers will be disqualified.

Excellent contest submissions will aim to present a topic holistically from a balanced perspective. Evidence and nuance are critical. Submissions should be well-researched, well-informed, and formal in style and prose.

The HIR does not accept op-eds , otherwise known as editorials or opinion pieces for its competition. Articles are expected to have a thesis but should not have an agenda. Submissions should also not be merely a collection of facts.

As a journalist organization, we ask that submissions follow AP Style's newest edition . We also ask that submissions are culturally sensitive, fact-checked, and respectful.

Examples of pieces that would be considered excellent submissions are below.

essay writing contest topics

Citation and Sources : All factual claims must be backed by a citation from a reliable source. All ideas that are not your own must be properly attributed. Citations should be made via hyperlinks. Non-digital sources are welcome but must be cited properly as per AP Style . See the examples above for examples of using hyperlinks for citations.

Click Here: Submission Guide

Contest dates.

There are three distinct submission cycles for the 2024 Contest.

Please note that contestants are requested to register and pay before becoming eligible to submit their articles prior to the submission deadline.  

Admissions are done on a rolling basis! Capacity is limited.

Spring 2024

Article Submission Deadline: May 31, 2024

HIR Defense Day: June 29, 2024

Summer 2024

Article Submission Deadline: August 31, 2024

HIR Defense Day: October 5, 2024

Fall 2024 / Winter 2024

Article Submission Deadline: January 2, 2025

HIR Defense Day: February 5, 2025

Contest Prizes

All submissions will receive a score from the Harvard International Review based on the Evaluation Rubric described in the Submission Guide. Contestants that receive a passing score without qualifying for a HIR Defense Day will receive individual prizes. Finalists will be eligible for the following Gold/Silver/Bronze medals based on their scores and performance in the HIR Defense Day.

Commendation Prize: HIR Certificate

Outstanding Writing Content / Style Prize : HIR Certificate

High Commendation Prize : HIR Certificate

Bronze Medal : HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top 20 percent)

Silver Medal: HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top 10 percent)

Gold Medal: HIR Certificate and name listed on website (global top three percent)

All scoring and prize decisions are final. The contest will not be able to provide additional detail beyond the scores provided by HIR graders. All contestants who manage to submit their articles will receive a certificate of completion.

Contest Eligibility:

United States

Students are eligible if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

International

Students in countries outside of the United States (grades 9-12) are also welcome to submit. Submissions are expected to be written in English and with traditional American spelling. For more information on submissions in your country, please contact [email protected]

Register Here

Summer 2024 Admissions Open Now. Sign up for upcoming live information sessions here (featuring former and current Admission Officers at Havard and UPenn).

Discourse, debate, and analysis

Cambridge re:think essay competition 2024.

Competition Opens: 15th January, 2024

Essay Submission Deadline: 10th May, 2024 Result Announcement: 20th June, 2024 Award Ceremony and Dinner at the University of Cambridge: 30th July, 2024

We welcome talented high school students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Entry to the competition is free.

About the Competition

The spirit of the Re:think essay competition is to encourage critical thinking and exploration of a wide range of thought-provoking and often controversial topics. The competition covers a diverse array of subjects, from historical and present issues to speculative future scenarios. Participants are invited to engage deeply with these topics, critically analysing their various facets and implications. It promotes intellectual exploration and encourages participants to challenge established norms and beliefs, presenting opportunities to envision alternative futures, consider the consequences of new technologies, and reevaluate longstanding traditions. 

Ultimately, our aim is to create a platform for students and scholars to share their perspectives on pressing issues of the past and future, with the hope of broadening our collective understanding and generating innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. This year’s competition aims to underscore the importance of discourse, debate, and critical analysis in addressing complex societal issues in nine areas, including:

Religion and Politics

Political science and law, linguistics, environment, sociology and philosophy, business and investment, public health and sustainability, biotechonology.

Artificial Intelligence 

Neuroengineering

2024 essay prompts.

This year, the essay prompts are contributed by distinguished professors from Harvard, Brown, UC Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT.

Essay Guidelines and Judging Criteria

Review general guidelines, format guidelines, eligibility, judging criteria.

Awards and Award Ceremony

Award winners will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony and Dinner hosted at the King’s College, University of Cambridge. The Dinner is free of charge for select award recipients.

Registration and Submission

Register a participant account today and submit your essay before the deadline.

Advisory Committee and Judging Panel

The Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition is guided by an esteemed Advisory Committee comprising distinguished academics and experts from elite universities worldwide. These committee members, drawn from prestigious institutions, such as Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT, bring diverse expertise in various disciplines.

They play a pivotal role in shaping the competition, contributing their insights to curate the themes and framework. Their collective knowledge and scholarly guidance ensure the competition’s relevance, academic rigour, and intellectual depth, setting the stage for aspiring minds to engage with thought-provoking topics and ideas.

We are honoured to invite the following distinguished professors to contribute to this year’s competition.

The judging panel of the competition comprises leading researchers and professors from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Oxford, engaging in a strictly double blind review process.

Essay Competition Professors

Keynote Speeches by 10 Nobel Laureates

We are beyond excited to announce that multiple Nobel laureates have confirmed to attend and speak at this year’s ceremony on 30th July, 2024 .

They will each be delivering a keynote speech to the attendees. Some of them distinguished speakers will speak virtually, while others will attend and present in person and attend the Reception at Cambridge.

Essay Competition Professors (4)

Why has religion remained a force in a secular world? 

Professor Commentary:

Arguably, the developed world has become more secular in the last century or so. The influence of Christianity, e.g. has diminished and people’s life worlds are less shaped by faith and allegiance to Churches. Conversely, arguments have persisted that hold that we live in a post-secular world. After all, religion – be it in terms of faith, transcendence, or meaning – may be seen as an alternative to a disenchanted world ruled by entirely profane criteria such as economic rationality, progressivism, or science. Is the revival of religion a pale reminder of a by-gone past or does it provide sources of hope for the future?

‘Religion in the Public Sphere’ by Jürgen Habermas (European Journal of Philosophy, 2006)

In this paper, philosopher Jürgen Habermas discusses the limits of church-state separation, emphasizing the significant contribution of religion to public discourse when translated into publicly accessible reasons.

‘Public Religions in the Modern World’ by José Casanova (University Of Chicago Press, 1994)

Sociologist José Casanova explores the global emergence of public religion, analyzing case studies from Catholicism and Protestantism in Spain, Poland, Brazil, and the USA, challenging traditional theories of secularization.

‘The Power of Religion in the Public Sphere’ by Judith Butler, Jürgen Habermas, Charles Taylor, and Cornel West (Edited by Eduardo Mendieta and Jonathan VanAntwerpen, Columbia University Press, 2011)

This collection features dialogues by prominent intellectuals on the role of religion in the public sphere, examining various approaches and their impacts on cultural, social, and political debates.

‘Rethinking Secularism’ by Craig Calhoun, Mark Juergensmeyer, and Jonathan VanAntwerpen (Oxford University Press, 2011)

An interdisciplinary examination of secularism, this book challenges traditional views, highlighting the complex relationship between religion and secularism in contemporary global politics.

‘God is Back: How the Global Rise of Faith is Changing the World’ by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge (Penguin, 2010)

Micklethwait and Wooldridge argue for the coexistence of religion and modernity, suggesting that religious beliefs can contribute to a more open, tolerant, and peaceful modern world.

‘Multiculturalism’ by Tariq Modood (Polity Press, 2013)

Sociologist Tariq Modood emphasizes the importance of multiculturalism in integrating diverse identities, particularly in post-immigration contexts, and its role in shaping democratic citizenship.

‘God’s Agents: Biblical Publicity in Contemporary England’ by Matthew Engelke (University of California Press, 2013)

In this ethnographic study, Matthew Engelke explores how a group in England seeks to expand the role of religion in the public sphere, challenging perceptions of religion in post-secular England.

Ccir Essay Competition Prompt Contributed By Dr Mashail Malik

Gene therapy is a medical approach that treats or prevents disease by correcting the underlying genetic problem. Is gene therapy better than traditional medicines? What are the pros and cons of using gene therapy as a medicine? Is gene therapy justifiable?

Especially after Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, gene therapy is getting more and more interesting approach to cure. That’s why that could be interesting to think about. I believe that students will enjoy and learn a lot while they are investigating this topic.

Ccir Essay Competition Prompt Contributed By Dr Mamiko Yajima

The Hall at King’s College, Cambridge

The Hall was designed by William Wilkins in the 1820s and is considered one of the most magnificent halls of its era. The first High Table dinner in the Hall was held in February 1828, and ever since then, the splendid Hall has been where members of the college eat and where formal dinners have been held for centuries.

The Award Ceremony and Dinner will be held in the Hall in the evening of  30th July, 2024.

2

Stretching out down to the River Cam, the Back Lawn has one of the most iconic backdrop of King’s College Chapel. 

The early evening reception will be hosted on the Back Lawn with the iconic Chapel in the background (weather permitting). 

3

King’s College Chapel

With construction started in 1446 by Henry VI and took over a century to build, King’s College Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and is a splendid example of late Gothic architecture. 

Attendees are also granted complimentary access to the King’s College Chapel before and during the event. 

Confirmed Nobel Laureates

Dr David Baltimore - CCIR

Dr Thomas R. Cech

The nobel prize in chemistry 1989 , for the discovery of catalytic properties of rna.

Thomas Robert Cech is an American chemist who shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sidney Altman, for their discovery of the catalytic properties of RNA. Cech discovered that RNA could itself cut strands of RNA, suggesting that life might have started as RNA. He found that RNA can not only transmit instructions, but also that it can speed up the necessary reactions.

He also studied telomeres, and his lab discovered an enzyme, TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase), which is part of the process of restoring telomeres after they are shortened during cell division.

As president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he promoted science education, and he teaches an undergraduate chemistry course at the University of Colorado

16

Sir Richard J. Roberts

The nobel prize in medicine 1993 .

F or the discovery of split genes

During 1969–1972, Sir Richard J. Roberts did postdoctoral research at Harvard University before moving to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he was hired by James Dewey Watson, a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and a fellow Nobel laureate. In this period he also visited the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the first time, working alongside Fred Sanger. In 1977, he published his discovery of RNA splicing. In 1992, he moved to New England Biolabs. The following year, he shared a Nobel Prize with his former colleague at Cold Spring Harbor Phillip Allen Sharp.

His discovery of the alternative splicing of genes, in particular, has had a profound impact on the study and applications of molecular biology. The realisation that individual genes could exist as separate, disconnected segments within longer strands of DNA first arose in his 1977 study of adenovirus, one of the viruses responsible for causing the common cold. Robert’s research in this field resulted in a fundamental shift in our understanding of genetics, and has led to the discovery of split genes in higher organisms, including human beings.

Dr William Daniel Phillips - CCIR

Dr Aaron Ciechanover

The nobel prize in chemistry 2004 .

F or the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation

Aaron Ciechanover is one of Israel’s first Nobel Laureates in science, earning his Nobel Prize in 2004 for his work in ubiquitination. He is honored for playing a central role in the history of Israel and in the history of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

Dr Ciechanover is currently a Technion Distinguished Research Professor in the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute at the Technion. He is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Russian Academy of Sciences and is a foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences. In 2008, he was a visiting Distinguished Chair Professor at NCKU, Taiwan. As part of Shenzhen’s 13th Five-Year Plan funding research in emerging technologies and opening “Nobel laureate research labs”, in 2018 he opened the Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen campus.

18

Dr Robert Lefkowitz

The nobel prize in chemistry 2012 .

F or the discovery of G protein-coupled receptors

Robert Joseph Lefkowitz is an American physician (internist and cardiologist) and biochemist. He is best known for his discoveries that reveal the inner workings of an important family G protein-coupled receptors, for which he was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Brian Kobilka. He is currently an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well as a James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry at Duke University.

Dr Lefkowitz made a remarkable contribution in the mid-1980s when he and his colleagues cloned the gene first for the β-adrenergic receptor, and then rapidly thereafter, for a total of 8 adrenergic receptors (receptors for adrenaline and noradrenaline). This led to the seminal discovery that all GPCRs (which include the β-adrenergic receptor) have a very similar molecular structure. The structure is defined by an amino acid sequence which weaves its way back and forth across the plasma membrane seven times. Today we know that about 1,000 receptors in the human body belong to this same family. The importance of this is that all of these receptors use the same basic mechanisms so that pharmaceutical researchers now understand how to effectively target the largest receptor family in the human body. Today, as many as 30 to 50 percent of all prescription drugs are designed to “fit” like keys into the similarly structured locks of Dr Lefkowitz’ receptors—everything from anti-histamines to ulcer drugs to beta blockers that help relieve hypertension, angina and coronary disease.

Dr Lefkowitz is among the most highly cited researchers in the fields of biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical medicine according to Thomson-ISI.

19

Dr Joachim Frank

The nobel prize in chemistry 2017 .

F or developing cryo-electron microscopy

Joachim Frank is a German-American biophysicist at Columbia University and a Nobel laureate. He is regarded as the founder of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017 with Jacques Dubochet and Richard Henderson. He also made significant contributions to structure and function of the ribosome from bacteria and eukaryotes.

In 1975, Dr Frank was offered a position of senior research scientist in the Division of Laboratories and Research (now Wadsworth Center), New York State Department of Health,where he started working on single-particle approaches in electron microscopy. In 1985 he was appointed associate and then (1986) full professor at the newly formed Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University at Albany, State University of New York. In 1987 and 1994, he went on sabbaticals in Europe, one to work with Richard Henderson, Laboratory of Molecular Biology Medical Research Council in Cambridge and the other as a Humboldt Research Award winner with Kenneth C. Holmes, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg. In 1998, Dr Frank was appointed investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Since 2003 he was also lecturer at Columbia University, and he joined Columbia University in 2008 as professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and of biological sciences.

20

Dr Barry C. Barish

The nobel prize in physics 2017 .

For the decisive contributions to the detection of gravitational waves

Dr Barry Clark Barish is an American experimental physicist and Nobel Laureate. He is a Linde Professor of Physics, emeritus at California Institute of Technology and a leading expert on gravitational waves.

In 2017, Barish was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Rainer Weiss and Kip Thorne “for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves”. He said, “I didn’t know if I would succeed. I was afraid I would fail, but because I tried, I had a breakthrough.”

In 2018, he joined the faculty at University of California, Riverside, becoming the university’s second Nobel Prize winner on the faculty.

In the fall of 2023, he joined Stony Brook University as the inaugural President’s Distinguished Endowed Chair in Physics.

In 2023, Dr Barish was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Biden in a White House ceremony.

21

Dr Harvey J. Alter

The nobel prize in medicine 2020 .

For the discovery of Hepatitis C virus

Dr Harvey J. Alter is an American medical researcher, virologist, physician and Nobel Prize laureate, who is best known for his work that led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Alter is the former chief of the infectious disease section and the associate director for research of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. In the mid-1970s, Alter and his research team demonstrated that most post-transfusion hepatitis cases were not due to hepatitis A or hepatitis B viruses. Working independently, Alter and Edward Tabor, a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, proved through transmission studies in chimpanzees that a new form of hepatitis, initially called “non-A, non-B hepatitis” caused the infections, and that the causative agent was probably a virus. This work eventually led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus in 1988, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020 along with Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice.

Dr Alter has received recognition for the research leading to the discovery of the virus that causes hepatitis C. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award conferred to civilians in United States government public health service, and the 2000 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research.

22

Dr Ardem Patapoutian

The nobel prize in medicine 2021 .

For discovering how pressure is translated into nerve impulses

Dr Ardem Patapoutian is an Lebanese-American molecular biologist, neuroscientist, and Nobel Prize laureate of Armenian descent. He is known for his work in characterising the PIEZO1, PIEZO2, and TRPM8 receptors that detect pressure, menthol, and temperature. Dr Patapoutian is a neuroscience professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. In 2021, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with David Julius.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I participate in the Re:think essay competition? 

The Re:think Essay competition is meant to serve as fertile ground for honing writing skills, fostering critical thinking, and refining communication abilities. Winning or participating in reputable contests can lead to recognition, awards, scholarships, or even publication opportunities, elevating your academic profile for college applications and future endeavours. Moreover, these competitions facilitate intellectual growth by encouraging exploration of diverse topics, while also providing networking opportunities and exposure to peers, educators, and professionals. Beyond accolades, they instil confidence, prepare for higher education demands, and often allow you to contribute meaningfully to societal conversations or causes, making an impact with your ideas.

Who is eligible to enter the Re:think essay competition?  

As long as you’re currently attending high school, regardless of your location or background, you’re eligible to participate. We welcome students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Is there any entry fee for the competition? 

There is no entry fee for the competition. Waiving the entry fee for our essay competition demonstrates CCIR’s dedication to equity. CCIR believes everyone should have an equal chance to participate and showcase their talents, regardless of financial circumstances. Removing this barrier ensures a diverse pool of participants and emphasises merit and creativity over economic capacity, fostering a fair and inclusive environment for all contributors.

Subscribe for Competition Updates

If you are interested to receive latest information and updates of this year’s competition, please sign up here.

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game New
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Education and Communications
  • College University and Postgraduate
  • Academic Writing

How to Win an Essay Contest

Last Updated: February 28, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Daniel Santos . Daniel Santos is a College Admissions & Career Coach and Prepory's co-founder and CEO. Prepory is a leading college admissions consulting firm that has guided over 9,000 students from 35 countries through the US college admissions process. Prepory is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling and a trusted admissions counseling partner to several competitive high schools across Florida. Prior to founding Prepory, Daniel worked at various leading law firms and the United States House of Representatives. Daniel has been featured as a college admissions and career coaching expert across several major publications, including the Wall Street Journal, FORTUNE, and The Harvard Crimson. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 167,919 times.

If you're hoping to write an essay that will win a contest, there are several ways to make your writing stand out. Before you start writing, make sure you read the essay guidelines so that you're following all of the rules. Come up with a topic that fits the contest's theme and craft a detailed, descriptive, and interesting essay. By making your essay original and error-free, you'll be much more likely to win the contest.

Crafting and Editing the Essay

Step 1 Read the essay contest rules before starting.

  • If you don’t follow one or more of the rules when writing and submitting your essay, your essay may be disqualified, so make sure to read over the rules several times if necessary.
  • It’s a good idea to print out the guidelines so that you can refer to them as you’re writing.

Step 2 Brainstorm essay ideas to pick a topic that works with the theme.

  • It’s super important to stick with the theme when you’re writing and not get off-topic.
  • For example, if the contest asks you to write about a person who has influenced you, make a list of the people that have had a big impact on your life and choose the person who you can write lots of descriptive examples about.

Step 3 Write a draft of your essay to get out all of your ideas.

  • It’s okay if you have several different drafts of one essay.
  • Make an outline of your essay before you start to help you organize your thoughts.

Step 4 Revise the essay to create a final draft.

  • Ask a friend or family member to read over your essay to see if it’s interesting and makes sense.
  • It may help you to put the essay aside for a day or two after you’ve written it so that you can revise it again with a fresh perspective.

Step 5 Proofread the essay carefully to check for any mistakes.

  • It may help to ask another person to read over the essay to see if they spot any mistakes.

Step 6 Submit your essay before the deadline.

  • Check to see when the submission deadline is in the contest’s guidelines and rules.
  • It may help you to put the essay deadline on your calendar so that you don’t forget when it is.
  • If you're sending the essay by mail, make sure you send it far enough in advance that it will reach the judges in time.

Making Your Essay Stand Out

Step 1 Choose an interesting essay beginning to grab the reader’s attention.

  • An example of an attention-grabbing introduction might be, “I held my breath for 82 seconds before I was yanked out of the water,” or “Sarah walked slowly up to the door, her body drenched in nervous sweat, before firmly knocking.”

Step 2 Come up with a creative title.

  • The title should give the reader a glimpse of what your essay is about while leaving them intrigued.
  • For example, if you’re writing an essay about a lemon picker, you might title the essay, "Living with Sour Fingers."

Step 3 Bring your essay to life by using lots of descriptive words.

  • Instead of saying, “The wheelbarrow fell down the hill,” you could say, “The rusty wheels of the wheelbarrow skidded over smooth rocks and sharp blades of grass until it skidded to a stop at the edge of the water.”

Step 4 Be original in your writing to make your essay stand out.

  • Read over your essay and look for sentences or ideas that would likely not be found in another person's essay.
  • If you're having trouble figuring out if you have an original element, have someone else read over your essay and tell you which parts stand out.

Step 5 Format your essay so that it looks neat and professional.

  • Review the essay guidelines to see if there’s a special way they’d like the essay formatted.

Expert Q&A

Daniel Santos

  • If you don't win, take a look at the winning entries if possible and see what they did that you didn't. Try to learn from this and incorporate it into your next essay. Thanks Helpful 17 Not Helpful 2
  • Don't be afraid to ask for help if you have a hard time! As long as your work is original, getting feedback from others is a great way to make your writing stronger. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 2
  • If you have difficulty understanding the topic or the guidelines, try to get in touch with the judges. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 2

essay writing contest topics

  • Failure to follow the format requirements may disqualify your essay. Thanks Helpful 43 Not Helpful 8
  • Be aware of the deadline to ensure you get your essay submitted in time. Thanks Helpful 17 Not Helpful 3

You Might Also Like

Write an Essay

Expert Interview

essay writing contest topics

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about essay contests, check out our in-depth interview with Daniel Santos .

  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/brainstorming/
  • ↑ https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/writingsuccess/chapter/8-3-drafting/
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/
  • ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/proofreading
  • ↑ https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/intros-and-conclusions/
  • ↑ https://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/titles.pdf
  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/descriptive_essays.html
  • ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/write-original-essay/
  • ↑ https://facultyweb.ivcc.edu/ramboeng2/handout_essayformat.htm

About This Article

Daniel Santos

  • Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Aishwarya Nambiar

Aishwarya Nambiar

Feb 1, 2018

Did this article help you?

essay writing contest topics

Syeda Adiba Bushra

Apr 11, 2019

Marj Zein

Sep 10, 2021

Tiya Manna

Apr 22, 2019

Devadathan Sunand

Devadathan Sunand

Oct 11, 2021

Am I a Narcissist or an Empath Quiz

Featured Articles

Know if Your Friend Is Really a Friend

Trending Articles

View an Eclipse

Watch Articles

Make Sticky Rice Using Regular Rice

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Become a Writer Today

101 Great Essay Writing Topics for Students

Before you sit down to write, you need a topic, and these essay writing topics can help you get started.

Writing an essay is an important skill for high school and college students. Essays show a writer’s ability to think through a topic, explore their point of view and persuade or inform others of that. Yet, finding essay writing topics can feel vague. 

This list will help students find the right topic for a descriptive essay or argumentative essay. It outlines a number of hot topics that students can delve into in order to express their opinions and showcase their writing skills. You can use these to practice your essay writing skills or as prompts for you or students.

1. Is Climate Change Real?

2. the benefits (or drawbacks) of homework , 3. a funny childhood memory, 4. video game addiction, 5. the role of pets in our lives, 6. my summer vacation, 7. a personal victory or success, 8. what will life be like in 2050, 9. a trip to the museum, 10. describe meeting a famous person, 11. the impact of social media on tweens, 12. importance of school uniforms, 13. extracurricular activities: essential or optional, 14. favorite book and its impact, 15. the influence of celebrities on youth, 16. the significance of recreational activities, 17. if i were the principal of my school, 18. why the sale and production of tobacco should get banned, 19. should every country have the death sentence, 20. is homeschooling better or worse than public school, 21. is the us election process fair, 22. how can we reduce climate change, 23. your responsibility in climate change, 24. are you politically influenced by media, 25. feminism then and now, 26. the impact of immigration on host countries, 27. are environmentalist groups doing the wrong protests, 28. should we cancel cancel culture, 29. is artificial intelligence a boon or bane to society, 30. is genetic engineering ethical, 31. the role of social movements in social change, 32. censorship in media: necessary or suppressive, 33. is technology making education lazy, 34. are we supposed to share culture, 35. why soda should not be on fast food kids meals, 36. illegal immigrants should not be jailed, 37. breastfeeding in public should be considered normal, 38. why gun control is needed, 39. a turning point in your life, 40. should religion be taught in schools, 41. recycling should be compulsory, 42. colleges are becoming business driven, 43. the necessity of art in education, 44. the importance of space exploration, 45. the future of renewable energy, 46. fast fashion’s environmental impact, 47. social media and its influence on body image, 48. the role of social media in interpersonal relationships, 49. the consequences of cyberbullying, 50. the relevance of standardized testing today, 51. the influence of video games on youth behavior, 52. homework vs. class assignments, 53. social media vs. in-person interaction, 54. physical education vs. nutritional education, 55. life before and after the internet, 56. right side vs left side of the brian thinkers, 57. tea vs coffee, 58. fashion today vs 20 years ago, 59. ebooks vs. physical books, 60. urban vs. rural living, 61. traditional vs. digital art, 62. freelance vs. full-time employment, 63. western vs. eastern philosophies, 64. democracy vs. dictatorship, 65. introverts vs. extroverts, 66. working in your country vs. working abroad, 67. science fiction vs. fantasy, 68. public vs. private healthcare, 69. first day of school memories, 70. a memorable act of kindness, 71. your best or worst holiday, 72. an experience with peer pressure, 73. a surprising event or change of fortune., 74. your first teacher, 75. your idea of the perfect day, 76. imagine a week without the internet or technology, 77. a day you overcame rejection, 78. overcoming my fear, 79. the day i lost my first pet, 80. that someone who influenced me, 81. the most embarrassing moment, 82. the time i stood up for what i believe, 83. the invention i wish i had thought of, 84. an unexpected friendship, 85. the day that defined my future, 86. how is global warming changing the environment, 87. the causes of world war ii, 88. what is racism, and how are people sometimes unaware of it, 89. does free will exist, 90. what reading means to me, 91. the role of journalists and the media, 92. animal testing should be banned, 93. why do teenagers commit suicide, 94. the role of the united nations, 95. the history and impact of the internet, 96. why is financial literacy crucial today, 97. the importance of technology in healthcare, 98. the rise of electric vehicles, 99. an analysis of a popular tv show, 100. the value of learning a second language, 101. the stigma around mental health, a final word on the best essay writing topics, what are some topics for a persuasive essay, what are some good topics for an essay, essay writing resources, best essay writing topics for middle school students.

Great essay writing topics

If you are picking an essay for a 7th or 8th-grade student, the topic needs to be something that students in that age range are interested in. This will help them want to do the research and explore their ideas. This age range will often write expository essays or narrative essays, rather than persuasive ones.

Here are some essay topics to consider:

Climate change is a hot topic with middle schoolers, and this essay topic idea lets them explore it. This essay topic can work well for a persuasive, informative, or cause-and-effect essay.

Few middle school students enjoy homework, but this can be a great way to get them to dig into why the education system relies on homework. Students can give their opinions about the need for homework or why homework should be eliminated.

Middle school students who are not ready to write on argumentative essay topics can practice their English essay writing skills by writing about a funny thing that happened as a child. This topic should focus on entertaining, engaging storytelling. 

Video game addiction

Many young students spend a lot of time playing video games, and this can translate into an essay topic. Exploring the mental health effects of too much video gameplay is a good option. Ask them to write about games they live or spend too much time playing.

Do you have a pet at home that you can’t imagine not being there when you return? How do you treat it, and do you think of your pet as a best friend? Opt for a cause-and-effect essay on the role of pets in our lives to showcase this bond. Then, include the positive effects of owning a pet. Don’t forget to talk about the responsibilities that come with it.

This is a staple choice of teachers everywhere, particularly after the summer break. All younger students can write essays easily enough about how they spent a few weeks off school and where they went. Perhaps it was time with a family member or a best friend? There is a good reason that many elementary and middle school teachers assign this as a writing assignment at the start of school.

A student could start writing this essay by writing about when they felt like all was lost. Then, they could describe how they picked themselves up off the dirt and achieved a victory.

Will we find solutions to the problems we face today, like poverty and homelessness? Will technology enrich our lives further or be the cause of new issues?

Many young students often think about the future, and this topic allows them to let their imaginations run loose.

This way, they can express their ideas on how the world will look like in a few decades. It also gives you insight into the child’s personality. Do they see the positives in everything, or are they a bit more realistic?

As children, we loved going to the museum. Even today, it’s interesting to look at historical art, sculptures, and old vehicles. 

This essay topic works exceptionally well right after a school holiday. Maybe the young student just witnessed some of the best historical pieces. Writing about this topic allows them to reconnect with the emotions they felt.

In this essay, ask students what they liked most about visiting the museum, what important lessons they learned, and how they felt in the moment.

We all have favorite celebrities that we’d love to meet. This could be an actor, musician, or athlete.

In this essay topic, ask students to describe what it’s like to meet a famous person. How would they feel, what questions would the student ask them, and what activities would they do together?

By asking your student to write the essay as descriptively as possible, they’ll experience the positive emotions associated with meeting their idol.

For this prompt, your goal is to explore the balance between the good, the bad, and the unknown in social media platforms. As a middle schooler, you know better than anyone how integral social media is in your daily life. Think about it – how many people your age don’t have a phone connected to the internet?

A cause-and-effect essay on this subject will allow you to investigate how social networking systems influence people. Self-reflect and analyze how social media sites affect your feelings, friendships, and even schoolwork.

Have you ever wondered why some schools insist on their students having uniforms? This is despite other schools being more lenient and letting their students wear whatever they want. If you are, then satiate your curiosity via this prompt.

An argumentative essay will help you understand both sides of the debate. You can discuss why schools make uniforms mandatory or optional and investigate how uniforms affect students’ behavior, academic performance, and school pride.

Are you a part of your school’s sports team or another club, or do you prefer to focus your time on academics only? If you have ever wondered what extracurricular activities are for, use this prompt to write an informative essay on the importance of extracurricular activities.

Write about the exact details of the role of extracurricular activities in a student’s overall development. Explore and add the benefits and drawbacks of these activities as well. Through your essay, other students can make informed choices about how they spend their time at school.

Books are all about exploration. When you use books for school, they aim to make you more knowledgeable. But they are also doors to fantasy lands and help you learn more about yourself.

Do you have a favorite book that left a mark on you? For this prompt, write a personal narrative essay sharing that experience. Analyze why the book matters, then add how it has changed or defined you. Your essay might sway others to read your favorite book.

Celebrities and influences are everywhere – so much so that you can’t avoid them no matter how hard you try. They’re in the music you listen to, the streets you drive through, and even the boxes of your favorite cereals. For this prompt, write an argumentative essay about these celebrities and their critical influence on younger people.

Focus on celebrities’ sway on youth’s behavior, values, and aspirations. Argue whether they are positive role models or if they set unrealistic expectations. It’s best to choose celebrities everyone knows, like the Kardashians or the Bangtan Boys.

What do you do when you have time off from school? Aside from the instances you attend family events, do you like swimming, biking, or drawing? This prompt is perfect for a descriptive essay where you can detail your favored recreational activity.

Start with how you discovered the activity and why you got hooked on it. Include its significance to your life. Does it help you relax, meet new people, etc.? You can also talk about the skills you gained by doing this recreational activity regularly.

Have you ever dreamt of calling the shots at school? What about imagining being the principal? In this essay, share ideas on what parts of your school you want to keep or change. Analyze each critically and propose the improvements the school needs. Via this prompt, you can showcase your leadership skills. Remember to express your thoughts respectfully and constructively, and don’t forget to offer rational explanations for each proposed change. 

Controversial Essay Writing Topics for Older Students

As they enter high school and college, students should start transitioning from informative essays to persuasive ones. Controversial essay topics are a good way to do this. They help students develop their critical thinking skills and learn how to reason an argument. The below topics the bill well:

Few people would argue about the health benefits of tobacco, yet it remains a top-selling product. This essay will explore the benefits of banning the sale of the product altogether.

The death sentence is a controversial ethical and social issue. This essay will explore whether or not it is a suitable method of punishment and deterrent for serious crimes and the benefits or drawbacks of adding it to every country across the globe.

Homeschooling is growing in popularity, and this school essay topic will explore the benefits or drawbacks of this particular school choice. It may be pulled from personal experience if the student is homeschooled. 

Elections are an essential part of our lives. It gives us the power to determine who will govern our country. However, is the election process fair?

In the essay, your student will get an opportunity to voice their ideas, describe what changes they’d like to see, and how those changes will positively impact the nation.

This essay topic requires more research, and students walk away with knowledge that can help them in the long term.

Climate change is a serious topic that impacts everyone’s life. Sea levels are rising, which makes it difficult for animals like polar bears to survive.

When writing about this essay topic, students will have to research the effect of climate change, what causes it, and how to reduce its impact.

This requires logical thinking and creativity. It’ll encourage students to come up with a plan of action. Maybe they’ll limit the number of carbon emissions released by companies, promote solar power, or decrease the price of energy-efficient appliances.

Climate change has always been a controversial topic. There are many protests about it, but despite the protests, there are still no proper solutions. For this prompt, focus on what you, as a student, can do to help stop or slow down climate change. Identify your personal role in this phenomenon. Examine both your positive and negative contributions. As you write this essay, you can also discover sustainable life changes to add to your life. You can even encourage your future readers to follow your example.

Keeping up to date with world news is easy because we’re connected to the media 24/7. With this in mind, create a cause-and-effect essay and inspect the power of media in shaping your political views.

For instance, have you sided with a viewpoint because of a convincing social media post? For sure, many have experienced this once or twice. Dig deeper via your essay, analyze the media’s role and motivations, and present your findings.

If you plan to create a compare-and-contrast essay, go for this prompt. Analyze the evolution of feminist movements. Then, examine their origins, goals, and the changes they’ve brought about.

Have you ever wondered how the feminism of your grandma’s era differed from today’s? By researching this topic, you’ll not only increase your knowledge – you’ll also be able to educate others.

Are you looking at writing about globally relevant issues? If so, immigration is a complex subject you can explore—research immigration in the news, books, or even movies. You can even ask your teacher for help if you need to. For this prompt, connect your findings to the issues of the countries receiving immigrants. Make sure to differentiate the legal from illegal immigrants to relay your points better.

The environment is a sacred and essential part of our lives. And so it’s easy to understand the movements and the organizations that want to protect it. But do you think their actions will make others appreciate their cause in the long run?

This is why this controversial prompt is perfect for a persuasive essay. Talk about the recent protests. It can be the protestor’s destruction of paintings of legendary artists, glueing their hands on airport runways, or stopping people on the streets. Critique the strategies of environmental activist groups. Are they properly raising awareness? Or are their methods causing more harm than good?

Cancel culture is often based on limited evidence and incites blind hate. As an older student, you’re likely familiar with the term and its implications. In your essay, list cancel culture’s pros and cons and analyze each in depth.

Is cancel culture helpful? Is it only spreading misinformation? Is the hive mentality it encourages good? Share your thoughts on this recent societal development. Then, offer ways on how to better interact with cancel culture. For instance, you can recommend holding off judgment and thoroughly researching the issue first to make up your own mind.

Artificial intelligence is here to stay, but how helpful is it? For this prompt, create an expository essay that analyzes how AI is both a boon and a bane. For example, AI can make companies’ systems more efficient. But at the same time, it takes jobs away from writers, artists, and even tech devs.

Cite recent happenings, like the Texas A&M Commerce professor who failed his entire class to show the issue’s relevancy. As a student, you’re pretty familiar with AI developments. You might even have experienced it first-hand. Stop and think about AI’s broader implications via your essay.

Genetic engineering has always been a controversial subject. Since you’re an older student, you’ve probably had debates about this in class or with friends. To better understand the issue, construct a well-researched, argumentative essay on genetic engineering and the ethics that surround it.

As a student and a general public member, you are not just an observer of what happens in society. You are an active participant in social dynamics. So, for this prompt, opt for a cause-and-effect essay where you analyze how collective actions and thinking shape societies. Support your thoughts with evidence and share your realizations.

For this prompt, start by defining freedom of expression and comparing it with censorship. Then, present cases (preferably recent ones) to explain why censorship is necessary or repressive. This will help you create an informative essay that educates your readers.

In your essay, answer the question: “Is technology helpful or detrimental to education?” As a student, you’re at the center of this revolution. For instance, online classes are more prevalent now than some years ago. Submitting soft copies of papers online wasn’t even a thing then. Write an expository essay about whether technology aids or hampers your learning process.

If you want to write a thought-provoking descriptive essay, consider this prompt: There are unique cultures. But should these cultures remain exclusive? Think about your own culture and what it means to you. Would you like to share your culture? It’s time to share your thoughts and experiences.

In the same essay, you can also mention cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation. Talk about these ideas’ differences and similarities.

Persuasive Essay Topics for Older Students

Persuasive essays work to convince a reader of the writer’s point of view. These topics lend themselves well to a great essay that focuses on persuasion.

Fast food kids meals target young consumers, and soda is often included. Making junk food a way of life contributes to childhood obesity, and this topic could explore alternatives to soda for these kid-centered meals.

When people enter a country illegally, putting them in jail does not solve the problem. Instead, alternative punishments or even help with attaining legal immigrant status can reduce the strain on an overloaded system while also helping these individuals become part of society. 

Babies need breast milk to survive, yet many places in society frown on women feeding their babies in public. This essay  will  explore why this is an outdated and unhealthy idea.

The best topics for persuasive essays are ones that are a little controversial. Gun control fits the bill well, and it can be a good topic for an essay. Other topics include alcohol, drugs and, in some cases, religion. That said, it depends on the nature of your students and school.

All the students can typically point to an occasion or life event when their worldview or concept changed. Ask them to write about a defining life experience.

This essay topic is for older students and adult learners who can take a thoughtful but critical stance on the role of religion in schools today. Should it be taught or removed from schools, and why?

The average American produces 1,704 pounds of garbage per year. Most of this is thrown in landfills, which can be equally as damaging to the environment as littering. Oceans are also filled with plastic that negatively affects the lives of marine life.

However, if we can recycle all that waste, we won’t damage the environment. This essay topic encourages older students to research recycling and the pros and cons of making it mandatory. 

Getting a tertiary education is essential. It allows you to learn a marketable skill that other people pay you for. 

However, private colleges are becoming more common, leading people to think that these institutions are more focused on making money.

When writing about this topic, students need to research the cost of college tuition, how this high price negatively impacts their adult lives, and how the government can fix it.

Through this prompt, explore and express the value of creativity and aesthetics in one’s learning. Explain why art is essential. How does it influence your learning and perception of the world? Consider this: art is a medium of expression and critical thinking. To write this essay effectively, identify, describe, and reflect on different art forms. You can also focus on art forms that you’ve experienced.

Have you ever looked at the night sky and wondered what’s out there? Space exploration is all about the curiosity to discover the unknown. In your essay, go beyond rockets or astronauts and highlight man’s thirst for knowledge.

Start with the historical record of space exploration. Mention how it started and how it became possible. You can even include its milestone achievements. Then, move on to experts’ predictions on the future of space exploration. Discuss its benefits to humans, common challenges, and implications for our future.

Let’s now jump to another vital global discourse. Are you aware of the environmental and economic connotations of renewable energy? You may be young now, but you’re not a stranger to the problems of this planet. Through this prompt, you can become a part of the solution. In your essay, define and discuss different types of renewable energy. Underscore their potential, pros, and cons versus traditional energy sources.

Have you ever wondered where your clothes come from and where they end up? Sadly, most of us consume fast fashion. But have you considered fast fashion’s environmental consequences?

In your essay, identify facts about fast fashion. Credible sources should support these facts so readers can realize how detrimental it is to the environment. Review the lifecycle of a typical fast fashion item. Include the environmental cost at each stage. Then, look for ways to promote sustainable fashion choices.

Today, social media dominates our lives. But have you thought about how it affects how you view your body image? This is a sensitive issue, but timely nonetheless.

For this prompt, voice your experiences and insights about social media and the unrealistic body standards it presents. By doing so, you can help others navigate through the maze of internet likes and shares. Talk about how social networking services impact how people view themselves, including their self-esteem. Then, offer ways on how to circumvent these problems.

It’s a fact today that most of our relationships start and are maintained online. But does this virtual connection hamper real-life relationships?

Through your essay, explore the link between social media and interpersonal relationships. You can tell it from your perspective. How have your relationships evolved in the age of social media? Review the dynamics of online friendships, mentioning the blurred lines between the virtual and real world. It would be useful to talk to someone you know who remembers a time before mobile phones and social media, which only became prevalent in recent decades.

Sadly, the rise of social networks also gives bullies more channels to hurt others. Now, they can also hide behind screens. In your essay, define cyberbullying and its effects on the victim’s mental health. You can even include real-life cases for illustration. End your paper by presenting measures to prevent cyberbullying.

The education system needs some updating. If you want to delve into this issue, use a prompt that critiques its current methods. One of the most timely is standardized testing. What’s your take on it? Does it measure intelligence, or is it merely rote learning? List the pros and cons of standardized testing from your perspective as a student. Write as if you want to spark a conversation about educational reform.

At your age, you’ve probably experienced the evolution of video games first-hand. If you’re a gamer, have you ever questioned how it influenced your behavior? What about your peers?

For this prompt, focus on the psychological aspects of gaming. Mention the impact of different gaming genres on mental health and behavior. Don’t just talk about the adverse effects. It’s best to also consider the potential benefits of gaming as a learning tool.

Compare and Contrast Essays for Older Students

This type of essay compares two like or unlike things, drawing ways they are the same or different. It’s useful as it provides a structure for aspiring essayists that they can use to outline a longer work. Some ideas include:

Which has more value, homework or assignments completed in class? This essay topic will explore the contrast between these two types of school assignments. For fun, give it to students to complete in class… and then ask them to revise it at home.

Social media can keep people connected, but the increased push for social media connection can detract from in-person communication. This essay will explore the contrast between the two types of communication.

Both exercise and diet play a role in health. This essay  will  explore the impact of both through the education system.

Older students and adult learners can remember a time before we spend so much time. Is life any better now that we spend so much time connected to the Internet? This essay explores what it means to be constantly connected.

Right side of the brain thinkers are typically more creative and artistic. The left side of the brain thinkers are analytical and mathematical. What’s more valuable in today’s society? What can each type learn from its counterpart? And are you truly one type exclusively?

Caffeine is a staple for many students and workers. It gives you a boost of energy in the morning, which allows you to get more done. It also helps if you have a test coming up and need to study hard.

However, larger amounts of caffeine are known to cause heart palpitations, anxiety, and increased stress.

In this essay, students look at the benefits and drawbacks of tea and coffee. It empowers them with knowledge on when to limit their consumption.

Fashion is constantly changing. What looked cool 20 years ago might look weird today. Older students will also notice how their fashion choices changed from middle school to high school and from high school to college.

In this essay, students talk about what causes this change and how long it takes for the public to accept a specific style.

You’ve likely used ebooks and physical books for your studies and hobbies. In your essay, use your experience to analyze these different reading mediums. Are you an avid Kindle user? Or do you thrive on the feel of a physical book? Write about relevant aspects like convenience, feel, accessibility, and cost. Always support your arguments with personal anecdotes and factual data.

Do you live in the city or the outskirts? Both have pros and cons. If you’ve always been a city student, maybe you’ve wondered what life is like on the other side. If so, then this prompt lets you delve into these contrasting lifestyles.

Feel free to discuss factors such as access to amenities, social interactions, and lifestyle choices. Try to visualize and put yourself in both scenarios to offer an authentic perspective.

There’s been a divide between traditional and digital art for a long time. In this prompt, uncover the why . Consider aspects like skill set, accessibility, impact, and audience reach. Then, add your thoughts on the issue. Are you drawn to the authenticity of traditional art? Or do you admire the versatility of digital art? Bring in your observations and experiences to make your essay stand out.

You might still be a student, but you’ve thought about what your job will be like in the future, right? Then, have you ever wondered about the benefits of being your boss versus the security of a full-time job? Explore these contrasting work styles. By the end of your essay, you will also better understand what awaits you after graduation.

Talk about job stability, work-life balance, income potential, and personal growth. You can draw on real-life examples from people you know.

For a more intriguing essay, explore different philosophical frameworks. Are you drawn to Western philosophy’s empirical approach? Or do you prefer Eastern thought’s spiritual aspects? Explore themes such as the self, ethics, knowledge, and reality. Then, compare how these philosophies approach these ideas differently. This is your chance to show off your critical thinking skills.

Another complicated but interesting prompt is analyzing two contrasting political systems, democracy and dictatorship. Inspect how each system impacts citizens’ rights, economic development, social equality, and international relations. Don’t shy away from using historical and current examples to solidify your arguments.

Are you an introvert, extrovert, or something in between? Picking this topic will not only give you an exciting essay. You will also learn more about yourself. This encourages you to delve into the psychological aspects of these personality types.

In your essay, analyze how these traits affect one’s social interactions, career choices, and personal well-being. Be critical of stereotypes and delve into the potential benefits and challenges of both.

Have you ever dreamed of living and working abroad? Or do you want to stay where you are now, close to home? Here, you can explore the pros and cons of working or leaving your home country. Mention cultural exposure, career opportunities, and personal growth. Contrast it with the challenges of adapting to a new environment.

Science fiction and fantasy are both popular, even today. Why not when it opens doors to various imaginations? For your essay, dive into why these genres are favored and highlight their unique characteristics. Include their societal implications and why they appeal to certain readers.

Debate has been raging on the implications of public and private healthcare systems. These debates often concern a country’s economy and its citizens’ lives. When writing this essay, you can use your personal experience or rely on secondary research. Discuss aspects like accessibility, cost, quality of care, and efficiency. For this prompt, add real-world examples and facts to strengthen your arguments.

Narrative Essay Topics for Older Students

Sometimes, an everyday life experience can make great essay material, and writing about your own life means less risk of plagiarism. Here are some ideas:

The first day of school in a new school can be the fodder for a number of personal stories about school life and the social aspects of it. Writers can capture those emotions in this type of essay. It’s also a suitable type of essay to write as it can serve as a gateway into other types of writing, like a memoir.

If someone did something for you once that really stood out, transform that into an essay topic. You will enjoy remembering the action while creating your essay.

What you did or didn’t do on your summer vacation as a child can be a great starting point for a narrative essay. Older students can use this essay prompt to write about past experiences and reflect on them beyond simply reporting.

Peer pressure can be positive or negative, but everyone has experienced it. This essay will explore a time when peer pressure made you do something or not do something and what the effect of that decision was.

Was this change in your life for the best or the worst, and how did you respond? Describe in detail.

When you first met your mentor, teacher or guide. How did you respond to them, and what did they have to show you? Similarly, a student could also write an essay about a teacher they shunned or turned away from.

When waking up in the morning, we all strive to have the perfect day. Ask students what their perfect day will look like, what activities they’d do, and with whom.

By being as descriptive as possible, students picture the perfect day in their minds. This improves students’ storytelling skills and helps them structure events in chronological order.

This fun experiment gives students insight into how reliant they are on technology and how their lives will look without it.

By imagining this week in their heads, it’ll give them an idea of what other activities they’ll engage in. This could be working out, socializing, or learning a new skill.

Rejection is something everyone must face at some point. Few things are scarier than rejection. But when you overcome it, you get a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.

For example, this could be asking that cute guy or girl out on a date or applying for a job at your dream company.

Are you interested in writing an essay while also self-reflecting? When you use this prompt, you also demonstrate your tenacity to overcome obstacles. Think back to any fear you have had. It doesn’t matter if they’re big or small as long as they shape your character.

Begin your essay by describing the fear you had and why. Then, narrate what you did to overcome it. Remember to discuss the aftermath and the personal growth you experienced.

Losing a pet is a personal experience. How you handled your emotions at that time shows your nature. When you write your essay, paint a vivid picture of your pet by describing quirks and traits. Explain how losing a pet changed you; don’t avoid the pain. Then, talk about your grieving process and eventual acceptance.

Did someone come to mind when you read the prompt? It’s unsurprising if they did, considering that every person has that one person who left a significant impact on their life. 

For your essay, choose and write about that individual who helps you appreciate life. Give specific details, such as when they made you realize something, and then connect them to how their teachings shaped you. This prompt also allows students to reflect on their character description and development. 

For a fun narrative essay, share the moment you felt the most embarrassed. You don’t have to be specific about it; you can instead focus on what you felt then and how you cope during that awkward situation. You can also mention what you think of the memory now that you’re looking back at it. Is it as embarrassing as you’ve thought back then?

Here is a medium to exhibit your ethics and the strength of your convictions. For this prompt, narrate the situation and explain why you must stand up. What were your thoughts during that moment? Talk about your emotions then and the consequences you’ve faced, if any. Mention how the experience shaped your approach to similar situations.

Is there any invention that made you go, “Ah, I wish I thought of that before!” It can be because of the fame that came with it, the profit, or just the sheer genius of its inventor. Select an invention that fascinates you and explain why it interests you. Think of why you wish you’d come up with it. Talk about its impact on the world and how it aligns with your interests or passions.

Friendships often form in the most unexpected places and situations. For this prompt, highlight your openness to diverse experiences and people.

In your essay, describe the circumstances that led to this unexpected friendship. Add why you found it so surprising. Speak about the qualities you appreciate in your friend and include how this relationship has affected your life. Your objective is to encourage others to broaden their social circles.

For this prompt, share a turning point in your life that set your future course. Present a comprehensive account of the event or decision that significantly impacted your future by mentioning factors that influenced it. Add your thoughts and feelings then and how things have unfolded since then.

Informative Essay Topics for Older Students

Sometimes, the goal of an essay is not to persuade but to inform. Informative or expository essay topics need to have a lot of information behind them so students have something to write about. These topics lend themselves well to that:

Global warming has many effects, and this essay  will  explore those thoroughly. The goal is to inform, not persuade or create change.

Exploring the causes behind a global war, like World War II, can create a long essay. You can spin this essay topic easily enough by picking other historical events.

Racism is a hot topic today, and this essay will explore how it can often hide in someone’s way of thinking. 

A popular essay topic in many philosophy and art classes, this is an open-ended subject. A student can use it to explore their personal philosophy and develop their critical thinking skills.

Check out this list for other philosophy questions .

Becoming a better writer means spending a lot of time reading great books. One of the best ways to encourage reading is asking readers and students to reflect on why they love reading what they learned from previous books. It’s good subject matter for an essay too.

Many people are skeptical and or don’t trust news produced by journalists. But are they right? Surely there is a bar between trustworthy and untrustworthy sources? In this essay, explore how to tell good journalism apart from bad journalism.

When testing products to see if it’s safe for humans, scientists will run tests on animals. However, this testing isn’t only cruel but ineffective. Animals don’t get certain diseases that humans do. This includes HIV, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and certain types of cancers.

In this essay, students must conduct research and present a case for why animal testing is unethical.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 to 24. This is a complex topic since there could be several different factors at play. Some of these include bullying, abuse, and traumatic stress.

When writing this essay, students will be encouraged to dig deeper into the main reasons why teenagers commit suicide and how we can help them as a community. This spreads awareness and gets people to take positive action.

How much do you know about the United Nations? This prompt will test your knowledge of international relations and politics as you have to pen a paper that’s easy to understand. Include the intricacies of global leadership and peacekeeping by explaining the critical functions of the UN. Then, add how it helps society and how its efforts benefit you as a student.

Where did the internet come from? How did it develop to be what it is today? In your essay, recall the history of the World Wide Web and its profound impact on our daily lives. As an older student, you’ve lived through some of the internet’s transformative phases. How has that shaped the way you live, work, or study? Answer all of these in your paper.

Many people still get confused about handling their incomes, budgets, and expenses. In your essay, explain why many fumble their finances. Include how understanding one’s finances matters now more than ever.

For a more relatable paper, you can narrate your personal journey towards financial literacy. You can also analyze current financial trends and their implications for the average person.

Technology has revolutionized healthcare, so it’ll always be a timely topic. For this prompt, delve into the impact of technological advancements on health and medicine. It’s a brilliant way to explore subjects like telemedicine or electronic health records. You can even include the role of AI in disease diagnosis.

Have you noticed more electric vehicles on the road recently? In your essay, analyze the surge in popularity of electric vehicles. Add their environmental impact and the technological advances that have made them viable. Don’t forget to include your thoughts on a future dominated by electric vehicles.

If you have a TV show you’re fond of, then you can talk about it in your essay. Explore the show’s central themes, character developments, and narrative techniques. It might even give you an excuse to rewatch your favorite series!

Parlez-vous Français? If you have a second language or are interested in learning one someday, this prompt is for you. Remember to focus your essay on the benefits of bilingualism or multilingualism. If you have any, include your memories of learning a new language. You can also ask others who speak more than one language about their experiences. Add the challenges, triumphs, and doors it has opened for you.

Today, there is the question of whether we’re doing enough to address mental health. In your paper, be open and talk about the stigma around mental health issues. You can opt to share your personal experiences or observations. Then, don’t forget to add the consequences of ignoring mental health. It’s a powerful way to raise awareness and promote empathy.

Whether you are a high school student writing an essay for homework or you are sitting down to write a college essay as you apply for school, procrastination often occurs because you do not know what to write about. Having a list of topics  handy will help. 

To choose a topic, first, decide what type of essay you need to write. Then, browse this list of writing topics to find one that is interesting to you, or use the list to think of a different, similar topic. Soon, you will have an essay that is engaging and informative and can showcase your writing abilities well. 

If you need more inspiration, check out our guide to the 101+ best writing prompts .

FAQs About the Best Essay Writing Topics

Persuasive essays require a controversial topic in order to give the writer the freedom to write in a persuasive manner. Some good topics for these essays include: Soda in fast food meals Breastfeeding in public Using jail to deter illegal immigrants Banning cell phones for young children

Some good topics for an essay include: Gun control Social media Personal experiences Health Social issues A life event

What is a Personal Essay?

Best Essay Checkers

PaperRater Vs Grammarly

Transition Words For Essays

Essay Writing Tips

essay writing contest topics

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

View all posts

Become the Best in Essay Writing Contest

  • Study Tips and Tricks

essay writing contest

If you find your vocation in writing and see yourself as a poet, novelist, scriptwriter, or anything else, you need to master your skills in different essay writing contests. Suppose you demonstrate your creativity and impress your audience with extraordinary ideas and viewpoints in your essays. In that case, you need to be well-prepared for different challenges that may wait for you in writing contests.

Why Do You Need Essay Writing Contest?

Participation in different contests is an excellent chance to evaluate your talent compared to competitors. Moreover, you may gain new experience and skills and draw inspiration from the competing spirit and breathtaking ideas.

Essay Competition 2024 is a specialty designed for gifted essay writers with an exceptional feeling of tone, rich vocabulary, and creative masters of the pen who can grasp the audience’s attention from the first lines. It is also an excellent opportunity to dig deeper into your feelings and attitude toward the discussed issue.

One of the leading reasons that encourage students to claim participation is a cash prize that is a great bonus and motivation to leave a long-lasting impression on the reader. At the same time, an essay writing contest is a beneficial opportunity for students wishing to tie their future with writing to level up their chances of enrolling in a cherished university.

Tips for Writing Contest Essay

Essay writing contests provide a platform for individuals to showcase their creativity, critical thinking, and eloquence. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or someone new to the craft, winning a contest requires specific strategies and techniques. This guide will explore valuable tips to help you craft an exceptional essay that sets you apart from the competition.

  • Understand the Contest Guidelines

Before immersing into the writing process, carefully read and comprehend the contest guidelines. Draw attention to the theme, word count limitations, formatting requirements, and submission deadlines. Adhering to these guidelines demonstrates your attention to detail and professionalism.

  • Identify Your Unique Perspective

A fresh and unique perspective is crucial to stand out in a contest. Think about the angle you want to approach the subject and how to present it captivatingly. Research extensively to gather solid evidence, references, and supporting examples that reinforce your viewpoint.

  • Create a Strong Outline

An essay without a clear structure often fails to engage readers. Start writing a contest essay by outlining your main arguments and supporting evidence. A well-organized outline acts as a roadmap, helping you stay logical throughout your essay. Check whether each paragraph contributes to the overall coherence of your essay.

  • Develop a Hooky Intro

The introduction is your initial chance to capture the reader’s attention from the outset. Begin with a compelling hook or a thought-provoking question that entices the reader to continue reading. Clearly state your thesis statement, which should briefly summarize the central argument of your essay.

  • Craft Well-Structured Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on a single idea or argument supported by relevant evidence. Begin every next paragraph with a topic sentence clearly stating the main point. Follow up with supporting evidence, examples, and analysis to strengthen your argument. Remember to provide smooth transitions between paragraphs to maintain coherence.

  • Showcase Language Proficiency

Incorporating a rich vocabulary and employing varied sentence structures can elevate the quality of your contest essay writing. However, avoid using jargon or overly complex terms that may confuse or alienate readers. Strike a balance between simplicity and sophistication to engage a wide range of audiences.

  • Proofread and Edit Diligently

No matter how compelling your ideas are, minor grammatical, spelling, stylistic, or punctuation errors can negatively impact your essay’s overall impression. Review your essay carefully, checking for clarity, coherence, and proper sentence structure. Having someone else read your essay is also helpful, providing valuable feedback to refine your work.

  • Conclusion: Leave a Lasting Impression

A powerful conclusion is necessary to leave a lasting impact on the judges. Summarize your main arguments without repetition, emphasizing the significance of your viewpoint. End with a memorable closing statement, leaving the reader with a thought-provoking idea or a call to action.

Essay Competition 2024 Where You Could Ignite Your Passion for Writing

Most writing competitions are aimed at a particular category of writers. For instance, it may be a contest for high school or university students or specially designed for mature writers. The size of the winning pool also depends on the significance of the competitions and the status.

In the year 2024, there also were essay writing contests in different categories and with different prizes. The most prominent and worthy contests were the following.

  • WOW! Women On Writing. The top prize of the contest was $500. They welcomed submissions of creative nonfiction essays with a maximum word count of 1,000 words. The contest strived to showcase diverse styles, from personal essays and memoirs to lyric essays and hybrid forms.
  • 100 Words Contest. It offered an impressive prize of $2,000 for the ability to be concise but logical. It may be challenging to fit a completed story into 100 words or less, but this essay writing contest is perfect for you if you are creative enough and may hook your audience.
  • Human Rights Essay Challenge. The Human Rights Essay Challenge provides a platform for writers to dive into the complexities of human rights and social justice. Writers of all ages can participate and contribute their perspectives on crucial matters such as equality, justice, and fair treatment for all. The winners will be awarded scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to attend a prestigious human rights conference.
  • Writer’s Voice Scholarship Contest. Organized by a leading educational foundation, the Writer’s Voice Scholarship Contest aims to support aspiring young writers in pursuing their literary dreams. Open to students aged 16-18, this competition provides a platform for showcasing creativity and offers scholarships for pursuing higher education in writing-related fields.
  • Sustainable Future Essay Competition. Addressing the pressing concerns of our time, the Sustainable Future Essay Competition invites writers worldwide to delve into sustainability, climate change, and environmental preservation topics. This essay writing contest, organized by an environmental advocacy group, offers cash prizes and presents an opportunity for participants to take part in the ongoing dialogue on creating a greener future.

Obviously, such competitions aim to not only reveal and sort out talents that will guide millions with their apt words. We should not underestimate the power of language, a tool in negotiations, convincing and highlighting truthful issues. Writing contests serve as training fields for masters of pen on their way to the triumphal career.

Winning an essay writing contest requires a combination of skill, passion, and effective writing strategies. By understanding the contest guidelines, presenting unique perspectives, and employing a solid structure, you can create an essay that captivates judges and sets you apart from the competition. You can refine your work and leave a lasting impression with careful editing and proofreading. So, put pen to paper, unleash your creativity, and strive for excellence in your next essay contest.

  • Academic Writing Guides
  • Citation Guides
  • Essay Samples
  • Essay Topics
  • Essay Writing Guides
  • Research Paper Topics
  • Research Paper Writing Guides

Featured articles

Your Complete Guide to Writing Perfect Ethical Papers

Your Complete Guide to Writing Perfect Ethical Papers

Every day, people make ethical decisions, and that is why your college journey will expose you to ethics papers. But how do you write a paper on ethics that garners good grades? If you want to improve your skills in this area of assignment, you landed on the right page. This post shares insights on […]

Author: Marina Kean

Gender Equality Essay

Affordable and High-Quality Help with Your Essay on Gender Equality

Gender equality is one of the hottest debates that have yet to reach a consensus. For years, almost all cultures have struggled to bridge this gap. From the East to the West, the gap is still there despite the many good steps nations have taken, especially since the 20th century.  While God designed the two […]

Essay Topics – List of 500+ Essay Writing Topics and Ideas

List of 500+ essay writing topics and ideas.

Essay topics in English can be difficult to come up with. While writing essays , many college and high school students face writer’s block and have a hard time to think about topics and ideas for an essay. In this article, we will list out many good essay topics from different categories like argumentative essays, essays on technology, environment essays for students from 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Following list of essay topics are for all – from kids to college students. We have the largest collection of essays. An essay is nothing but a piece of content which is written from the perception of writer or author. Essays are similar to a story, pamphlet, thesis, etc. The best thing about Essay is you can use any type of language – formal or informal. It can biography, the autobiography of anyone. Following is a great list of 100 essay topics. We will be adding 400 more soon!

But Before that you may wanna read some awesome Essay Writing Tips here .

500+ essay topics for students and children

Get the Huge list of 100+ Speech Topics here

Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Should plastic be banned?
  • Pollution due to Urbanization
  • Education should be free
  • Should Students get limited access to the Internet?
  • Selling Tobacco should be banned
  • Smoking in public places should be banned
  • Facebook should be banned
  • Students should not be allowed to play PUBG

Essay Topics on Technology

  • Wonder Of Science
  • Mobile Phone

Essay Topics on Festivals on Events

  • Independence Day (15 August)
  • Teachers Day
  • Summer Vacation
  • Children’s Day
  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
  • Janmashtami
  • Republic Day

Essay Topics on Education

  • Education Essay
  • Importance of Education
  • Contribution of Technology in Education

essay writing contest topics

Essay Topics on Famous Leaders

  • Mahatma Gandhi
  • APJ Abdul Kalam
  • Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Swami Vivekananda
  • Mother Teresa
  • Rabindranath Tagore
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  • Subhash Chandra Bose
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Martin Luther King
  • Lal Bahadur Shashtri

Essay Topics on Animals and Birds

  • My Favorite Animal

Essays Topics About Yourself

  • My Best Friend
  • My Favourite Teacher
  • My Aim In Life
  • My Favourite Game – Badminton
  • My Favourite Game – Essay
  • My Favourite Book
  • My Ambition
  • How I Spent My Summer Vacation
  • India of My Dreams
  • My School Life
  • I Love My Family
  • My Favourite Subject
  • My Favourite Game Badminton
  • My Father My Hero
  • My School Library
  • My Favourite Author
  • My plans for summer vacation

Essay Topics Based on Environment and Nature

  • Global Warming
  • Environment
  • Air Pollution
  • Environmental Pollution
  • Water Pollution
  • Rainy Season
  • Climate Change
  • Importance Of Trees
  • Winter Season
  • Deforestation
  • Natural Disasters
  • Save Environment
  • Summer Season
  • Trees Our Best Friend Essay In English

Essay Topics Based on Proverbs

  • Health Is Wealth
  • A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
  • An Apple a Day Keeps Doctor Away
  • Where there is a will, there is way
  • Time and Tide wait for none

Toppr provides free study materials like NCERT Solutions for Students, Previous 10 Years of Question Papers, 1000+ hours of video lectures for free. Download Toppr app for Android and iOS or signup for free.

Essay Topics for Students from 6th, 7th, 8th Grade

  • Noise Pollution
  • Environment Pollution
  • Women Empowerment
  • Time and Tide Wait for none
  • Science and Technology
  • Importance of Sports
  • Sports and Games
  • Time Management
  • Cleanliness is next to Godliness
  • Cleanliness
  • Rome was not Built in a Day
  • Unemployment
  • Clean India
  • Cow Essay In English
  • Describe Yourself
  • Festivals Of India
  • Ganesh Chaturthi
  • Healthy Food
  • Importance Of Water
  • Plastic Pollution
  • Value of Time
  • Honesty is the Best Policy
  • Gandhi Jayanti
  • Human Rights
  • Knowledge Is Power
  • Same Sex Marriage
  • Childhood Memories
  • Cyber Crime
  • Kalpana Chawla
  • Punctuality
  • Rani Lakshmi Bai
  • Spring Season
  • Unity In Diversity
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Online Shopping
  • Indian Culture
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Indian Education System
  • Disaster Management
  • Environmental Issues
  • Freedom Fighters
  • Grandparents
  • Save Fuel For Better Environment
  • Importance Of Newspaper
  • Lal Bahadur Shastri
  • Raksha Bandhan
  • World Environment Day
  • Narendra Modi
  • What Is Religion
  • Charity Begins at Home
  • A Journey by Train
  • Ideal student
  • Save Water Save Earth
  • Indian Farmer
  • Safety of Women in India
  • Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
  • Capital Punishment
  • College Life
  • Natural Resources
  • Peer Pressure
  • Nature Vs Nurture
  • Romeo And Juliet
  • Generation Gap
  • Makar Sankranti
  • Constitution of India
  • Girl Education
  • Importance of Family
  • Importance of Independence Day
  • Brain Drain
  • A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed
  • Action Speaks Louder Than Words
  • All That Glitters Is Not Gold
  • Bhagat Singh
  • Demonetization
  • Agriculture
  • Importance of Discipline
  • Population Explosion
  • Poverty in India
  • Uses Of Mobile Phones
  • Water Scarcity
  • Train Journey
  • Land Pollution
  • Environment Protection
  • Indian Army
  • Uses of Internet
  • All that Glitters is not Gold
  • Balanced Diet
  • Blood Donation
  • Digital India
  • Dussehra Essay
  • Energy Conservation
  • National Integration
  • Railway Station
  • Sachin Tendulkar
  • Health And Hygiene
  • Importance Of Forest
  • Indira Gandhi
  • Laughter Is The Best Medicine
  • Career Goals
  • Mental Health
  • Save Water Save Life
  • International Yoga Day
  • Winter Vacation
  • Soil Pollution
  • Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
  • Indian Culture And Tradition
  • Unity Is Strength
  • Unity is Diversity
  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Cruelty To Animals
  • Nelson Mandela
  • Of Mice And Men
  • Organ Donation
  • Life in a Big City
  • Democracy in India
  • Waste Management
  • Biodiversity
  • Afforestation
  • Female Foeticide
  • Harmful Effects Of Junk Food
  • Rain Water Harvesting
  • Save Electricity
  • Social Media
  • Social Networking Sites
  • Sound Pollution
  • Procrastination
  • Life in an Indian Village
  • Life in Big City
  • Population Growth
  • World Population Day
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • Statue of Unity
  • Traffic Jam
  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
  • Importance of Good Manners
  • Good Manners
  • Cyber Security
  • Green Revolution
  • Health And Fitness
  • Incredible India
  • Make In India
  • Surgical Strike
  • Triple Talaq
  • A Good Friend
  • Importance of Friends in our Life
  • Should Plastic be Banned
  • Nationalism
  • Traffic Rules
  • Effects of Global Warming
  • Fundamental Rights
  • Solar System
  • National Constitution Day
  • Good Mother
  • Importance of Trees in our Life
  • City Life Vs Village Life
  • Importance of Communication
  • Conservation of Nature
  • Man vs. Machine
  • Indian Economy
  • Mothers Love
  • Importance of National Integration
  • Black Money
  • Greenhouse effect
  • Untouchability
  • Self Discipline
  • Global Terrorism
  • Conservation of Biodiversity
  • Newspaper and Its Uses
  • World Health Day
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • A Picnic with Family
  • Indian Heritage
  • Status of Women in India
  • Child is Father of the Man
  • Reading is Good Habit
  • Plastic Bag
  • Terrorism in India
  • Library and Its Uses
  • Life on Mars
  • Urbanization
  • Pollution Due to Diwali
  • National Flag of India
  • Vocational Education
  • Importance of Tree Plantation
  • Summer Camp
  • Vehicle Pollution
  • Women Education in India
  • Seasons in India
  • Freedom of the Press
  • Caste System
  • Environment and Human Health
  • Mountain Climbing
  • Depletion of Natural Resources
  • Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
  • Health Education
  • Effects of Deforestation
  • Life after School
  • Starvation in India
  • Jan Dhan Yojana
  • Impact of Privatization
  • Election Commission of India
  • Election and Democracy
  • Prevention of Global Warming
  • Impact of Cinema in Life
  • Subhas Chandra Bose
  • Dowry System
  • Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
  • Role of Science in Making India
  • Impact of Global Warming on Oceans
  • Pollution due to Festivals
  • Ambedkar Jayanti
  • Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
  • Family Planning in India
  • Democracy vs Dictatorship
  • National Festivals of India
  • Sri Aurobindo
  • Casteism in India
  • Organ trafficking
  • Consequences of Global Warming
  • Role of Human Activities in Global Warming
  • Issues and Problems faced by Women in India
  • Role of Judiciary in the Country Today
  • Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan
  • PUBG Mobile Game Addiction
  • Role of Youths in Nation Building
  • Value of Oxygen and Water in Life/Earth
  • Farmer Suicides in India
  • Start-up India
  • Pollution Due to Firecrackers
  • Life of Soldiers
  • Child Labour
  • Save Girl Child
  • Morning Walk
  • My School Fete
  • Essay on Financial Literacy
  • Essay On Sustainable Development
  • Essay On Punjab
  • Essay On Travel
  • My Home Essay
  • Child Marriage Essay
  • Importance Of English Language Essay
  • Essay On Mass Media
  • Essay On Horse
  • Essay On Police
  • Essay On Eid
  • Essay On Solar Energy
  • Animal Essay
  • Essay On Mango
  • Gender Discrimination Essay
  • Essay On Advertisement
  • My First Day At School Essay
  • My Neighborhood Essay
  • True Friendship Essay
  • Work Is Worship Essay
  • Essay On Self Confidence
  • Essay On Superstition
  • Essay On Bangalore
  • Sex Vs Gender Essay
  • Essay On Social Issues
  • Time Is Money Essay
  • Essay About Grandmothers
  • Essay On Hard Work
  • First Day Of School Essay
  • Flowers Essay
  • My Favorite Food Essay
  • Essay on Birds
  • Essay on Humanity
  • Essay on Sun
  • Essay on Kargil War
  • Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining Essay
  • Francis Bacon Essays
  • Importance of Cleanliness Essay
  • My Sister Essay
  • Self Introduction Essay
  • Solar Energy Essay
  • Sports Day Essa
  • Value Of Education Essay
  • Essay On Isro
  • Essay On Balance Is Beneficial
  • Essay On Reservation In India
  • Essay On Water Management
  • Essay On Smoking
  • Essay On Stress Management
  • Essay On William Shakespeare
  • Essay on Apple
  • Essay On Albert Einstein
  • Essay On Feminism
  • Essay On Kindness
  • Essay On Domestic Violence
  • Essay on English as a Global Language
  • Essay On Co-Education
  • Importance Of Exercise Essay
  • Overpopulation Essay
  • Smartphone Essay
  • Essay on River
  • Essay on Cyclone
  • Essay On Facebook
  • Essay On Science In Everyday Life
  • Essay On Women Rights
  • Essay On Right To Education
  • Essay on Quotes
  • Essay On Peace
  • Essay On Drawing
  • Essay On Bicycle
  • Essay On Sexual Harassment
  • Essay On Hospital
  • Essay On Srinivasa Ramanujan
  • Essay On Golden Temple
  • Essay On Art
  • Essay On Ruskin Bond
  • Essay On Moon
  • Birthday Essay
  • Dont Judge A Book By Its Cover Essay
  • Draught Essay
  • Gratitude Essay
  • Indian Politics Essay
  • Who am I Essay
  • Essay on Positive Thinking
  • Essay on Dance
  • Essay on Navratri
  • Essay on Onam
  • Essay on New Education Policy 2020
  • Esasy on Thank you Coronavirus Helpers
  • Essay on Coronavirus and Coronavirus Symptoms
  • Essay on Baseball
  • Essay on coronavirus vaccine
  • Fitness beats pandemic essay
  • Essay on coronavirus tips
  • Essay on coronavirus prevention
  • Essay on coronavirus treatment
  • Essay on essay on trees
  • Essay on television
  • Gender inequality essay
  • Water conservation essay
  • Essay on Gurpurab
  • Essay on Types of sports
  • Essay on road safety
  • Essay on my favourite season
  • My pet essay
  • Student life essay
  • Essay on Railway station
  • Essay on earth
  • Essay on knowledge is power
  • Essay on favourite personality
  • Essay on memorable day of my life
  • My parents essay
  • Our country essay
  • Picnic essay
  • Travelling essay

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

tutor

  • Letter Writing
  • It So Happened Summary
  • Honey Dew Chapter Summaries
  • The Alien Hand
  • Malu Bhalu Summary
  • Sing a Song of People Summary
  • The Little Bully Summary
  • Nobody’s Friend Summary
  • Class Discussion Summary
  • Crying Summary in English

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Google Play

IEW

Contests and Opportunities

essay writing contest topics

SPEECH AND DEBATE ORGANIZATIONS

  • NCFCA CHRISTIAN SPEECH & DEBATE LEAGUE ncfca.org
  • STOA CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL SPEECH AND DEBATE stoausa.org
  • NSDA NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE ASSOCIATION  speechanddebate.org

This page will be updated as we learn of new opportunities. If you know of a writing or speaking contest, please let us know so we can include it on this page.

Please note: While IEW believes these contests to be legitimate, writing contest scams do exist, and it is wise to check into a contest carefully before entering, especially if there is a fee to enter.

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

The Winners of Our ‘How To’ Contest

Over 2,200 teenagers submitted essays on how to do everything from fix a toilet to fight a kangaroo. We’ll be publishing the work of the winners all week.

An illustration of a golden trophy with flexing human arms on either side.

By The Learning Network

Almost from the time our new “ How To” Informational Writing Contest for Teenagers went live in January, we knew it would be a success.

First there was the creative range of topics. As submissions rolled in — 2,223 by the deadline — we were happy to see students take on a variety of key emotional, intellectual and physical skills, including how to win an argument, fix a toilet, cope with anxiety, remember names and trip gracefully.

But we were even more delighted to be introduced to a few offbeat skills we hadn’t previously realized were crucial, like how to do the worm, snowball-attack your sister, fight a kangaroo and “talk to your crush without sounding like a talking potato.”

Our participants had fun. We know that because in their accompanying process statements they told us so. They liked coming up with topic ideas, and writing something for school in a format they’d never seen before. They even enjoyed finding and interviewing experts — a contest requirement that had seemed daunting at first to many, but turned out to be one of the most rewarding steps.

We hope you’ll enjoy the results as much as we have. We’ll be publishing the work of the top 11 winners all week, and we’ll add links here when we do.

In alphabetical order by the writer’s first name

“ How to Befriend an Introvert ” : Ashley Zhang, 14, Collingwood School, West Vancouver, British Columbia

“ How to Do the Worm ” : Camille Gonzales, 18, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

“ How to Find Your Balance ” : Chelsea Hu, 18, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.

“How to Make Bubble Tea” : Hanyi Zhou, 14, Chinese International School, Hong Kong

“How to Make the Perfect Sandwich” : Jackson DeNichilo, 15, Fallston High School, Fallston, Md.

“How to Wrap a Dumpling” : Jacob Wang, 16, Charterhouse School, Godalming, England

“How to Conduct a Podcast Interview” : Matthew Jeong, 17, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

“How to Be a Kid Forever” : Raniya Chowdhury, 17, John Fraser Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario

“How to Become Friends With a Wild Bird” : Shannon Hong, 16, Herricks High School, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

“How to Host Unexpected Guests” : Sofia Fontenot, 18, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

“How to Make Fear Your Friend” : Zoe Brown, 14, Summit High School, Bend, Ore.

“How to Recover After Yet Another Disappointing Season by Your Favorite N.F.L. Team” : Alden Comes, 13, Briarcliff Middle School, Mountain Lakes, N.J.

“How to Tell the Ugly Truth” : Alex (Hayoung) Jung, 16, Seoul Foreign School, Seoul

“How to Remember Names” : Anahita Driver, 13, Gregory Middle School, Naperville, Ill.

“How to Find Gratitude in Everyday Life” : Andrew Coraggio, 16, Arrowhead Union High School, Hartland, Wis.

“How to Antique Shop” : Callisto Lim, 17, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

“How to Build an Optimal Environment for Your Fish” : Chasity Rolon, 16, Deer Park High School, New York, N.Y.

“How to Snowball Attack Your Sister” : Harper Mooney, 14, Marblehead High School, Marblehead, Mass.

“How to Achieve Inner Peace by Washing Your Dishes” : Jackson Cooke, 18, Briarwood Christian High School, Birmingham, Ala.

“How to Spot Counterfeit Currency” : Kaylie Milton, 17, West High School, Iowa City, Iowa

“How to Pee On a Hike” : Lauren Acker, 17, Lakeside High School, DeKalb County, Ga.

“How to Mimic an Accent” : Michael Noh, 14, Korea International School Pangyo Campus, Seongnam, South Korea

“How to Speak Like a British Person” : Owen Wilde, 16, Maynard High School, Maynard, Mass.

“How to Ask a Teacher for Help” : Sarah Harris, 15, Boothbay Region High School, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

“How to Spin Pens” : Siddharth S., 16, Peepal Prodigy School Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

“How to Make Kids Excited About History” : Vivian Wenan Chang, 17, BASIS Chandler, Chandler, Ariz.

“How to Ride a Roller Coaster Without Fear” : Wang Ziyun, 16, Raffles Girls’ School, Singapore

“How to Make a Three-Point Shot” : Will Peña, 17, Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, Fla.

“How to Play Darts” : Xizhe Yang, 15, Shanghai High School International Division, Shanghai

Honorable Mentions

“How to Survive Middle School Hallways” : Alice Liang, 13, Islander Middle School, Mercer Island, Wash.

“How to Learn a New Language” : Andrew Chen, 14, International School of Beijing, Beijing

“How to Let Go of Someone” : Ariel Ting, 16, Taipei American School, Taipei, Taiwan

“How to Cope With Your Anxiety” : Ava Cho, 18, Daegu International School, Daegu, South Korea

“How to Live Openly As a Lesbian” : Ayco Phlypo, 17, Atheneum Gentbrugge, Ghent, Belgium

“How to Make Homemade Pasta” : Bella DiBernardo, 16, Alta Vista Middle College, Santa Barbara, Calif.

“How to Prepare for Running a Marathon” : Brett Barker, 17, Arrowhead Union High School, Hartland, Wis.

“Keep the Sandman at Bay” : Bryant, 18, Bandung Independent School, Bandung, Indonesia

“How to Fix a Toilet!” : Carla Lopez, 16, Jose Marti STEM Academy, Union City, N.J.

“How to Order at a Specialty Coffee Shop” : Cassandra Garcia, 16, home school, Portland, Texas

“How to Trip Gracefully” : Eileen Kim, 15, Urbana High School, Ijamsville, Md.

“How to Drive Your Siblings Mad” : Elaine Kim, 15, West Ranch High School, Stevenson Ranch, Calif.

“Being Objective” : James Yi, 17, Orange County School of the Arts, Santa Ana, Calif.

“How to Accept Failure” : Jamie Park, 16, Yongsan International School of Seoul, Seoul

“How to Cope With a Panic Attack” : Jason Kim, 15, Georgetown Preparatory School, North Bethesda, Md.

“How to Escape a Night Market” : Joyce Chang, 16, Stella Matutina Girls’ High School, Taichung City, Taiwan

“How to Overcome Assault: A Survivor’s Guide on Trauma-Related Shame” : Juliana Segal, 17, The Montessori School of Raleigh Upper School, Raleigh, N.C.

“How to Play Out of Tune On the Flute” : Kavya Muralidhar, 13, Islander Middle School, Mercer Island, Wash.

“How to Write a Poem” : Lareina Yuan, 14, YK Pao School, Shanghai

“How to Make Tanghulu” : Lehan Gu, 15, Northwood High School, Irvine, Calif.

“How to Be When Meeting New People” : MaryEden Rall, 13, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, Montgomery, Ala.

“How to Make the Perfect Playlist” : Rachel Wieland, 17, Arrowhead Union High School, Hartland, Wis.

“How to Talk to Your Crush Without Sounding Like a Talking Potato” : Roxanne Wu, 16, International School of Beijing, Beijing

“How to Help a Child With Autism” : Sarah Zeng, 15, Victoria Park Collegiate Institute, Toronto

“How to Deal With Nerves” : Sasha Luhur, 14, Northwood School, Lake Placid, N.Y.

“How to Watch Clouds” : Shio Kim, 14, North London Collegiate School Jeju, Seogwipo, South Korea

“How to Discuss Controversial Issues With Parents” : Siyao Feng, 18, Linden Hall School for Girls, Lititz, Pa.

“How to Write a Song” : Sophia Kim, 15, Chadwick International School, Incheon, South Korea

“How to Write a Song” : Stephanie Ma, 16, The Webb Schools, Claremont, Calif.

“How to Be a Good Dukjil-er” : Suevean (Evelyn) Chin, Asia Pacific International School, Seoul

“How to Win an Argument” : Suri Boryang Kim, PTGMS, South Korea

“How to Tie a Shoe” : Vivian Olivera, 17, Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, Fla.

“Grilling Pork Belly For the Best Flavor” : Yoonseo Cho, 17, Portola High School, Irvine, Calif.

Thank you to our contest judges.

Ana Paola Wong, Annissa Hambouz, Caroline Gilpin, Dana Davis, Elisa Zonana, Isaac Aronow, Jeremy Engle, Jeremy Hyler, John Otis, Juliette Seive, Katherine Schulten, Kathryn Curto, Ken Paul, Kimberly Wiedmeyer, Kirsten Akens, Michael Gonchar, Natalie Proulx, Phoebe Lett, Shannon Doyne, Sharon Murchie, Shira Katz, Sue Mermelstein, Susan Josephs, Sydney Stein

  • Commercial Insights
  • Wealth Insights
  • Online Banking Login
  • Regions Total Wealth
  • Investment Account Access
  • Open an Account
  • En Español

essay writing contest topics

Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Contest

essay writing contest topics

Their Story. Your Voice.

Your voice is your own. But it's also been impacted by others. Who, we wonder, has inspired you? Let us know by entering the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest. 

You could win an $8,000 college scholarship

For the opportunity to win an $8,000 scholarship, submit a video or written essay about an individual you know personally (who lives in your community) who has inspired you and helped you build the confidence you need to achieve your goals.

essay writing contest topics

The details

The 2024 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest consists of four (4) separate Quarterly Contests - one for each calendar quarter of 2024. Regions is awarding four $8,000 scholarships through each Quarterly Contest.

Each Quarterly Contest has its own separate entry period, as provided in the chart below.

The entry deadline for each Quarterly Contest is 11:59:59 PM Central Time on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date (set forth in the chart above).

No purchase or banking relationship required.

Regions believes in supporting the students whose passion and actions every day will continue to make stories worth sharing. That’s why we have awarded over $1 million in total scholarships to high school and college students.

How to enter, 1. complete an online quarterly contest application.

Enter the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest by completing a Quarterly Contest application.  The second Quarterly Contest runs from April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024. Complete and save all requested information. 

2. Prepare your Written Essay or Video Essay

For each Quarterly Contest, the topic of your Written Essay or Video Essay (your “Essay Topic”) must be an individual you know personally, who lives in your community. Your Written Essay or Video Essay must address how the individual you have selected as your Essay Topic has inspired you and helped you build the confidence you need to achieve your goals.

Written Essay and Video Essay submissions must meet all of the requirements described in the contest Official Rules. Your Written Essay or Video Essay must be (i) in English, (ii) your own original work, created solely by you (and without the use of any means of artificial intelligence (“AI”)), and (iii) the exclusive property of you alone.

Written Essays must be 500 words or less. You can write your Written Essay directly in the application, or you can copy and paste it into the appropriate area in the application form.

Video Essay submissions must be directly uploaded to the contest application site. Video Essays must be no more than 3 minutes in length and no larger than 1 GB. Only the following file formats are accepted: MP4, MPG, MOV, AVI, and WMV. Video Essays must not contain music of any kind nor display any illegal, explicit, or inappropriate material, and Video Essays must not be password protected or require a log-in/sign-in to view. You must upload your Video Essay to the application, and you may not submit your Video Essay in DVD or other physical form. (Video Essays submitted via mail will not be reviewed or returned.)

Tips to Record Quality Videos on a Smartphone:

  • Don’t shoot vertical video. Computer monitors have landscape-oriented displays, so shoot your video horizontally.
  • Use a tripod. Even small movements can make a big difference when editing.
  • Don’t use zoom. If you need to get a close shot of the subject, move closer as zooming can cause pixilation.
  • Use natural lighting. Smartphone lighting can wash out your video.

3. Review and submit your Quarterly Contest application

Review your information on your Quarterly Application (and check the spelling of a Written Essay) and submit your entry by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date. The second Quarterly Contest period end date is June 30, 2024.

4. Await notification

Winning entries are selected by an independent panel of judges who are not affiliated with Regions. If your entry is selected as a Quarterly Contest winner, you will need to respond to ISTS with the required information.

Eligibility

For purposes of this contest:

  • The “Eligible States” are defined as the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
  • An “accredited college” is defined as a nonprofit, two- or four-year college or university located within one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia.

To be eligible to enter this contest and to win an award in a Quarterly Contest, at the time of entry, you must:

  • Be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States.
  • Be age 16 or older.
  • Have at least one (1) year (or at least 18 semester hours) remaining before college graduation.
  • If you are not yet in college, begin your freshman year of college no later than the start of the 2025 – 2026 college academic school year.
  • As of your most recent school enrollment period, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in school (and if no GPA is provided at school, be in “good standing” or the equivalent thereof in school).

View Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP REQUIRED. PURCHASE OR BANKING RELATIONSHIP WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. The 2024 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest (the “Contest”) consists of four (4) separate quarterly contests (each a “Quarterly Contest”): (1) the “Q-1 Contest;” (2) the “Q-2 Contest;” (3) the “Q-3 Contest;” and (4) the “Q-4 Contest.” The Q-1 Contest begins on 02/01/24 and ends on 03/31/24; the Q-2 Contest begins on 04/01/24 and ends on 06/30/24; the Q-3 Contest begins on 07/01/24 and ends on 09/30/24; and the Q-4 Contest begins on 10/01/24 and ends on 12/31/24. (For each Quarterly Contest, entries must be submitted and received by 11:59:59 PM CT on the applicable Quarterly Contest period end date.) To enter and participate in a particular Quarterly Contest, at the time of entry, you must: (a) be a legal U.S. resident of one of the Eligible States; (b) be 16 years of age or older; (c) have at least one (1) year (or at least 18 semester hours) remaining before college graduation; (d) (if you are not yet in college) begin your freshman year of college no later than the start of the 2025 – 2026 college academic school year; and (e) as of your most recent school enrollment period, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in school (and if no grade point average is provided at school, be in “good standing” or the equivalent thereof in school). (For purposes of Contest, the “Eligible States” are defined as the states of AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN and TX.) Visit regions.com/ridingforward for complete Contest details, including eligibility and Written Essay and Video Essay requirements and Official Rules. (Limit one (1) entry per person, per Quarterly Contest.) For each Quarterly Contest, eligible entries will be grouped according to form of entry (Written Essay or Video Essay) and judged by a panel of independent, qualified judges. A total of four (4) Quarterly Contest Prizes will be awarded in each Quarterly Contest, consisting of two (2) Quarterly Contest Prizes for the Written Essay Entry Group and two (2) Quarterly Contest Prizes for the Video Essay Entry Group. Each Quarterly Contest Prize consists of a check in the amount of $8,000 made out to winner’s designated accredited college. (Limit one (1) Quarterly Contest Prize per person; a contestant is permitted to win only one (1) Quarterly Contest Prize through the Contest.) Sponsor: Regions Bank, 1900 Fifth Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203.

© 2024 Regions Bank. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

2023 Winners

High school:.

  • Amyrrean Acoff
  • Leon Aldridge
  • Kharis Andrews
  • Colton Collier
  • Indya Griffin
  • Christopher Hak
  • Aquil Hayes
  • Jayden Haynes
  • McKenna Jodoin
  • Paris Kelly
  • Liza Latimer
  • Dylan Lodle
  • Anna Mammarelli
  • Karrington Manley
  • Marcellus Odum
  • Gautami Palthepu
  • Melody Small
  • Lauryn Tanner
  • Joshua Wilson
  • Mohamed Ali
  • Kayla Bellamy
  • Lauren Boxx
  • Alexandria Brown
  • Samuel Brown
  • Thurston Brown
  • Conner Daehler
  • Tsehai de Souza
  • Anjel Echols
  • Samarion Flowers
  • Trinity Griffin
  • Kristina Hilton
  • Ryan Jensen
  • Miracle Jones
  • Shaniece McGhee
  • Chelby Melvin
  • Lamiya Ousley
  • Kiera Phillips
  • Gabrielle Pippins
  • Ethan Snead
  • Sydney Springs
  • Kirsten Tilford
  • Tamira Weeks
  • Justin Williams

2022 Winners

  • Paul Aucremann
  • William Booker
  • Robyn Cunningham
  • Kani'ya Davis
  • Oluwatomi Dugbo
  • Lillian Goins
  • Parker Hall
  • Collin Hatfield
  • Gabrielle Izu
  • Kylie Lauderdale
  • Jacob Milan
  • Jackson Mitchell
  • Carmen Moore
  • Madison Morgan
  • Kaden Oquelí-White
  • Kaylin Parks
  • Brian Perryman
  • De'Marco Riggins
  • Brianna Roundtree
  • Sydney Russell
  • Carlie Spore
  • Morgan Standifer
  • Ionia Thomas
  • Ramaya Thomas
  • Jaylen Toran
  • Amani Veals
  • Taylor Williams
  • Alana Wilson
  • Taryn Wilson
  • Aryaunna Armstrong
  • Hannah Blackwell
  • T'Aneka Bowers
  • Naomi Bradley
  • Arianna Cannon
  • Taylor Cline
  • Catherine Cummings
  • Margaret Fitzgerald
  • Chloe Franklin
  • Camryn Gaines
  • Thomas Greer
  • Kayla Helleson
  • Veronica Holmes
  • Logan Kurtz
  • Samuel Lambert
  • Jaylon Muchison
  • Teresa Odom
  • Andrew Payne
  • Carey Price
  • Emily SantiAnna
  • Curtis Smith
  • Jered Smith
  • Mariah Standifer
  • Maura Taylor
  • Anna Wilkes

IMAGES

  1. Incredible Essay Writing Contest ~ Thatsnotus

    essay writing contest topics

  2. Incredible Essay Writing Contest ~ Thatsnotus

    essay writing contest topics

  3. 008 Essay Writing Competitions In India Custom Paper Academic

    essay writing contest topics

  4. 141 Topics For Writing That Are Deep And Thoughtful

    essay writing contest topics

  5. The Big List of Student Writing Contests for 2022-2023

    essay writing contest topics

  6. Writing Contest!

    essay writing contest topics

VIDEO

  1. Essay Contest Winners

  2. Important Essay Topics

  3. Essay writing on My hobby 2023

  4. THE KAWALI S3 ‘Social X School Life’

COMMENTS

  1. Best Essay Writing Contests in 2024

    Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story. Bacopa Literary Review's 2024 contest is open from March 4 through April 4, with $200 Prize and $100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Free Verse Poetry, Formal Poetry, and Visual Poetry.

  2. Top 7 Essay Contests for Students in 2024

    This essay writing contest offers a platform for students to showcase their ability to engage critically with relevant issues, contributing their voice to the global conversation. Winning entries, with consent, will gain further visibility through Studybay's platforms, amplifying the impact of their ideas. 4. JASNA Annual Student Essay ...

  3. Essay Writing Contests

    Essay writing competitions in 2024 offer you a chance to do just that and win some great prizes in the process. We've put together a list of contests specially designed for students like you. These contests cover various interesting essay topics, giving you a unique opportunity to showcase your writing skills and potentially earn cash prizes or ...

  4. 40 Free Writing Contests: Competitions With Cash Prizes

    15. Biopage Storytelling Writing Contest. There's no denying it: social media is a huge part of our modern-day lives. It's easy to get used to limiting our communications to 280-character and emoji-strewn snippets, which is why this marketing firm is hosting an essay writing contest to "remind people of the benefits of writing."

  5. 2024 Essay Competition

    Academic conference: 20 - 22 September, 2024. Awards dinner: 21 September, 2024. Contact. Any queries regarding the essay competition should be sent to [email protected]. Please be aware that, due to the large volume of correspondence we receive, we cannot guarantee to answer every query.

  6. 7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

    Deadline: Mid-February 2023-June 1, 2023. Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide. Contest description: The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals. High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.

  7. The 17 Best Writing Contests for High School Students

    The SPJ/JEA high school essay contest, organized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association, asks students to analyze the importance of independent media to our lives (as of now, the official essay topic for spring 2023 is TBD). Essays should be from 300 to 500 words.

  8. Winning Essay Contests: A Step-by-Step Guide

    The first thing that you should do to win essay contests is to read the rules thoroughly. Overlooking one small detail could be the difference between winning the contest and wasting your time. Pay special attention to: The contest's start and end dates. How often you're allowed to enter. The word or character count. The contest's theme.

  9. 189 Competition Topic Ideas to Write about & Essay Samples

    The first circle of competition for McDonald's is in direct competition with fast food brands such as Burger King and KFC, whose menus are the same. Philip Morris Inc.: Competition and Potential Risks. The main objective of Philip Morris is to limit the harmful impacts of smoke on the environment and people.

  10. A Catalog of 500+ Essay Topics for Students

    Expository Essay Topics. The Impact of Technology on Society: Past, Present, and Future. The Process of Photosynthesis and Its Importance in Nature. The History and Significance of the Industrial Revolution. Understanding the Basics of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology.

  11. The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition

    The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition provides a platform for young, ambitious high school students to exercise their writing skills and compete with students from all over the world! This competition encourages students to challenge themselves and explore different writing styles to ultimately strengthen their writing skills.

  12. HIR Academic Writing Contest

    The Contest. Inspired by our growing high school readership around the world, we have run the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest since 2020 to encourage and highlight outstanding high school writing on topics related to international affairs.

  13. Essay Competition

    About the Competition. The spirit of the Re:think essay competition is to encourage critical thinking and exploration of a wide range of thought-provoking and often controversial topics. The competition covers a diverse array of subjects, from historical and present issues to speculative future scenarios. Participants are invited to engage ...

  14. How to Win an Essay Contest: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

    It's a good idea to print out the guidelines so that you can refer to them as you're writing. 2. Brainstorm essay ideas to pick a topic that works with the theme. Most essay contests will have a theme that your essay should be about, narrowing down your options for essay ideas.

  15. 101 Great Essay Writing Topics for Students

    4. Video Game Addiction. Ask young students to write about games they live or spend too much time playing. Many young students spend a lot of time playing video games, and this can translate into an essay topic. Exploring the mental health effects of too much video gameplay is a good option.

  16. Essay Writing Contest ― Tips to Make Your Paper Winning

    At the same time, an essay writing contest is a beneficial opportunity for students wishing to tie their future with writing to level up their chances of enrolling in a cherished university. ... and environmental preservation topics. This essay writing contest, organized by an environmental advocacy group, offers cash prizes and presents an ...

  17. Essay Topics

    List of 500+ Essay Writing Topics and Ideas. Essay topics in English can be difficult to come up with. While writing essays, many college and high school students face writer's block and have a hard time to think about topics and ideas for an essay. In this article, we will list out many good essay topics from different categories like ...

  18. Essay Writing Contests: The Ultimate List : r/CollegeHomeworkTips

    These contests cover various interesting essay topics, giving you a unique opportunity to showcase your writing skills and potentially earn cash prizes or scholarships. So, let's explore these fantastic opportunities to share your voice and make your mark in the world of writing. Pivotal Essay Contest. Pivotal Essay Contest invites pre ...

  19. Contests and Opportunities

    American Life League's Culture of Life Studies Program is hosting its annual pro-life essay contest for students in 5th-12th grade. Write 500 words on one of the prompts and submit your essay by November 6, 2023. They are offering great prizes, and the winner will be published in their magazine!

  20. Writing Contests 2024: Cash Prizes & Free Entries!

    Here are the best writing contests in 2024: January 2024. The new year opens with plenty of poetry competitions but few essay contests and almost no free writing contests. With several mixed contests listed this month, however, we're sure our poets and writers will be satisfied! Poetry contests 2024 1. Gemini Poetry Open Contest 2024

  21. Salam Essay Contest

    The essay itself should start on the second page, and be no longer than 400 words. The essay should be emailed in .docx or .pdf format to [email protected] before 00:00 PST on 15th December 2023. Please go over your essay thoroughly, checking for typos and other errors, before submitting it.

  22. The Winners of Our 'How To' Contest

    Almost from the time our new "How To" Informational Writing Contest for Teenagers went live in January, we knew it would be a success. First there was the creative range of topics. As ...

  23. Riding Forward Scholarship Contest

    The 2024 Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest consists of four (4) separate Quarterly Contests - one for each calendar quarter of 2024. Regions is awarding four $8,000 scholarships through each Quarterly Contest. Each Quarterly Contest has its own separate entry period, as provided in the chart below. The entry deadline for each Quarterly ...