The English Research Essay Contest recognizes and rewards outstanding undergraduate research writing at Texas A&M University. Submissions can cover any literary subject or writer, but must be between 2500 and 5000 words in length, and written in response to a 300 or 400-level course during the 2017 calendar year. The winner of this contest will receive a check for $250, recognition at our annual awards banquet, and the opportunity to submit their paper to the National Undergraduate Literature Conference at Webster State University. If they are selected as a finalist for the NULC, the Department of English will pay the student’s expenses to attend the conference and present their essay. Open to English majors only!

An essay may be nominated either by its author or by a professor. Entries should follow MLA conventions, with a separate title page including the name of the submitter, UIN, email address, name of the instructor and course, and term composed. The student’s name should be removed from all pages except the title page. Submissions should be sent as a Word document to engl-undergraduate-office@lists.tamu.edu by the deadline for consideration. Only one entry per student, please. 

Deadline: December 19, 2017

The Archer Award recognizes and rewards the best writing in response to an Early Modern, Renaissance, or Shakespeare class. The award, which alternates between the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs, will be in the amount of $500 if a paper of suitable quality is found. The Undergraduate Program will select the 2018 winners from papers written for an appropriate class (e.g., ENGL 312, 314, 315, 317, 412, or 415) during the 2017 calendar year. 

An essay may be nominated either by its author or by a professor. Entries should follow MLA conventions, with a separate title page including the name of the submitter, UIN, email address, name of the instructor and course, and term composed. The student’s name should be removed from all pages except the title page. Submissions should be sent as a Word document to engl-undergraduate-office@lists.tamu.edu by the deadline for consideration. Only one entry per student, please.

Deadline: February 5, 2018

The Rhetoric and Discourse Studies Essay Contest annually recognizes and rewards outstanding undergraduate writing at Texas A&M University. This competition is open to any analysis or treatment of a topic related to Rhetoric, Linguistics, or Discourse Studies. Submissions should be between 2500 and 5000 words, and written for an English or Linguistics course at Texas A&M University during the 2017 calendar year. 

An essay may be nominated either by its author or by a professor. Entries should follow MLA or APA conventions, with a separate title page including the name of the submitter, UIN, email address, name of the instructor and course, and term composed. The student’s name should be removed from all pages except the title page. Submissions should be sent as a Word document to engl-undergraduate-office@lists.tamu.edu by the deadline for consideration. Only one entry per student, please.

Deadline: February 12, 2018

A student graduating in December 2017, May 2018, or August 2018 is eligible to apply for the English Department’s Graduating Senior Award, provided the student has at least a 3.5 GPA overall and a 3.75 GPA in the major for coursework completed at Texas A&M University. The selection committee considers GPA, number of Honors courses taken, awards and scholarships earned, participation is cultural activities (e.g., Literary Arts, MSC OPAS, Choir), and other activities in student life. In addition, candidates are asked to submit a copy of their best paper written for a Texas A&M English class as a writing sample. The winner receives a check for $250 and a recognition at our annual awards banquet. Applications are available here and should be submitted to engl-undergraduate-office@lists.tamu.edu by the deadline. 

Deadline: March 5, 2018

Any enrolled Texas A&M undergraduate student can win monetary prizes and perform your work at a public reading! To enter the contest, submit your 3000 word essay here. December graduates are not eligible to enter contest. 

Deadline: February 2018

The Gordone Awards recognize excellence in creative writing in the categories of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The winner in each category will receive a check for $250. Click here to submit your work!

Deadline: April 2018