QUWAC Writing Contest

The QUWAC Writing Contest recognizes and rewards exemplary student writing in the disciplines.

For the eighth year, QUWAC and the Research and Writing Institute held the Writing Across the Curriculum Student Writing Contest. Winners received a $150 prize and the honor of having their work published on the Writing Across the Curriculum website. Some winners may have the opportunity to have their work appear in the "Quinnipiac University Casebook," which is included in "The Little Seagull Handbook." On the recommendation of the contest judges, we also awarded Honorable Mentions and published them on our site.

Winners of the 2012-2013 Writing Across the Curriculum Student Writing Contest 

Exemplary Writing in Communications

First Prize
Danielle Renda, Print Journalism/Sociology
"American Youth's Establishment of Romantic Relationships via Text Messaging"
ICM 501 Theories of Interactive Media
Josh Braun, Assistant Professor of Interactive Media

Honorable Mention
Jacklyn Izzo, Film, Video and Interactive Media/Sports Studies
"Social Media and Crisis Situations"
ICM 501 Theories of Interactive Media
Josh Braun, Assistant Professor of Interactive Media

Exemplary Writing in Social Science

First Prize
Kaitlyn Krivitzky, Psychology
"Comparing the Controversy to the Data: Does Gender Symmetry Exist
in Intimate Partner Violence?"
PS409 Senior Seminar in Psychology
Michele Hoffnung, Professor of Psychology

Honorable Mention
Andrew Bonacci, Chemistry
"Uncertainty in America: A Sociological Analysis of How Modernity is Blurring the Future"
SOC 235 American Culture
Keith Kerr, Assistant Professor Sociology

Exemplary Writing in Arts and Humanities

First Prize
Maureen Gard, Health Sciences
"They Are Heroes"
English 102: Elements of Composition II
Tricia Dowcett, First Year Writing Fellow

Honorable Mention
Emily Ampel, Occupational Therapy/Psychology
"Movies Set America in Motion: The Impact of Film on American Society"
QU201: Our National Community, Honors Section 03
Paul Pasquaretta, Research and Writing Institute Coordinator

Eligibility and Submission Guidelines for the 2012-2013 Contest

Materials should be submitted to Daniele Dugre-Martin, secretary:

There are three pieces to the submission process:

  1. Entry - Any piece of writing prepared as part of a course assignment for the 2013-2014 academic year is eligible. Submissions must be formatted in a manner that is correct and appropriate to the discipline and submitted as a Word.doc or other standard program. Students may submit their own work or may have their work submitted by the sponsoring faculty.
  2. Permission form - The submission process is a collaboration between students and faculty. Therefore, in addition to the entry itself, a permission form, completed and signed by the student and sponsoring faculty member, is required. Please download the form or request a hard copy from Daniele. Completed forms may be sent as email attachments or hard copies delivered to Daniele in person at The Learning Center, TH105 in Tator Hall, or by campus mail box TH-TLC.
  3. Letter of recommendation - The contest is intended to highlight effective pedagogy as well as strong writing. Therefore, sponsoring faculty members are asked to send Daniele an email with a brief description of the assignment and its place in the course, the evaluation criteria and how the submission meets the standards of exemplary work.

In the past, we have been impressed by both the quality and the variety of writing that our students do in all their classes. This year should be no exception. We look forward to receiving your nominations.

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