Academic | Essay Contest
Announcing the 14th Annual Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest
Winners of the 13th Annual Essay Contest
With an unbeatable lineup of over 300 of the greatest literary works the world has ever known, Signet Classics is the publisher that students, education professionals, and the public turn to more than any other. Now, we are proud to host the fourteenth annual Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest, in which five high school juniors or seniors can each win a $1,000 scholarship award to be used toward their higher education plus a Signet Classics library for their school! Students enter by writing an essay on one of five topics posed for this year's competition book, The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells.
Essay Subject
The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
Topics
Select one of the following five topics:
- In the Signet Classic edition of The War of the Worlds, Karl Kroeber writes: "Wells here writes why enduring science fiction is grounded in factual accuracy....The art of science fiction is not the overcoming of indifference but the establishment of new, unanticipated possibilities." Find examples in the novel to support this statement.
- Although The War of the Worlds is an imaginary work, Wells pays a great deal of attention to verisimilitude. That is, he presents the story as though it is a factual account of real events. Discuss specific ways in which he creates this effect. In what ways does verisimilitude affect the story? The reader?
- Why did H. G. Wells leave his first person hero/protagonist nameless? Other characters are also not given names, only descriptive designations— "the artilleryman," "the curate," "my wife." In your opinion, does this insistence on anonymity increase or decrease the effectiveness and emotional impact of the novel? Give examples to support your point of view.
- H. G. Wells was accused by some of his critics of advocating "social engineering," i.e., trying to control the future of the human race by encouraging the rise of the physically and mentally strong at the expense of the less gifted and intelligent. Support or counter these charges using evidence from the novel.
- One explanation of the enduring popularity of The War of the Worlds, is that though it is set around the turn of the twentieth century, it contains important information for future generations. How is Wells' treatment of subjects like extra terrestrial life, science, religion, the environment, methods of warfare, relations between humans and/or other species relevant to readers in 2010? Is Wells hopeful about the survival of civilization? Do you agree with his opinion? Discuss, with specific references to the novel, at least two of the topics mentioned above.
Official Rules for 14th Annual Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not enhance your opportunity to win.
Open to 11th and 12th grade full-time matriculated students who are attending high schools located in the fifty United States and the District of Columbia, or home-schooled students between the ages of 16-18 who are residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia.
How to Enter
- Matriculated students: Four (4) copies of the essay must be mailed by an English teacher (each English teacher may submit only one junior and one senior essay) on behalf of the student, along with a cover letter on school letterhead that includes the following details:
- Date
- Student's full name, grade, address, e-mail and home telephone number
- Name of high school
- Name, email and daytime telephone number of English teacher submitting essay (please include summer contact information if different from school year contact information)
- Name, e-mail and daytime telephone number of the school's administration officer
- Topic selected (#1, #2, #3, #4 or #5)
- Certification by teacher that the essay is the student's original work
- Home-schooled students: Four (4) copies of the essay must be mailed by a parent or legal guardian on behalf of the student, along with a cover letter on the parent/legal guardian's letterhead that certifies that the student is home-schooled and that includes the following details:
- Date
- Student's full name, address, e-mail and home telephone number
- Student's equivalent grade
- Name and daytime telephone number and e-mail of the parent/legal guardian
- Topic selected (#1, #2, #3, #4 or #5)
- Certification by sponsoring parent for home-schooled student that the essay is the student's original work
- Essays must be at least two and no more than three double-spaced pages, computer or typewritten (please do not staple submissions). Please include four (4) copies (including the cover letter) of each essay submitted. Entries must be mailed to Penguin Group (USA) Inc., Academic Marketing Department, Signet Classics Essay Student Scholarship Contest, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014. To be eligible, all entries must be postmarked by April 15, 2010 and received on or by April 22, 2010. Submissions by fax, email, disc or any other electronic means will not be considered.
- Entries will not be returned. By entering the Contest, contestants agree to abide by these rules, and represent and warrant that the entries are their own and original creations, and do not violate or infringe the rights, including, without limitation, copyrights, trademark rights or rights of publicity/privacy, of any third party.
- Entries are void if they are in whole or in part illegible, incomplete, damaged or handwritten. No responsibility is assumed for late, lost, damaged, incomplete, illegible, postage due or misdirected mail entries.
Judging
All eligible entries received will be judged by a qualified panel of judges chosen by Penguin Group (USA) Inc. ("Sponsor") and winners will be selected on or about June 10, 2010. Submissions will be judged on style, content, grammar and originality. Judges will look for clear, concise writing that is original, articulate, logically organized and well-supported. Winning essays must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the themes and issues presented in The War of the Worlds. Winners will be notified by June 15, 2010 via telephone or email.
Prizes
Five (5) winners each will be awarded a check in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) to be used toward tuition and/or expenses related to their higher education. Each winner will also receive a Signet Classics Library for their school library, or public library in the case of a home-schooled winner (Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") $1,600.00). Total ARV per prize: $2,600.00.
In the event that there is an insufficient number of qualified entries or if the judges determine in their absolute discretion that no or too few entries meet the quality standards established to award the prizes, Sponsor reserves the right not to award the prizes.
Eligibility
- Open to 11th and 12th grade full-time matriculated students who are attending high schools located in the fifty United States and the District of Columbia, or home-schooled students between the ages of 16-18 who are residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia. Void where prohibited by law. All state and local restrictions apply.
- Employees, their immediate family members and individuals living in the same household, of Sponsor, its parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies or the agencies of any of these and authors are not eligible for this Contest.
General
- No cash substitution, transfer or assignment of prizes allowed. In the event of the unavailability of a prize or prizes, Sponsor may substitute a prize or prizes of equal or greater value.
- All expenses, including taxes (if any), on receipt and use of prizes are the sole responsibility of the winners.
- Winners may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release. The affidavit must be returned within fourteen (14) days of notification or another winner will be selected. If winner is under 18 years of age, parent/legal guardian will also be required to sign the Affidavit. Because the ARV exceeds $600.00, winners shall be required to provide a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to Sponsor for issuance of a 1099 Form.
- By accepting a prize, winners grant to Sponsor the right to edit, publish, copy, display and otherwise use their entries in connection with this Contest, and to further use their names, likenesses, and biographical information in advertising and promotional materials, without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law.
- By participating in the Contest and/or accepting a prize, contestants release Sponsor, its parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies, authors whose books are promoted hereby or the agencies of any of them, from any liability, injury, damages, cost or expense, including reasonable attorney's fees, arising out of or connected to participation in this Contest or the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prizes.
- Any dispute arising from this Contest will be determined according to the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law principles, and the entrants consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York County and agree that such courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all such disputes.
Winners' List
For a copy of the winners list, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by December 15, 2010 to Penguin Group (USA) Inc., Academic Marketing Department, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, Attention: Signet Classics Essay Student Scholarship Contest or check online after July 1, 2010.
Sponsor
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Academic Marketing Department
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
The title for the 15th Annual Signet Classics Essay Contest will be The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. Essay topics will be posted on our website after July 2010.
