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Student writing competitions open

The Ilona Karmel Writing Prizes Competition sponsored by the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies is accepting manuscripts from undergraduate and graduate students through Monday, April 8. The competition was renamed this year in honor of Ilona Karmel, retired senior lecturer in the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies, who had chaired the competition since 1986.

The 37 prizes carry cash awards and are given to students whose essays, plays, poetry, short stories and technical papers are judged to be of the highest quality by a committee of faculty and staff members.

New this year is an award sponsored by the Program in Women's Studies, the Louis Kampf Writing Prize in Women's and Gender Studies, named in honor of Professor Emeritus in Literature Louis Kampf. The award will alternate annually between nonfiction and fiction. For 1995-96, its inaugural year, the award will be for writing in nonfiction with a primary focus on women and/or gender.

Edward Barrett, senior lecturer in the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies, is the competition chairperson. He encourages all interested students to submit their best efforts, and also asks faculty members who receive outstanding undergraduate papers to urge the students to enter the competition.

The prizes are:

  • The Ellen King Prize for Freshman Writing-for writing in all categories (short story, poetry, essay, drama). First prize, $150; second, $75; honorable mention, $25.
  • The Robert A. Boit Writing Prize-for undergraduates in the categories of essay, poetry and short story, with prizes in each category. First prize, $250; second, $150; third, $100; honorable mention, $50.
  • The Boit Manuscript Prize-for undergraduate work in fiction, poetry, drama or essay of substantial length, completed or in progress. This prize is for longer works or collections that give evidence of publishable quality. First prize, $300; second, $150; honorable mention, $75.
  • The S. Klein Prize for Scientific and Technical Writing-for outstanding interpretive writing on scientific or technological subjects by undergraduate and graduate students. Entries should be specifically intended for a nonspecialized but educated audience. First prize, $300; second, $150; honorable mention, $50.
  • The Dewitt Wallace Prize for Science Writing for the Public-writing by undergraduates for lay audiences on issues and developments in science, medicine or engineering. First prize, $300; second, $150; honorable mention, $75.
  • The Writing and Humanistic Studies Prize for Engineering Writing-undergraduate writing on any topic of professional interest to engineers. First prize, $200; second, $100; honorable mention, $50.
  • The Louis Kampf Writing Prize in Women's and Gender Studies-for writing focused on women and/or gender. The category alternates annually between nonfiction and fiction; for 1995-96, the category is nonfiction. First prize, $300.

For more information, visit the Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies office in Rm 14E-303 or its Web site at <http://web.mit.edu/humanistic/www/> where applications and prize guidelines are available.

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