DuPont Challenge© Science Essay Competition
The 24th annual DuPont Challenge© Science Essay Competition is underway
and is accepting entries now through January 31, 2010. Designed to inspire
young people to excel in scientific writing, the competition invites
students in 7th through 12th grade to research and write a 700- to
1,000-word essay about a scientific discovery, theory, event or
technological application that has captured their interest. Essays are
judged on mechanics and conventions; ideas and content; organization;
style and creativity; and voice. Winners receive savings bonds up to
$5,000 and an expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World and the Kennedy
Space Center. For more information on classroom use
and the competition, visit the DuPont Challenge website
http://thechallenge.dupont.com/
How the Essays are Judged:
Mechanics & Conventions (25%)
Ideas & Content (25%)
Organization (20%)
Style & Creativity (20%)
Voice (10%)
Last Year’s Junior Division winning essays:
http://thechallenge.dupont.com/winningessays.html
Rules: All participants must be 13 years or older!!
- Write an original 700- to 1000-word essay created exclusively for The 2010 DuPont Challenge©.
- Write only about a science-related topic. No matter
how well-written and researched, essays submitted on non-science topics
are disqualified.
- Your essay must be written in English.
- Essays should be written using your word processor of choice.
- Do not put your name, school name or any other
personal information on your essay. Enter your name and other personal
information on the Official Entry Form only.
- Your essay title must appear in the Entry Form box
called “Title of Essay.” Do not include the title of your essay in the
Essay Box.
- Include the word count at the end of your essay.
- Attribute all ideas that are not your own and any quotes in the body of the essay. Do not use footnotes or endnotes.
- Your essay must include a bibliography of your source material on a separate page at the end of your essay. Do not include the bibliography in your word count.
- Avoid plagiarism. Essays are carefully reviewed by multiple judges and checked for plagiarism.
- Proofread your essay carefully. Your essay will be
judged not only on the science, but also on creativity, spelling,
punctuation, and grammar.
- Do not include illustrations, graphics, or diagrams.
- Fill out the entry form completely. Incomplete entry forms will not be accepted.