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Kathy Rentz Professional Writing and Rhetoric Competition
Charlie Gidcumb, Kathy Rentz, and Hannah Vanvlack at the Professional Writing Contest
The English Studies department at WCU is proud to sponsor the 2025 Professional Writing Contest with funding from WCU English Studies Alumni Kathy Rentz.
The Award
- WCU Undergraduates*: $500 first place; $300 second place; $200 third place.
- WCU Graduate students*: $500 first place; $300 second place.
2025 Topic: Action-Oriented Social Justice
Deadline: December 6, 2024
According to the United Nations (n.d.), social justice is "based on the values of fairness, equality, respect for diversity, access to social protection, and the application of human rights in all spheres of life, including in the workplace" (para. 4). Although there are numerous examples of social justice initiatives throughout the world, the United Nations reminds us that there is still much work to be done at local and global levels. This year's contest gives you the opportunity to be an agent of change. A great deal of professional writing and rhetoric is used to advocate for social justice whether it is an environmental narrative, policy, news article, white paper, speech, public relations materials, or editorial.
This year's theme poses the question: How can we use writing to bring about change in our communities? Consider how various forms of writing--and the topics you write about--could positively impact a community. For instance, how could you use a white paper, speech, podcast, advertisement, technical description, set of instructions, memo, letter, proposal, legal case brief, or case study to promote necessary change(s) within a community? The intent behind this year's contest is not just to inform readers about a problem or issue of injustice but to encourage and/or take action that brings about positive change.
Content submissions should be the document you wrote that advocates or strategies for action-oriented change. Topics and genres may vary.
*Students must be enrolled in the spring 2024 semester.
References United Nations. (n.d.). Message on World Day of Social Justice. United Nations. Retrieved from https://sdgs.un.org/statements/message-world-day-social-justice-10379.
All WCU undergraduate English Studies majors and minors regardless of concentration and all WCU graduate English Studies students regardless of concentration. Work from Spring 2024 may be submitted.
Contest winners must be present for the contest event on February 6, 2025, and agree to give a 5-10-minute presentation (with a PowerPoint).
Forms of writing include, but are not limited to whitepapers, speeches, podcasts, communication packets (to include advertisements), public relations materials, technical descriptions, instructions, proposals, memos, letters, websites, legal case briefs, and case studies. All submissions must be original work and not plagiarized or generated by any type of artificial intelligence. Submissions must be professionally designed and formatted.
Along with the submission, include a 250-300-word reflection that explains how specific rhetorical moves in the document relate to the contest theme of social justice.
Do not include your name(s) on the title page or anywhere elese in the submitted document.
A team of professional writing and rhetoric professors will read and select winners for the award. Winners will be notified by email by January 15, 2025. Criteria for selection includes clear demonstration of critical thinnking, creativity, feasibility, and interesting, persuasive, and correct writing that is on the topic of social justice.
There is no fee. Please email your paper to wcupwrcontest@gmail.com by December 6, 2024.
Contact Us
Dr. Drew Virtue: advirtue@wcu.edu
Dr. Diane Martinez: dlmartinez@wcu.edu
Dr. Jonathan Bradshaw: jlbradshaw@wcu.edu
Dr. Travis Rountree: trountree@wcu.edu
Dr. Beth Huber: bhuber@wcu.edu