The Nancy Allen Research Writing Awards
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Recognizing exemplary research and writing
The Nancy Allen Research Writing Awards recognize exemplary research and writing by students in Missouri State University's Writing II courses.
Writing II introduces students to the writing of their chosen disciplines and professions; as such, exemplary writing will demonstrate research-informed discussion from a variety of disciplines and writing approaches.
Eligible Writing II courses include AGR 320; ENG 210, 221, 310, and 321; GLG 358; and HST 210. Writing II instructors will select papers for award consideration, and awards will be determined by writing faculty. Chosen authors will be announced at the beginning of the fall semester and featured on this webpage.
Faculty submission and selection guidelines
Award categories
MSU Writing II Instructors may submit one student paper for consideration in each award category:
Entering the Conversation
This award category recognizes student writing centered in source-informed discussion exploring the student’s position on a topic or issue within their discipline or profession. The paper does not have to argue a particular position, although it certainly can do so, but the discussion must offer something new to say by identifying and exploring a variety of concerns or approaches to an issue or understanding within a discipline or profession.
Expanding the Conversation
This award category recognizes source-informed student writing on a particular topic or issue within a discipline or profession created for a variety of audiences and platforms beyond the academy, including writing for social media; professional writing for the workplace; and creative writing that is informed by research yet presented through creative approaches.
Nomination guidelines and selection schedule
- Deadline for submission for both fall and spring courses will be the last day of spring semester classes. Instructors may submit papers for selection at any time before that date.
- Instructors may submit a total of two student texts for each class they teach. They may submit one student for each category; the same student can be considered for both categories.
- Submissions will be made via the Submittable online platform (link to be provided to Writing II instructors), and papers should exclude course, student and instructor names. Submitted paper files should be named using the following scheme: Category-Submission# (e.g. Entering-Submission1 ).
- Awarded papers will be determined by select writing instructors and graduate teaching assistants. Selection criteria will be determined by the Composition Committee and used by all selectors.
- Awarded papers and authors will be announced at the beginning of the fall semester.
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