Sponsored by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, Iowa Department of Education, and the State Historical Society of Iowa, the Write Women Back Into History annual essay contest serves to celebrate Women's history month--March--and to increase awareness of the contributions made by Iowa women.
2011 Contest: Our History is Our Strength
To learn more about the contest, read the 2011 guidelines.
To enter, fill out the 2011 entry form and e-mail it with your essay to women@iowa.gov by January 28, 2011.
For more information, contact Lori SchraderBachar at lori.schraderbachar@iowa.gov or (515) 281-4470.
Focus of Essays
Students are encouraged to choose a woman, preferably from Iowa, from any historical period, past or present, and write about the accomplishments of her life and how she has made a difference to the student and to society in the social justice and civil rights arena. Although Iowa women are preferred and encouraged, the subject of the essay may be a woman from another state or another country.
Essays should identify the following:
* Why the woman should be written into history (i.e., what meaningful contributions has she made to her community, the state, nation, or world?), and
* Why she is important to the student. Students should consider what people would learn about us from this essay 50 years from now.
A successful essay will discuss why the student researched, read about, interviewed, and/or found the subject to be a role model; it should not merely be a biographical sketch. A student’s own thoughts on the significance of the woman’s contributions are important.
Oral interviews are strongly recommended. Other research methods may be used as long as the information in the essay is accurate and sources are cited.
Can You Participate?
Any Iowa youth in grades 6 - 9th may enter one essay.
Awards
Cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winner in each of the 6-7th Grade and 8-9th Grade divisions (first place - $100, second place - $75, and third place - $50). Special awards are given to the best essays on women in science and engineering. All winners will be honored in a ceremony at the State Capitol and introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
More information here.
This blog is no longer updated. Please instead visit Writers For Diversity for new opportunities for women/ LGBT writers and writers of color. Thank you.
