As we continue through these long, desolate, despairing days of winter, it’s time that we bring a little more light into your lives. That’s right, it’s time for the commencement of our “The Eagle’s Next Great Ranter” competition.
Despite the title, this is not a glorified Eagle Rants — this is a place where you can elaborate upon your rants, taking them from a two sentence vent to a well-constructed article. This contest is for those of you who love to comment on our content, but yet have not tried your own hand at it. It’s also for those of you wanting to try your hand at a different style of writing, or just attempting something new because you have some extra free time (lucky you). Whatever your motive, we invite and encourage you to put your best effort forth. Honestly, what do you have to lose?
Now this isn’t going to be some free-handed, haphazard effort on our part, and we hope it isn’t on your end, either. We have some ground rules to lay down:
1. Any work submitted must be original — it can’t be something you did for class or something you posted on your blog and want to pass our way after. (If you think it’s super awesome and want to post a link to it afterwards, that’s fine, but it cannot be featured beforehand).
2. This should go without saying, but we’re saying it anyway — no plagiarism. Your work must be your own, no making up facts, all the same stuff that goes for class regarding plagiarism applies here as well. All entries will contain a source list for any information or facts referenced in your piece.
3. Entrants must be current students of American University. Sorry recent grads, but we need to give those of us who haven’t made it to the finish line a chance to shine.
4. This is your chance to express your educated opinion within a public forum. This isn’t the place for you to drone on about how much that one kid on your floor is weird, or how you didn’t like your friend’s outfit that she wore out the other night.
5. You must state your opinion clearly within your piece. If you’re not too sure what the process entails, you can visit our “Guide to the editorial page” we featured last August for more information. (http://www.theeagleonline.com/opinion/story/a-guide-to-the-editorial-page/)
6. Please use proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. We will edit for Associated Press Style before publication and will also edit for the above, but it makes all of our lives easier if you help us with the basics.
7. Entries are due by 5 p.m. the Friday before publication. Late entries will not be accepted.
8. Participants will be regarded in the same light as regular columnists for The Eagle during the duration of this contest. Columnists are not allowed to comment on their own content on our web page, which includes responding to the comments of others.
Judging will consist of panel decisions and readers’ votes. The judges’ panel will consist of two Eagle editors and a guest judge. Readers will have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite column of the week, which will account for 25 percent of the vote.
Once a round of columns is published, you will be able to vote for your favorite online. If you like sending things in old school (also known as paper and pen), drop me (Linda Barnhart) a note at our office, MGC 252.
The contest will consist of three rounds. Each week, a certain number of contestants will be eliminated until we have our winner. How many are eliminated each round depends on how many submissions we receive. The winner will be granted a weekly or bi-weekly column.
Any questions? E-mail me at edpage@theeagleonline.com. Best of luck to all of you, and I look forward to reading your submissions!
Name: Graduation Year: School and major(s)/minor(s): Phone number: E-mail: Have you written for The Eagle before?: What student groups/activities are you currently involved with?:
For your first column, pick a current event or topic and tell us how/why it is important to AU students. Local, national, international — you can take your pick — but show us why AU students should find it important. Please submit completed form and column to edpage@theeagleonline.com.
