Have you written an essay this year that you are especially proud of? Maybe you presented it at the Sigma Tau Delta annual convention in Pittsburgh. Or maybe your instructor let you know how proud they were of your original idea and revision. Either way, you’re eligible to win a prestigious writing prize and potentially have your work published in a composition textbook by submitting to the 2025 Norton Writer’s Prize!
What is The Norton Writer’s Prize?
The Norton Writer’s Prize recognizes outstanding original nonfiction by undergraduates. The contest is open to students age 18 and above who were enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university during the 2024–2025 academic year. Three cash prizes of $1,000 apiece will be awarded in 2025 for coursework submitted during the academic year, one in each of the following three categories:
- Writing by a first-year student in a 2- or 4-year college or university
- Writing by a student in a 2-year college or university
- Writing by a student in a 4-year college or university
What kinds of writing are you looking for?
Arguments, literacy narratives, literary and other textual analyses, reports, profiles, evaluations, memoirs, proposals, multimodal pieces, and other forms of original nonfiction!
How do I submit?
In order to submit, you will need three documents:
- Your chosen essay for submission
- A nomination letter written by your instructor summarizing your essay’s merits
- A completed Information Form OR a completed SurveyMonkey Questionnaire
*If you choose to submit with the Information Form, you can email your materials to [email protected]. If you choose to submit with the SurveyMonkey Questionnaire, you can attach all of your materials directly into the questionnaire.
When is the deadline to submit?
The deadline is June 15, 2025.
How do I ask my professor to write a nomination letter?
Most professors are delighted to support their students’ writing! To make it even easier for you to request a nomination, here is an email template to help you get started.
Anything else I should know?
All submissions to the Norton Writer’s Prize are considered for publication in our Norton textbooks, especially our composition rhetorics and readers. In the last two years, we’ve published ten student essays in our books! This year, three student nominees will have their essays appear in the fifth edition of Everyone’s an Author, one of our rhetoric textbooks.
This year, we are celebrating fifteen years of the Norton Writer’s Prize! As a thank you to your instructors and professors, we are offering the first 100 instructors who write nomination letters for student submissions a $5 coffee card. Treat your professor and get entered to win!
For more information about the Norton Writer’s Prize, and for detailed instructions on how to submit, visit the Norton website.
Thank you very much for your interest in the Norton Writer’s Prize! We look forward to reading your submission!
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
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