Summer Reading Program

Essay Contest

The Summer Reading Program Committee is sponsoring an essay writing contest for the 2010 freshman class. All first year students are eligible to submit essays. Essays will be read and evaluated by members of the Summer Reading Program Committee. The winner of the contest will be invited to have dinner with Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone, on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 and will be given a $100 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble bookstore.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

Essay Question

Humans are driven to form community even under the most horrific circumstances. How is community constructed and reconstructed throughout A Long Way Gone? What role does community play in Beah’s experience, and how does it ultimately impact his survival. Your essay must articulate a clear thesis that is supported with specific references to the text.

Technical Guidelines for Submission

3 double-spaced typed pages
12 pt. Times New Roman font
1” margins
MLA citation format
Cover page with the title “Summer Reading Program Essay Contest Submission,” your Banner ID, and the date. (Please omit name.)
Staple all pages together at the top left hand corner.
Submit 3 copies of your essay to Elisabeth Gonzalez, room B-10 Cooper Hall, by September 20, 2010 at 4 p.m.