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Our 2024-25 Essay Contest is now open for submissions!

We hold an essay contest every year to give students an opportunity to express themselves and win great prizes. This year, we’re giving away over $12,000—and we have prizes for teachers, too!

We have four topics to choose from, so students and teachers can find the subject that fits them best.

Our contest is open to students in grades 5-12, age 10-18, residing in North America, Hawaii, or at a U.S. military address.  The deadline to submit is 11:59PM Eastern on Friday, March 21, 2025. Students may submit their essays to us directly, or have them submitted by a teacher or parent.

Winners will be announced on May 30, 2025. For topics and complete rules, see below.

STUDENT SUBMISSION FORM

TEACHER SUBMISSION FORM

• FIRST PLACE – High School Division: $2,500

• FIRST PLACE – Middle School Division: $2,500

• SECOND PLACE – High School Division: $1,000

• SECOND PLACE – Middle School Division: $1,000

• THIRD PLACE – High School Division: $500

• THIRD PLACE – Middle School Division: $500

• 10 FINALISTS – $200 each (5 finalists from each division)

• 10 SEMI-FINALISTS – $100 each (selected from among the top 10 essays in each division)

• 25 HONORABLE MENTIONS – $50 each (selected from among the top 25 essays in each division)

• For each submission, you’ll receive an entry into a drawing for one of ten $50 Amazon gift cards.

• If you reach 30 submissions, you’ll receive a guaranteed $50 Amazon gift card.

• The teacher with the most submissions will receive a $150 Amazon gift card.

• Entries in our Video Contest count, too!

Do your students prefer making videos to writing essays?

Our Video Contest is perfect for them!

Teachers and students may choose from any one of these four topics. Find the one that suits your class best, or let your students decide for themselves.

The Effect of Minimum Wage
on Entry-Level Workers

 

Several states have recently increased their minimum wage and as a result many entry-level workers have lost their jobs. From the start, many economists pointed out that minimum wage laws actually hurt the very people they intend to help.

Explore the impact of minimum wage laws on entry-level workers, particularly young people entering the workforce. Consider how minimum wage rates influence job availability, skill development, and overall employment experiences. Take a position on whether minimum wage laws help or hinder entry-level workers and support your stance with evidence and examples. Reflect on how changes to the minimum wage might affect your own opportunities and those of your peers as you begin your careers.

Recommended Videos:

Cancel Culture or Censorship –
Is it an assault on 1st Amendment freedoms?

 

In today’s digital age, “cancel culture” has intensified debate about the boundaries of “acceptable” speech. While some see it as a tool for holding individuals accountable, others warn that it can lead to government censorship under the guise of preventing misinformation or hate speech—a dangerous path that threatens open dialogue and free expression for everyone. Recently, social media platforms have revealed government pressure to censor content on their platforms, while in some countries, governments actively block social media networks and suppress dissent by jailing individuals for expressing their views.

Given this context, critically examine the impact of “cancel culture” and government suppression on freedom of speech. Why is it dangerous to allow the government the power to suppress speech and views? Why should freedom of speech be defended? Research historical and current events to support your stance.

Recommended Videos:

A Better Immigration System

Immigration has long been a hotly debated issue, and many countries around the world are grappling with how to manage the flow of people across their borders. In the U.S., discussions about the “crisis at the border” dominate headlines, while in Britain, protests continue over immigration policies.

Considering the contributions immigrants can make to a country’s economy, culture, and society, as well as the challenges seen in today’s headlines, propose your ideal system of immigration for the United States. How would your system work, and why do you believe it would be successful? What potential unintended consequences can you foresee? Research past and current policies and current events to support your proposed immigration system.

Recommended Videos:

Coercion vs. Choice

In our society, a balance between government authority and individual freedom is crucial. Policies such as corporate welfare, eminent domain, rent control, vaccine mandates and lockdowns, government spending and debts, and war involve government decisions that can significantly affect our lives. These policies can be seen as forms of coercion, where individuals are compelled to support or comply with policies they may not agree with.

In your essay, explore the concept of coercion versus choice in the context of government policies and society. How do government policies reflect coercion and why is it important to limit such practices in society? Select one or more government policies and discuss the impact on individual freedom, public trust, and the proper role of government. Research your selection(s) to support your argument, and reflect on the potential consequences of unchecked government power.

Recommended Videos:

    CONTEST RULES

    All essays should specifically address one of the four Essay Topics listed above.

    Eligibility – The contest is open to writers in grades 5-12, (ages 10-18) at some point during the contest period September 5, 2024-March 21, 2025. No more than one essay submission will be accepted for each essay writer. Students may enter both the essay and video contests. Writers must be located in North America, Hawaii, or a U.S. military address, and all submissions should be in English. Employees of Stossel in the Classroom, Stossel TV, and Center for Independent Thought, or any person or organization involved in the operation and/or setup of the contest, and their immediate family members are not eligible for this contest. Previous winners of a Stossel in the Classroom first place prize are not eligible for prizes in our subsequent contests, unless they’re competing in a different division. For example, first place winners of the Middle School Division are eligible for prizes in the High School Division, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.

    Essay Length – Essays must be 500-1,000 words in length. Submissions that do not meet this requirement, or that exceed it, will be disqualified. If an essay exceeds the word limit due to a “Works cited” page or bibliography, it will not be disqualified. If an essay would not meet the word minimum without its “Works cited” page or bibliography, it will not be disqualified.

    Deadline – Essays must be submitted no later than 11:59pm Eastern Time, March 21, 2025.

    Plagiarism – All essays must be the original work of the student whose name is listed on the submission form. Plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

    Taxes – Winners will be solely responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes on winnings.

    Judges – Essays will be judged on their ability to answer the topic question in an articulate, clear, and organized manner. Stossel in the Classroom will evaluate essay submissions in a fair and unbiased four-round judging system, in which judges all use the same criteria. Judges will be selected by Stossel in the Classroom based on their backgrounds and expertise in education, writing, and the subject matter. Decisions of the judges are final.

    Ownership and Use – The ownership of any submission remains the property of the writer, but entry into the competition constitutes the entrant’s permission and consent, without compensation, with or without attribution, for Stossel in the Classroom, Stossel TV, and Center for Independent Thought to use, reproduce, transmit, post, distribute, adapt, edit, and/or display the submission.

    TIPS FOR ESSAY WRITERS

    • Proofread your essay before it’s submitted. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar count.
    • Be mindful of the 500-1,000 word requirement.
    • Be original. To win the top prize, your essay needs to stand out among thousands.
    • Cite your sources and check your facts.

    If you have any questions about our contests, please email us at contests@sitc.org.

    We look forward to reading your essay. Good luck!