Contests and Writing Opportunities
Summer writing project
UMassD Believes is the incoming freshman Summer Writing Experience Blog. On the blog, we invite each incoming student to post your own belief statement to share with fellow, incoming students. Your #UMassDBelieves blog posts are an opportunity for you to reflect on what exactly it is you care about, learn about and from one another, and join the conversation about student life at UMassD. Learn more about your summer UMassD Believes Summer Writing Project.
This I Believe
This I Believe is an international organization engaging people in writing and sharing essays that describe the core values that guide their daily lives. In short, it’s "a public dialogue about belief – one essay at a time."
This I Believe began with a popular 1950s Edward R. Murrow radio series. Today more than 125,000 of these essays, written by people from all walks of life, including Muhammad Ali, have been written, recorded, and archived on the This I Believe website. These essays have been heard on public radio, chronicled in books, and featured in weekly podcasts.
So, whether you come to UMassD from Boston or Mumbai, India, this summer we'll ask you to consider how other people describe their core values, and share your own core values. See you on the blog!
First-year writing award
The First-Year Writing Awards recognize the hard work and progress of first-year students at the end of their 100-level writing courses. Throughout ENL 101 and 102, students learn to analyze the arguments of professional writers, make their own original arguments with strong claims and supporting evidence, and conduct research using the library’s resources. These are important tools that they will continue to use and develop throughout their college careers. Students are encouraged to submit their best work to the contest for the chance to win scholarship money and gift cards. For inquiries, contact English Professor Holly Baker.