EngineerGirl Writing Contest
EngineerGirl Writing Contest is a writing competition where students are invited to write a piece exploring the lifecycle of everyday items and the types of engineering involved along the way.
Interested in the competition?
Competition Overview
Students grades 3-12
Eligibility
Free
Entry fee
February 1, 2024
Submission deadline
Competition Details
1. Eligibility
The contest is open to students from grades 3 to 12.
2. Theme
The Secret Life of Everyday Items
3. Judging
Submissions will be judged by a panel of volunteers, including professionals from various engineering fields. They will ensure that submissions meet all basic rules and evaluate them based on the following criteria:
Presentation of engineering (~50%)
Perspectives considered (~35%)
Quality of writing (~15%)
4. Prizes
Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:
- First-place winners will be awarded $1,000.
- Second-place entries will be awarded $750.
- Third-place entries will be awarded $500.
Winning entries, along with honorable mention entries, will be published on the EngineerGirl website.
Submission Requirements
1. General Guidelines
Transforming raw materials into consumer products involves numerous steps, each represented by entire industries, and engaging many people at every stage. Your submission will focus specifically on the role of engineers throughout this lifecycle. As you prepare your submission, consider objects you have used before or use every day, but avoid choosing foods or plants. The submission should focus on the engineers present in this lifecycle.
Participants must submit an original piece of writing that follows the guidelines for their grade level. The writing should be no longer than the specified word count and may include a reference list (not counted in the word limit)
2. Elementary School (Grades 3-5)
Select an item, then craft a story about your object from the following points:
- Choose an Object: Select an item that fascinates you.
- Materials and Origin: Identify what materials the object is made of and where these materials originated (e.g., wood from trees, metals from mining).
- Object’s Use: Describe how you use the object and whether this is its intended use.
- Object’s Lifecycle:
- Beginning: Materials and origin.
- End: How you use it and its intended use.
- Engineering Contributions: Think about the engineers involved in the object’s creation and lifecycle.
- What happened to the object from its beginning to end?
- Which engineers worked on it and what did they do?
- Write the Story: From a consistent perspective (first-person or third-person), explore the lifecycle of the object, featuring at least three engineering disciplines.
- Length: No more than 800 words.
3. Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Select an item, then craft a story about your object from the following points:
- Choose an Object: Select an item that interests you.
- Materials and Origin: Identify what materials the object is made of and where these materials originated.
- Object’s Use: Describe how you use the object and whether this is its intended use.
- End of Object’s Use: Explain what you will do when you’re done using the object (e.g., donate, recycle).
- Object’s Lifecycle:
- Beginning: Materials and origin.
- Middle: How you use the object.
- End: What you do with the object when you’re done using it.
- Engineering Contributions: Think about the engineers involved in the object’s lifecycle.
- What happened to the object from beginning to middle to end?
- Which engineers worked on it and what did they do?
- Write the Story: From a consistent perspective (first-person or third-person), explore the lifecycle of the object, featuring at least three engineering disciplines.
- Length: No more than 1,000 words.
- Optional: Include a reference list of up to 5 resources in APA style (does not count toward word count).
4. High School (Grades 9-12)
- Choose an Object: Select an item that fascinates you.
- Materials and Origin: Identify what materials the object is made of and where these materials originated.
- Object’s Use: Describe how you use the object and whether this is its intended use.
- End of Object’s Use: Explain what you will do when you’re done using the object and where it will end up.
- Object’s Lifecycle:
- Beginning: Materials and origin.
- Middle: How you use the object.
- End: What you do with the object when you’re done using it and its final destination.
- Engineering and Supply Chain Contributions:
- Think about the object’s journey through the supply chain and the engineers involved.
- Who contributed to its creation, transportation, and distribution?
- What specific engineering work influenced the object’s lifecycle?
- Pandemic Impact: Reflect on how pandemic-related supply chain disruptions affected the object’s lifecycle.
- Write the Story: Using a consistent perspective (first-person or third-person), explore the object’s lifecycle, considering the above aspects.
- Length: No more than 1,200 words.
- Optional: Include a reference list of up to 8 resources in APA style (does not count toward word count).
