submissions
All Case Western Reserve University students, faculty and staff are invited to submit an original piece of writing to the Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest. Learn about this year's theme.
MLK Essay Contest Prompt
In his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote about the difference between being a thermometer (someone who repeated or "recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion"), and a thermostat (someone who "transformed the mores of society").
Consider the legacy of Dr. King and your reading of our society at this moment in history and write an essay as to whether you see yourself as a thermostat or a thermometer and why.
Criteria and guidelines
All essay submissions will be judged on:
- originality
- relevance to the theme/prompt
- creativity
- clarity
- organization
- overall effect
Submission Deadline: Jan. 18, 2010
Essays should be typed and double-spaced. All essays must be submitted electronically to melissa.burrows@case.edu by January 18, 2010 for consideration.
Essay Prizes
Eligible essays will be judged by the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration essay content review panel. The top three judged essays will be eligible to win these prizes:
- First Place: $300
- Second Place: $200
- Third Place: $100
Prizes are sponsored by the Center for Community Partnerships
read the winners»
What does a winning essay look like? Past winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest share their works.