Missouri State University’s Department of English and the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) announce the first annual Nancy Allen Research Writing Awards competition.

The competition recognizes exemplary research and writing by students enrolled in any of MSU’s Writing II courses. Eligible Writing II courses include AGR 320; ENG 210, 221, 310, and 321; GLG 358; and HST 210.

Writing II courses introduce students to the writing of their chosen disciplines and professions. As such, exemplary writing will demonstrate research-informed discussion from a variety of disciplines and writing approaches, said Lori Rogers, senior instructor and Writing II coordinator at MSU.

Inspired by student efforts

Rogers, who has taught writing at MSU for over 20 years, created and developed the competition. Students – and their work – inspired her to create the award.

“Many of them put so much time and effort into developing their writing, but there isn’t much opportunity to celebrate undergraduate research writing,” she said. “This award will let us recognize exemplary writing.”

Nancy Allen an ideal example

When searching for an ideal example around which to build the competition, Rogers immediately thought of Nancy Allen.

“We have a strong belief in our department that you can do almost anything with an English major,” Rogers noted. “That ability to create success from a liberal arts background is what Nancy Allen truly represents.”

Allen’s educational and career background provided the perfect example, Rogers said. She first trained as a teacher before attending law school and becoming a prosecuting attorney. Additionally, Allen taught law at MSU for 15 years and is now a bestselling mystery author.

“She has done almost everything you can do with an English major,” Rogers said. “And she has done all that because she was first trained in research and writing, which develops a core knowledge and practice in critical thinking and writing that can allow you to become whatever you want to be.”

Celebrating the magic

Rogers wants the competition to recognize all MSU student writers, not just those from the English department.

“As writing teachers, our hope, always, is for students from all majors to see themselves as writers,” she explained. “If this award can go beyond that to also recognize exceptional student writing that informs others or changes people’s minds or moves people to action, our expectations will be fully met.”

The competition’s website includes a forum to discuss the papers, Rogers said. “We can share those moments when, as a teacher, you find yourself reading a student’s writing that goes beyond your expectations, and you’re left wishing for someone else to read and celebrate that magic with you.”

How the competition works

Any MSU Writing II instructor can select papers for award consideration, according to Rogers. Awards will be determined by writing faculty. Writing II instructors may submit one student paper for consideration in each award category.

Submission deadlines are the last day of spring semester classes for both fall and spring courses. Instructors can submit papers for selection at any time before that date using a submission link provided by Rogers.

Selected authors will be announced at the beginning of the fall semester and featured on the competition webpage.

Creating ethical leaders through writing

Rogers said the competition reflects MSU’s public affairs mission primarily by emphasizing ethical actions.

“The first and most essential step in helping students become ethical leaders is teaching them how to responsibly conduct and evaluate research,” she said. “That all seems simple enough, which can make it easy to dismiss general education classes like Writing II, but the focus on introducing students to discipline-specific research and writing truly provides a foundation from which they can continue to research and write as ethical leaders in their disciplines and future professions.”

Making writing a worthwhile commitment

Rogers said she has received enthusiastic support for the project.

“This project quickly became a group effort with our composition faculty, who have helped with planning and will continue to provide their time and effort in reading and selecting submissions,” she said. “From our department faculty to graduate teaching assistants and per course instructors and dual credit teachers, our writing faculty have been enthusiastic and supportive of this project.”

In addition, Rogers said that RCASH staff were quick to lend technical and promotional support to the project. “That’s made developing this so easy. I believe that kind of support stems from a commitment throughout RCASH to recognizing and celebrating student success.”

“We could easily focus only on recognizing student success from our own majors, but there is a real commitment here to teaching and celebrating all students, and we hope this award will continue that tradition,” she added.

Communicating ideas on paper “is one of the most difficult and important things we do as human beings,” Rogers noted.

“We hope this award will help students see that the work going into that lifelong process is worthy of their time and commitment and respect.”

Learn more about the competition