The Cooley Writing Contest

Description
In his will, the late Dean Mortimer Cooley, a former Dean of the Engineering College, left funds to encourage students to explore non-technical field to "develop, broaden, and enrich the Engineer's education." Dean Cooley's funds support the Cooley Writing Contest, sponsored for currently enrolled undergraduates in Engineering. A quote from Dean Cooley's will outlines goals in more detail.

"…for prizes for Engineering students, those who expect to make engineering their profession. It shall not, however, be used for promoting greater knowledge along purely professional or technical lines, but rather to encourage and promote study and research, the object of which is to develop and promote the interest of the Engineer in non-technical fields, in which, because of this technical and professional training, he can render a service for mankind which is not now being rendered by anyone. In other words, to create and interest for the Engineer in what are now non-professional activities…in short, to develop, broaden, and enrich the Engineer's education."

The contest committee invites students to submit entries in one or both categories.
Category 1: Essays on any topic that live up to the spirit of Dean Cooley's will.
Category 2: Fiction, Drama

Eligibility

1. All engineering undergraduates enrolled for as least one term between January 2008 and January 2009 are eligible.
2. A student may not submit a manuscript that has won a previous Cooley award.
3. Students may not submit collaborations or translations
4. Entries are limited to one per category
5. If an entry receives a Cooley Award, the author must agree to sign the following statement:

In the case of publication of the manuscript submitted by me in the Cooley Writing Contest and forming the basis for the award I have received, I agree to indicate in a footnote or otherwise that this manuscript was granted in a prize in the Cooley Writing Contest for 2009 in the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan.

Deadline
Noon, Friday, January 9, 2009

How to Enter
The entry form should be filled out and then placed in a sealed envelope with bears on the outside the author's fictitious name. The envelope bearing the author's fictitious name and three (3) copies of the manuscript bearing the author's fictitious name should be delivered to the Technical Communication Program office, 301 EPB, by noon, Friday, January 9, 2009. Late entries will not be accepted.

Awards
Up to $2000 for the winning manuscripts will be awarded at the 2009 College of Engineering Honors Brunch.

Information
The Cooley Committee welcomes inquiries regarding the contest. For information, contact Mary Gilbert, 301 EPB, 764-1427 or maryagt@umich.edu

Requirements for Manuscript
Manuscripts should be typed on 8.5" by 11" paper, on one side of the paper only, with a left hand margin of at least one and one-half inches. Manuscripts should be edited for correctness in spelling, diction, grammar, and punctuation. Footnotes should indicate sources and borrowed material. Essays should include a full bibliography. Turabian's Manual for Writers Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Chicago, 1970) may serve as a useful style sheet.

Three (3) copies of each manuscript must be submitted, and each must bear the fictitious name by which the writer chooses to identify himself or herself.

Category 1: Essays A student may submit only one essay. This must be double-spaced and should not exceed 20 full, double-spaced pages, excluding the bibliography. Essays will be judged according to the following criteria:

Major Criteria

1. Whether it meets the terms of the will quoted above
2. Originality on the subject
3. Grasp of the subject
4. Effectiveness of focus and organization
5. Clarity and effectiveness of expression

Minor Criteria

1. Proper acknowledgement of sources and borrowed material, if any
2. Correctness in spelling, diction, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure

Category 2: Fiction, Drama A student may submit one entry in each genre. Although longer works are not excluded from competition, short stories and one-act plays usually comprise the largest number of entries

Fiction: manuscripts must be double-spaced. Short stories should not exceed 10,000 words (approximately 40 pages).

Drama: Manuscripts must be double-spaced. One-act plays should not exceed 50 full pages.

Note: Authors of novels and full-length plays as well as of shorter works should consider the possible advantages of entering the annual Hopwood Contest in the College of LSA in addition to the Cooley Contest.

Permission to Publish
All entry forms must be accompanied by a signed Permission to Publish form.

Footnote Agreement
All entry forms must be accompanied by the signed footnote agreement form.

Disclaimer
Decisions of the judges are final. Judges reserve the right to not award prizes if submissions do not meet required standards.