Reading make a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man - Francis Bacon in Essay on Study

We all know that reading is indeed a critical activity in learning.  However, it is relatively passive.  Writing prompts one to think hard thoughts and to own the thought before penning it down.  One has to re-think what one may have read in the past and reconcile with conflicting thoughts or arguments i.e. “critical thinking”. Then, one has to write it down in a well-organized and concise manner. Good writing is the ultimate form of achieving perfection in communication and a hallmark of a good leader!

To succeed in today’s competitive world, one must be equipped with excellent spoken and written skills. The NSF Leadership-in-Writing Contest is intended to encourage good writing skills with brevity, emphasis on creativity, language, and unique personal style.

The Leadership-in-Writing Contest was begun in 2005, in line with the “timed writing” component of current standardized tests, designed to foster good writing skills in today’s youth.

Objective

The objective of the competition is to encourage creativity and leadership skills through essay writing.  The competition brings out the ability to think quickly, write persuasively and present well-connected ideas while presenting well-connected ideas in a compact fashion. A good writing style will be the key differentiating factor in determining the winners.

The contests are conducted every year in two steps. First, children participate in a regional contest, conducted in various states throughout USA. Qualified winners of the regional contests are invited to participate in the National Finals. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from each contest at the Nationals are awarded scholarships of $1,000, $500, and $250 respectively, redeemable in the winners' freshman year of college.

The Essay writing bee is open to children of Indian origin in grades 3 to 12.  Younger children are encouraged to participate, on equal basis, solely with the aim of familiarizing them with the contest.

Essay Writing Bee is split into 3 levels based on grade. The grade eligibility is determined as of February 1.  For more details, please see contest rules.