MATTERS OF LIFE & DEATH
Essay Contest Rules
Compassion & Choices of Northern California is sponsoring the Matters of Life & Death Essay Contest, to expose college-bound high school students to the issues surrounding aid-in-dying, while financially helping these young scholars advance in their studies. C&C seeks to educate terminally-ill individuals and their families about their rights to dignified, humane, and peaceful dying. Prizes will be awarded for originality of thought, emotional engagement, clarity and quality of presentation, amount of research evidenced, and potential shown by the author.
Entrants are expected to read and incorporate content found at http://www.compassionandchoicesnca.org/whatwedo.php.
ELIGIBILITY: The Matters of Life & Death Essay Contest is open to college-bound junior and senior high school students residing in Northern California as of the entry deadline of April 15, 2008.
PRIZES*:
1st prize: $1,000
2nd prize: $500
3rd prize: $250
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All winners will be recognized in the C&C newsletter and Web site, and will be invited as honored guests to the C&C Bay Area open meeting in the spring of 2008. (Transportation costs are not included
CONTENT: Essays should address one of the following topics:
- Why should aid-in-dying be legalized in California? (Please anticipate counter-arguments.)
- How has your personal experience shaped your views on aid-in-dying?
- Put yourself in the place of one of the following "participants" in a scenario involving
someone who is terminally ill and considering aid-in-dying: the patient, a close family member, a doctor, and/or a member of the clergy. Help us understand their viewpoints and what they take into consideration.
- Essays applying head and heart to the subject of aid-in-dying are also welcome.
FORMAT:
- 1,000 to 2,500 words, written in English, typed in Times New Roman, text size 12, single spaced, with numbered pages. Handwritten essays will not be accepted.
- Essays should be submitted with a separate cover sheet containing name, address, phone number, school, email address, and title of essay. The essay’s first page should contain the title of the essay but not the entrant’s name. Essays should be sent by email as an attachment in PDF or Microsoft Word format to admin@compassionandchoicesnca.org. The subject line should include the words: “ESSAY SUBMISSION”. Essays may also be mailed to C&C of NCA, 3701 Sacramento St. #439, San Francisco CA 94118.
- Source materials should be clearly identified. All writing must be original, with the exception of quotes, which should be clearly marked as such
PARENTAL CONSENT: Entrants under 18 must submit a signed parental release form by downloading the form at the bottom of this page and mailing it to Compassion and Choices of NCA, 3701 Sacramento St. #439, San Francisco CA 94118.
COPYRIGHT: All essays submitted become the property of Compassion & Choices of Northern California and may be displayed, in whole or in part, in newsletters or other publications, and on our Web site. Submitted essays will not be returned.
