In conjunction with International Education Week (November 15 – 20, 2021), the Embassy of the United States of America and the Brunei English Language Teachers Association (BELTA) are pleased to announce an essay writing contest themed “A Hero’s Journey” for Year 7 – Year 10 Bruneian students in all schools in Brunei Darussalam.
Deadline for Submission: December 8 , 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
Categories and Guidelines
- The contest is open to all Bruneian students (with yellow Brunei identity card) currently between Year 7 to Year 10 attending public, private, or international schools in Brunei Darussalam.
- Each student can only submit one writing entry.
- Interested participants must choose only one of the following topics to write an essay with a minimum length of 350 words and a maximum length of 600 words
- All entries must be written using Font 12 in Times New Roman and saved in PDF form.
- Entries that have qualified for the top 10, will be notified via email and they are required to send in a recorded video reading of their essays as part of creativity. Details of the format of these videos will be given in the email.
- All entries must be emailed to: Bruneibeltaoffice@gmail.com along with a copy of your identity card for verification.
- Entries that have qualified for the top 10, will be notified via email. Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit a recorded video reading of their essays as part of creativity. Details of the format of these videos will be given in the email.
Category A: Lower Secondary (Year 7-8)
Choose from one of the questions below:
- 18 year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been hailed as the ‘Climate Heroine” by the dailybeast.com. Find out more about her and tell us, what do you consider are the important factors that make a person a climate hero?
OR
- What can you do to become a hero for the environment? Discuss specifically how young people can be leaders in combatting climate change.
Category B: Upper Secondary (Year 9-10)
Choose from one of questions below:
- How did you stay mentally strong and resilient during the home-based-learning phase of the pandemic? What advice would give to other young people going through a similar challenge?
OR
- A number of people have made the decision to start their own home-based business because of the difficult time we are facing since the pandemic. Write up about a local business hero and how his/her story has inspired you.
Evaluation Criteria
All entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
- Content: Clearly addresses one of the viewpoints; provides a strong perspective with reflection and analysis of global or intercultural experience.
- Creativity: Writer makes good use of imagery; provides vivid descriptions; conveys impact of the experience in unique ways.
- Form: Essay falls within the word limit; writing style and voice is consistent; essay is well organized with correct use of grammar and punctuation.
Entry Submission
- On the top of your essay page, please write your full name, school and year.
- State the question you have chosen to write about.
- All entries must be written using Font 12 in Times New Roman and saved in PDF form.
- Attach your essay in PDF format along with a copy of your Brunei issued identity card in the email. Submit your email to Bruneibeltaoffice@gmail.com with the subject “A Hero’s Journey: (your name)”
- Submit your entry no later than December 8 , 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
