Essay Contest
To foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen, JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest, with support generously provided by the Sonia Raiziss Giop Charitable Foundation.
Students interested in the life and works of Jane Austen are encouraged to enter. The Essay Contest is open to students world-wide at the high school, college/university, and post-graduate levels of study. Entrants do not need to be members of JASNA. Students must be enrolled full-time or part-time in coursework during one or more semesters/quarters of the contest year. Home-schooled students at the high school level are also eligible. Part-time is defined for the college/university level as a minimum of six credit hours and for the post-graduate level as a minimum of three credit hours.
2010 Essay Contest
The 2010 Essay Contest topic aligns with the JASNA Annual General Meeting theme, “Jane Austen and the Abbey: Mystery, Mayhem and Muslin” in Portland:
Northanger Abbey, while short, is full of mayhem of one sort or another. (Note: “mayhem” can refer to conflict, destruction, chaos, disorder, or confusion.) Discuss how Jane Austen uses mayhem as a plot element in Northanger Abbey to increase our understanding of one or more of the characters.
The Submissions page includes important rules about format and submission of essays and a link to the official Essay Contest entry form. Entries must be e-mailed or postmarked by May 15, 2010.
Essay Contest Prizes
JASNA awards three prizes in each of three categories: High School, College/University, and Post-Graduate. (JASNA does not offer scholarships.)
First Place
- One year’s membership in JASNA for both the winner and his or her mentor
- Free registration and two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Portland, Oregon or $250 [Note: AGM prize does not include transportation to Portland.]
- Recognition at the AGM and on the JASNA web site
- Publication of the winning essay on JASNA’s web site
- One of Jane Austen’s novels
Second Place
- One year’s membership in JASNA for both the winner and his or her mentor
- Recognition at the AGM and on the JASNA web site
- One of Jane Austen’s novels
Third Place
- One year’s membership in JASNA for both the winner and his or her mentor
- Recognition at the AGM and on the JASNA web site
- One of Jane Austen’s novels
Please review the Essay Contest FAQs. If you still have questions, contact Lynn Sherick at lynn.sherick@gmail.com. You must use “JASNA Essay Contest” in your subject line.