Grade 9-12 international or domestic students studying in the U.S or overseas
One-on-one and small group (Max. 7 students/class)
Competition Introduction
The HIR Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest is founded by the Harvard International Review, a quarterly magazine covering insights on international affairs. The magazine has featured commentary by 43 Presidents and Prime Ministers, 4 Secretaries-General, 4 Nobel Economics Prize laureates, and 7 Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
Competition Format
The competition invites high school students from grades 9-12 worldwide to submit a short essay on the topic of international affairs. Submissions will be read and graded by the Harvard International Review academic journal. If selected, students will participate in a virtual HIR Defense Day. On that day, students will give a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to the judges, and the submission/presentation must be in English with traditional American spelling.
Submission Guidelines
Articles should be around 800-1200 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, or authorship declaration). HIR does not accept op-eds, otherwise known as opinion pieces.
As a journalist organization, HIR requires submissions to follow the following adapted version of the HIR’s style guide. Submissions are also required to be culturally sensitive, fact-checked, and respectful.
Class Introduction
In this course, students will explore advanced concepts in global affairs to prepare a high-quality essay for the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest. Through a combination of instruction, analysis, and writing workshops, students will gain the knowledge and tools necessary to craft a well-researched, 800–1,200 word essay that demonstrates their ability to engage critically with complex global issues.
Students will choose one of two academic directions:
- Economics Track: Students will apply college-level economic theory and models to examine pressing global economic challenges. The course emphasizes the use of data, charts, and empirical analysis to evaluate economic phenomena and inform policy recommendations. Students will develop the ability to read and critique economic texts, and produce an original essay that demonstrates sound analytical thinking and evidence-based argumentation.
- Politics & History Track: Students will explore international political systems, historical developments, and policy debates that shape today’s world. They will learn to analyze events through a historical and political lens, engage with primary and secondary sources, and craft persuasive essays grounded in rigorous research and critical evaluation.
By the end of the course, students in both tracks will have produced a polished academic essay ready for submission to the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest. Beyond contest preparation, the course also provides an excellent foundation for students interested in pursuing further studies in economics, international relations, political science, or history.
Outcome
By the end of this course, students should:
- Navigate and analyze complex topics in international affairs.
- Conduct thorough, credible research independently.
- Articulate insightful analyses through formal, sophisticated writing.
- Present balanced arguments, backed by evidence, on global issues.
- Prepare and polish a submission for the HIR Academic Writing Contest, adhering to all guidelines and ethical standards
Class Structure
For Economics direction Class:
- 2 group classes, 2 hours each, 4 hours of group classes in total;
- 6 one-on-one classes, 1 hour each, 6 hours of one-on-one classes in total.
Teacher Background: An Economics professor with nearly 15 years of teaching experience, author of multiple academic papers in economics, Special Research Fellow at the U.S. Census Bureau’s Center for Economic Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics.
For Politics & History direction Class:
- 3 group classes, 1.5 hours each, 4.5 hours of group classes in total;
- 5 one-on-one classes, 1 hour each, 5 hours of one-on-one classes in total.
Teacher Background: History professor at a top U.S. private university with nearly 30 years of teaching experience. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Boston University and has served as a guest manuscript editor for Princeton University Press. He has guided many high school students to win awards in academic writing competitions.
Feedback
Students and their parents will receive brief feedback after each class regarding the student’s general participation in class. Students will also receive feedback on graded assignments via email.
