Introduction: New York Times invited students to write short, evidence-based persuasive essays through the New York Times Students Editorial Contest. Students can choose a topic of interest, then gather evidence from sources both within and outside The NY Times and write a concise editorial (450 words or fewer) to convince readers of their view. The Editorial should focus on a topic that matters to students, cite reliable sources that illustrate different perspectives, and persuade readers of the student’s opinions. Last year, the competition has received a peak of 16,664 submissions came in, about 5,000 more than ever before.
Competition Website: For overall information about the organization and the competition, click here.
Examples of winners:
- Aria Capelli, age 16, The Athenian School, Danville, Calif.: “Bunking With Grandma: Lessons From My Multi-Generational Pandemic Bubble”
- Aimee Choi, age 17, Seoul International School, Seongnam, South Korea: “Planting the Next Chapter of Farming”
Aralia students won 3 prizes in The New York Times Summer Reading Contest
Eligibility
You must be a student ages 13 to 19 in middle school or high school to participate. All students must have parent or guardian permission to enter.
Contest Timeline
March 15 to April 19, 2023.