Philosophy Essay Contest 
    
The OU Philosophy Department is pleased to accept submissions for the
4th Annual Philosophy Essay Contest 2012
•	Eligible essays:  papers previously submitted in part or whole for any OU philosophy class, limit one. 
•	Eligible contestants: any currently enrolled undergraduate Oakland University student.
•	Amount of award: $1,000.
•	Paper Length: 8 to 12 pages, double spaced, doc, .rtf, or PDF formats only.
•	Submission deadline: March 16, 2012.
•	Papers will be reviewed blindly.  This means faculty on the essay reading committee (currently Philosophy Dept. professors Dr. Paul Graves, Associate Professor, and Patricia Trentacoste, Full Time Adjunct Professor) will not be given any information concerning the writer’s identity (name, gender, field of study, etc.). 
•	To submit your essay for blind review:
o	Email it as a set of attachments in .doc, .rtf, or PDF format to the philosophy department secretary, Ann Zimmerman: zimmerm2@oakland.edu
o	The attachment containing the paper should not contain any information identifying the author.  
o	A separate attachment with a cover sheet only should contain the title of the paper, the author’s name, major(s) at Oakland, address, e-mail address, and phone number. 
•	Papers will be independently rated by reviewers on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 reflecting the highest possible score.
•	Criteria include, but are not necessarily limited to the following: 
o	Content, philosophical insight, and originality.
o	Clarity of expression and exposition
•	Paper has a specific thesis on the correctness or incorrectness of a significant philosophical viewpoint.  
•	Textual passages, if any, are closely read and properly cited.
o	Rigor of argument 
•	Possible criticisms are anticipated along with responses.
o	Independence of thought
•	Paper is not merely a reading of a philosophical text or a summary of a school of thought.
•	Supplemental reviews will be conducted by other philosophy faculty in cases where:
o	there are substantial differences between reviewers in their independent assessments of a paper’s merits.
o	either committee member is the  instructor who graded the paper.
o	the paper is one a reviewer has seen before.
•	Students will be notified concerning acceptance or rejection within 4 weeks of submission deadline. 
•	General Essay contest questions can be directed to Paul Graves:  graves@oakland.edu or Patricia Trentacoste trentaco@oakland.edu. Do not inquire with specifics which might identify you as the author of a specific paper.