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Strasser Writing Prize

The 2025 Strasser Writing Prize submission form is now open! Entries are due no later than January 31st, 2025.

The Strasser Prize is the annual writing prize, awarded for the best paper on any subject submitted by an Honors student in an Honors course taken during the previous or current academic year.

The Prize is named in honor of the founding director of the Honors Program, Susan Strasser, a noted social historian and the author of books such as Never Done, Satisfaction Guaranteed and Waste and Want.

One grand prize winner will receive a $100 prize. Two runners-up will receive a $50 prize each. A faculty committee of judges determines any and all winners. Criteria for judgment include: critical thinking, clarity and strength of argument, writing proficiency and style, and interest/distinctiveness.. 

Guidelines and rules governing the competition

  1. The student must be a member of the University Honors Program and currently enrolled at the George Washington University.
  2. The paper must have been submitted for a grade to any Honors (HONR) course during the previous or current academic year.
  3. Prior to submission, the student may review and edit the paper after having it returned by the course professor.
  4. The paper should be 10-25 double-spaced pages in length. Works cited pages do not count towards page length.
  5. Each paper should also include a title page and an abstract of about 100-200 words. Neither item will go towards page length.
  6. A student may submit no more than one paper per year. Submit only your best work!
  7. A submitted paper must not have previously won or been runner-up in the Strasser Prize competition.
  8. The paper may be submitted electronically as a Word (.doc or .docx) file. The paper format is 12-point font, double-spaced.

To enter

The 2025 competition occurs in the Spring semester (Due Date January 31st, 2025). Entries may be submitted here.

The University Honors Program retains sole discretion in determining any and all winners and awarding the Strasser Prize. No prizes are guaranteed.