Introduction
The Catw essay writing contest is an annual chance for undergraduate and graduate students to reflect on issues relating to the empowerment of marginalized groups and the promotion of human rights. Winning essays demonstrate strong writing skills through compelling narratives, well-researched arguments, and thoughtful consideration of complex topics. This article analyzes characteristics of good Catw essays by reviewing past award-winning submissions.
Storytelling
Many strong Catw essays bring issues to life through narrative storytelling. For example, the 2017 graduate winner “The Sisterhood of Suffrage” wove together biographical stories of key women’s suffrage leaders to illustrate their struggles and triumphs. Rather than relying on dry facts, the writer creatively narrated how figures like Susan B. Anthony and Ida B. Wells overcame adversity through compassion and courage. Readers were able to connect with real people driving social change.
The 2016 undergraduate winner “Neither Jew Nor Gentile” used personal anecdotes from the writer’s family history of the Holocaust to raise bigger questions about religious discrimination and universal human rights. By sharing intimate, emotional details from interviews with survivors, the essay transformed complex topics into deeply human experiences that audiences could relate to on a personal level.
Narratives allow issues to be discussed through tangible examples instead of vague generalizations. When done skillfully, they inspire empathy and make abstract notions feel real and meaningful. Storytelling is an impactful technique to motivate readers into caring about the causes championed in Catw essays.
Research Integration
Thorough, well-integrated research is another hallmark of exemplary Catw submissions. While personal experiences and anecdotes are impactful, winners also go beyond anecdotes to provide broader context through external sources.
For instance, the 2019 graduate winner “Education as an Act of Love” combined accounts from the writer’s teaching experience with research into Paulo Freire’s pedagogical philosophy and the concept of “co-intentional” education. Pedagogical frameworks and related studies were logically incorporated to validate key points rather than coming across as disconnected citations.
The 2018 undergraduate winner “Women’s Voices Rising: Confronting Trafficking through Theatre” effectively blended interviews from an anti-trafficking organization with statistics on modern slavery prevalence. Analysis of the role of arts in activism was also backed by references to scholarly works on theatre and social change.
Strong integration of credible, substantiated research lends authority and credibility to arguments in Catw essays, showing diligence beyond personal viewpoint. Winners demonstrate how outside materials can corroborate and strengthen – rather than distract from – core narrative themes. Proper citation practices are also crucial for academic integrity.
Critical Thinking
While telling compelling stories and presenting researched evidence are important, evaluative, solution-oriented critical thinking separates top Catw submissions from others. Prizewinning essays challenge preconceptions, pose difficult questions without easy answers, and suggest nuanced perspectives on complex social issues.
For instance, the 2020 graduate winner “Intersectional Activism in the #MeToo Era” critiqued assumptions around prevailing models of feminism and called for a more inclusive framework addressing interlocking oppressions of gender, race, class and sexual orientation. It proposed collective, community-based solutions rather than reducing problems to simplistic diagnoses.
The 2014 undergraduate champion “Female Genital Mutilation: Moving from Judgment to Understanding” adopted a thoughtful stance against the harmful practice but avoided condemnation. It advocated culturally sensitive, cooperative efforts between affected groups and outsiders – an approach requiring deep reflection on root causes and how to create positive change.
Such essays demonstrate sophisticated critical assessment by considering multifaceted viewpoints, acknowledging limitations, and putting forward constructive recommendations instead of reactionary stances. Winning submissions invite complex thinking from readers rather than easy answers.
Conclusion
In reviewing top Catw contests entries, several qualities emerge as hallmarks of strong student essays. Beyond solid writing mechanics, exemplary pieces skillfully utilize storytelling and research to bring humanitarian issues to life in relatable yet authoritative ways. They motivate through empathy while maintaining an evaluative edge – posing difficult questions, avoiding simplistic diagnoses and recommending nuanced, cooperative solutions. Future Catw participants would be wise to aim for these higher-level components of narrative craft, academic rigor and inductive critical reasoning when composing submissions addressing human dignity. Exemplary essays move audiences on an intellectual and emotional level, providing inspiring examples of how student work can analyze social problems and further compassionate discourse.