French Essay Writing Contests
Writing essays is an important skill for students to develop in France. Essay writing contests are held each year to encourage students to improve their French writing abilities and explore various topics of interest. This article provides an overview of some of the major French essay writing contests available for students of all ages.
Concours Général
One of the most prestigious and longest-running French essay writing contests is the Concours Général. First established in 1744, it is considered the oldest academic competition in France. The Concours Général is open to all high school students across France and French schools abroad.
Students can choose to participate in one of four categories: French expression, history and geography, mathematics, or philosophy. For the French expression category, students must write an original essay in French on a given topic. Topics in recent years have explored ideas like the importance of education, social responsibility, and technology’s influence on society.
Essays are assessed on elements like organization, argument development, richness of vocabulary, and syntax perfection. Regional qualifying rounds are held first to select the best essays, which then advance to the national finals in Paris each June. Winning essays are published in the annual proceedings of the Concours Général. Winning can lead to academic honors and scholarships for further studies.
Prix du Printemps des Poètes
While the Concours Général focuses on academic rigor, the Prix du Printemps des Poètes prizes creative writing. Organized by the International Association of French-Speaking Poets, this annual contest is open to middle and high school students from around the world who are invited to submit an original poem in French.
Poems can be in any style — from free verse to rhyming forms — and explore any theme related to poetry. A panel of esteemed French poets and writers judge the submissions based on criteria like creativity, poetic expression, and mastery of the French language. Regional winners are selected and invited to attend the award ceremony each spring in a different French city. Winning publications and potential readings help highlight young poetic talents.
Le Prix Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc
For students passionate about architecture and heritage, the Prix Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc invites original essays in French every two years. It is named after the famous 19th century French architect and writer Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, renowned for his contributions to Gothic Revival architecture and restoration philosophy.
Open to French-speaking high school and undergraduate students worldwide, the contest calls for unpublished works analyzing aspects of Viollet-le-Duc’s life and work or comparing his restoration approaches to contemporary practices. Prior topics have examined his restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris and philosophy regarding respecting a monument’s original appearance versus structural modifications.
Essays are judged on historical context knowledge, argument quality, and stylistic writing. Cash prizes are awarded and winning pieces are published on the organizing foundation’s website to promote scholarly exchange. It encourages budding historians and architects to explore the ongoing impacts of Viollet-le-Duc’s legacy.
Concours de Nouvelles
For creative fiction writers, short story contests like the Concours de Nouvelles are excellent opportunities to shine. Organized annually by Atalante, a prominent French speculative fiction publisher, participants must submit an original short story of 3,000 to 6,000 words in French on any theme related to science fiction, fantasy or horror. Stories undergo blind evaluation by a jury of authors and critics.
Finalists have their works published online and in Atalante’s print magazines. The top three winners are invited to attend France’s largest speculative fiction convention each fall, where they receive prizes and honors at an awards ceremony. Participation helps emerging writers gain exposure, critical feedback on their skills, and a potential launch into publishing their works professionally.
Lyceum Prize for Young Francophone Writers
Open to residents across the Francophone world ages 18-30, the Lyceum Prize honors fresh new writing talents in French. Candidates can enter unpublished short fiction or poetry of 3-6 pages. Works are assessed on originality, quality of expression and language mastery by an illustrious international jury of writers and critics.
Finalists see their pieces published in various print and digital media channels. Three grand prize winners are awarded cash sums and invited on an all-expenses paid literary trip to Paris, where they participate in workshops, conferences and cultural activities. It celebrates young voices carrying Francophone literatures into the future.
Conclusion
This overview illustrated some of the prominent essay and creative writing contests conducted entirely in French. Participating helps students and emerging writers sharpen their composition skills, explore interests deeply, and potentially launch writing careers. As assessments are blind, everyone has an equal chance to shine based solely on the quality of their submissions. Contests like these continue cultivating new generations passionate about French language and culture worldwide.
Andrew Stroud