Social Sciences: GSS Essay Competition 2023

Update as of November 7th, 2023 - Winners Announced:

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the talented participants who entered our recent competition. Your dedication and hard work truly shone through in each submission. This year's competition was fierce, featuring several hundred participants from all corners of the globe, truly living up to the international spirit of Global Scholars Society!

The results are in, and we're thrilled to announce the winners of this contest:

🏆 1st Place: Eliza C. (USA)

🥈 2nd Place: Sophie D. (France)

🥉 3rd Place: Rajesh P. (India)

Congratulations to our finalists! We've also contacted those who received Commendation Awards. We appreciate your efforts and the unique perspectives you brought to the competition.

Our competitions will be back soon for 2024, with a few improvements (including the addition of prize money), so stay tuned for more information released shortly!

Curious about Eliza's winning entry? You can read it here.

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Welcome to the 2023 GSS Essay Writing Competition in Social Sciences. This competition provides a platform for high school and college students worldwide to showcase their critical thinking, research, and writing skills in various fields of social sciences. Whether you have a passion for law, psychology, political science, international relations, geography, or history, this competition is your chance to engage with thought-provoking topics, share your perspectives, and contribute to meaningful academic discourse.

Competition Premise: The Essay Writing Competition invites participants to explore and analyze significant issues within a variety of social sciences. By selecting from a range of carefully crafted prompts or crafting an essay on a topic of their choice, you will have the opportunity to delve into your chosen subject area and present well-researched, thought-provoking essays.

Key Features:

• Choose from a variety of prompts tailored to each social science subject.

• Enjoy the flexibility to craft your own essay prompt if none of the provided prompts resonate with you.

• Engage in critical thinking, research, and academic writing.

• Showcase your insights and perspectives on relevant social issues.

• Connect with a global community of students passionate about social sciences.

How to Participate:

1. Head to the "services" section of our website and register to join the competition by paying the entry fee (why do we ask for this?) GSS Scholars can request a 50% fee reduction code by emailing info@globalscholarssociety.org

2. Once registered you are set to make a start straight away on your essay (but we do recommend a thorough planning and research process first!)

3. Submit your essay as a PDF document to info@globalscholarssociety.org by the submission deadline, along with your full name, school/college name, grade/year, and country.

Essay Prompts: Participants can choose from the following prompts for each subject area:

Law:

1. "Discuss the role of precedent in shaping modern legal systems."

2. "Examine the ethical implications of emerging technologies on privacy rights."

3. Own Prompt

Psychology:

1. "Analyze the impact of social media on mental health and well-being."

2. "Explore the psychological factors influencing decision-making in uncertain situations."

3. Own Prompt

Political Science/International Relations:

1. "Evaluate the challenges and prospects of global governance in the 21st century."

2. "Discuss the role of diplomacy in resolving international conflicts."

3. Own Prompt

Geography:

1. "Examine the relationship between urbanization and environmental sustainability."

2. "Analyze the geopolitical implications of resource distribution in a globalized world."

3. Own Prompt

History:

1. "Evaluate the significance of a historical event in shaping contemporary society."

2. "Examine the cultural and societal impact of a specific historical movement."

3. Own Prompt

Tips for Crafting a Winning Essay:

1. Thorough Research: Delve into your chosen subject area by conducting in-depth research. Make use of academic journals, books, reputable websites, and other credible sources to gather a solid foundation of knowledge.

2. Facts and Statistics: Strengthen your arguments with concrete evidence. Incorporate relevant facts, statistics, and data to support your points and lend credibility to your analysis.

3. Cite Credible Sources: Accurate and reliable information is crucial. Properly cite your sources using a recognized citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) to give due credit and enhance the credibility of your essay.

4. Critical Analysis: Don't just present information; analyze and interpret it critically. Discuss the implications, causes, and potential effects of the concepts you're exploring.

5. Original Insights: While referencing existing scholarship is important, strive to contribute your unique insights and perspectives to the discussion. What fresh angle can you bring to the topic?

Essential Information:

• Submission Deadline: October 20th, 2023, 23:59 EST

• Word Limit: 800

• Submission Format: Essays should be submitted as a PDF document to info@globalscholarssociety.org

• Judging Criteria: Essays will be evaluated based on clarity, depth of analysis, originality, relevance to the prompt, and adherence to academic writing standards.

• Results Announcement: Communicated to winners by October 30th, 2023, 00:00 EST

Prizes:

• 3 finalists will be selected and offered executive roles within the Global Scholars Society Social Sciences Division

• The overall champion will have their winning entry published on the GSS website (or not, should they wish to remain anonymous)

• Highly commended awards will also be assigned at the discretion of the judging panel (number tbc depending upon entries)

• All participants will receive specific guidance on how to effectively write-up their achievements and participation in the competition for their college applications or CV/Resume

Rules:

1. Submissions must be the original work of the participant alone, and plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

2. All submissions must be made individually: this is not a team event

3. Submissions should not exceed 800 words.

4. All submissions must be in English and submitted as a PDF document via email.

5. This event is open to all current high school and college students worldwide.

6. The decision of the judges is final and binding.

7. Late submissions may be accepted in certain circumstances. Please enquire at info@globalscholarssociety.org

8. By entering you agree to the GSS terms of service which can be found here

How Essays Will Be Judged:

• Clarity

• Depth of analysis

• Originality

• Adherence to the prompt

• Winner Selection: Winners will be selected from the shortlisted essays, considering the overall quality and relevance of the content.

Participate in the Essay Writing Competition and make your mark in the world of social sciences. Engage in meaningful research, thoughtful analysis, and eloquent writing to contribute to the broader academic conversation. We look forward to receiving your insightful essays!

Sincerely, The GSS Competition Team Why do we have an entry fee? At GSS, we're committed to providing every applicant with the attention and consideration they deserve. We receive a high volume of entries from incredibly talented individuals like you, and to ensure that each entry receives the thorough review it deserves, we charge a small one-time fee. This fee helps support our dedicated team in carefully reviewing every entry, ensuring that your unique qualities are given the attention they merit. It also plays a vital role in sustaining the operations of our society, allowing us to continue offering valuable opportunities and enriching experiences to our scholars.

Thank you for understanding, we look forward to reading your entry, GSS