Essay and Public Speaking Contest
Just about everyone pays lip service to freedom of speech. “Left” and “Right,” we all avow the right to speak our mind, the freedom of the press, the evils of censorship. The free exchange of ideas is important to everybody, right? What’s more, we live in a golden age of communication technologies, where just about anyone anywhere in the world can voice their ideas and opinions.
And yet, today, freedom of speech seems threatened, not thriving. “Cancellation” (and “cancel culture”) has become a buzzword. A recent poll of college students found that 80% reported self-censoring their views. And people fear that the very technologies that enable unfettered communication today in fact stifle and limit it.
What is the biggest obstacle to the free exchange of ideas on campus today?
That’s the question we invite you to tackle today. The Frederick Douglass Project at Providence College seeks student entries in the second annual Frederick Douglass Essay and Public Speaking Contest.
Open to all current PC undergraduates, the contest asks students to compose a short persuasive op-ed and/or speech that addresses what YOU think is the most pressing issue concerning the free exchange of ideas on our campus today.
A successful entry will clearly diagnose a specific problem, show why it matters, and make a compelling case as to what to do about it.
Winning entries will be announced at a special event with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) on Thursday, May 5, at 4 p.m. in Ruane 105. Winners will receive cash prizes:
- 1st place . . . $500
- 2nd place . . . $200
- 3rd place . . . $100
Submission Guidelines
Students may write an original op-ed style essay of 750-1000 words or record a speech of 3 to 5 minutes. Essays must be submitted as PDF files to DouglassProjectatPC@gmail.com. Speeches must be recorded as video files and uploaded to SharePoint; you would then submit the link to DouglassProjectatPC@gmail.com (and make sure to make your video viewable for anyone who has the link).
Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 29, and will be judged anonymously by a panel of PC faculty according to a rubric that will be made available for contestants to review. Late submissions will not be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit both an essay and a speech? Yes. But bear in mind that an effective speech is a fundamentally different thing than an essay read aloud.
How should I format my essay? There is no required format for your essay. It’s probably smart to look at good examples of op-ed articles and mimic their approach. You, however, should provide in-text citation for any sources used. Essays or speeches that fail to fall within the length parameters will not be considered.
How should I format my speech? Get a friend to record your speech. You should be delivering it as if in a public setting: standing, properly dressed, with a clean background, etc. Use index cards rather than reading from sheets of paper or a computer screen, and make sure your arms and torso are visible—not just your face.
This is a big topic. What should I focus on? Your work will stand out from the crowd if you focus on something specific (so not something like “the biggest obstacles to freedom of speech today are social media and cancel culture and conforming to society …”) and if you take a unique angle on it. Dig a little deeper. Think a little bigger. Then make your case.
Where can I see the rubric for the contest? The op-ed rubric and the speech rubric should be up on the Douglass Project website soon (https://humanities.providence.edu/the-frederick-douglass-project-at-providence-college/). If you don’t see them, write to Dr. Bernhoft.
