Essay Contest
Students in
Grades 7 through 12 may compete with a
library research paper in the “Essay Only”
segment Paper Session Competition. However,
this does not rule out the possibility of
personal experimentation as a supplement to
the library research.
The theme for 2025
essay is yet to be announced.
New this
year: Separate 7-8 and High
School Divisions!
Format of the
essay:
• Choose
a topic that has been developed or is being
theorized.
• Support your topic’s significance
through research.
Structure
of the essay:
•
The author must follow the essay theme yet
to be announced
• The author must use the formal
essay style that adequately expresses the
chosen topic.
• The essay
must be original and follow the guidelines
for student essays as established in the
guidebook.
Cash awards may
be made for the best essays.
Essay
Entry Procedures
Papers only go through the
approval process first. Any high school
student who desires to participate in the
Essay contest must fill out the 2024
Regional STEM Exhibition
Project Registration form is here,
selecting Essay (only projects
selected by their school are allowed to
enter the Exhibition). In
completion of the form, you will submit your
essay no later than January
12, 2025, for
evaluation and selection. Please do not send
paper copies or email. Late essays
will not be accepted.
FOR ESSAY:
• Essay Cover Page (See
link on CPS Science Fair website >
Documents > Essay Cover Page or here:
https://cpsscifair.org/Docs/EssayCover8.pdf)
• Give the
essay a title that is indicative of the
content of the essay.
• If supplemental
experimentation is used, a Safety
Sheet and any applicable
endorsement(s) must be attached.