The judging process

Entry Details

Essays submitted for the School Prize will discuss Australian politics or policy. They might address such topics as Australia’s population, climate change, reconciliation with Indigenous Australians, water, asylum seekers, education, health, the state of the arts — big ideas for Australia’s future.

These topics are just a guide: the choice of subject is up to the student writer. Since this is a prize for young people, the judges expect to find a sense of passion and idealism in the pieces. However, these are not the sole criteria.

The judges also want to see clear thinking and argument, and balance. They will give preference to submissions that fairly consider the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing side of a case, even while arguing strongly for their own.

Critically, they want to see expressive, engaging, fluent and coherent writing.

The essay can be work undertaken to meet the student’s existing subject requirements, or an essay written expressly for the Prize. An individual school can enter a maximum of two essays. The closing date is 5.00 pm on July 25, 2012.

Suggested length of essay: 1,200 to 2,000 words.

The Winner

The winner will be announced at the Melbourne Writers Festival in August, at the annual John Button Oration.

If you have any questions regarding the prize, please email admin@johnbuttonprize.org.au.