Minnaar Awards
Academics / Departments & Programs / English / Writing at Calvin / Minnaar Awards
The English department is pleased to recognize excellent writing in Written Rhetoric through the Joseph and June Minnaar awards.
Annually, the English department will make five awards:
- one for best essay in any genre,
- first and second place for short essays, and
- first and second place for research essays.
The winner of the overall award for the best essay from both categories will receive a check for $100.
Students who receive first and second place awards will receive checks for $75 and $50 respectively.
Because revision is an important part of the writing process, the Written Rhetoric Committee encourages you to discuss revision ideas with your Written Rhetoric instructor. You may submit no more than two essays for the awards.
To submit an essay for consideration, submit the following to the University Rhetoric Director (Professor Kristine Johnson):
- One clean copy of the essay with no identifying information (student name, instructor name, section letter, etc.);
- A one-paragraph description of the essay assignment and the student's process for completing the assignment and a one-paragraph description of the revision process that the student followed in preparing the essay for the Minnaar Awards;
- A Minnaar Award cover sheet with the signature of the student's instructor.
The Written Rhetoric Committee will read the essays and rank them according to the following criteria:
- The focus of the essay: unity, clarity, significance, and insightfulness;
- The structure of the essay: relationship of thesis or central idea to essay organization, use of supporting data, development of ideas throughout the essay, and use of detail;
- The structure of the paragraphs and sentences: paragraph development, use of metaphor or analogy, sentence style, and word choice.
For the research essay, the committee will also consider the following:
- Research sources: variety, number, and appropriateness;
- Means of incorporating sources: method of integrating source material and form of source material (quote, block quote, paraphrase, summary);
- Documentation: presence and form.
How to Apply
Submit the form and the supporting materials described on this page to Professor Kristine Johnson via email.
The application deadlines for 2023–24 are as follows:
December 6, 2023
April 10, 2024
Take the next step:
ACADEMIC OPTIONS
With over 100 majors and programs, you’re bound to find something you love.
Browse by category
- Arts
- Business
- Communication & Media Studies
- Education
Undergraduate education
- Early Childhood
- Elementary Grade Bands
- Art: Pre-K to 12th Grade
- French: Pre-K to 12th Grade
- Health & PE: Pre-K to 12th Grade
- Spanish: Pre-K to 12th Grade
- Special Education
- TESOL: Pre-K to 12th Grade
- Secondary Education
- English: 5th to 9th Grade
- Math: 5th to 9th Grade
- Science: 5th to 9th Grade
- Social Studies: 5th to 9th Grade
- English: 7th to 12th Grade
- Math: 7th to 12th Grade
- Science: 7th to 12th Grade
- Social Studies: 7th to 12th Grade
- Health Sciences
- Exercise Science
- Kinesiology (Pre-professional Emphasis)
- Nursing
- One Health
- Pre-Dentistry
- Pre-Medicine
- Pre-Occupational Therapy
- Pre-Optometry
- Pre-Pharmacy
- Pre-Physical Therapy
- Pre-Physician Assistant
- Pre-Podiatry
- Pre-Veterinary
- Public Health
- Recreation Leadership
- Speech Pathology and Audiology (BA, MA)
- Master of Speech Pathology
- Theraputic Recreation
- Humanities
- Ministry
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- World Languages & Cultural Studies
Apply to Calvin
It all starts here! We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. All completed applications receive equal consideration.
Start your journeyVisit Calvin
Find the visit option that works best for you and get a taste for life at Calvin!
Browse Visit Options Launch the virtual tourRequest Info
Learn why Calvin’s dedication to faith and discovery have earned it the rank of #3 among regional Midwest universities.
Costs & Financial Aid
Families from all economic backgrounds—many just like yours—are making Calvin work. Scholarships, grants and loans are the tools that make Calvin possible.
Explore financial aid & Scholarships How much does Calvin cost?