2023 John Sexton Essay Contest

The John Sexton Scholars Program invites high school students across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to participate in the 2023 John Sexton Essay Contest. The competition challenges students to write an original and creative research essay for the following prompt:

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NYU Law professor Kenji Yoshino has discussed the tension between punishment and mercy, each of which can go to extremes without the other. Focusing on a current or past international mass conflict within the past 40 years, evaluate the potential role of a hypothetical Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), keeping this tension in mind. How would your hypothetical TRC achieve or fall short of the goal of providing victims with a balanced form of justice?​

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Rules & Rubric

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Eligibility

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All students must:

• Currently be enrolled in a high school (grades 9-12)

• Attend a high school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut

• Not have previously won or received an honorable mention in the John Sexton Essay Contest

• Not be related to any member of the John Sexton Scholars Program Team or current judge

• Only one entry per year per student

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Submission Guidelines

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• The deadline is 11:59 pm EST on June 30th, 2023

• Essays must be submitted via our website

• The following must be submitted via our website's submission page: name, email address, high school currently attending, and current grade level.

• Entries must be sent as a PDF document. The title should be your last name then first name. (Ex: Sexton, John)

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Essay Requirements

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• No more than 600 words (excluding in-text citations and bibliography)

• At least three varied sources, such as newspapers and journal articles, books, TED Talks, videos, documentaries, government websites, and JS Scholar Interviews 

• Sources must be documented with in-text citations and a bibliography (MLA only)​

• Only one entry per student per year

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Awards & Scholars Program

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1st Place Winner: $1000

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2nd Place Winner: $300

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3rd Place Winner: $200

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Four Honorable Mentions:  $50 each

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All winners will be awarded a plaque at our event and will have their essays posted on our website

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All seven winners will receive:

• A personal Awards Ceremony for students and their families

• Guidance on SAT and College Application

• A unique college & career mentorship with NYU President Emeritus John Sexton

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Winners will also become members of our Scholars Program, which includes:

• Writing mentorships with our Student Journal

• A unique collective grantmaking experience

• Various internship opportunities

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Awards are sponsored by: Justice For All

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Winners will be announced and notified via email by August 1, 2023.

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Past winners of the John Sexton Essay Contest have gone on to attend NYU, Harvard,

Syracuse, Yale, Cornell, and many other prestigious colleges and universities.

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Judging Criteria

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Content will count for 75% and the following parameters will be considered:

1. Focus:  Insightful development of a relevant thesis

2. Supporting Evidence:  Well researched analysis of the question and convincing arguments with specific examples (Use evidence to support your ideas; do not merely paraphrase sources).

3. Source Material:  Bibliography of three or more varied sources

 

Presentation will count for 25% and the following parameters will be considered:

1. Quality of Writing:  Clarity, flow, vocabulary, and style

2. Organization: Well-structured essay, including an introduction and conclusion

3. Conventions:  Spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation

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Resources

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We recommend that you peruse the following resources to best prepare for the contest: ​​​

• Advice from previous contest winners and their essays published on this website

• Purdue Online Writing Lab's free writing and MLA guide

• Our YouTube Channel for interviews by JS Scholars with leading world experts

• Our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook pages for ongoing news on the contest and advice on how to approach the essay

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Disclaimers

• ​The Essay must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.

• Essays must not infringe on any third-party rights or intellectual property of any person, company, or organization.

• The John Sexton Scholars Program reserves the right to print and display the essays and photographs of the contest winners.

• Previous year winners are not eligible to compete in the contest.

• All entries become the property of the John Sexton Scholars Program and will not be returned.

• Decisions of the John Sexton Essay Contest Judges are final.