Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest

Participants in the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest submit a short-form article on a topic related to international affairs. Each submission will be read and graded by the Harvard International Review. A number of contestants will be selected as finalists, who are invited to participate in a virtual HIR Defense Day. At the Defense Day, students will have the opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to Harvard International Review judges. Students will also be able to attend other special events related to international affairs. All submissions will receive a letter grade from the Harvard International Review. Contestants that receive a passing grade without qualifying for a HIR Defense Day will receive a Commendation. Finalists will be eligible for the following medals based on their preliminary grade and performance in the HIR Defense Day.

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• Commendation: HIR Certificate
• Silver and Bronze Medal: HIR Certificate and name listed on website
• Gold Medal: HIR Certificate, name and paper linked on website

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Excellent contest submissions will aim to present a topic holistically from a balanced perspective, provide evidence, and demonstrate nuance. Submissions should be well-researched, well-informed, and formal in style and prose. The Harvard International Review does not accept op-eds, otherwise known as editorials or opinion pieces for its competition. Articles are expected to have a thesis but should not have an agenda. Submissions should also not be merely a collection of facts.

• Students are eligible if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.
• Students in countries outside of the United States are also welcome to submit. Submissions are expected to be written in English and with traditional American spelling. For more information on submissions in your country, please contact contest@hir.harvard.edu

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• Spring submission cycle: Late May
• Summer submission cycle: Late August
• Fall/Winter submission cycle: Early January

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• Admissions are rolling and capacity is limited. Make sure to register early!
• Contestants must register and pay a registration fee to become eligible to submit their article prior to the submission deadline. 
• Submissions should address a topic related to international affairs today. Potential categories include (but are not limited to): Agriculture, Business, Cybersecurity, Defense, Education, Employment, Immigration, Energy, Environment, Economics, Public Health, Science and Technology, Trade and Transportation.
• Submissions should be at least 800 words but not exceed 1,200 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, or authorship declaration)
• Submissions should present analytically backed perspective on an under-appreciated global topic.  
• All factual claims must be backed by a citation from a reliable source. All ideas that are not your own must be properly attributed. Citations should be made via hyperlinks. Non-digital sources are welcome but must be cited properly as per AP Style. See the examples above for examples of using hyperlinks for citations.