Idaho State University 2010-2011 Reading Project Essay Contest
Contest Rules & Guidelines
- An ASISU $100 award will be given to three ISU students.
- Essay must reflect a reading of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon.
- Full Time degree seeking students enrolled as of Fall 2010 semester may submit an original essay.
- Submit an original essay on one of these topics:
- Like Mr. Spock of the television series Star Trek, the book's protagonist, Christopher, shows us a logical and rational approach to life and decision making. What does this book and your personal experience say about the usefulness and limitations of this approach?
- How has the inclusion of persons with cognitive or physical differences in the educational system benefited or enriched your personal development, education, or perspective?
- While Christopher is portrayed as an extraordinary person with a seemingly unique worldview, are his experiences growing up really that different from those of other teenagers? How might you think his experiences would compare and contrast with theirs?
- At first Christopher dreams of professions in which he could be completely alone, like an astronaut, away from the confusing realm of human interaction. For somewhat similar reasons, writers often people their novels with "flat" or typical supporting characters to leave more room for the protagonist to shine. Do the supporting characters in Haddon's novel follow this model? If not, how might Haddon have constructed these figures to support Christopher's eventual maturation and temper his desire for total isolation?
- Essay must be typed, standard 10 or 12 point font, double-spaced, with 1" margins.
- Essay may not exceed 1,200 words.
- Attach a cover page to the essay hard copy that includes the following information:
- Student Name
- Bengal ID Number
- Class Standing
- E-mail address
- Local Phone number
- Provide permission to publish your name if you are a winner.
Deadline: Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
Three hard copies of each essay should be submitted to:
ISU Reading Project
Student Affairs Office
921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8123
Pocatello, Idaho 83209