Essay Contest

Showcase your writing talent in our
“Knowledge is Power” Essay Contest!

Whether you’re competing in the Junior (Grades 4-8) or Senior (Grades 9-12) levels, the Brain Power “Knowledge is Power” Essay Contest is your chance to dive deep into important topics and make your voice heard through a thoughtful persuasive essay.

Essay Topics:

Junior Contest (Grades 4-8)
Choose one of the following topics:

  • Is it important for people to learn history? Why or why not?
  • What is a current law that needs to be changed, and why?
  • Is it true that money can’t buy happiness?

Senior Contest (Grades 9-12)
Choose one of the following topics:

  • What is the greatest problem facing our education system in the 2020s, and what is the most viable solution?
  • If the internet were to disappear tomorrow, what would happen? How would people react and cope?
  • Some countries require citizens to serve in the military for at least a year when they reach a certain age. Is such a policy advisable? Is it ethical?
Requirements:

Your essay must be:

  • 900-1,200 words for the Junior Contest / 1,200-1,500 words for the Senior Contest
  • five paragraphs long, including the introduction and conclusion
  • written entirely by you, the author
  • not written for any other purpose (such as school or another contest)
  • not previously published
  • saved as a Word document or PDF
  • written in 12-point font in either Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri
Prizes:
  • $250 cash prize for 1st prize
  • $50 gift certificates for 2nd and 3rd prize
  • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners also receive trophies and swag bags, as well as being entitled to one free Brain Power workshop/summer program!
  • Winning essays will be published by Brain Power Publishing, available on Amazon! (All winners will receive a set of free books!)
Eligibility:
  • You must be a student in the relevant grade levels (see above) at the time of the contest deadline.
  • You must be a student in a Canadian school or a homeschooled student living in Canada and studying at the equivalent grade level.
Judging Criteria:

A panel of three Brain Power faculty members will judge the submitted essays and decide on the winner. Essays will be assessed on the basis of three criteria:

  • the cogency of the argument
  • whether the question has been answered in a direct and satisfying way
  • the clarity and effectiveness of the writing style.
Submission Deadline:

To be considered eligible for the prize, you must submit your essay by email to contests@brainpower.ca by the appropriate deadline below.

  • Junior Contest (Grades 4-8): no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 23, 2025
  • Senior Contest (Grades 9-12): no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 21, 2025
Questions?
Return to Contests Page

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