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The Ohio Statewide Laws of Life Essay Contest is a competition for winners of local Laws of Life contests. OPCE has embraced the Laws of Life Essay Contest as an important component in developing the character of Ohio youth. In 2001, OPCE established the first Statewide Laws of Life Essay Contest to encourage the sponsorship of local essay contests as well as to recognize exceptional essays on a statewide level. OPCE believes that by writing about the "laws" or values by which they live their lives, students further their knowledge of and conviction to good character. Participating in a writing contest furthers both academic goals and the goals of character education. The contest structure also builds in participation by the wider community, encouraging business and community members to aid schools and parents in helping youth develop good character.
By sponsoring a contest, schools and communities communicate to their youth that they believe ethical and moral development is important. Research tells us that students who reflect and think about ideas learn them at a deeper level. Used as a classroom assignment, the contest can help build positive relationships among students and between teachers and students, and it can help students develop empathy, compassion, and self-confidence.
The Laws of Life Essay Contest can be used to meet requirements of the Ohio English Language Arts Academic Content Standards. The Laws of Life program integrates character development into the writing curriculum and provides a compelling occasion to write, edit, and revise - critical components of the writing process. Although the Laws of Life can be administered as an extra-credit option or an extracurricular activity, teachers are encouraged to integrate the contest into the curriculum as a class assignment. This allows students to engage in the full writing process of brainstorming, outlining, drafting, peer review, editing, and final copy. The process of writing Laws of Life essays stimulates students and gives them greater motivation to write - thus providing an additional opportunity to prepare for writing assessments. An added benefit is that the contest can help students improve composition skills required by the SAT and ACT exams, and provide practice for writing college essays.
Schools, districts or community groups sponsor their own local contest and judge entries. Some local contests choose to award prizes with locally generated funds, but that is not required. A contest can be as simple as a teacher assigning the essay to the class, and soliciting other teachers and administrators to help judge the winners.
Winning essays from each local contest (see instructions for number of entries per contest) are submitted to OPCE for judging in the statewide contest. OPCE coordinates the judging of the statewide contest. Finalists are chosen in both the high school and middle school divisions and invited along with their parents, teachers and contest coordinators to the Awards Banquet held in the fall in Columbus. At the banquet, finalists are awarded cash prizes. Teachers of the winning students and the contest coordinators are also awarded cash prizes.
The Templeton Foundation will send a complete contest information package free of charge. To obtain a packet, call the John Templeton Foundation at 1-800-245-1285 or materials can be downloaded from their website www.lawsoflife.org.
No - the contest can be as simple as a single classroom essay assignment with other staff or community members serving as judges. The format for the essay contest is flexible, and we encourage you to implement the Laws of Life Essay Contest in a manner that best suits your community. As the John Templeton Foundation aptly advises, "Do what fits!" As your contest grows, you may want to add prizes. Many times local service clubs or businesses are willing to donate prizes or funds for scholarships, as are PTA's or PTO's. These organizations can also be a source of judges for the contest. Involving the wider community in a positive way is an added benefit of this program.
Contact us or call 614-486-6531 x137 with questions or for further information.