Submission Criteria

Submissions to the essay competition should be no longer than 1500 words and demonstrate the following:

• clearly and concisely identify the positions taken on the Great Questions (by the authors and students) and the reasoning behind each position
• your teacher’s or supervisor’s name (You do not need to apply with your entire class, but you must have a teacher/supervisor support your submission)
• support that position with an argument based on evidence, recognising that evidence is information which is relevant, accurate, and important
• offer sound reasons for supporting some arguments and rejecting others
• conclude with a restatement of the final position
• observe the usual conventions of spelling, grammar, etc.

Submitting an Essay

All essay submissions will be done via email. For each submission we require the following information:

• Name(s) of the students writing the essay and home mailing address
• Your teacher's name
• School name and full mailing address
• Email address
• Which Great Canadian Question your essay is about (Founding Concepts, After Unity, etc)
• The essay

Each email submission should begin with the above contact information and then the essay should be cut and pasted into the body of the message. Attached files will not be accepted.

View the winning essays from the 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 competitions.

To email your essay to staff@dominion.ca, click here.

The Dominion Institute will acknowledge receipt of your essay within fourteen days of submission. If you do not receive confirmation that the Institute has received you essay, please contact the Great Questions Educational Programme office toll-free at 1.866.701.1867.