Quick Navigation

Y1 Writes: A Collection of Student Essays

Y1 Writes highlights student essays from Northern Illinois University's First-Year Composition classes, showcasing a variety of writing genres and styles. Y1 Writes: A Collection of Student Essays offers students a chance to publish their work and serves as a sourcebook of ideas and examples for instructors.

Y1 Writes: A Collection of Student Essays is seeking essay submissions for possible publication in our 2013 anthology. We encourage submissions of any First Year Composition essay, from a one-page summary to a full-blown research paper. Essays are accepted now through February 13th. In addition to publication, selected essays will be judged for first, second, and third place standing. These essays will receive $125.00, $100.00, and $75.00 awards respectively.

Here is the process for submission:

We need an electronic copy of the essay for each submission to Y1 Writes.

The electronic version of the cover sheet, which MUST be fully filled out and attached to the emailed submission, is available on the First Year Composition website at: www.engl.niu.edu/composition/y1writes/coversheet.doc

1) Please fill out the cover sheet electronically. ONE essay and corresponding assignment sheet per cover sheet (email), please.

2) Please attach the cover sheet, the assignment sheet (essay prompt), and your essay as MS Word (.doc or .docx) documents to: y1writes.niu@gmail.com.

3) In the subject line of your emailed submission, please type: “SUBMISSION, [Your Essay’s Title]”

Please email if you have any questions regarding submission procedures or Y1 Writes in general.

Andrea Fryling (y1writes.niu@gmail.com)

Editor, Y1 Writes: A Collection of Student Essays


The essay submission process is not complete until you receive an email confirmation from Y1 Writes staff. You may email any questions you have to the above address as well. Good luck!


Y1 Writes Temporary Access Site


Volume 3, No. 1 (2012)


Narrative
Author Name
 Title
 Link
Charles Besenhoffer
 "The Wrath of Sun and Sand"
 PDF
Cody Walsh
 "When You Know Too Much"
 PDF
Caprice Albrecht
 "Miracles"
 PDF
John Becker
 "Brennschluss"
 PDF
Milan Cesal
 "Why So Serious?"
 PDF
Kyra Droessler
 "Among the Stars"
 PDF
Ateeqa Roslan
 "Buaian and I"
 PDF
Bryan Sabatini
 "Storytelling"
 PDF
Sarah Trygstad
 "Warning! Change Is Inevitable"
 PDF

Interview
Meagan Ryan
 "Why You Should Search for the Yeti"
 PDF
Kenneth Witz
 "Interview"
 PDF

Persuasive Letters
Caitlin Kulhan
 "Letters"
 PDF

Summary
Jarrett Wolske
 "Reporting Science"
 PDF
M. J. Halco
 "Solving Illiteracy One Essay at a Time"
 PDF

Analysis
Dakota Foss
 "Planning for Burial"
 PDF
Allison East
 "Unseen Tears"
 PDF
Joy McDaniel
 "How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse in Style"
 PDF
Joe Mock
 "Looking for the Perfect Fit"
 PDF
M. J. Halco
 "Designer Genes: Our Future in Bioengineering"
 PDF
Scott Brady
 "The Microsoft Mind?  Or the Organic Mind?"
 PDF
Bo Howarth
 "A Visual Study of Hopper's Nighthawks"
 PDF

Synthesis
Cory Ellis
 "Drop Everything and Read"
 PDF
M. J. Halco
 "This Is Your Brain, and This Is Your Brain on Fox"
 PDF
Trevor Luman
 "Video Games Used Learning!  It's Super Effective!"
 PDF

Annotated Bibliography
Marly Campuzano
 "A Review on Disability: Annotated Bibliography"
 PDF
Jarrett Wolske
 "I Dare You"
 PDF

Research Essays
Stian Berg
 "America's 'Dirty Underwear' and its Attempt to Find a Clean Pair: The Republican Primary"
 PDF
Katherine Gottlieb
 "Lives Disrupted: The Effect of the LRA in Uganda and the US Involvement"
 PDF
Trevor Luman
 "Next Frontier"
 PDF

Award-Winning Essays
John Becker
 "Brennschluss"
 PDF
M. J. Halco
 "This is Your Brain, and This is Your Brain on Fox"
 PDF
Charles Besenhoffer
 "The Wrath of the Sand and the Sun"
 PDF
Sarah Trygstad
 "Warning!  Change is Inevitable"
 PDF
Ateeqa Roslan
 "Buaian and I"
 PDF

Volume 2, No. 1 (2011)


Narrative
Author Name
 Title
 Link
Molly Arnold
 The Worry Stone
 PDF
Joseph Cavanaugh
 The Moment of Truth
 PDF
Samantha Johnson
 Home, or My Mother's Garden
 PDF
Lisa Oates
 Six Kids and a Fiesta
 PDF
Devin Rodgers
 An Unexpected Adventure
 PDF
Faith Stauersboll
 Breathe
 PDF
Courtney Stephen
 Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy
 PDF
Emily Ann Wilikins
 Beautiful Facade
 PDF

Segmented Narratives
Taylor Dupre
 Spoils of War
 PDF
Tyler Hendry
 Descent
 PDF
Bridget Hickey
 Yellow
 PDF
Erik Moran
 Driftwood Hearts and New Starts
 PDF
Kenneth Witz
 Live in the Now
 PDF

Analysis
Dakota Foss
 "Planning for Burial"
 PDF
Jacob Kalnis
 The Reluctant Hero
 PDF
Jeff Lawrence
 The Violent Media Discussion
 PDF
Brittani Whaley
 A Loving Parent
 PDF

Research Essays
Taylor Patton-Gentert
 Nuclear Weapons
 PDF
Mary Spring
 Horse Racing Reform
 PDF
Kevinne Stredde
 Music: A Gift We Cannot Lose
 PDF
Jeremy Young
 Endangered Species Act: Reforming the ESA
 PDF

Interview
Vanessa Misty Boyle
 Cocaine Psychosis
 PDF
Fernando Cruz
 A Life during World War II
 PDF
Dakota Foss
 The Delzell Experience
 PDF
Meagan Ryan
 Why You Should Search For the Yeti
 PDF
Kenneth Witz
 Interview
 PDF
Francesca Zombowski
 Final Facts
 PDF

Volume 1, No. 1 (2010)


Narrative
Author Name
 Title
 Link
Caitlin Brodie
 Learning to Adapt
 PDF
Samantha Melendez
 I Speak American
 PDF
Olivia Sandstrom
 You Lose One, You Gain One
 PDF
Robert Van Herik Jr.
 Some Random Transformation
 PDF
Jerry Wu
 The Nature of a Younger Sibling
 PDF
Victoria Yurachek
 Pain & the Weight of the World
 PDF

Persuasive
David Gerbie
 The Importance of Comprehensive Sex Education
 PDF

Analysis
Rikki Lewis
 Two Viewpoints on Literacy
 PDF

Research Essays
Adrienne Decker
 Will Our Competitive Nature Bring About the Destruction of Our Economy
 PDF
Denalyn Silkey
 Living in a Fishbowl
 PDF
Ciara Warren
 Freedom of Expression vs. Disruption to Learning Environment
 PDF
Marc Welc
 Removing Barriers to Save Lives
 PDF