Opportunities for student writers
3808: Journal of Critical Writing
Current volumes
 Spring 2012 |
 Fall 2010 |
 Fall 2009 |
 Fall 2008 |
 Fall 2007 |
About 3808
Each semester, instructors teaching Critical Writing seminars across a wide range of disciplines at the University of Pennsylvania nominate the best essay written by an undergraduate in their class. A faculty editorial board selects essays from among the nominees to publish in 3808. A student editorial board selects the best essay in the collection as the winner of the Henry LaBarre Jayne Essay Prize.
All forms of nonfiction writing are considered, from experimental to traditional, from creative nonfiction and autobiography to research writing. All nominations should be stand-alone works that do not require additional explanation or context.
How to submit
3808: A Journal of Critical Writing is dedicated to work by undergraduates, mainly freshman, in Critical Writing seminars. Each semester, faculty may nominate one or two of the best essays written by students in their classes. A faculty editorial board selects essays from among the nominees to publish in 3808. A student editorial board selects the best essay in the collection as the winner of the Henry LaBarre Jayne Essay Prize and works with the individual authors to edit and prepare for publication.
As you read through your final portfolios and reflect on the past semester think about nominating a student essay for 3808. Students are honored to be nominated by their instructors, and thrilled when they are selected for publication.
Nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis from now through February 2009. The next issue, vol. 4 will feature essays from Spring 2008 and Fall 2008 and is due out September 2009. This year, we're asking for submissions via Blackboard. If you go to your Blackboard log-in, you will find "3808: A Journal of Freshman Writing". Choose this site and link to "Submissions" for instructions on how to submit files. Please advise students that, if their essay is chosen, they will have a chance to do further edits and revisions.
Some notes on essay nominations:
- 3808 is looking for nonfiction essays on any topic. We encourage shorter essays (500-750 words) but welcome all forms of nonfiction writing.
- Instructors can submit up to two essays from one course. If you are teaching two courses, you may submit two from each class.
- Consider sharing the current copy of 3808 with your students to encourage their interest in being nominated. Many of the essays are useful as models of the short forms assigned in the writing seminars.
Items to include
Cover page with:
- Title of work
- Student name, address, phone, and email
- Year of study and school
- Number and title of course
- Instructor's name
- Biographical note about the author -- 100 words or fewer
Format
Double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font. Left flush margin for paragraphs, no right margin justification. No identification of author on any page. Header should indicate title of work and page number.
Editors
- Executive editor: Valerie Ross, Director, Critical Writing Program
- Susanna Fry, Assistant Director, Critical Writing Program
- Patrick Wehner, Associate Director, Critical Writing Program
