Lord of the Flies

ESSAY REQUIREMENTS

When writing a Law of Life essay, students should be original and should “write from the heart.”

Essays should be 500 to 700 words in length, typed and double-spaced. Students should include a word count, if possible.

Essays should be based on a student’s personal experience or observations. The essay should show how a Law of Life applies to a student’s life. Essays that focus on a historical character or that read like a book review are not winning essays.

Essays should contain a “law of life” expressed as a maxim, saying, or quote. (“Honesty is the best policy” is a Law of Life; the word “honesty” is not. Essays that do not contain a saying or quote are not eligible to win prizes.)

WRITING A GEORGIA LAWS OF LIFE ESSAY
Pointers for Students
A Law of Life is a wise saying or quote that contains words of truth, lasting meaning, or inspiration. Examples of Laws of Life include:

o “An attitude of gratitude creates blessings.” o “You are only as good as your word.” o “To have a friend, be one.” o “Honesty is the best policy.” o “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” o “Smile and the world smiles with you.”

Think about a personal experience that has taught you about a Law of Life. The experience may have been a major event in your life, or it may have been a small, private moment when you came to understand something profound about life. Perhaps the experience was something traumatic, such as when you or a family member were in a car wreck. Or perhaps the experience was something that makes you smile every time you think of it – the time your grandmother taught you how to bake a blueberry pie, or the time that you and a friend discovered that laughter was the best medicine.

Write an essay that relates your experience to a Law of Life. Be sure to clearly state the Law of Life in your essay!

Remember that the best essays include lots of details. These details make the reader feel as though he or she was right there with you when the event occurred. Let the reader know exactly how you felt, and why.

Your essay should be between 500 and 700 words. Essays that are shorter or longer than this will be disqualified from the contest. Placing the essay’s word count at the beginning or end of the essay is helpful, but it is not required.

Complete the Student Entry Form and staple it to the top of your essay.

Make a copy of your essay to keep; the copy that is sent to the Laws of Life Essay Contest will not be returned to you.

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”Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” -William Wordsworth

STATE WINNERS
$1,000 - First place winner
$750 - Second place winner
$500 - Third place winner
$300 - Fourth place winner
$200 - Fifth place winner

SCHOOL WINNERS & GRADE WINNERS
$100 per School Winner*
*School must submit a minimum of 200 essays total for the School Winner to receive a cash award.
$50 per Grade Winner* (3 per school)**