What can you choose to review? Anything that fits into a category of creative expression that The New York Times covers — from architecture to music. One reason we created this contest is to give you space to stretch your cultural imagination. So, we ask that you review something that is new to you.
Take a look at the full guidelines and related resources below. Please post any questions you have in the comments and we’ll answer you there, or write to us at LNFeedback@nytimes.com. And, consider hanging this PDF one-page announcement on your class bulletin board.
Please read these rules carefully before submitting an entry. You can find more details in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
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Review something that fits into one of the following categories of creative expression that The New York Times reviews:
— architecture
— art
— books
— cars
— comedy
— dance
— fashion
— hotels
— movies
— music
— podcasts
— restaurants
— technology
— theater
— TV shows
— video gamesYou do not need to review the exact same piece of work that The Times has reviewed — just something that fits into the categories listed above. For example, you can review a local restaurant in your town because The Times reviews restaurants.
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The review must be 450 words or fewer, not including the title.
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Whatever you choose to review, it should be new to you and you should experience it yourself.
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You must be a student ages 13 to 19 in middle school or high school to participate, and all students must have parent or guardian permission to enter. Please see the F.A.Q. section for additional eligibility details.
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Your essay should be original for this contest, meaning, it should not already be published at the time of submission, whether in a school newspaper, for another contest or anywhere else.
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Keep in mind that the work you send in should be appropriate for a Times audience — that is, something that could be published in a family newspaper (so, please, no curse words).
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Submit only one entry per student.
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While many of our contests allow students to work in teams, for this one you must work alone.
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All entries must be submitted by Dec. 14, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time, using the contest form at the bottom of this post.
Resources for Teachers and Students
Use these resources to help you write your review:
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A review-writing unit: This unit includes four special writing prompts, a lesson plan for reading and writing culture reviews, five mentor-text lessons that use both Times and teen-written reviews for guided practice, and an on-demand webinar with Learning Network staff and expert educators on teaching review writing with The New York Times.
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Advice from Times critics: Read these three essays or check out these four short videos in which New York Times critics share their best review-writing advice. We also have an annotated movie review by Manohla Dargis, The Times’s co-chief film critic.
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Tips from teenage writers: You can read the work of our 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 winners. Or, read two annotated reviews — one on a Lizzo concert, the other on New York’s Penn Station — and watch two short videos from students who won our 2019 contest. Finally, check out the video above, which has even more advice from past student winners for entering this contest.
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This writing prompt, which offers students a “rehearsal space” for thinking and writing about the art, entertainment and culture that interests them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to your questions about writing, judging, the rules and teaching with this contest. Please read these thoroughly and, if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, post your query in the comments or write to us at LNFeedback@nytimes.com.
QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING
What is a review?
In a cultural review, a reviewer experiences a work of art or culture, asserts an opinion about it, and backs up his or her claims with compelling evidence.
In this sense, a review is like an argumentative essay. This is what makes a review more than just a book report: a reviewer has to read (or watch, or listen to, or experience) a work closely; analyze it and understand its context; and explain what is or isn’t meaningful, interesting or relevant about it.
In other words, don’t simply summarize or describe the work you are reviewing. State an opinion and support it with details to make your case.
How can I make my review stand out?
We’re primarily looking for reviews that assert an opinion about the work being reviewed — whether positive or negative — and have something fresh, meaningful and interesting to say about it. But we’re also looking for writing that is vivid, engaging and fun to read.
A few pieces of advice:
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Express an opinion. Your review should both tell your audience about the work you are reviewing and communicate your intellectual, emotional and visceral experience of it.
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Back up your opinions with relevant and descriptive details from the work itself. The more specific you can be, the better.
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Bring readers into the experience with you by using sensory images. Metaphors, similes, descriptive adjectives, strong verbs, vivid imagery that draws on all five senses — these are the difference between a good review and a great one.
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Be mindful of your audience. You are writing a review for The New York Times, so your readers will include a broad cross-section of people. You’ll need to give appropriate context for those who might not be familiar with the work you’re reviewing. At the same time, be sure to take into account the creative work’s target audience. For example, if you are reviewing a video game intended for 10-year-old girls, aim to write a review that will be useful for 10-year-old girls (and their parents).
I’m not sure what to write about. Where should I start?
To help you understand the role that criticism plays in your life already and hone in on a topic that feels interesting and meaningful to you, you might start by responding to one or all four of these writing prompts:
Then, read some reviews. You can find many in the Arts section of The Times, in your local or school newspaper, or on your favorite website. You can also check out the winners of this contest from previous years (linked in the Resources section above).
Is there anything I can’t write about?
We invite you to review anything that fits into a category of creative expression covered by The Times. For example, you could review Taylor Swift’s latest album because The Times reviews music; but you could not review Santa Cruz decks and wheels because The Times does not review skateboards.
We also ask that you focus on one specific piece of work or experience — such as Minecraft, a fashion show you saw, or a restaurant in your town — rather than a broad genre, such as pop music, dresses, or barbecue restaurants in general.
In addition, keep in mind that the work you send in should be appropriate for a Times audience — that is, something that could be published in a family newspaper (so, please, no curse words).
Can I have someone else check my work?
We understand that students will often revise their work based on feedback from teachers and peers. That is allowed for this contest. However, be sure that the final submission reflects the ideas, voice and writing ability of the student, not someone else.
Do I need a Works Cited page?
Our submission form does not allow for a separate Works Cited page for this contest. If you are quoting from another source or referencing someone else’s ideas, you should give appropriate credit in the review itself.
Here is an example of how to do so from one of our past winning reviews about New York City’s Penn Station:
As Vincent Scully, the late art critic, famously noted, “One entered the city like a god … One scuttles in now like a rat.” That blustery Friday afternoon, it wasn’t too hard to see Mr. Scully’s point.
QUESTIONS ABOUT JUDGING
How will my review be judged?
Your work will be read by New York Times journalists as well as by Learning Network staff members and educators from around the United States. We will use this rubric to judge entries.
What’s the prize?
Having your work published on The Learning Network and being eligible to be chosen to have your work published in the print edition of The New York Times.
When will the winners be announced?
About two months after the contest has closed.
My essay wasn’t selected as a winner. Can you tell me why?
We receive thousands of entries for this contest, so, unfortunately, our team does not have the capacity to provide feedback on individual student essays.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RULES
Who is eligible to participate in this contest?
This contest is open to students ages 13 to 19 who are in middle school or high school around the world. College students cannot submit an entry. However, high school students (including high school postgraduate students) who are taking one or more college classes can participate. Students attending their first year of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec Province can also participate. In addition, students age 19 or under who have completed high school but are taking a gap year or are otherwise not enrolled in college can participate.
The children and stepchildren of New York Times employees are not eligible to enter this contest. Nor are students who live in the same household as those employees.
My review was published in my school newspaper. Can I submit it to this contest?
No. We ask that your review be original for this contest. Please don’t submit anything you have already published at the time of submission, whether in a school newspaper, for another contest or anywhere else.
Whom can I contact if I have questions about this contest or am having issues submitting my entry?
Leave a comment on this post or write to us at LNFeedback@nytimes.com.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING WITH THIS CONTEST
I’m a teacher. What resources do you have to help me teach with this contest?
Start with our unit plan for critiquing culture and writing reviews. It includes writing prompts, mentor texts and lesson plans that can support this contest.
You might also invite your students to read the winners of last year’s contest to get inspiration for their own work.
Do my students need a New York Times subscription to access these resources?
No.
Students can get free access to Times pieces through The Learning Network. All the activities for students on our site, including mentor texts and writing prompts, plus the Times articles they link to, are free. Students can search for articles using the search tool on our home page.
However, if you are interested in learning more about school subscriptions, visit this page.
How to Submit
Use the submission form below to submit your entry. Only one entry per student is allowed.
Please note: Students 13 to 19 years old are invited to enter. Students who are 13 and older in the United States or the United Kingdom, or 16 and older elsewhere in the world, can submit their own entries. Those who are 13 to 15 and live outside the United States or the United Kingdom must have an adult submit on their behalf.
All students must have a parent or guardian complete the Parent/Guardian Permission section before submitting.
For this contest there is no bulk-submission option.