The Charles Dickens 2012 Writing Challenge for Young People
In 2012 young people will be invited to write a story in the spirit of the work of Charles Dickens highlighting the plight of young people less privileged than most in the world today.
The Challenge will be made through the media, schools, and/or libraries for young people aged 11-14 years. Stories should be a maximum of 500 words. A certificate will be awarded to each young person taking part in the competition and book tokens awarded to outstanding stories. It is hoped to get high profile personalities involved in the Challenge.
By taking part in the Challenge in the bicentenary year of Charles Dickens’ birth young people will be able to compare the social injustices written about by Dickens and the social injustices occurring today and look at what is being done to address these injustices. Young people will also be able to compare ideals found in Dickens’ works with ideals in the Olympic movement.
A Resource/Education Pack will be produced to comply with relevant Key Stages of the National Curriculum.
Young People will have the opportunity to broaden and use imaginative vocabulary by drawing on their own experience of reading. They will learn to choose a structure and language to achieve particular effects and organize material to convey ideas, themes, and characters. They will learn the importance of writing with commitment, developing their own style and evaluate the way in which language is used. Reading classical texts, in addition to contemporary text, will enable them to explore social and moral issues.
The challenge will introduce young people, and all those who will inevitably get involved, to the extraordinary work of Charles Dickens. They may even be tempted to ask for more!
United States Dickens Project Essay Contest
In an effort to increase the level of high school participation at The Dickens Universe, The Dickens Project is proud to announce its Annual High School Student Scholarship Essay Contest, in which two high school students and their teachers can win a scholarship to study Dickens amid the redwoods. More information...
