The John Stephen Kassman Memorial Essay Prize in Classical Studies 2009-2010, Department of Classical Studies, The Open University

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The John Stephen Kassman Memorial Essay Prize in Classical Studies 2009-2010

Information and Regulations for Entrants

1. The prize will be an annual award based on the income from a donation given by the late Alec Kassman in memory of his son. Alec was an Arts Faculty Staff Tutor in London Region of the Open University and a contributor to Classical Studies courses. The purpose of the prize, which will be warded for the best essay in an annual competition, is to develop and foster study of Classical Antiquity in the Open University. The award will take the form of a book-token (or other academic related goods) to the approximate value of £40-50.

2. The competition is open to all current OU Undergraduates and Associate students (i.e. current at the date of notice to enter the competition - see below 4) Candidates may compete in more than one year if they wish, but no candidate may submit an essay more than once on the same topic.

3. Details covering presentation of essay:

i)	The essay may be on any topic related to Greek and Roman Antiquity; this regulation may be interpreted liberally - including e.g. comparative study, provided that a substantial part of the essay deals with a Greek or Roman aspect of the topic. The right is reserved to refuse proposals deemed unsuitable.
ii)	A word-limit of 3000 words, including notes, should be observed (if appropriate to the essay subject, a limited amount of additional illustrated and/or diagrammatic material may be included). A bibliography should be appended, together with a statement that the essay is the candidate's own unaided work.
iii)	Essays may be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced and written on only one side of the paper. In order to preserve anonymity for judges, the candidate's name and address should not be written on the essay itself but enclosed on a separate cover-sheet to be included with the essay.
iv)	Essays will be returned after the competition provided that an SAE is included with the essay.

4. Notice to enter the competition should be sent, together with the proposed essay title, by 30th June 2010 to The Departmental Co-ordinator, Department of Classical Studies, Faculty of Arts, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA.

The deadline for receipt of essays will be 30th September 2010. This timing is intended to give competitors an opportunity to work on their essays after the 2009 academic session. The decision of the judges, which will be final, will be announced to all competitors as soon as possible after the closing date. The winner of the competition will be announced in Sesame and Open Forum.

5. The administration and adjudication of the competition will be by a Committee appointed by the Department of Classical Studies. The committee reserves the right not to award the prize in any given year if there is no essay of an acceptable standard.

6. Guidelines for competitors. The following criteria will be observed by the judges:

i) Quality of the Essay as a piece of English prose

ii) Appreciation of the issues involved in the selected topic

iii) Quality of thought displayed in setting out and addressing such issues

iv) Sensitivity to the historical ambience of the topic, and its significance within that setting

v) Capacity for independent critical analysis

vi) Imaginative choice of topic