1. Submissions should demonstrate familiarity with previous scholarship and should contain original, distinctive ideas. 2. They should be at least 3000 words in length and should not exceed 7500 words, including notes and works cited. 3. They should conform to MLA style. 4. Work should not have been published at time of submission. 5. Nominations should be submitted electronically on behalf of the graduate student by a faculty member and must be accompanied by a cover letter from that faculty member. Only two submissions per year per faculty member will be accepted. The graduate level of the nominee should be noted in the cover letter so that the essay can be evaluated with the proper peer group. This award may only be won once by an individual student at each level (Master’s, PhD); previous winners will not be eligible. 6. Names and contact information (street address and email address) for both the student and the sponsor should appear in the cover letter only. Submissions will be forwarded from the ChLA office to the members of the ChLA Graduate Student Essay Awards Committee and read blind (without the accompanying cover letter).