Pakistani students earn honors in editorial writing contest

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Eight students are recognized in the second Editorial Writing Contest for Pakistani students, co-sponsored by Eye on Ivy and Quill and Scroll.

The winning articles examined the need to further validate the information teens come across on their social media feeds. They dove into what steps teens should take to counter disinformation both online and in talking with peers.

Here are the winners, along with short comments from the contest’s judges:

Class A (Grades 9-10)

• First Place: Muhammad Faisal Imran
  “This is very well written and argued. You also use sources and evidence very well, with aptly chosen examples that bolster your argument. Try to play with sentence length, using long and short sentences to strengthen your voice.”
  
• Second Place: Sahibzada Muhammad Ali Raza Khan
  “This has the strongest voice of all entries. It’s conversational, and effectively uses “I.” Do not be afraid of including your voice in an argument. This also effectively addresses the prompt with useful advice for students. The piece veers toward cliché a couple of times.”
• Third Place: Hassan Raza Shirazi
  “This is well written and well argued. You use strong examples. Try to develop a stronger voice – try making the writing a bit less academic.”
• Honorable Mention: Syeda Hadiya Arif

Class B (Grades 11-13)

• First Place: Zaina Aslam Khan
  “Well structured and well written – I especially like the shorter paragraphs in the body of the essay. Excellent use of sources and evidence. Writing is quite clear. A stronger voice would help, but this is impressive writing.”
• Second Place: Wareesha Sial
  “Very strong voice — I like the way you play with sentence length to add rhythm to the writing. Aim for shorter paragraphs and get to your main point faster without an eloborate introduction.”
• Third Place: Aiza Merchant
  “Well written, with nice use of evidence. You do a good job with your recommendations. “
• Honorable Mention: Hooriyah Ahmad

Pakistani students submitted 58 entries for the contest, and the winners are now eligible to apply for Quill and Scroll scholarships that would allow them to study journalism or take part in student media at a U.S. college or university.