Literature Essay Contest Guidelines

Mission:

The Institute for Korean Studies (IKS) at Indiana University aims to introduce Korean culture through literature to students enrolled in higher education.

Eligibility:

The contest is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled in Indiana University and our four partner universities: University of Illinois, Purdue University, University of Kentucky, and University of Louisville. Registrations must be submitted by November 15, 2020.

How to participate:

Find the book: You may purchase the book online (the Amazon.com website). 2. Write the essay: After reading the book, you will write an essay based on the judging criteria listed below. The essay has to be a format of critical essay and must not be between 1,000 and 1,250 words. 3. Submit your essay: Submit your final essay to IKS by January 31, 2021. Please do not include personal information in your essay.

Subject of Essay: Kim JiYoung, Born 1982, by Cho Nam-Joo

Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 follows one woman's psychic deterioration in the face of rampant misogyny. In a tidy apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, millennial "everywoman" Kim Jiyoung spends her days caring for her infant daughter. But strange symptoms appear: Jiyoung begins to impersonate the voices of other women, dead and alive. As she plunges deeper into this psychosis, her concerned husband sends her to a psychiatrist. Jiyoung narrates her story to this doctor--from her birth to parents who expected a son to elementary school teachers who policed girls' outfits to male coworkers who installed hidden cameras in women's restrooms. But can her psychiatrist cure her, or even discover what truly ails her?

Author Information:

Cho Nam-Joo (b. 1978) is a former television scriptwriter whose novel Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 became a hotly debated bestseller in South Korea when it was published in 2016, coinciding with the country’s #MeToo movement. Now published in English, Cho’s book uses the story of one woman to reveal gender inequality in all parts of South Korean society, from the privileging of male children to workplace discrimination and harassment. (Despite having the world’s 12th largest economy, a recent gender gap report ranks South Korea 108 out of 153.) Cho lives with her family in Seoul. (Retrieved from The Guardian)

Judging Criteria:

• Writer demonstrates close reading and critical thinking.
• Writer addresses the central theme of the story revealed through plot, setting, characters, symbols, dialogue, and visual elements.
• Writer demonstrates clear understanding of main ideas of the novel.
• Writer demonstrates clear understanding of author’s use of language in developing the story.
• Writer describes author’s tone and style of writing.
• Writer demonstrates clear understanding of the novel’s structure.
• Writer demonstrates clear understanding of the literary and historical context of the novel.
• Writer’s essay demonstrates clarity, structure, spelling, grammar, and usage.

Rules:

• Essays must be between 1,000 and 1,250 words in length.
• Essays should be word processed in 12-point Times New Roman fonts, and double-spaced.
• One entry per contestant is permitted.
• All entries must be written in English.
• We reserve the right to use all submitted pieces in future IKS publications with no compensation to the authors.
• Winners are announced by mid-March. The time to announce the winners is subject to change depending on the number of total entries received. The award ceremony will be held Friday, April 2, 2021.

Prizes:

First Place (1): MacBook Pro (valued at $1200)
Second Place (1): iPad Pro (valued at $900)
Third Place (2): Apple Watch Series 6 (valued at $400)

Please note that awards $600 or over will be reported on the IRS Form 1099-MISC by Indiana University. The IRS has stipulated that amounts less than $600 are required to be self-reported by the recipient on their personal tax return. Please consult with your personal tax advisor for any questions or concerns.

Registration Deadline: 11:59 PM EST, November 15, 2020
Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM EST, January 31, 2021