John Locke Essay Competition
1. What Is the John Locke Essay Competition?
Organized by the John Locke Institute at the University of Oxford, the John Locke Essay Competition is a globally renowned academic writing contest for high school students. The competition aims to cultivate students’ critical thinking and argumentative writing skills.
Essay topics span a range of disciplines including Philosophy, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law, encouraging students to challenge conventional ideas, explore complex issues in depth, and present original, independent perspectives.
All entries are judged by an expert panel of academics from world-leading institutions such as Oxford and Princeton, who select the best essays in each category as well as the overall Grand Prize winner.
2. Benefits of Participating in the John Locke Essay Competition
- Endorsed by world-class institutions such as Oxford and Princeton,
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Recognized by top universities around the world.
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Enhances competitiveness when applying to universities in the UK and US.
3. Eligibility and Entry Requirements
Entry Fee: Free of charge
Age Requirement: Open to students worldwide aged 18 and under.
Academic Referee: A teacher or non-relative must provide a reference to verify the authenticity of the essay.
Essay Topic: Choose a subject within economics, law, politics, history, philosophy, theology, psychology, or the Young People’s Prize categories, and submit an essay of no more than 2,000 words.
Submission Format: Essays must be submitted as PDF files.
4. Sample Topics for 2025
Philosophy:
Ｑ：What moral obligations do we owe to living persons that we do not owe to future persons? What are the implications of your answer for policy-making?
Politics:
Ｑ : Should politicians ever be punished for lying?
Psychology:
Q：Eleanor Roosevelt declared, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Is she right?
5. Essay Evaluation Criteria
Essay Evaluation Criteria:
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Knowledge and understanding of the topic
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Use of evidence
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Logical reasoning and argumentation
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Originality
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Persuasiveness
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Writing style
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Essay structure
The best essays have the power to change others’ views. Essays that fail to address opposing arguments directly tend to have lower success rates. It is recommended that participants answer the question precisely!
Participants may be asked to discuss their submitted essays with the judges, and strict measures are in place to prevent plagiarism and cheating.
6, John Locke Awards
- Each category awards a Winner, Second Prize, and Third Prize.
- The Winner in each category receives a $2,000 scholarship, and their essay will be published on the official website.
- The awards ceremony is held in London, where winners and runners-up have the opportunity to meet the judges and other faculty members. Family, friends, and teachers are also invited to attend.
- Grand Prize:
The overall best essay winner is honored with the title of Junior Fellow and awarded a $10,000 scholarship, which can be used to attend the John Locke Summer School or other visiting scholar programs.
7. Valour’s John Locke Preparation Program
Mr.Ben
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BSc in Biochemistry, King’s College London
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Studied at Felsted School in the UK, completing both GCSE and IB Diploma Programme
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Rich international education background with schooling experience in Mainland China, Dubai, and the UK
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Certified TEFL Level 3 English instructor
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Former guest lecturer at Chung Yuan Christian University (Taiwan)
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2 years of teaching experience, specializing in one-on-one and small-group sessions, with a focus on critical thinking and academic writing in English
Mr. Ben’s Perspective on the John Locke Essay Competition:
“The purpose of the John Locke Essay Competition is to encourage participants to challenge their own worldview through research and writing.
We often assume we are neutral on a given topic, but in reality, true neutrality is rare.
The questions in this competition are designed to prompt a deep re-examination of key issues. Only by confronting and questioning our own assumptions can we arrive at meaningful and valuable answers.”
“I strongly encourage students to take on the challenge of the John Locke Essay Competition.
It pushes participants to question what is often accepted as truth in ways that traditional education systems rarely do.
The competition invites students to see the world from new perspectives, and its panel of trained academic judges actively looks for original thinking that breaks free from conventional assumptions.”
8. Valour’s Pride
In September 2024, a Valour student received a High Commendation (top 5% globally) in the John Locke Essay Competition and was invited to attend the awards ceremony in London! 🎉
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