Language Arts 123 Competition

📅 Important Dates: Submissions are due by 6 p.m. March 21, 2026. Winners will be announced by 6 p.m. March 28, 2026.

Sponsored by the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts

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2026 Competition Topic: Freedom of Speech

In America we are guaranteed freedom of speech — but what does that really mean?

Choose one of the following:

Essay: Write about whether considerations of political correctness, perceptions of racism or other forms of unjust discrimination, public decency or simply common courtesy limit our freedom to speak as we think.
Short story: Demonstrate how speaking with complete freedom positively or negatively influenced someone's life.

Eligibility

Contestants must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Do not derive primary income from writing
  • Are not related to, nor household residents of, any Commission on the Arts member

Contestants must also meet at least one of these criteria:

  • Reside, are employed or own property in the City of Fairfax
  • Attend public or private school in the City of Fairfax
  • Reside and are homeschooled within the City of Fairfax

Submission Requirements

All entries must be double-spaced, written in English and never commercially published.

Category Word count
Fourth through sixth grade 800-1,000 words
Seventh through ninth grade 1,000-2,000 words
10th through 12th grade 1,500-2,500 words
Adult (college age and beyond) 1,500-2,500 words

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged on structure, clarity, originality, fluency, coherence and persuasiveness. Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and word usage are essential and will be basic judging points for every entry. Elementary school-level entries should reflect mastery of the Common Core English Language Arts Standards for the entrant's grade.

Profanity, obscenity or discriminatory hate speech will result in immediate disqualification.

Language Arts 123 Committee members will serve as judges.

Awards

Category First place Runner-up
Adult $300 $150
10th through 12th grade $200 $100
Seventh through ninth grade $150 $75
Fourth through sixth grade $100 $50

Important Dates

Submission deadline

6 p.m. March 21, 2026

Winners announced

By 6 p.m. March 28, 2026

 

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