Stossel Essay Contest 2027: Check the Rules Before You Draft

Before you draft, read the four official prompts and choose the one you can investigate with reliable sources. Also choose your contest track. You may enter the essay and video contests, but you cannot enter both the 2026–27 essay contest and the organizer's AI Challenge.

Check both age and school level

U.S. and Canadian residents can enter. The rules require grades 5–12 and ages 10–19 at some point during September 9, 2026 to March 12, 2027. Students at a U.S. military address are also eligible. Submit one individual essay in English.

The organizer excludes contest staff, people or organizations involved in running it, and their immediate families. Previous first‑place winners have additional prize restrictions unless they change division or contest type. Read the full eligibility section before entering. Official rules

Know the word‑count exception

The essay requirement is 500–1,000 words. The Works Cited list may help reach the 500-word minimum, and it cannot cause disqualification for exceeding the 1,000-word maximum.

HAEA preparation advice: aim for 500–1,000 words of essay text, then add your references. Count the two parts separately.

For example, 900 words of essay text plus 130 words of references make 1,030 total words. Under the published exception, that reference list does not make this essay too long. This example explains counting only.

Build a source record before your argument

The official rubric gives Research & Factual Accuracy 20 of 100 possible points. It rewards relevant, accurate research, a Works Cited list and attribution within the essay. Scoring rubric

For each factual claim you may use, record the original source, publication date, exact page or passage, and what the evidence supports. Add how it supports your reasoning and any limitation you need to check. These are HAEA preparation steps, not extra contest requirements.

Start with the organizer's prompt and video, then check the underlying evidence. Write your own reasoning and attribution. The official materials we checked do not set a minimum source count. Prompts and contest page

Keep the writing your own

Plagiarism and AI‑generated content lead to immediate disqualification. The essay must be the named student's original work.

A teacher can submit a student's entry, and the student submission route is also available. The published rules do not specify the extent of permitted adult editing or a separate allowance for AI writing assistance. Ask the organizer about a proposed tool or kind of help before using it.

Students reaching the final phase of judging must discuss their essay in an interview during May 16–22, 2027. Keep your source notes so you can explain your work.

Submit by the Eastern Time deadline

Submit by March 12, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). The official student form displayed this deadline and an essay text field when checked on November 8, 2026. We did not submit an entry. Student submission form

The checked rules and submission page do not state an entry fee. Entry also grants the organizer permission to use and edit submitted work under the published terms, while ownership stays with the writer. Review those terms before submitting.

For your next session, pick one prompt and make one source note in your own words. Bring the prompt, source and an unanswered factual question to your teacher before drafting.