Each year, the culminating assignment for all first-year students is the Freshman Essay.  The development of this significant paper occurs in our First-Year Program, where students participate as a cohort in a year-long pair of classes, including a First-Year Seminar class and a First-Year Writing class.  The seminar classes are organized around a topic or theme reflecting the faculty member’s area of expertise.  The writing seminar is taught by a member of the Academic Writing staff, and the course focuses on developing the skills of successful academic writing.  Together, these two instructors coordinate to create a cohesive and rigorous academic experience for our students, while also supporting the transition into college.  To this end, seminar instructors also serve as their students’ academic advisors, encouraging students to be active participants in both curricular and co-curricular activities on campus.

The Freshman Essay is both the culminating project for the Freshman Year and the first submission into the Manhattanville Portfolio.   While the topics covered by the Freshman Essays vary, the final product reflects a semester’s worth of research and revision.  Each year, First-Year Seminar instructors are asked to submit the best essay from their class to be entered into the Best Freshman Essay competition.  This year 23 essays were nominated.  A First-Year Program review committee evaluated these essays. Ten essays were selected to be forwarded to the Board on Academic Standards (BOAS).  This year, the BOAS chose three best essays that they thought demonstrated clarity in writing, excellent use of sources and critical thinking, as well as creativity and clarity in intellectual thought.

The following three students were recognized for their outstanding essays at this year's Convocation on August 23, 2013:

Yonathon Ledesma: The Mortal vs. the Homeric Hero: A Homeric Warrior’s Journey for Glory

Profs. Megan Cifarelli and John Proctor

Kate Shannon: An On-going Struggle: The Madres de la Plaza’s Fight for Justice During and After the Argentine Dirty War

Profs. Gregory Swedberg and Joseph Fasano

Ankober Yewondwossen: James Baldwin and Negative Capability

Prof. Karen Steinmetz