• Introduction
• Global Assistance Program
• Writing Competition
• Undergraduate Research Conference
• Multicultural Colleagues Invitational Lecture Series
• Global Scholars

1. Should U.S. companies be encouraged to adopt socially and environmentally responsible business practices?

2. When engaged in global business, should U.S. companies conform to local social and environmental regulations or comply with those applicable in the U.S.?

3. “The greatest of mankind’s achievements is the American entrepreneur, who has made our country a wellspring of prosperity and a source of hope for people all over the world.” –UE Professor Michael Zimmer in his recent acceptance of the Guthrie May Investiture

ELIGIBILITY
The contest is open to all University of Evansville students who have declared Business Administration or Accounting as a major or minor.

AWARDS

FORMAT
The applicant must submit an electronic copy of the essay in MS Word to Patti Lodato, Executive-in-Residence in the School of Business Administration, at pl33@evansville.edu.

The cover page of the paper shall include the title of the essay, the author's name, the author's major, the author's signature, the author's current mailing address and phone number, and an address, phone number, and email address where the author can be reached during March-April 2007. The author's name (and other identifying data) should appear only on the cover page of the paper. The title of the essay and page numbering should appear at the top of every page. (Copies of the essay will go to the judges who will not know the names of the entrants.)

The essay must be double-spaced, with one-inch margins. The font shall be 12 pt. Times Roman or Times New Roman. Citations must be in-text, and a reference list (“Works Cited”) should accompany the essay. Use the APA Style Manual for formatting. Papers shall not exceed 1,500 words, excluding the cover page and reference list.

Any violation of the rules in this section or elsewhere in this notice is grounds for disqualification. Entry constitutes certification by the applicant that the applicant is eligible to participate and that the paper conforms to the rules of the competition.

JUDGING AND JUDGING CRITERIA
Entries will be blind-judged by a panel of judges appointed by the Dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Evansville. The panel will evaluate submissions on adherence to the topic; originality; and quality of writing, using the following criteria:

• Content, structure and development
• Mechanics and adherence to grammatical conventions
• Intellectual engagement

Scoring Rubrics for Writing Assessment provide detail regarding the above criteria. Also see “Writing Guidelines” for this competition. Click here for Rubrics and Guidelines

Determination of the judges' panel is final. The School of Business Administration reserves the right to decline making award(s) in this competition should none of the entries merit the award.

DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES
D eadline for submission is Friday, March 30, 2007. Entries delivered in person or postmarked after the deadline will not be considered.

Submissions will not be returned to the authors. UE has permission to copy, reprint, or print all papers submitted.

The mission of the Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana is tobe a catalyst and resource for international business success through research, training, and information services. The Institute’s sponsorship of the Writing Competition reflects its interest in promoting scholarship within the University of Evansville community, with particular focus on encouraging and supporting the development of excellence in critical thinking and writing skills among students pursuing careers in business.

For your essay, select from one of the following topics (in bold face). Below each topic is a list of questions pertaining to the topic. Keeping “scope” in mind, do not attempt to answer each question. In fact, you may elect to disregard these questions and address another issue or issues pertinent to the topic you select.

4. Should U.S. companies be encouraged to adopt socially and environmentally responsible business practices?

a) If you agree that companies should be encouraged, how should this be done?

b) What is the role of government, including local government, in this issue? Should it regulate corporations to ensure that they implement policies in respect to social and environmental responsibility?

c) What companies have been successful in assuming social and/or environmental responsibility? Does the size of the company influence whether it should engage with the community(ies) in which it operates?

d) How does the objective to maximize shareholder value affect this agenda? (Consider Milton Friedman’s now-famous proclamation: “There is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game.”)

e) What role do investors play in encouraging companies to engage in these activities?

5. When engaged in global business, should U.S. companies conform to local social and environmental regulations or comply with those applicable in the U.S.?

a) Consider child labor: Should a U.S. corporation employ children to work in its overseas factories and other manufacturing facilities? If we refuse to employ them, is this a service or a disservice to the children?

b) How do U.S. standards of what is fair and ethical compare with standards in other cultures, particularly cultures in “third-world” countries?

c) Must leaders of global businesses make business decisions that conflict with their personal values, particularly when doing business in or outsourcing to developing countries?

6. “The greatest of mankind’s achievements is the American entrepreneur, who has made our country a wellspring of prosperity and a source of hope for people all over the world.” – Professor Michael Zimmer in his recent acceptance of the Guthrie May Investiture at the University of Evansville

a) Who exemplifies the entrepreneur Dr. Zimmer references?
b) What have they done (or what are they doing)?
c) How have their actions benefited people the world over?
d) Does American capitalism foster the entrepreneurial spirit? Does it promote the sharing of wealth?

Writing Hints

1. Your Essay=Your Argument. Keep in mind that your essay will be an argument: After selecting the question you wish to address, you will develop your position and present it in your paper. This means that the essay will contain the four components of a good argument:

a. Your claim (or thesis). This is your position stated succinctly in your introduction.

b. Support. This material gives substance and legitimacy to your claim. It will constitute the biggest part of your essay. You may use various types of “evidence” and “appeals”:

• Evidence
• Statistics
• Authorities
• Facts
• Example

• Appeals
• Logical
• Need (relates the argument to people’s needs—economic, political, physical, spiritual, etc.)
• Value (relates the argument to people’s value judgments about right/wrong, success, discipline, selflessness, moderation, honesty, etc.)

c. Counterargument. Here you will anticipate and refute claims that oppose those you make.

d. Concession. Here you will acknowledge the value of claims other than yours.

 2. The Introduction. Engage your reader! Your very first sentence should “hook” your reader and immediately pique an interest in your topic. It should draw the reader into your “world”—that is, the context of your paper.

3. Conventions. Remember that “conventions” are important. That is, use good grammar and punctuation and avoid misspellings. Also, follow conventional guidelines for citing the resources you use.

For additional details, please contact Patti Lodato, Executive-in-Residence at PL33@evansville.edu or 488-2218

UE Salutes …

The UE students who were winners of the first School of Business Administration Writing Competition - first place winner was UE student Adam Johnson; second place winner Kai Tuomi; and third place winner Michael Keil. Each submitted 1,000-word essays on "The Key Global Business Issue of 2020." Johnson, a senior at UE, received a $1,000 award for his essay, “Feeding a Growing Population." Tuomi, a junior at UE, received $750 for her essay, “Oil: Assessment and Alternatives." Keil, a sophomore at UE, received $500 for his essay, "The Effect of Third-World Debt on Global Business."