Tag: Defense Day
HAWC · HIR Academic Writing Contest · Independent Student Guide
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Your Evidence Will Age Before Defense Day: Writing HIR Claims That Survive the News Cycle
Between drafting in November and defending out loud months later, your evidence ages. How to write HIR claims with a long shelf life, and what to say when a fact is overtaken. Read article →
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HIR Contest vs Other Writing Competitions: Where the Defense-Day Essay Fits an Admissions Portfolio
How the HIR Academic Writing Contest compares with essay competitions like John Locke, the NYT contests and The Concord Review, what its oral Defense Day signals to admissions, and how to slot it into… Read article →
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How to Prepare for HIR Defense Day: Winning the 15-Minute Oral Defense (2026)
Defense Day is what sets the HIR Academic Writing Contest apart: the strongest writers present and defend their argument in a 15-minute oral defense. This independent guide gives the mindset shift, four concrete preparation… Read article →