ETSU students are invited to take part in Reviewing the World We’ve Made, a reflective writing project inspired by ETSU’s Common Read, The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green.
Pause and consider something humans have created and how it has shaped your life or the lives of others. It could be something small or significant, serious or lighthearted, a place on campus, a piece of technology, a routine, a tradition, or an everyday object. What matters most is not the subject itself, but why it matters to you.
You will write a short, personal essay that “reviews” one aspect of the human-made world and what that subject reveals about people, connection, community, and/or meaning. This is not an academic paper. Submissions should be thoughtful, reflective, and grounded in lived experience. You may also choose to include a rating or symbolic score, as Green does in The Anthropocene Reviewed.
This is a non-competitive writing project. Essays will not be ranked or scored, but reviewed holistically for clarity, originality, thoughtfulness, and connection to the human-made world. Selected essays may be featured on ETSU websites, other digital platforms, and in printed publications, with some receiving public recognition during John Green’s campus visit the week of February 23–27, 2026.
Who Can Participate
All ETSU students are welcome to submit an essay.
Essay Guidelines
- Length: 600–1,000 words
- Format: PDF
Important Dates
- Submissions Open: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
- Submission Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Recognition: Week of February 23-27 during the Festival of Ideas
For questions or additional information, please email: fulkersj@etsu.edu.