STAGE TWO: SEMIFINALISTS
We are happy to announce that 25 contestants have advanced to the Semifinalist round (Stage Two) of the Berkeley Prize 2007 competition. Architecture students from 14 countries entered this year's competition, including Australia, Argentina, Iran, India, China, Nigeria, and others. Semifinalists are invited to submit a 2500-word essay based on their 500-word proposal by midnight, Universal Coordinated Time (Greenwich Mean Time), February 28. The top five to seven essays will be selected for final judging by the Berkeley Prize Jury.
All Authors, whether promoted to Semifinalists or not, can LOGIN to view review comments.
SEMI-FINALIST WINNERS
| Opeyemi Adewale | Federal University of Tech. Minna. Nigeria | Nigeria |
| Georgia Bowen | University of Sydney | Australia |
| Budoor Bukhari | American University of Sharjah | United Arab Emirates |
| Sarah Button | Carleton University | Canada |
| Justine Cheng | Cornell University | USA |
| Matthew Clarke | University of Kentucky | USA |
| Parisa Davachi and Soheil Karagah
| Islamic Azad University | Iran |
| Audrey Davenport | Savannah College of Art and Design | USA |
| David Davies | University of Liverpool | UK |
| Matthew Hague | University of Waterloo | Canada |
| Miriam Ho | University of Waterloo | Canada |
| Ksenia Kagner | University of Waterloo | Canada |
| Eslam Khalil | Savannah College of Art and Design | USA |
| Talha Khwaja | Oklahoma State University | USA |
| Andrew King | Savannah College of Art and Design | USA |
| Debra Maxwell | Drachman Institute | USA |
| Kate Milligan | RMIT | Australia |
| Sara Navrady | University of Waterloo | Canada |
| Mina Rafiee | Tehran University | Iran |
| Lisamarie Rusate | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | USA |
| Hugh Snelgrove | Sydney University | Australia |
| Gabriela Sorda | University of Buenos Aires | Argentina |
| Deniz Tavli | Istanbul Technical University | Turkey |
| Manijeh Verghese | Wellesley College | USA |
| Andrew Young Gankuba | Makerere University | Uganda |
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO SEMIFINALISTS
We compliment all of the Semifinalists on the extraordinary diversity of ideas and approaches in response to this year's Question. Such responses indicate the depth of interest and concern for Architecture as a Social Art. As an essay competition, the Berkeley Prize encourages the translation of these interests and concerns into a format for communication both to those within the profession and the wider public.
The Berkeley Prize Committee encourages Semifinalists to improve the crafting of their 2,500 word essays. As such, a few general suggestions seem appropriate. Remember: In answering this year's Question, the Berkeley Prize Committee is particularly interested in responses that speak to the general public. If social architecture is to become the norm, rather then the exception, the PUBLIC must be persuaded of the value of design that reflects human worth. If social architecture is to be built, rather than simply discussed, the PUBLIC must be persuaded that there is added value to constructing buildings much different than most of the architecture being built today.
Remember: This is an essay competition and that you are presenting an argument about a certain question and you are attempting to convince the reader that this argument has merit. At the same time, you want your essay to be meaningful to the widest possible audience. This means selecting a voice that is both your own and one that is accessible to serious readers. Avoid jargon. Avoid assumptions about to the level of knowledge of your reader. Have fun. Essays by their very nature are somewhat formal, but the best are also a pleasure to read.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 2007 BERKELEY PRIZE ESSAY
In Stage Two, you are to expand upon your chosen topic in 2,500 words. There are two required parts for your submittal.
Part 1) In 2000 words you are to explain your project in depth.
Part 2) In the instructions for the Proposal (Stage 1), you were to name one of the 15 listed teams as the potential partner in your project. Now, in an additional 500 words you are to explain the part your selected team will take in your project and why you believe it is the best team with whom to work. Tell us:
a) How would you and your team form a partnership? What part do you play as a member of the team?
b) What evidence do you get from their website – and the links they have provided – that this team would work best for you?
c) Which specific project of theirs makes you feel confident that they can help you and why?
(NOTE: Again, we ask that you do NOT contact the individual teams directly. We have selected these teams because of the wealth of information available about them on the web and in print. Do your research, but please allow the teams to get on with their own time-consuming work.)
THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDER YOUR WRITING BEFORE SUBMITTAL
Before you begin to write the 2,500 word essay, it is essential that you carefully consider the Reviewers' comments about your Proposal for the essay. These comments are meant to help you write a winning essay. Please review your reviewer comments in your Author Portfolio.
You have almost six weeks to produce your essay in final form. Use at least four of these weeks creatively to improve your writing abilities in English. Read some good prose written in English. Novels, poetry and architectural writing are great teachers.
o Use the websites listed below to improve your vocabulary and syntax. Check your spelling and vocabulary when in doubt.
refdesk.com
http://www.refdesk.com/index.html#cat
William Strunk, Jr. The Elements of Style
http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html
Guide to Grammar and Writing (Capital Community College)
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
Dictionary.com
http://www.dictionary.com/
Thesaurus.com
http://www.thesaurus.com/
Finally, try out your ideas on others before sending your essay. Ask a friend to read your essay before submitting it. Better yet, show it to two friends: one, a fellow architecture student; the second, a person not familiar with the discipline or profession. Use their input and if you can prevail on them, ask them to read your revised draft.
ONLINE SUBMISSION SYSTEM
LOGIN TO YOUR AUTHOR PORTFOLIO to submit your essay.
The essays are due at midnight, Universal Coordinated Time (Greenwich Mean Time), February 28, and should be submitted through the online submission system.
If you are ready to submit your essay to our online system, please follow the link above. You may return as many times as you like to modify your essay. Please have your essay ready to cut and paste into the online forms provided.
MORE INFORMATION
For further information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions, or email info@berkeleyprize.org.
