Find out the Red Ribbon essay theme in your area as each community selects its own. Ask teachers, community group leaders and organizations about local Red Ribbon Week activities. Past themes have included, "Can You Hear Me Now? I Don't Do Drugs!," "Why I Choose To Live a Drug-Free Life," and "I've Better Things To Do Than Drugs."
Pick up or download a copy of the community Red Ribbon Week fact sheet, contest rules, entry form and other necessary paperwork to enter. Pay attention to directives such as word count limits, legibility, and whether the essay should be hand written or typed.
Note how the essays will be judged. Most contests state that originality, content, clarity and organization are the key criteria that the judges evaluate. An example of contest criteria from a flier from the Orange County Coalition for a Drug Free Community stated, "judged on originality, creativity, organization of thought, imagination and artistic quality and ability."
Read past Red Ribbon Winner essays, which can be found online. Research drug-related themes by reading about recovering drug addicts, drug incidents or those who have committed to being drug-free. Look at back issues of local and regional newspapers and such magazines as Time or Newsweek to find information about efforts to fight drugs. Then, consider your stance in response to the contest theme. Understand the chosen drug topic fully and confidently before writing. Express your awareness about the dangers of addition and make a personal commitment to stay drug-free.
Writing in your own words, create a rough draft that concentrates on your position or viewpoint. Begin the introduction with a quote, short anecdote or an opening sentence related to stopping the spread of drugs, drug use, or helping those who have pledged to live drug-free. The opening must hook the reader and capture his attention. The body of the essay also must revolve around the contest theme statement.
Enhance the essay by supporting your opinions with references. Make sure that quotations from authoritative sources and other evidence is appropriately documented in a citation showing where the content was obtained.
End the essay with a conclusion that restates the main points of your theme and ties the components of the essay together. Then, check for spelling, sentence structure and punctuation errors. Lastly, reread the contest rules and double-check that you have conformed to the style requirements.