17th Annual Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Novelette, Anthem

For 8th, 9th and 10th Graders

Deadline:  March 20, 2010

Cash Awards:

First Prize:  $2,000
5 Second Prizes:  $500
10 Third Prizes:  $200
45 Finalists:  $50
175 Semi-Finalists:  $30

Topics

Select ONE of the following three topics:

1. Why do you think the Council of Vocations assigns Equality the job of Street Sweeper? Is it due to error, incompetence or a more sinister motivation? Explain.

2. The old locks and lack of guards in the Palace of Corrective Detention indicate that prisoners never try to escape. Why do you think they do not? Explain.

3. In a single, unified essay, explain the meaning and wider significance of EACH of the following quotes in the story:

   1. “To be free, a man must be free of his brothers.” (Ch. 12)

   2. “It is the mind which thinks, and the judgment of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth.” (Ch. 11)

   3. “And we thought that we could trust this being who looked upon us from the stream, and that we had nothing to fear with this being.” (Ch. 8)

Judging

Essays will be judged on both style and content. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Anthem.

Essay submissions are evaluated in a fair and unbiased multi-round judging process. To ensure the anonymity of our participants, cover sheets and identifying information are removed after the first round. Winners’ names remain unknown to judges until after the essays have been ranked and the contest results finalized. ARI checks essays with Ithenticate plagiarism detection software.

Rules

• No application is required. Contest is open to students worldwide.

• Entrant must be in the 8th, 9th or 10th grade.

• Essay must be between 600 and 1,200 words.

• Essay must be submitted by March 20, 2010, no later than 11:59 PM, PST.

• Essay must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarized essays will be disqualified.

• Entrants may submit only one essay. Decisions of the judges are final.

• Employees of the Ayn Rand Institute, its board of directors and their immediate family members are not eligible for this contest. Past first-place winners are not eligible for this contest.

• All entries become the property of the Ayn Rand Institute and will not be returned.

• Participants will be notified of the contest results by July 27, 2010.

To Enter

» Submit Online

You will receive an e-mail acknowledging receipt of your entry within 24 hours. If it has been at least 24 hours, and you have not received e-mail notification, please e-mail essay@aynrand.org. Please check your junk e-mail for your notification. Please do not re-submit.

Students unable to submit their essays online may mail essays to:

Anthem Essay Contest
The Ayn Rand Institute
P.O. Box 57044
Irvine, CA 92619-7044

For mailed-in essays only—You MUST include a stapled cover sheet with the following information: your name; mailing address; e-mail address; the name and address of your high school; topic selected (#1, 2 or 3 from the list above); your current grade level;  the name of the teacher who assigned the essay (if applicable).

If you wish to verify our receipt of your essay, please paperclip a stamped, self-addressed postcard to the essay.

Please do not submit duplicate essays!

Comments or questions about the essay contests are welcome. Please write to essay@aynrand.org.

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