Anthem Essay Contest Information

Eligibility: 8th, 9th and 10th Graders Entry Deadline: March 20, 2010 FIRST PRIZE: $2,000 5 SECOND PRIZES: $500 10 THIRD PRIZES: $200 45 FINALISTS: $50 175 SEMIFINALISTS: $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.

Rules

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

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

• To avoid disqualification, a stapled cover sheet must include:

  
  
  1. your name and address;
  2. your e-mail address (if available);
  3. the name and address of your high school;
  4. topic selected (#1, 2 or 3 from list above);
  5. your current grade level; and
  6. (optional) the name of the teacher who assigned the essay, if you are completing it for classroom credit.

• Essay must be no fewer than 600 and no more than 1,200 words in length, and double-spaced.

• One entry per student, please.

• Essay must be submitted online or postmarked by March 20, 2010, no later than 11:59 PM, Pacific time.

• Essay must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.

• 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.

• Winners, finalists, semifinalists and all other participants will be notified via e-mail and/or by mail by July 26, 2010.

• Note: All information necessary to enter the contest is contained on this page. It is not necessary to write for more information.

To Enter

» Submit your essay online

Or mail your essay with stapled cover sheet to:

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

Please do not submit duplicate essays!

If submitting your essay electronically, you will be sent an email confirming our receipt. If you have not received an e-mail notification within 24 hours, please e-mail info@aynrandnovels.com. If you are submitting by mail, please paperclip a stamped, self-addressed postcard to the your essay and we will return it to you.

Comments or Questions

Comments or questions about the essay contests are welcome. Please write to info@aynrandnovels.com.

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