The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is a dream come true if you are a high school student who loves literature that explicitly addresses philosophical ideas. This competition gives young minds the chance to read Ayn Rand's 1957 dystopian novel, Atlas Shrugged and write an essay about it. Besides, winners and runner-ups are awarded substantial cash prizes totalling $ 25,000 and earn recognition for their writing, argumentative skills and ability to engage with the ideas expressed in the novel.
This post provides a short summary of the novel, details about the competition, and advice on how to write a winning essay.
Atlas Shrugged is set in a future United States on the verge of economic and industrial collapse. This is due to extensive government control of the initiatives of businesses and creative citizens (scientists, artists, industrialists). The book’s main character, Dagny Taggart, grapples with the challenges of managing a railroad company amid the mounting pressure exercised by the government and its bureaucratic demands.
Through its plot and characters, Atlas Shrugged enacts issues often addressed in philosophical inquiry such as the nature of human happiness, the value of laissez-faire capitalism, individualism and the limits of collectivism. The philosophical content of the novel is so dense because Ayn Rand saw herself not only as a novelist but also as a philosopher who conveyed her ideas through fiction. Her ideas now constitute a philosophy in its own right called ‘objectivism’. Objectivism has been highly controversial as a philosophy since it appears to value self-interest and individualism, rather than altruism and collectivism, as the key to human progress and happiness. It is, perhaps, due to objectivism’s controversial claims that Atlas Shrugged can generate new and original essays through the contest.
This essay contest is organised by the Ayn Rand Institute. Every three months, there is a new entry with predefined essay prompts (essay questions) about the philosophical ideas in the novel. Students from 9th grade through to graduate school can participate and they may compete in any or all of these entry rounds. The essays are judged for their grasp of the content and events represented in the novel, logicality and clarity of expression. While the novel's themes can be controversial, participants must remember that the judges will evaluate the strength of the essay’s argument. You are free to share a unique perspective, regardless of your philosophical leanings.
Submission deadlines change every year and are published on the contest’s official website. In the interim between submission and grading, candidates may be asked to attend an interview. Therefore, it is advisable to keep reviewing your essay and researching critical material about the novel after submission to identify potential questions. Alongside a cash prize, winners may be given the opportunity to participate in promotional activities, thus earning further recognition for their writing.
The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest attracts a high volume of candidates every year. It is very competitive since the panel consists of high-profile academics and professionals who select only three winning essays among thousands of entries. Winners of this contest often attract the attention of selective colleges and universities because the contest champions the ability to analyse literary texts, engage with complex ideas, to develop convincing interdisciplinary arguments at the interface between literature and philosophy. For instance, winners from the 2022 edition were accepted into Stanford, Cornell, and other top universities.
Before writing your essay, ensure you understand Atlas Shrugged thoroughly. You may need to read it twice since a second reading helps to notice details that may be overlooked when reading a text for the first time. If you do not own a copy of Rand’s novel, you will be able to access a digital copy, as well as the essay prompts, when you register for the competition.
To write an essay that could win the contest, you need to choose the prompt that interests you the most. Since Atlas Shrugged is a best-selling novel that has generated a large body of critical responses by academics and scholars, you can then start reading these as well. They can be accessed through academic databases such as JSTOR and Google Scholar, which are usually provided by college and university libraries. Reading criticism is important because it will highlight issues to be discussed, provide models of good academic writing, and, most importantly, reliable sources to be cited in your essay.
Your essay should take a clear stand (your thesis). A good thesis is like a riddle; it makes the reader think; it may even provoke them and cause them to disagree with your stand. However, by approaching this from different standpoints and addressing counterarguments (opposing views), you will gradually enable the reader to see your thesis’s validity and strengths.
After finishing your draft, or after every partial draft, take a break. This will enable you to review it with a clearer mind and to spot typos, grammatical errors, and unclear passages. Try reading your essay aloud as well; it is an effective way to notice awkward phrasing or sentences that are hampering the flow of your writing.
The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest requires the ability to write thought-provoking and well-crafted essays at the interface between literature and philosophy.
Indigo Research can connect you with skilled academic mentors who can guide you through the process of writing a research project. This may then become the basis of an essay for this competition as well as an invaluable addition to your college application.
What is the whole point of Atlas Shrugged?
It is a novel authored by Ayn Rand that explores the philosophy of objectivism. The author supports reason, individualism, capitalism, and self-interest while opposing collectivism, altruism, and government intervention in the economy. In this work of fiction, Rand imagines a world where all the most capable people ("prime movers") stop working, thereby causing societal breakdowns that underscore personal achievement and worth.
Does the Ayn Rand scholarship exist?
Yes, the Ayn Rand Institute only provides scholarships through essay contests based on her works like "Atlas Shrugged." This competition is open to students at different levels who can show how they know much about what she thinks of. That idea was reflected in different parts of this particular publication.
Who are the primary characters in Atlas Shrugged?
The book presents various figures representing Objectivism. Atlas shrugged characters include Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden, Francisco d'Anconia, John Galt, and Eddie Willers.
Atlas Shrugged summary
Society crumbles when the best members walk out, led by an unknown personality called John Galt, in protest against oppressive government policies and collectivist ideologies as described in Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged". While trying to keep the economy alive, Dagny Taggart, who is a railroad executive, also seeks answers about these vanishings and what Galt's strike stands for.
If you need more guidance & want to increase your skills in writing, consider joining our IRIS Program this summer. This program was made in a way that it will stand out on your academic record and push your abilities in researching to the maximum.
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If you need more guidance & want to increase your skills in writing, consider joining our IRIS Program this summer. This program was made in a way that it will stand out on your academic record and push your abilities in researching to the maximum.
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