Did you know that you can win a whopping $10,000 by crafting a stellar and marvellous essay for the Atlas Shrugged essay contest? The best thing is that you do not even have any restrictions on how you spend the prize money.
The Ayn Rand Institute has been hosting annual essay competitions since 1985 and it has awarded over $2.2 million in cash to students around the globe as prize money. With this much competition, it is impossible for students to prepare themselves aptly for the essay contest & that is where the need for a well-read helping hand kicks in.
Sure, you may have a family member who can provide you with a critical overview of the novel Atlas Shrugged but what’s better than asking for the expert assistance of professional essay writers? They have extensive reading history and also know the hacks for winning scholarship essays. Relying on their help is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Before moving further to the ways to craft your contest essay, let’s first see what this contest is and what students can get from their participation here.
What Is Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest?
The University of Washington describes the Atlas Shrugged essay competition as a golden opportunity for students who are passionate about reading and writing to prove their writing skills. The entrants picked a prompt and wrote an impressive essay in which they had to analyse any plot point of the novel Atlas Shrugged (a novel crafted by Ayn Rand).
Who Is Eligible for Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest?
You can participate in Atlas Shrugged essay contests, which are open to all the following students across the globe:
- The ones who are studying in their high schools
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
- Freshman and sophomore students
- Junior and senior student categories
What Is the Controversy with Atlas Shrugged?
When this novel was first published in 1957, it had created great controversy. The book reached a wide audience, almost 10 million copies have been sold, as it explores a number of philosophical themes. Ayn Rand developed objectivism, including individualism, reason, property rights and capitalism. He depicted the failures that resulted due to governmental coercion.
How Do You Write for Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest?
1. Read the Novel by Ayn Rand
To enter the Atlas Shrugged essay contest, read the novel from start to end according to your education level. Pay close attention to the character motivations (analyse a John Galt line in detail) and study the themes. Brainstorm about how you may answer the essay prompt in the best way.
2. Write an Essay on the Novel
When you start writing your essay, think about the essay question that you have picked to write on. Give yourself enough time to write a coherent outline, find the supporting evidence and revise your essay draft multiple times before you submit it finally. Ensure that you have understood the plot details before crafting the essay.
3. Show Your Understanding
While crafting your essay, you shall have to justify the viewpoint that you have about a certain character. Discuss the free market ideas as discussed in the novel, explain the ideas of rational self-interest and show your readers that you know about what you are writing. There is one simple rule: understand first and write later.
4. Be Clear
Be absolutely clear about your ideas when you are justifying your viewpoint per the essay prompt. Organise your ideas and stay bound to the limits of the novels. Add your perspective in your essay but do not exaggerate too much. Your contest essay should be logically organised, and clear and interrelate the events discussed in the novel.
5. Submit the Essay
When you are done writing your essay, you should submit it online on the application portal of this institute. Ensure that you have checked the information that you provided in your application. Also, your essay should satisfy the requirements of the institute and follow the rules of the Atlas Shrugged essay contest.
What Is the Main Message of Atlas Shrugged?
The novel Atlas Shrugged is based on the role played by the mind in the existence of a man. He says that the mind is the root of all human knowledge and the absence of the mind is the rule of all evil. The contestants of Atlas Shrugged essay competitions have to craft their views on any of the qualities of the plot.
The main characters of this novel are mentioned here:
- John Galt
- Dagny Taggart
- Eddie Willers
- Hank Rearden
- Ellis Wyatt
- Francisco d’Anconia
What Time Period Is Atlas Shrugged Set In?
This novel is set in some unspecified time in the near future (it was actually written in the 1950s though). The novel depicts the United States being subject to bureaucratic regulations and the contemporary reader can see the tech level and social customs that used to be practised in the 1950s.
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest Examples
Some winning entries by the Atlas Shrugged essay contest winners in 2023 and past years are the following:
- Francisco d’Anconia remarks that the “words ‘to make money’ hold the essence of human morality.” What do you think he wants to say here? Also, what do you think are the modern moral attitudes that are prevalent toward money? Do you agree with his opinions and views? Explain why or why not.
- Atlas Shrugged narrates the story of what deterioration happens to a society when somehow, its most productive members go missing. Can you successfully find a similar situation in today’s world? Choose a well-known situation in the twentieth century that has made it to international headlines. Describe in detail what you think is the cause and effect of such a situation. Also explain how your example relates to the story of Atlas Shrugged and in what ways, it is different.
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest Topics for 2024
The young creative minds can prepare these ideas for the Atlas Shrugged essay contest scholarship that is to happen in 2024:
- Explain your perspective on Rand’s views on women.
- Why did Rand use the word ‘we’ in the last chapter, whereas it has always been the word ‘I’ in the whole novel?
- What is the importance of the contrasted pairs of Rand and how does it impact her characters and her imagery? Also, explain what is preferable for Rand, the dark-hard or the light-soft?
- What role does the Golden One and International play in the novel?
- According to Rand, what role is played by objectivism in the religion?
Conclusion
Graduate students worldwide can enter the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Express your ideas firmly, clearly and confidently. Follow all the formatting guidelines, stay within the context of the novel, and ensure that your crafted essay is flawless in terms of theme and vocabulary.
These contest essays are judged on the basis of whether the students can justify their perspective or not. The institute also has to agree with the viewpoint of the student. The pressure of proving one’s point is so intense that students feel lost during the prep phase. Instead of panicking, they ask for help with Atlas Shrugged essay contest from a reliable essay writing agency. Professional writers are skilled enough to guide you on how to write meticulously on your essay prompt for a competition.
