atlas shrugged novel essay contest

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Ayn Rand Institute Novel Essay Contest (Atlas Shrugged) This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Ayn Rand Institute

Multiple awards worth up to

Grade level.

All Grade Levels

Application deadline:

June 14, 2024

Scholarship Overview

Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student with a passion for reading, writing, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Ayn Rand Institute Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest! Each year, the contest asks its applicants to write an 800 – 1,600 word essay in which they analyze and make an argument about an aspect or plot point of the novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Nine prizes of varying amounts are awarded each year, with a grand prize of $25,000! If you’re familiar with Atlas Shrugged , can make a convincing argument, and want to make some cash, we encourage you to apply!

About Ayn Rand Institute

The Ayn Rand Institute is a California-based nonprofit “think tank” dedicated to promoting a better understanding of Ayn Rand’s philosophies.

Eligibility information

This scholarship is open to students meeting the below eligibility criteria.

Literature/English/Writing

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Application information.

To apply for this scholarship, submit an online application and the below application materials. Essays should be logically-organized, clear, and illustrate an incredibly in-depth understanding of the meaning of “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. Whether a judge agrees or disagrees with an applicant’s argument will not be a factor in scoring.

1,600-word essay

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• Essay Contests
• Teacher Resources
• Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

For all students in grade 12, college, and graduate school, entry deadline: november 7, 2022, cash prizes.

Semifinalist

Select ONE of the following three topics:

In the world of Atlas Shrugged , material goods that many of the characters take for granted become increasingly difficult to obtain as the plot progresses. Identify several examples of such goods, and explain how the novel accounts for their disappearance. Describe the economic and the moral-philosophical forces at work in their disappearance. Are there significant parallels with the shortages our world has witnessed in the last few years? Explain any similarities and differences (using contemporary examples).

Throughout Atlas Shrugged , there are both literal and figurative references to motors and motive power. Describe three examples of this that occur in the novel, and explain their meaning in the context of the scenes they are taken from. How does this meaning relate to the wider philosophical themes of the novel?

Among the many advocates of the “morality of death” he targets in his radio speech, John Galt reserves special criticism for the “mystics” who declare that man’s duty is “to crawl through years of penance, atoning for the guilt of his existence to any stray collector of unintelligible debts.” Name and describe at least two of the doctrines about human nature that Galt says these mystics use to encourage this moral outlook. Then illustrate their impact by choosing a character from Atlas Shrugged who struggles with these doctrines. (If one character struggles with both doctrines, you need only discuss one character.) What types of behavior do the doctrines encourage? What are the consequences for the character(s) in question? How is this struggle resolved?

Essays will be judged on whether the student is able to argue for and justify their view—not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses. Judges will look for writing that is clear, articulate and logically organized. Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Atlas Shrugged .

Essay submissions are evaluated in a fair and unbiased four-round judging process. Judges are individually selected by the Ayn Rand Institute based on a demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Ayn Rand’s works.

To ensure the anonymity of our participants, winners’ names are unknown to judges until after essays have been ranked and the contest results finalized.

The Ayn Rand Institute checks essays with Ithenticate plagiarism detection software.

• The Ayn Rand Institute’s (ARI’s) Atlas Shrugged essay contest is open to all students worldwide, except where void or prohibited by law.
• Entrants must be enrolled as a 12th grade, undergraduate, or graduate student during the school year in which the contest is held. ARI reserves the right to make exceptions to this rule, on a case-by-case basis, for international students or for students with nonstandard school years. Verification of school enrollment will be required for all winning entrants.
• Students are permitted to submit one entry to the contest each year, provided they meet the eligibility requirements outlined above and have not previously won first-place in the contest.
• Essays must be written in English only, and be between 800 and 1,600 words in length, double-spaced. Spelling errors and/or written corrections (by anyone) found on the essay will count against the final grade and should be omitted before submission.
• Essays must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.
• Essays must not infringe on any third-party rights or intellectual property of any person, company or organization. By submitting an essay to this contest, the entrant agrees to indemnify ARI for any claim, demand, judgment or other allegation arising from possible violation of someone’s trademark, copyright or other legally protected interest in any way in the entrant’s essay.
• Essays must be submitted electronically through ARI’s online application portal. If you are unable to submit your essay electronically, please contact us at [email protected].
• Essays must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time of the entry deadline. ARI reserves the right to provide contest deadline extensions on a case-by-case basis when deemed appropriate.
• All entries become the property of ARI and will not be returned.
• All entrants will be notified of the final results via email by February, 2023.
• Winners are responsible for providing their mailing addresses and other necessary information under the law in order to receive any prizes. Prizes must be claimed within six months of the results being announced.
• Winners agree to allow ARI to post their names and school information on any of its affiliated websites. The first-place essay may be posted in its entirety on any of these websites with full credit given to the author.
• Winners agree to record a short video testimonial about their experience reading Atlas Shrugged, and consent to ARI’s sharing of said video with donors who make the essay contest possible.
• Winners consent to participate in interviews and allow ARI to use quotes and take photographs, movies or videotapes of them.
• Winners also grant to ARI the right to edit, use and reuse said products for non-profit purposes including use in print, on the internet and all other forms of media. Winners release ARI and its agents and employees from all claims, demands, and liabilities whatsoever regarding the above.
• Winners will be solely responsible for any federal, state or local taxes.
• Employees of ARI, its board of directors and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.

Protected by  Ithenticate Plagiarism Detection Software

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 still have not received e-mail notification, please first check your junk or spam folders and then e-mail us at [email protected] . Please do not re-submit your essay.

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Read Now: Prize-Winning Essays on Ayn Rand Novels

ARI has held worldwide essay contests for students on Ayn Rand’s fiction for thirty years. This year we will award over 750 prizes totaling more than $130,000. Last year’s contestants read and responded to essay prompts on Ayn Rand’s Anthem , The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged . You can read all three winning essays on our essay contest page . Here are excerpts from each of the three grand-prize-winning essays:

Atlas Shrugged essay contest

(responding to the prompt: Francisco d’Anconia says that the “words ‘to make money’ hold the essence of human morality.” What does he mean? What are today’s prevalent moral attitudes toward money? Do you agree with Francisco’s view? Explain why or why not. )

. . . When I am told that I am lucky for achieving something, I narrow my eyes and want to ask exactly what it is that I am lucky for? I am a first-generation American, first-generation college student, who received a full ride to a top-tier university. My scholarship was given to well-rounded first-generation college students, who not only excelled academically and demonstrated great leadership potential, but overcame dire socioeconomic hardship. To tell a student like myself that the sum of my achievements were based on luck is to scoff at every ounce of energy I have ever spent scrapping for what I have, and every drop of blood, sweat and tears I have ever shed working for my future—studying when my friends were out having fun, working extra hours to help support my family, etc. What am I lucky for? Am I lucky to have experienced hardship? “Luck” is a term people use in self-defense for their own lack of achievement. To say that one has luck is to imply that others do not, which is a way for those who do not achieve to undermine the achievements of those who do. What others call “luck” is what I call grit, what I call will-power, sacrifice, perseverance, and my own ability. It is what I call “earned.” . . . Christina Jeong, El Paso, TX – University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

*          *          *

The Fountainhead essay contest

(responding to the prompt: In his courtroom speech, Howard Roark explains the nature, motivation and importance of those who create values (such as new artworks, technological inventions and innovations, and advances in theoretical knowledge). Why does he think that value-creation and what it requires of the creators is crucially important from a moral perspective? In your answer, consider what a character from another Ayn Rand novel, Atlas Shrugged, has to say about the process of value-creation, in the speech “ The Nature of an Artist .” )

. . . The protagonist of the novel, Howard Roark, is a fictional representation of these convictions — he is a philosophical idea, turned into a physical character, the manifestation of the independent, purposeful individual, whose only goal in life is his happiness. He is the creator, whose concern is conquering nature. He is the one who realises that he is the maker of his own destiny, the one who does not require others to live for his sake, and does not live for the sake of others. He is every individual who has been shamed for his achievement and later had it taken away from him; every mind, which has ever been enslaved to the degrading idea of serving “the common good” at the expense of sacrificing his own truth. He is the breaker of chains. . . . Adelina Fendrina, Sliven, Bulgaria—High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics “Dobri Chintulov,” Sliven, Bulgari

Anthem essay contest

(responding to the prompt: Equality knows that his invention will benefit mankind greatly. However, this was not his primary motivation in conducting his experiments, and it is not the primary source of the joy and the pride he experiences in his work. What is his primary motivation? Do you think that Equality is right to be motivated in this way? Explain the reasons for your answer. What do you think the world would be like if everyone were motivated in the same way? )

Unlike during the Unmentionable Times, when men created “towers [that] rose to the sky,” it is an affliction to be born with powerful intellectual capacity and ambition in Ayn Rand’s apocalyptic, nameless society in Anthem. Collectivism is ostensibly the moral guidepost for humanity, and any perceived threat to the inflexible, authoritarian regime is met with severe

punishment. The attack on mankind’s free will and reason is most evident in the cold marble engraving in the Palace of the World Council: “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever” (6). Societal norms force homogeneity and sacrifice among all people. Laws and rules are crafted to prevent advancement and preserve relentless uniformity under the guise of moral righteousness. Here we find Equality 7-2521 on the path to self-discovery, struggling to understand the internal conflict he faces — his desire to learn and create against government indoctrination to force stagnation and conformity. . . . Elisabeth Schlossel, New York, NY – The Spence School, New York, NY

Find out more details about the contests and enter for your chance to win .

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College Scholarship: Ayn Rand “Atlas Shrugged” Essay Contest

As college costs continue to soar, more and more students find themselves looking for additional ways to fund a college education. More than 85% of college students now receive some type of financial aid, but for many families, this still isn’t enough to cover college expenses. In fact, CNBC estimated in 2018 that 70% of students were graduating with student debt, and that the average graduate has $37,172 in student loans. One way to help defray these costs is through college scholarships.

About the Ayn Rand “Atlas Shrugged” Essay Contest

Students who have read Ayn Rand’s prolific novel “Atlas Shrugged” know that the book provides commentary on a number of complex philosophical themes, ranging from objectivism to capitalism and individualism. For over 30 years, the Ayn Rand Institute has held worldwide essay contests for students based on Ayn Rand’s fiction. In 2019, they will award over 230 prizes, totaling more than $70,000.

Participants submit an essay that addresses one of three prompts based on “Atlas Shrugged”. The prompts for 2019 are:

• Atlas Shrugged depicts a society of diminishing economic freedom. What is the philosophical motivation behind these controls and what is the practical result? What is hero John Galt’s answer, both practically and philosophically? Use the events in the novel to support your answer. In your answer, consider what Ayn Rand says in the lecture “ Faith and Force .”
• Dagny says to Rearden: “If I’m asked to name my proudest attainment, I will say: I have slept with Hank Rearden. I had earned it.” Why is she so proud, and what does she mean by having earned it? How and why does Rearden’s attitude differ from hers? How do their attitudes toward sex relate to the wider themes of the novel? Consider also what Ayn Rand has to say in her essay “ Of Living Death .”
• Atlas Shrugged is a story that portrays a dramatic conflict of characters and their values. What is the most significant conflict in the story? Is it the conflict between the creators and the looters? Is it the conflict the creators experience in their own souls? Is it something else? Explain your answer.

Essays are judged on the student’s ability to justify and provide evidence for his or her statement, not on whether the Institute agrees with the student’s perspective. Judges look for writing that is “clear, articulate and logically organized [and] winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of ‘Atlas Shrugged’.”

The first place winner receives $25,000. Two second place winners receive $2,500, five third place winners receive $500, and 50 finalists receive $100 each.

“Atlas Shrugged” Essay Contest Requirements

Entires are open to students worldwide, but the essay must be written in English. All entrants must be 12th graders, college undergraduates, or graduate students.  All essays must be between 800-1600 words in length. Essays can be submitted by mail or online. If submitted by mail, be certain to include all of the elements outlined on the Contest Rules page. Submissions need to be submitted online or postmarked by September 19, 2019, no later than 11:59 p.m., Pacific Standard Time. Winners will be notified by January 2020. Be sure to see the complete Contest Details for all requirements.

Tips on Applying for the Ayn Rand “Atlas Shrugged” Essay Contest

Follow the directions.

It can be difficult to juggle the requirements of multiple scholarship applications, but it is absolutely paramount that you follow all directions for each scholarship exactly. Remember, most scholarships receive thousands of applicants, and it can be difficult to choose a single winner. Failure to follow directions gives the contest evaluators or scholarship judges good reason to pass you over.

Proofreading is an essential piece of every scholarship application, but it is especially important for essay contests. Judges want to hear from students who can express themselves articulately and intelligently. Lapses in spelling or grammar may at best indicate that you rushed through your work, or at worst be a sign that you don’t know the proper spelling or grammar to begin with.

Research is an especially helpful part of the “Atlas Shrugged” Essay Contest. This is because the Ayn Rand Institute provides a number of resources to guide entrants. For one, they provide the actual essays of past winners. Read these carefully to learn more about the type and level of work expected from a winning entry. In addition, don’t miss the countless resources provided under the Resources tab . Although the Institute is careful to say that beyond “endorsing perfect punctuation and grammar” they offer no specific advice for the essay, they do provide a number of tools to help frame your thinking and enhance your essay content. Read these carefully before beginning.

Enlist Help

While your essay must absolutely be 100% your own work, there’s not doubt that having another set of eyes and ears to review your work is very helpful. Talk with a teacher, mentor, or friend about your essay content before you begin writing. You may get some helpful feedback to help shape the direction of your work. Then, once you’re done with the writing part, be sure to have someone else give your essay a good proofread and edit. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes will find typos that blended in when you reviewed your work.

Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!

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Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships: Atlas Shrugged novel Essay Contest

Website: AYN RAND Essay Contest

Description

The  Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is for students with a passion for reading and writing.

How the selection works:

• Seasonal Prompts - every 3 months there is a new seasonal entry round, with its own unique essay prompt. You may compete in any or all of these entry rounds.
• Seasonal Winners - the top 3 essays from each season will be awarded a cash prize. The first place essay from each season will advance to compete for the annual grant prize.
• Annual Grant Prize - 1st place essays from each season will be eligible to contend for the annual first-place title, with an opportunity to secure a grand prize of $25,000.

Each entry round features a unique topic designed to provoke a deeper understanding of  Atlas Shrugged ’s central themes and characters. Essays must be written in English only and be between 800 and 1,600 words in length.

Eligibility

Open to all high school, college and graduate students worldwide. 

Our doors are open to participants coming from any part of the world. We have no restrictions on citizenship or nationality, welcoming essays from all, provided they are in English. We welcome submissions from both undergraduate and graduate students.

• Permanent Resident
• International or Other Visa Status
• Undocumented

Please visit the website to apply: https://aynrand.org/students/essay-contests/atlas-shrugged/

Contact Information

Questions? Write to [email protected] .

Award Details

Number of Awards: 9

Award Amount: $25,000 - $1,000

• 2024-06-14: Summer Entry Deadline
• June: National Summer Entry Deadline

Copyright © 2007–2024 University of Washington . Managed by the Center for Experiential Learning & Diversity , a unit of Undergraduate Academic Affairs .

Final Summer I 2024 Application Deadline is June 2, 2024.  

Click here to apply.

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The Ultimate Guide to Winning the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Are you an ambitious high school student looking to win scholarships and showcase your literary analysis and writing abilities? Featuring generous prizes and the opportunity to explore Ayn Rand’s philosophies, the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is a famous writing competition for students to demonstrate strong writing abilities, independent and unique thinking, and a passion for ideas that can shape a society.

This blog is a complete and comprehensive guide to the competition, including information about its guidelines, prizes, dates, and important deadlines.

You can also look up some other great writing competitions that we’ve covered here !

What is the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest?

The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is an annual essay-writing competition for high school seniors, college students, and graduate students, sponsored by the Ayn Rand Institute. The contest encourages students to analyze Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged and write an essay discussing its philosophical ideas applied to today’s world based off of three prompts that are given for the year.

As for the scoring criteria, essays are judged based on the coherent development of a theme, logical reasoning, and clear writing.

Winners receive substantial cash prizes, with $10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second place, and $2,000 for third place. Winners also receive media coverage from the Ayn Rand Institute. The open-ended nature of topics and rigorous standards have established this as a prestigious contest for ambitious writers to gain experience, awards, and an impressive achievement to highlight in their college applications.

Is the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest Prestigious?

The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is a prestigious competition. While the institute does not provide exact numbers on participation, it is estimated that there are 1000 - 2000 essays submitted every year, with only 80 people winning any amount of money. It offers generous prizes, opportunities for recognition, and the chance to have your work evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges including academics, writers, and intellectual leaders within the Ayn Rand Institute . Success in the contest exemplifies a student’s ability to craft a compelling argument, apply abstract philosophical concepts, demonstrate logical reasoning, and communicate complex ideas — all skills that translate well to higher education and your admissions officer will pick up on.

Winners are frequently accepted to top colleges and universities, where they utilize their awards to fund their education, such as 2022 winners attending Stanford, Cornell, and other internationally prestigious universities. Participating in the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest motivates students to strengthen valuable skills in writing, argument building, and critical literary analysis and build confidence in themselves as independent thinkers and writers. Overall, the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest offers students a meaningful way to challenge themselves intellectually and gain credentials to their academic and writing abilities to highlight in their college applications and beyond.

Who is Eligible to Apply to the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest?

The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is open to high school seniors and college and graduate students . Thus, the competition can be very rigorous and intense for high schoolers, as there are no separate brackets of judging by age. The material of Atlas Shrugged can be controversial, thus it is important to remember that the essay is judged upon the writer’s ability to craft an argument and having a strong essay overal l, rather than how the Institute and judges agree with the writer’s views. No one is limited from the contest based on their political/economic beliefs!

Timeline and Structure of the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest runs every year from mid-May to mid-November. Essays must be submitted by mid-November, with 2023’s deadline being November 6th, to be eligible for judging and scholarships. Winners are announced by April on a live stream, and awards are distributed shortly thereafter.

The first step is to actually read through the entire novel, taking notes and understanding its complex themes and plot lines. Anyone can actually email the Ayn Rand Institute for a free copy of the book. ( [email protected] ). The essay itself must be between 1800 to 1,600 words on a topic related to the novel’s themes. While Ayn Rand’s ideas covered in Atlas Shrugged inspire the contest topics, students are encouraged to take up new perspectives and interpretations of the novel, and find novel ways to connect the themes of the novel to reality. All submissions are evaluated based on coherence, logical reasoning supported by examples, and clear writing that persuades readers (the judges) of the essay’s main points. The prompts tend to be long-winded and complex, and often connect themes from the book to real-world events within the writer’s community or worldview, such as from this year:

“In his speech about money, Francisco says: “Whenever destroyers appear among men, they start by destroying money, for money is men’s protection and the base of a moral existence. . . . Paper [money] is a check drawn by legal looters upon an account which is not theirs: upon the virtue of the victims. Watch for the day when it bounces, marked: ‘Account overdrawn.’” Explain what Francisco means by this and how it serves the purpose of his speech. Then explain how his statement can be seen as applying to our economic world today.”

To enter, students complete online registration and submit their essays electronically on the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest website. Essays are blinded before being evaluated by teams of judges at the Ayn Rand Institute, who assess entries based on content, style, and overall effectiveness. The top essays are in consideration of first, second, and third place. There is one first-place winner, given $10,000, three second-place winners given $2,500, five third-place winners given $500, 25 finalists given $100, and 50 finalists given $50 . Cash prizes are paid directly to students to use at their discretion.

Tips for Writing a Winning Essay for the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

1. choose and interpret the prompt in a way that sparks your interest.

From the three prompts, spend some time reading through all of them, brainstorming potential arguments and essays you can write about then, and generate some ideas about how you can connect the book to a real-life scenario. After this time, analyze your results and see which of the prompts contains your best ideas and which you hold the most interest in. Fundamentally, you will not be able to write your best essay about a topic that you are not passionate about. Atlas Shrugged is a long novel, with a long essay to submit for the actual contest. To spend all of this time, the least you can do for yourself and for the best shot at winning is to find a prompt that deeply resonates with you and your community. Your enthusiasm will shine through.

2. Read, understand, and take notes on Atlas Shrugged

For a contest about the novel, you have to make sure you have a deep and close understanding of every single theme, major quote, and character arc and development. It cannot be understated how important having a great grasp on the novel can have on your chances for success, as a deeper understanding of the novel allows you to draw more interesting quotes and interpretations of literature, create a new argument that may not be understood through a surface-level read through, and just increases your chance of standing out and writing a novel essay for the judges, who sit through hundreds and thousands of essays a year. For the sake of organization as you write your essay, also be sure to keep an organized set of notes on the novel, connecting page numbers to the character to the quote to the argument you are trying to make , rather than flipping through the novel to find the one piece of evidence you desire.

3. Spend a great amount of time developing a clear thesis and logical flow

The most important aspect of any strong essay is to have a strong argument. A strong argument must be led by a strong thesis. Advance a compelling thesis supported by a logical chain of reasoning and examples from Atlas Shrugged and current events, by taking a strong and arguable stance. A good thesis will be contentious, will be controversial, and will have to be heavily defended, as that is the point of your argumentative essay. Your thesis should make the reader think a bit, be a bit confused before you argue your points, and by the end of your essay, be proven that your controversial thesis is fundamentally true and correct.

This is especially important for you if you are in high school, because you’ll be competing with much older students who have likely developed more nuanced skills to analyze complex ideas.

4. Consider counterarguments and address them

Similar to the point in your controversial thesis, any good argument will have some counterargument, as your thesis is not just a universally-agreed upon statement. Be sure to discuss and even emphasize contrarian perspectives to your thesis objectively, then reaffirm why your position remains correct based on additional insights and show that the counterargument is actually invalid, weaker than your actual point, or can actually be interpreted, with additional evidence, to even prove your argument. Exploring counterpoints adds depth and validity to your argument, as avoiding counterpoints can be a sign that you cannot address them and you have a weak essay.

5. Utilize a variety of grammatical, sentence, and literary structures

Remember that your readers will be reading through hundreds and thousands of essays. Even if you have a strong argument, if you use improper grammar and spelling (which is stated in the rules to take off points towards your essay), similar sentence and paragraph structures, blunt and boring language, etc., your essay will not perform as well as an essay with a strong argument, but also just interesting to read. How many books out there have an interesting premise and plot, but are just boring to read? Thus, be sure to use a variety of sentence and paragraph structures, varying the vocabulary, literary devices, transitions, and rhythms you employ.

6. Proofread and edit thoroughly and consistently

After putting in all of the effort to craft an argument, generate a thesis, write 1600 words, and conclude your essay, read through your essay for clarity, coherence, and just proper grammar and spelling. Utilize your teachers and friends to read through your essay and provide some points of feedback, especially with grammar structures and interest, as others will likely not have read Atlas Shrugged. Put your essay through a text-to-speech service to hear how your essay flows and audibly sounds, and mark every point where it sounds awkward, or an argument can be fleshed out more. Go through rounds of these edits until you sit down and are satisfied with your wonderfully crafted essay.

7. Always keep track of contest guidelines and rules

Lastly, after writing your entire essay and correcting it to be fundamentally perfect, make sure that your essay meets all length, formatting, and submission requirements to avoid disqualification , which includes double-spaced, 800-1600 words, and written in English. Submit the deadline by 11:59 pm digitally, and if you happen to run into any issues in submission, email the Ayn Rand Institute at [email protected] . Keep these guidelines in mind so that your argument does not go widely over the word limit or you are rushing to submit at 11:58.

8. Follow some examples and lessons from previous winners

While of course, you should write your own essay, generated from your own ideas and words, learning from the essays of previous winners and strong pieces of writing is a smart idea of what the Institute likes to read and award. For example, let’s check out this essay . The author, Mayles of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, expertly compares Atlas Shrugged to Rand’s essay “What is Capitalism.” While the essay is beautifully written, flows seamlessly, and continually adds more and more strong evidence to his thesis, the point that makes this essay great is this: ”However, unlike the typical defenders of capitalism, Rand may argue that rather than the loss of economic prosperity as the tragic ending, the true tragedy lies in the act of intervention itself.” Regardless of the argument, we can analyze this sentence. This sentence contains parts of a counterargument, deepening the argument by challenging preconceived popular notions, and is subversive and susceptible to argument. This style of complexity pushes the essay to be more impactful, more convincing, and ultimately, leads to it becoming a winning essay. Furthermore, check out videos like these , when the Institute announces this year’s winners for special quotes and analyses of what led to a winning essay.

If you are passionate about conducting research in literature or journalism, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Aaron Zheng is a sophomore at Harvard University, studying Bioengineering. He is passionate about biotechnology, business development, and aiding students to get to college, regardless of background. In his spare time, he looks to read, journal, and explore the world.

Image sources: Logo of Ayn Rand Institute, Banner of the 2022 Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

The emphasis on both security and quality is what sold me on this useful source . It thoroughly examines and ranks essay writing services on important criteria like safety, cost, quality of work, and support. Students will have complete faith in their selection of the best service possible thanks to this methodical procedure.

The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

We invite Australian students to join for a chance to win thousands of dollars in prize money for essays they write about subjects arising from the novel.

Essays are judged on whether the student is able to justify and argue for his or her view, not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses.

Our graders look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized. Essays should stay on topic, address all parts of the selected prompt, and interrelate the ideas and events in the novel.

Essays must be written in English only and be between 800 - 1,600 words in length. Winn ing essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of Atlas Shrugged .

The Australian entry deadline for this year is July 31 2024. Participants can use their entries to join the International Contest with an Annual Grand Prize of US $25,000.*

What is Atlas Shrugged ?

Atlas Shrugged is a mystery novel like no other. You enter a world where scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, and inventors are inexplicably vanishing, a world that is crumbling.

But far from a plain depressing dystopia, you discover by the end an uplifting vision of life, an inspiring cast of heroes, and a challenging new way to think and live.

Request a free digital copy of the book today.

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AYN RAND is a registered trademark of the Ayn Rand Institute and is used under license. All rights reserved. We are grateful for the assistance of the ARI in building this website and in funding the Australian essay contest prizes.

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• High School Senior

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Ayn Rand’s bestselling novel “Atlas Shrugged” covers a wide range of philosophical topics, from objectivism to capitalism and individualism.

Students must prepare an essay on one of the three topics based on “Atlas Shrugged” provided and all essays must be between 800-1600 words in length:

Applicants are required to submit their essays online via the official website. The prize money to be won ranges from the $50 semi-finalist prize to the $10,000 first-place prize.

Scholarship Summary

Eligibility requirements.

• Eligible Grade: High School Senior – Graduate
• Maximum Age: Any
• Required GPA : Any
• Geographic Eligibility: Any
• Gender: Any
• Race/Ethnicity: Any

Key Information of Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Study details, area of study, country of study, specific schools, application requirements.

Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest Timeline

Application Opening Date

The essay contest opens up in early May.

Submission Deadline

The final deadline for applications for the current year is November 6.

Essay Grading

Essay's undergo several stages of grading – December is the second stage.

Winners Announced

After the final grading in January, winners will be announced in February after the webinar.

How to ace the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Brush up on your knowledge

To write the best essay effortlessly, make sure to read the “Atlas shrugged Novel” as the topics given for the essay are inspired by the novel. The novel holds the key to an effective and powerful essay.

Remember to be creative

Make sure your essay has a simple story with the judges and readers can relate to and is creatively written. Make sure it is related to the point that you want to convey.

Focus on the philosophical meaning

One of the important points to ace this essay is to understand and convey the philosophical meaning of “Atlas Shrugged” clearly and logically.

Be grammatically correct

Your essay needs to be grammatically correct and make sure there are no flow issues. The essay must not be inconsistent and make sure there aren’t any spelling mistakes too.

How the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is Judged

Essays will be graded based on whether the student can argue for and justify his or her point of view, not whether the Institute agrees with the student's point of view. The essay writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized will be desired by the judges. Winning essays must clearly show an exceptional understanding of “Atlas Shrugged”'s philosophical meaning.

Why We Love the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Wide range of prizes

The essay contest has so many cash prize winners for the participants ranging from $25 to $10,000 covering 84 scholarship winners.

Worldwide reach

The essay contest sees participants from all over the world entering the contest. It is an online competition, hence, it reaches a wide number of people across the globe.

No application fee

There is no application fee for this competition. You just need to submit the essay via the online link for free.

5 Facts About the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Number of entries

Participants are allowed to submit one essay entry for the contest every year.

Focus on your writing

Your writing skills should be clear, logical, and as flawless as possible so that your essay can reflect your thoughts

Promotes reading habits

One of the primary aims of this essay writing competition is to educate and promote the habit of reading among people.

Learn about Ayn Rand

The competition gives participants the chance to learn about Ayn Rand's ideology and works.

Strict measures on plagiarism

The entire essay must be the unique work of the contestant as plagiarism will automatically result in disqualification.

Additional Scholarships

Coca-cola scholars program scholarship.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program offers 150 $20,000 scholarships for high school seniors.

TJX Scholarship Program

Every year the TJX Scholarship Program offers $10,000 scholarships for full-time undergraduate study to African American/Black students.