Anthem shares the story of how the individual is swallowed by the collective, identifying how it
can happen, and displaying the ideas that must be accepted for a totalitarian society to take
hold. Anthem is also a story of the triumph of the independent spirit of the individual who
successfully rejects the ideas of collectivism.
Now is your chance to explore the book and give your take. You assignment is to choose one of
the following topics and create a well-developed essay using the book, class discussions, and
outside materials. This will require you to “go beyond” what has been given to you in the
classroom.
This essay needs to state the question and your focus. It is important that you support your
focus and elaborate on it. Be sure your ideas are organized in a cohesive clear manner and
there’s a relationship between the ideas. You paper needs to be between one and a half and
two and a half pages. You are required to type your page and double space it. Please refer to the
rubric for grading criteria. This is worth 100 points. It is due Tuesday, October 23, at the
beginning of the class period. If I receive the paper after the start of the class period (for
example, if you need to email it to me due to printer issues) points will be deducted.
Option 1
Why did Ayn Rand name her main characters “Prometheus” and “Gaea”? Compare the historical
myths of Prometheus and Gaea to the lives of these two characters.
Option 2
Equality reaches the important realization that “To be free, a man must be free of his brothers”.
Explain what Equality means by this, citing examples from Anthem
Option 3
In the final chapter of Anthem, Prometheus writes that he now understands “why the best in me
had been my sins and my transgressions; and why I had never felt guilt in my sins.” What has
Prometheus come to understand about himself? Why does his society regard the “best in him”
as sinful?
Option 4
Equality understands that his invention will benefit mankind greatly; however, this was not his
main motivation in conducting his experiments, and it is not the primary source of the great joy
he experiences. Discuss.
4
3
2
1
Support
Support
information is
related to and
supportive of the
thesis
Support
information has
minor weaknesses
in relation to
and/or support of
the thesis
Support
information has
major weaknesses
in relation to
and/or support of
the thesis.
An attempt has
been made to add
support
information, but it
was unrelated or
confusing.
Elaboration
Elaboration
consists of specific,
developed details.
Elaboration
consists of some
specific details.
Elaboration
consists of general
and/or
undeveloped
details, which may
be presented in a
list-like fashion.
Elaboration is
sparse; almost no
details.
Organization
Organizational
structure
establishes
relationship
between ideas.
There is a logical
progression of
ideas/events and is
unified and
complete.
Organizational
structure
establishes
relationships
between ideas,
although minor
lapses may be
present. There is a
logical progression
of ideas and is
reasonably
complete, although
minor lapses may
be present.
Organizational
structure
establishes some
relationship
between some of
the ideas. The
structure is
minimally
complete. One or
more major lapses
in the logical
progression of ideas
is evident.
Organizational
structure does not
establish
connection between
ideas. The overall
structure is
incomplete or
confusing. Ideas are
presented in a
random fashion.
Focus
Thesis is clear,
though it may/may
not be explicitly
stated. Maintains
focus on thesis
throughout
response.
Thesis is generally
clear though it may
not be explicitly
stated. May exhibit
minor lapses in
focus on thesis.
Thesis may be
vague. May lose
focus or may
exhibit major lapses
in focus on thesis
Thesis is unclear or
confusing.
Format
Paper is correctly
formatted and
meets the length
criteria. It is free of
errors in grammar,
punctuation, and
spelling.
Paper either does
not meet the length
or format
requirement. It has
few errors in
grammar,
punctuation, and
spelling
Paper does not
meet neither the
length nor the
format
requirement. It has
many errors in
grammar,
punctuation, and
spelling.
Paper was not
thoroughly
proofread. It has a
substantial amount
of errors.