<p>Question: should originality always be more highly praised that conformity?</p>
<p>Originality inherently is superior to conformity and thus should be praised more. By definition, originality is novel and innovative while conformity is dull and trite. The greatness of originality is exemplified in literary and personal examples. </p>
<p>In the novel, The Giver by Lois Lowry, the so-called utopian society demonstrates the flaws of conformity, which in turn reveals the significance of originality. This book takes place in a cosmopolitan city in which all the people are exactly alike. The citizens of the state are all required to follow the same draconian rules. The people must take two pills a day that limit their hormones, are assigned occupations, must marry specific individuals, and are not obliged to do anything that deviates from the norm. Thus, in this society, emotion is eradicated and there is no genuine sense of human sentiment. The emotionless “utopian” society depicted in the book elucidates the need for originality rather than conformity. </p>
<p>Furthermore, high school robotics competitions reveal the importance of originality rather than conformity. In high school robotics, teams compete against each other in a tournament. The team’s robot must beat all the other robots to win. Therefore, the robot must set itself apart from the rest of the competition. In order to do so teams must formulate new ideas and innovative designs. Originality has a direct correlation to a team’s success, revealing that originality is clearly more instrumental for success than conformity is. </p>
<p>As demonstrated by the book Walden by Henry David Thoreau, originality is a virtue while conformity is a vice. Thoreau in this book details his experiences living in the woods, separated from social influences. He wanted to escape the conformity he experienced in the towns and cities. While in the woods, Thoreau describes the adverse effects of conformity and the serenity he feels while secluded from society. He states that defying social norms is the best approach. Thoreau, a nonconformist, demonstrates, through his experiences in seclusion, the value in taking novel approaches instead of conforming to societal norms. Thoreau ultimately evinces the benefits of originality and the detriment of conformity. </p>
<p>Through the analysis of The Giver, robotics competitions, and Walden, originality can, indeed, be considered more worthy of praise and consideration than conformity.</p>
<p>*Note I am not underlining the titles</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, please give me a score 2-12</p>