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Home Comparison Essay Assignment Comparison Essay-Student Posts Works Cited Exemplar Internal Citation Exemplar Civil Society Defined Great Man Continuum

Were the persons or was the Civil Society more influential in the 1920s and 1980s? I think some of the most important developments in the 1920s were medical advances in infantile paralysis by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the upcoming of Jazz, and by writer Ernest Hemingway. I think some of the most important points in history during the 1980s were the beginning of Hip Hop, the rise of pop by Michael Jackson, and the presidency of Ronald Reagan. I will use the Great Man Criteria to explain why these people and ideas were so influential on American society at the time. These topics for the 1920s were significant for various reasons. Franklin D Roosevelt was important because of presidency and because he helped cure the infectious disease, Polio. According to Corbin D, this was because Polio led to Infantile Paralysis, which Roosevelt was diagnosed with. He put a lot of time into the cure of Polio because he understood the feeling. Duke Ellington was significant in the 1920s because of his new style of Jazz. According to Arat I, Jazz was not popular before this time, but Duke Ellington put a sophisticated twist on his music that interested people; this led to a modernization of music and entertainment. Ernest Hemingway also changed the 1920s because of his new style of writing. According to Lucas S, writing was never considered an art, but Hemmingway created a style “in which meaning is established through dialogue, through action, and silences” (Cynthia Bames). This drew people’s attention. These accomplishments that took place in the 1920s are still remembered today. We still remember Franklin D Roosevelt as an extraordinary president. “The only this we have to fear is fear itself.” (Elkins, Franklin D Roosevelt) These words are still put into consideration for inspiration to continue to improve the lives of those diagnosed. (Corbin D) According to Arat I, jazz was always thought of as “the devil’s music”, kind of like 1980s Rock. But Ellington’s goal was to make Jazz a more serious kind of music; he inspired all jazz musicians. “He converted jazz to a more organized and more beautiful style that stretches to our time.” (Arat I) This style of jazz is was we still remember today. We remember Ernest Hemmingway for his writings that began to speak to people more deeply. Writing went from being “dull and repetitive, to a lifelike style of writing.” (Brucolli) All of these people in the 1920s had a significant influence on society. According to Corbin D, the March of Dimes founded by President Roosevelt made a major impact on Polio, which produced a cure. Roosevelt saved lives and prevented misery with his interest on Infantile Paralysis because it was so personal to him. “Duke Ellington influenced many things in both the social and artistic world.” (Arat I) He changed the way jazz and just music in general was respected, and he impacted the world of musical theatre such as Broadway. Ernest Hemmingway strongly impacted people because it opened them up to a new way of thinking. In his work, he rejected the ideas of humans creating their own destinies and that man is free to do what he wishes. He opened up society to the idea of negativity because he wasn’t afraid to use it. This style was more relatable to people because it was more realistic. They could relate his writing to their own lives because their lives weren’t always beautiful. These important icons impacted the daily lives of people because of how the world changed. Franklin D Roosevelt was the driving force toward the cure of Polio. “Polio was declared eradicated from the United States in 1979.” (Corbin D) It took time, but Roosevelt slowly improved the lives of the sick because he wanted to, and he will forever be important because of it. Duke Ellington changed the lives of the people at the time because he influenced their outlook on music. Music became more about the artist’s voice and what was heard or felt within the sound. (Arat I) This impacted all types of music practiced from jazz on. Today, we can relate this meaning of sound to the music we listen to and the lyrics found within it. Ernest Hemmingway wrote his stories during a time when “chaos was breaking out in every street corner”(Lucas S). His writings gave people a time to grasp reality and better understand their surroundings. The 1980s were also a time of influence and change. There were many reasons why the 1980s topics were significant. According to Lucas S, The rise of Hip Hop was an alternative style of music that came about during that time. It was popular within poor black communities aka. The Ghetto. The songs and performances conveyed messages from racism to politics, all things that others could relate to. According to Emma P, Michael Jackson was significant because he contributed to the music genre of pop and the production of music videos, which were very popular at the time. According to Matt Y, President Ronald Reagan was significant during a time political time of Communism of the Soviet Union versus Democracy of the United States. Reagan wanted to tear down the Berlin Wall in Germany because he thought it would end the battle over Communism. All of these events that happened during the 1980s are still remembered for what they stood for and what they symbolized. We remember Hip Hop as the style of music that “provided a way for everyone to express anything” (Lucas S). Depending on what were currently issues at the time, what Hip Hop was standing for would usually change. “Hip Hop’s legacy is always expanding, due to the fast increasing number of artists and composers.” (Lucas S) We all remember Michael Jackson as the “King of Pop.” “His legacy has lasted not only in his music, but in his dance moves with his, now iconic, “moonwalk.” (Bio Ref Bank). “The Berlin wall essentially showed the strength of communism in the world and its collapse showed the essential collapse of communism in Germany and other places.” (Matt Y) That’s how Ronald Reagan viewed the wall at the time, and that is much how it is still viewed in the US. The influence of these events was beneficial because it revolutionized the US socially. Hip Hop more so equalized the way wealthy and non-wealthy musicians were treated. “[Hip Hop] gave poor people the opportunity to pursue a career in music, which wasn’t possible before due to the immense cost of musical instruments and equipment.” (Lucas S) And because Hip Hop became so popular, the messages they were sending in their music were heard by many, so just the music itself was influential. Michael Jackson influenced the music business as well as people. He was one of the first to use music videos and he influenced the popularity of MTV. Ronald Reagan influenced the “want for democracy as it was led by the US who is a democratic power.” (Matt Y) This also led to stronger US nationalism because they retained so much power after the fall of Communism. People’s daily lives changed because of these events. During the 1980s, Hip Hop was very controversial because of what some of the artists were trying to express. Not everyone agreed. But as time went on, Hip Hop became more relaxed because there weren’t as many social problems. Today many people still listen to Hip Hop, and the artists of the 80’s influenced most 21st century rappers; without them, rap may not even exist. Michael Jackson’s music broke down the “destructive barriers that spring up regularly between what and black music. Racism became less of an issue after the 80s, and Michael Jackson had a lot to do with it. The fall of the Berlin Wall “left the legacy of willingness and showed the world that if you try hard enough and push hard enough you can and will defeat anything.” (Matt Y) Because it had the most effect on young people at the time, it led to young people striving to be free and rebellious. That was sometimes good and bad. This idea has only increased throughout the 21st century. I chose the 3 1920s topics and 3 1980s topics from the rest because I strongly thought those were the most influential. Out of my 1920s topics, I think Ernest Hemmingway was the most influential. Although Franklin D Roosevelt cured a disease and improved medical science, it doesn’t affect what is happening with people decades after. There will always be new diseases and reasons for death, so it was more of an accomplishment at the time. But, I would still consider him a Great Man because he was a great leader and made all of his decisions for the better of the people. I also don’t think jazz was as influential because the genre of music quickly died and didn’t set much of a base for future genres. I would consider Duke Ellington between an event-making and an eventful hero because he did do something that was never done before, but there were plenty of people who could have done what he did. I think Ernest Hemmingway was the most influential on society because he altered the ways of writing to a deeper art, changed the ways people thought and portrayed themselves, and because he took real current situations and problems, and made them something that people were more comfortable talking about. I would consider Ernest Hemmingway a Great Man because no one else could have done what he did. Many authors tried, but failed miserably. Out of my 1980s topics, I think President Ronald Reagan was the most influential. Although Hip Hop improved some black societies and gave un-wealthy people a chance, there weren’t many people that were affected by it because it was mostly found in the Ghetto. Michael Jackson was also not as influential because his influence did not reach as many places worldwide; it was only in the US. I would only consider Michael Jackson an eventful hero because there were many people who could have done what he did. I think Ronal Reagan was the most influential during the 1980s because he affected places outside of the US by ending Communism and helping to spread Democracy. I would consider him a Great Man because he was a great leader and did amazing things to do what he thought was better for the world. No one else could have possibly done what he did. Persons were more influential than the Civil Society during the Roaring 20s and 80s. Out of these topics, I think powerful individuals had more success in change. And even if multiple people try, there is always one that makes a greater impact than the other.

__Works Cited__ Franklin D Roosevelt Corbin D Ernest Hemmingway Lucas S Duke Ellington-Jazz Arat I Michael Jackson Emma P Hip Hop Lucas S Ronald Reagan-Fall of the Berlin Wall Matt Y

RUBRIC

A quality comparison essay will

•Use the __four__ criteria of Great Man Continuum to analyze the significance of three 1920’s topics and three 1980s topics.

criteria is well analyzed

•Analyze of each of the 6 topics with evidence taken from the 1920s and 1980s wikis, Analysis is supported by evidence

•Develop a thoughtful and thorough conclusions on all 6 topics, all topics generally considered

•Rank the three topics for each decade and explain why one topic is more influential than the other two, yes, but reasons are not supported with evidence

•Answer the essay question with a clear, well reasoned argument, yes

•Explain why the __second__ choice fell short compared to the __first__ choice but is more just than the __third__ choice, yes

•Organize ideas in extended power paragraphs, consistently done, but not in closing paragraph

•Identify the source and establish its credibility with an appositive phrase, done

•Cite evidence with internal citations and in a Works Cited. Click links for exemplars. IC are mostly correct, WC is incorrectly formatted