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The 1920’s and the 1980’s were two decades in which great individuals and events had significant impact on American Society. Today judging how significant the event was, can be done by analyzing what was accomplished, the legacy of the individual or event, the extent of influence, and the impact the individual or event has on American society today. The most important of those criteria are how significant the event or individual was and the endurance of its legacy. During the 1920’s William S. Paley, created the Columbia Broadcasting System, the USOC (United States Olympic Committee) emerged and the 1920’s was also the time when Lost Generation Writers became most inspirational. In the 1980’s NASA’s Challenger crashed with the first women to be in space, Michael Jackson emerged as the biggest musical figure of that time, and during the 1988 Olympic games, a US sprinter had medals stripped off due to steroid use. Those were significant events in those decades and they had a big impact on society during that time, and some still influence society today.

Those events had certain significance in American society in those decades. In the 1920’s the Columbia Broadcasting System, created by William Paley became “the largest and most successful chain of broadcasting stations in radio history” (Becca J.’s Wiki), they were the pioneers of radio broadcasting. The USOC was significant because it “allowing athletes to reach their full potential” (Jacob B.’s Wiki) and having an Olympic team added brought the nation closer together, growing nationalism and pride. Lost Generation writers such as Ernest Hemingway emerged in the 20’s, people “wanted to live like the people in their books” (Lexi M.’s Wiki), people would live in a world of fantasy and excitement, escaping reality, which at the time was cold and depressing. It wasn’t easy for an individual to emerge from the rest of society during the 20’s, because it was a time of struggle, but yet there were individuals who were able to overcome those barriers and have an impact on society.

In the 1980’s more than just a couple individuals impacted society, but only a few were able to exert great impact on Americans during that time. After the 20’s, the U.S. became eligible to compete in the Olympics, and great athletes emerged from American ground, such as Jesse Owens, and in 1988, Carl Lewis, a sprinter was considered the best of his generation, but he got his “medals stripped off due to steroid use” (Max R.’s Wiki), which made Americans disbelieve on the U.S’ Olympic team. Michael Jackson’s fame had started long before he was known as the “King of Pop”, when he was part of a band called the Jackson Five, which included him and his brothers. Michael Jackson impacted America by going where others haven’t, by selling more than “45 million copies, of his album, Thriller” (Emma P.’s Wiki), and that was just one of his many albums created during his musical career. Women have always wanted to be seen as equal, and in the 80’s NASA was going to pursue that feeling of equality by sending mother and teacher, Christa McAuliffe to space. The Space shuttle //Challenger// blew up after only a couple of minutes onto its journey to space, and society was affected in a negative way. Collectively, “the nation mourned the loss of the members on board, especially Christa McAuliffe, and the nation began to think skeptically towards NASA” (Emily M.’s Wiki). Although the 80’s weren’t as harsh as the 20’s there were still struggles in society but there were also individuals who were able to stand up and shine above others.

When something extraordinary happens, a legacy is born, some are short lived but others have lasted for centuries. When CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) was created, it became world widely known in a heartbeat. CBS gave birth to “all other broadcasting systems, and it was the mold for other tv channels and similar radio stations” (Becca J.’s Wiki). CBS’s legacy is ever-growing and by following other networks such as ESPN, one is in a way also following CBS due to the fact that without CBS, such networks would have never been created. USOC put the United States on the Olympics, and today’s “American’s athletes are most popular than ever” (Jacob B’s Wiki). The Olympics are one of the most watched events in the U.S., falling just behind the Super Bowl. Lost Generation writers have always had a growing legacy, writers are mostly like artists or painters; the more time you give their artwork, the more popular it will become, such as the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which “is the second most sold book in the world” (Lexi M.’s Wiki), it only falls behind the Bible, which has been around for centuries. Legacies are usually short lived, but when it comes to events or individuals born in times of struggle like the 20’s, legacies will most of the time be long lived.

The 80’s, as mentioned before weren’t as bad as the 20’s therefore more legacies were short lived, but the events were significant regardless. Carl Lewis was one of the greatest American athletes that participated in the Olympic games. Due to “the scandal with fellow athlete Ben Johnson, the use of steroids became a bigger issue in the public eye” (Max R.’s Wiki). But athletes come and go and that’s why this event, although it was very controversial and had a big impact on society during that time, doesn’t show a big legacy. One of the few athletes who exhibits a big legacy is Jesse Owens, whose memorial is located in the OSU campus. Michael Jackson has one of the biggest legacies, music wise, of all time. His legacy “has lasted and almost 20 years after his prime he was indicted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001" (Emma P.’s Wiki). His legacy started fading in the past couple of years due to issues regarding Michael abusing children, but his legacy got back up when physician Dr Conrad Murray took Michael’s life away. Christa McAuliffe, although her legacy wasn’t as big as expected, decreased NASA’s legacy by making people skeptical about shuttle launches. McAuliffe was remembered when on February 1, 2003 and, “approximately 16 minutes from landing, // Columbia // had broken apart, killing all seven crew members” (Emily M.’s Wiki). Both the 20’s and the 80’s had events that led up to great legacies to be born, and although some legacies during the 20’s were bigger than some on the 80’s, great legacies were created in the 80’s regardless.

When significant events happen, or individuals arise, people become influenced by what happened, or by the individual’s actions. CBS influenced Americans by having other networks being created, such as NBC. On September 11, 2001, an event happened in America that changed everyone's life and “CBS took up the challenge and presented a 93 hours and 8 minutes program of the tragedy” (Becca J.’s Wiki). The network has taken responsibility upon themselves to give us the information of life changing events. USOC made it “possible for the U.S. to participate in the Olympics” (Jacob B.’s Wiki) and the extent of USCO goes to this day because the United States is still eligible to participate in the Olympics. Many teams have been disqualified from the Olympics, some will not be able to participate for years to come, but the U.S. has been playing it clean after since the 1988 incident. Lost generation writers have been influenced Americans since the 1920’s, for example it “affects us now in the 21st century because Fitzgerald wrote about the issue of women being abused and not treated equally to men in his book, which we can now look back on and realize that it was wrong and everyone deserves equal rights” (Lexi M.’s Wiki). In certain presidential speeches, the writing style of lost generation writers was adopted because it is so persuasive. Had it not been for influential events and individuals like those, American society would be a lot different than what it is today.

In the 80’s, influence was everywhere, even if it was just small, it was still there. The Olympics games were very influential, not only in America but all over the world. Steroid use decreased and steroid testing increased, and it goes on till today, where even high-schoolers are being tested for drug use and performance enhancing pills before games. The influence of the Games “was spread worldwide, and media coverage was crucial for those who wanted to keep up with the events during the timespan in which it lasted. The Olympics in this year were broadcast all over the world by 11331 media agencies and NBC even invested $300 million to gain the broadcast rights to the Summer Games” (Max R.’s Wiki). Michael Jackson gave pop music a whole new meaning. His music video for his hit song “Thriller” got millions and millions of views, and because of that “music companies are investing more on beats and expensive videos” (Emma P.’s Wiki), hoping to someday get the popularity level that Michael Jackson was at. The //Challenger// tragedy’s influence goes on till this day. It was a major controversy and public opinion was playing a big role in government’s decision on whether NASA should keep investing on space missions or if it should be shut down once in for all. The United States “lost interest in NASA without any new explorations and while the US was resting the Soviets built space stations. NASA will always be one of the most controversial associations due to public criticism” (Emely M.’s Wiki). Major events lead to major changes, and without great individuals or events, those changes would have never happened.

The 20’s was a long time ago, and even though most individuals who affected our society today are long gone, their accomplishments still are what made America what it is now. CBS is today the main TV channel for new, and it is more watched than CNN. CBS makes it easy for “Americans to connect to what is going on, not only in the United States but all around the world” (Becca J.’s Wiki) and it keeps us updated and delivers us things in a flash. USOC affect’s not just us (watchers) but it “gives athletes an opportunity to succeed” (Jacob B.’s Wiki), it gives people that are really into sports a chance to work hard to their potential to someday be able to compete with others around the world, and unintentionally it gives athletes an opportunity to explore new cultures. Lost generation writers affect people everyday. Many books written today are “based on the lost generation writing style” (Lexi M.’s Wiki). Lost generation writers also affect high-schoolers, like me, because we are asked to read their pieces and analyze them. Even though these individuals and events happened a long time ago, they still affect America to this day.

Because the 80’s weren’t long ago, there is a greater chance that America will be affected to this day by certain individual’s actions or events, but it isn’t guaranteed that that’s the case. The 1988 Carl Lewis case doest affect society as a whole, it targets the group of people that are in sport related activities. Because of Carl Lewis “people are getting drug tested before sporting events” (Max R.’s Wiki) and I can back that up because before every cross country or track meet I’ve had in the previous years we would get tested if we were suspected to be under the effect of performance enhancing substances. Michael Jackson is still a well-known name today, “with albums still being sold and people still doing the moonwalk” (Emma P.’s Wiki) which is still one of the most popular dances ever created. Michael Jackson has made it possible for people today to persue a career in pop music, which would have never been able to happen if it wasn’t for him and his success with that music genre. The //Challenger// tragedy “doesn’t affect people as much as it did back when it happened” (Emely M.’s Wiki) but it is still used as evidence by the people who want to shut down NASA. If it wasn’t for those individuals America would be different, not in drastic ways but regardless it would be different.

The 1920’s and 1980’s were very influential times, not worldwide, but in America. In the 20’s Lost generation writers were the most influential event, because what they accomplished was immense and their legacy is ever-growing. CBS was less influential than the lost generation writers because even though they made it possible for people to understand what was going on during that period of time they still didn’t help people get out of it like lost generation writers did, but CBS was still more influential than USOC because “if USOC wasn’t created, another company would have taken its role” (Jacob B.’s Wiki) and according to Becca J., no one would have been able to do exactly what William P. did.

In The 80’s Michael Jackson was the most significant figure of that time. He was able to accomplish what no one else could, especially in the music business, and his legacy couldn’t have been any bigger and even though his prime years were over before his death, his legacy still grows. Carl Lewis had the second biggest impact during the 80’s. Even though he didn’t accomplish nearly what Michael did, he changed how sports conducts are, especially when it’s drug related. His accomplishments were more significant than the //Challenger// tragedy because that event isn’t ever remembered unless people are protesting against NASA. Overall great persons were able to accomplish much more than civil society could have, and behind civil society there are always individuals who were able to make it what civil society is today.

Works Cited Jacob B. "American Olympics Association, Gertrude Ederle." 2011. // Buchholtz Sidor American Studies //. Web. 31 March 2011. Becca J. "Columbia Broadcasting System, William S. Paley." 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. Lexie M. "­­­The Lost Generation." 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. Emily M. "­­­Challenger Tragedy, Christa McAuliffe." 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. Emma P. "Michael Jackson" 2012. // Buchholtz Sidor American //

// Studie //s. Web. 1 April. 2012 Max R. “1988 Olympics, Carl Lewis” // Buchholtz Sidor American Studies. // Web. 12 Mar. 2012.

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. consistently well analyzed

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

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

•Rank the three topics for each decade and explain why one topic is more influential than the other two, yes

•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

•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. Sources are correctly cited internally; alphabetize WC 