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

Gabrielle Furlong American Studies Periods 7&8

In this essay I will compare three influential topics from the 1920s to each other and three influential topics from the 1980s. In order to complete this, I will explain the four criteria's, (significance of accomplishment, endurance of legacy, extent of influence, and impact on daily life) from the Great Man Criteria to determine which topics are more influential in their century compared to the 21st century today. In the 1920s, I will compare "Franklin D. Roosevelt - Infantile Paralysis (Polio)" by Corbin D., “Radio Corporation of America – Owen Young by Givi G., and “FBI – Edgar Hoover by Jill Waltz. The topics I am going to compare for the 1980s are "Hip-Hop, Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five" by Corbin D., "Personal Computers - Apple II and Microsoft" by Graham D., and "Michael Jackson - King of Pop" by Jacob B.

The significance of an accomplishment would be the topic's achievement's in the goals that they originally had. Franklin D. Roosevelt became president and opened civilian's eyes to a disease called polio, or infantile paralysis (Corbin D.). He dedicated his life to America when put into office, but had a vision to find a cure for polio. An organization called March of Dimes, supported the finding of a cure for polio, which was largely affected by FDR's dedication and vision. They found no specific cure for polio but have found ways to prevent it from happening. With that said, FDR and March of Dimes have saved many lives emotionally and physically. The endurance of the topics legacy shows how long lasting the topic's influence stays in the nation or world. FDR's brave reign ended when his terms were up, but the legacy of polio still effects many families. Along with polio, March of Dimes has kept up its goals to find a cure and is still going strong today. To be influential, an event or individual must have a widespread attraction, thus the extent of influence. In FDR's case, polio was worldwide and anyone could could have it. FDR had gone through growing up with this disease and decided it was time to take action. March of Dimes and he effected mostly the nation, but there scientific discoveries have helped everyone around the world. FDR was known throughout the country and all problems or achievements in the government or national accomplishments were related back to him. With this said, FDR was able to open eyes and for most of his terms, polio was all anybody could talk about. There was a national fear from the realization that a disease like that could affect any family. With this realization also made America more excepting as a whole. Now, in the 21st century, polio doesn't have as much as an impact and our minds are not always on it but many people are saved from the scientific accomplishments supported by the March of Dimes organization.

Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was created by Owen Young. RCA was the reason why American’s were introduced to radios during the 1920s. Radios became one of the most popular sources of entertainment during the 1920s. RCA would be considered more social deterministic due to the technological development of the social environment at that time. As for the legacy of the Radio Corporation of America, the company now receives outstanding achievements in music and recognition for inventing another one of the most important parts of technology ever, the television. The television “lead people to optimism through the greatest depression our nation has ever faced even though the radio fell through to the highly insane popularity of the television” (Givi G). Every American has one of these, a television or a radio and this is why it would go under social determinism in the Great Man criteria. “RCA’s influence was one of the most extensive among anything during the 1920s, because of the “600 commercial around the country (Givi G).” Although Owen Young was very important for RCA, the company had a more extensive legacy and influence to Americans making it social deterministic under the Great Man criteria.

In the 1920s, in the criteria of a Great Man, Edgar Hoover is considered a Great Man because of his work for the FBI. Hoover took the FBI, an unsuccessful agency in the department of justice, and made it extremely successful with new technology. The centralized finger print file and national crime lab were two new technologies Hoover founded that are still used today (Waltz). In the 1920s, many citizens were afraid due to the crime rates, however, when Hoover came into power that all changed. Law enforcement by the FBI became so great that many citizens felt a better sense of security. Hoover also gave citizens a part in their security by starting the Crime Reporting Program allowing the FBI to compile criminal statistics and publish them to the public allowing citizens to be aware of criminals in their area (Waltz). Hoover gave citizens a much-needed sense of security and improved the worst agency of the department of justice to one of the most successful agencies through his determination and new technological ideas. Hoover was a great man because he did something that had never been done before and set a foundation for the FBI so in the future the agency could only become more successful.

In the 1980s, with more scientific and life knowledge, more accomplishments were achieved. For example, hip hop became a whole new genre of music instead of conforming with the cliché, white, rock era. Hip hop even ended up becoming the most popular music with teens (Corbin D.). Even more accomplished would be Personal Computers (PC), Apple, and Microsoft. These companies used new technology to create items that made work easier and faster (Graham D.). In the long run, these companies shaped how people interact and communicate with each other. The most outstanding and influential individual of the 1980s and beyond, Michael Jackson, has the longest list of accomplishments. MJ, also known as the King of Pop, defined the new era of music. He was the first African-American musician to go on MTV and to gain mass crossover appeal (Jacob B.). With this, he broke down several racial barriers. His original and mind blowing music won 3 Grammys: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Vocal Performance (Jacob B.). All in all, the accomplishments and achievements in the 1980s triumphed over the 1920s.

These accomplishments have lasted to this day. Hip hop is still the most influential and popular music with teens and has become more popular as time passed on even though most individuals fade out of the scene. Same goes with computer/technology companies, in time, the companies' popularity rises and their expansion and want and need increase. As of today, Apple is one of the most profitable companies in the world economy. Though MJ is no longer around, his legend is stapled into our minds and his performances and dance moves will never be forgotten. All through his life and after, he has been able to inspire and help everyone around the world and will always be seen as the King of Pop (Jacob B.). All events and individuals from the 1980s have created legacies that are still lasting to this day.

Hip hop started in America but soon spread to become worldwide through the internet and television. Computer companies also became worldwide. Computers and other technology has become a worldwide revolution of communication because it's able to connect people from all around the globe. MJ, becoming famous at a surprising young age, shocked the world with his incredible talent. Other than being an amazing musician, MJ was also a charitable celebrity and contributed to world hunger awareness (Jacob B.). With internet, television, and more efficient transportation, the 1980s became a more world wide civilization. Since the influence of the 1980s were easier to spread, the amount of lives in which it impacted increased. In the 1980s, hip hop was just introduced, but it widely affected the fashion industry, behavior, and our language. Companies used the upcoming hip hop artists as a new way to advertise fashion because teens started to want to be exactly like those artists (Jacob B.). "Slang" was introduced and our language changed dramatically after that time period. The 21st century is still impacted by hip hop because of the current fashion, language, and actions done by the artists that are currently in the music industry. The effects can be negative sometimes due to the acts of violence and profanity used in the songs that are listened to everyday.

The computer company was a whole new road for the 1980s and changed people's perspective on the Earth and life (Graham D.). With these computers, the world became closer and people were able to communicate easier. Now computers are a necessity and have become a new form in which several businesses and schools have adapted into their everyday work and education. The technology and science is still increasing and there is now face to face communications.

When MJ became world famous and widely known, he became a topic of discussion as well as a role model for many. The King of Pop set new standards for all musicians in any genre because of his voice, style, and moves. His odd sense of fashion inspired a more outgoing and individual nation. He is reflected back as the face of pop music and a charitable celeb. MJ made special effects a common use in any performance which is commonly used in today’s music. He ended his days with legendary music, iconic fashion, and music videos that were unbelievable (Jacob B.).

In the 1920s, FDR and polio would be the most influential topic. Polio affected the most amount of people and saved the most amount of lives. In the 1980s, Michael Jackson was by far the most influential individual to ever live, and could possibly be called great man. Altogether, Michael Jackson was seen as an international hero. Computer companies would be the least influential. Though Mac is the most profitable company, the others have faded out of the competition. The computers mostly have specific tasks they are designed for whereas hip hop is listened to everyday no matter what the person is doing. Hip hop also affects others aspects of life such as fashion and clothes, how people act, and how people speak. Most of the individuals and events that impacted the world during the 1920s and 1980s were closer to Great Man than Civil Society.

B., Jacob. “Michael Jackson ‘King of Pop.’” //BuchholtzSidorAmericanStudies//. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. .

D., Corbin. “Franklin D. Roosevelt and Infantil Paralysis.” //BuchholtzSidorAmericanStudies//. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. .

D., Corbin. “Hip Hop Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five.” //BuchholtzSidorAmericanStudies//. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. .

D., Graham. “Personal Computers, Apple II, Microsoft.” //BuchholtzSidorAmericanStudies//. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. .

W., Jill. “Federal Bureau of Investigation- J. Edgar Hoover .” American Studies Wikispace. N.p., 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. .

Givi G. “RCA, Radio Corporation of America, Owen D. Young.” 2012. //Buchholtz Sidor American Studies//. Web. 1 April 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. well analyzed for 1920s, but the analysis of the 1980s did not specifically address criteria

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

•Develop a thoughtful and thorough conclusions on all 6 topics, 1920s topics were thoughtfully considered--1980s, sweeping claims

•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 for the 1920s, not the 1980s

•Identify the source and establish its credibility with an appositive phrase, not always done

•Cite evidence with internal citations and in a Works Cited. Click links for exemplars. Sources are correctly cited