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. Identification and Significance The identification of a historical term is basically factual and should be like a definition: clear, concise, and just long enough to describe the term uniquely. One to three sentences will do in most cases. Here are example using the term John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller was a rich business man who formed a monopoly in the 1900s.Comment: This identification might be true as far as it goes, but it does not identify Rockefeller uniquely, because many wealthy industrialists could fit this definition. It needs to be specific enough that it could describe only John D. Rockefeller. Grade: C- John D. Rockefeller was a 19th-century millionaire industrialist who organized the giant Standard Oil Co. during the 1870s and 1880s.Comment: An improved identification need not be long, but specific details, like the name of Rockefeller’s company and more precise dates, make this fit only one man. Grade: A Stating the significance of a historical term requires additional evidence of organized thinking. It usually takes several additional sentences to do an adequate job. Do not try to write everything you know about the term. Rather, write well about some aspect you think is particularly important. To explain the significance of a term means to show what difference it made to the course of American history. You may want to consider one or more of the following: (1) What effect did it have on its own time? (2) What controversy or issue did it illuminate? (3) What problem did it cause or resolve? (4) How was it representative of some larger historical concern? It is better to focus on just one significant aspect and provide a few good facts to back up your point (the targeted approach) rather than spill out all that you know helter-skelter in hopes of hitting upon something important (the shotgun approach). The targeted approach really shows off what you know in depth and your skill at writing in a historical manner. Shotgun approach: Rockefeller was significant to American history because he was a famous millionaire. He showed that anyone could become rich. He built the largest oil company in the world but the Supreme Court said it was illegal. His life proves that America was truly a land of opportunity for men who had the ambition to become rich. He also built hospitals and schools. This shows he helped society too.Comment: Nothing is really incorrect, but the paragraph is vague, unfocused, weakly argued, and a bit confusing. As a result, it is difficult to tell what the writer thought was most significant about John D. Rockefeller. Grade: C+. Contrast the targeted approach: Rockefeller built his Standard Oil Co. into the one of the largest trusts by 1900 using a variety of corrupt and underhanded practices. He threatened to withdraw his business from any railroad that did not give him kick-backs on transportation costs. He ruthlessly undercut prices of competitors in selected areas to drive them out of business, then raised prices once he controlled the market. More than any other industrialist, Rockefeller exploited to the utmost the cut-throat competitive atmosphere of the post-Civil War years to emerge as the pre-eminent robber baron.Comment: Although strongly argued (and that may be an advantage), Rockefeller's abuse of the capitalist system is backed up by choice facts. The result, the creation of a robber baron, naturally follows as a significant aspect of Rockefeller's life. This point is well taken, but there are many other approaches that would also make an excellent discussion of significance. Grade: A. The complete identification and targeted significance woven together: John D. Rockefeller was a 19th-century millionaire industrialist who organized the giant Standard Oil Co. during the 1870s and 1880s. By 1900, he had built his refining empire into the one of the largest trusts in the nation using a variety of unfair and underhanded practices. He threatened to withdraw his business from any railroad that did not give him kick-backs on transportation costs. He ruthlessly undercut prices of competitors in selected areas to drive them out of business, then raised prices once he controlled the market. More than any other industrialist of his era, Rockefeller exploited to the utmost the cut-throat competitive atmosphere of the post-Civil War years to emerge as one of the pre-eminent robber baron. |