THEMATIC ESSAY
This thematic essay adheres to New York State Learning Standard 1- History of the United States and New York, Intermediate Level, Key Idea #3. Additionally, this assignment corresponds with the National Social Studies Curriculum Standards thematic strand of Science, Technology & Society.
This thematic essay is designed as an in class assignment to assess student learning when your study of the effects of new industries on American life is complete. Animation image #s 46, 50, 53, 54, and 56 should be displayed during in-class writing. Possible answers should include; helped rid country of regional differences, aided business productivity, ended rural isolationism, provided an outlet for advertising, increased people’s expectations, increased interest in worldly events, transformed leisure activities.
DIRECTIONS
Utilizing the Animation images as reference and your knowledge of United States history complete the following task.
THEME
TECHNOLOGY- Technology, along with marketing strategies, explains the transformation of American life and leisure during the 1920s. Work weeks became shorter and American increasingly attended movies to gather information about worldly events, watch sports, find out about new products and simply entertain themselves.
TASK
In what ways did the motion picture industry influence American lifestyle in the 1920s? Evaluate the role of motion pictures in people’s lives leading up to the Great Depression.
GUIDELINES