Historical Figure Essay Prompt
Writing Prompt: Who made the 20s (and 30s) roar?
Task: Through this chapter, you have encountered many historical figures, including: scientists,
thinkers, poets, artists, athletes, and political leaders. Below is a list of most of the historical
figures mentioned in your textbook and discussed in class. Select one person that you think had
the greatest impact on cultural/political life in the decade(s) and write a 5-6 paragraph essay that
uses at least three (3) different resources to support your perspective. Once we have finished the
chapter, you will have four (4) class periods to research and write your paper using either
Chromebooks or a computer lab. Feel free to start researching or writing on your own if you
know on who you would like to write your essay. Final essay may be typed or handwritten.
Emailed essays must be submitted by 5pm on the due date, otherwise they will be marked as late.
If you have had trouble with emailing papers in the past, I suggest you find a way to print your
paper at school or bring it on a flash drive.
Standards for Evaluation: This essay will be worth 20 points and counts as the “test” for
Chapter 15. Refer to the rubric for detailed grading criteria and the “5 Steps to Writing a
Historical Essay” for guidelines while you research and write.
Essentially, a great essay should:
- Provide significant and relevant details about the person’s life.
- Be clear and well organized.
- Show evidence of research using a variety of sources (Reference Page).
Due Date: Monday February 29, 2016
Historical Figure List (Choose ONE)
Albert Einstein
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ezra Pound
Gertrude Stein
Charles Lindbergh
Salvador Dalí
Helen Willis
Charlie Chaplin
Rudolph Valentino
Benito Mussolini
Adolf Hitler
Sigmund Freud
Ernest Hemingway
T. S. Eliot
Friedrich Nietzsche
Pablo Picasso
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington
George Herman “Babe” Ruth
Mary Pickford
Franklin Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Francisco Franco
If there is someone not on this list from the 20s/30s that you wish to research, you must get it
approved by the teacher before you start doing research.