In the article, “The Way We Worked”, Tom Brokaw describes his fathers and other individuals’ work ethic during the Greatest Generation. The Greatest Generation took place during World War II and the Great Depression. Brokaw points out that the Greatest Generation was a generation known for their capacity of work, “As I researched the lives of the men and woman who came of age in the Great Depression, went through World War II, and built the country we know today, I was struck by how many of them went to work in their early teenage years. They had to work because their families needed the extra income for food, for clothing, to meet that month's rent” (Brokaw 274). In “The Way We Worked”, Brokaw's theme demonstrates examples of the different work ethic of the Greatest Generation and modern generation.
Brokaw introduces the article by describing his father, Anthony Brokaw, work ethic during the Greatest Generation. He refers to how Anthony has been working for a long time, “He had been working for almost 50 years” (Brokaw 273). His father has been working since he was 10 years old driving a team of horses. Brokaw’s father was preparing to retire and all of his family was relieved because he has always been working and they knew that it was time for him to relax. However, he postponed his retirement because he became too emotional at the thought of not having a job to go to everyday. He loved to work and it was his passion so when his father postponed his retirement for another year, his family was not surprise. Anthony was always working even if he was not at work, “It was how he made his living and it was his favorite leisure-time activity” (Brokaw 274). This quote states that Brokaw's father is a hard worker because on page 274, ...
... middle of paper ...
...rokaw showed, the Greatest Generation modern generation have different work ethics that have been developed by their capacity of work and lifestyle, “Every generation is a reflection of the times it has lived through” (Brokaw 276). The Greatest Generation and the modern generation are two distinct eras. The Greatest Generation suffered through the Great Depression, but they did not let it interfere with completing their work. The Greatest Generation portrayed strong work ethic and attributes. The Greatest Generation is known for their ability to confront and overcome as well as their straight and hard work. Modern generation has a society that is easier, yet their commitment to the work is what is more valuable. Each generation has its own qualities and hardships, but both of them influence work that can be rewarded. Work ethic is changed over time with experience.
In Niall Ferguson’s essay “America’s Oh Sh*t Moment,” he mentioned America’s newfound unemployment work ethic. The statement was quite interesting to me because from my perspective, it is accurate because the majority of Americans do not want to work. They would much rather sit at home all day and watch television. Unfortunately, most can not sacrifice their jobs due to financial circumstances. Furthermore, I will use the idea of work ethic to write my paper by comparing America’s work ethic to India’s. Despite the fact that India is a third world country, most Indians have a stronger work ethic than Americans. Therefore, I will develop an argumentative synthesis to support my thesis based on the information I discover after I conduct thorough research.
Samuelson uses his essay to explore a thesis that Americans are moving from a ‘work’ ethic to a ‘fun’ ethic. However, he doesn't spend much time explaining or introducing this, preferring to spend his time presenting facts, articles, quotes, polls and stories to prove his point. Unfortunately, as a reader, this choice of evidence, rather than solidifying his point, actually begs the question: what is his point? Samuelson spends very little time in the essay actually concluding or explaining his information. Instead, he buries the reader with facts and statistics, moving on from one factor to another before the reader even has the chance to grasp the importance of the previous one.
Although, Conventional wisdom dictates that the age at which children started work was connected to the poverty of the family. Griffith presents two autobiographies to put across her point. Autobiography of Edward Davis who lacked even the basic necessities of life because of his father’s heavy drinking habit and was forced to join work at a small age of six, whereas the memoir of Richard Boswell tells the opposite. He was raised up in an affluent family who studied in a boarding school. He was taken out of school at the age of thirteen to become a draper’s apprentice.
We all know that most people hate their jobs. Work is seen as something we have to do, and very lucky few seem to find a job that we enjoy. How we feel about work, and what we do for a living, in many ways helps to define who we are and who we are going to become. Having seen actual people share their perspectives and view points on “working for a living” helps us see ourselves and rethink our future. Overall, Studs Terkel helps flash- back into America's history and see the changes that America ans it’s people have gone through.
When you think of a typical college student you may think of a young adult around 18 to 22 years old. You may also think of someone with little world experience that’s off on their own for the first time in their short life. Surprisingly, there has been a recent phenomenon with an increase in older people now attending post-secondary education, specifically the baby boomer generation. Libby Sander, a staff reporter at the Chronicle of Higher Education, explores this topic in an article called “Blue-Collar Boomers Take Work Ethic to College” (782). Sander combines the use of all three rhetorical appeals throughout her article to successfully argue that the wave of baby boomers enrolled in postsecondary education is changing the perception
... understanding amongst his audience and enhancing his instructive tone. When the speaker meditatively states, "As the Yuppie was to the 80s... maybe Abraham Lincoln could be for the coming decade" he utilizes his academic tone as well as the analogy of Lincoln to the Yuppie, to effectively emphasize the fact that he views Lincoln as paragon of his own definition success, as arising from hard work, which further develops ethos through his allusion to the prominent historical figure that is Abraham Lincoln. By employing both an illustrative allusion as well as a thought provoking analogy as well as his scholastic tone the author is able to make the audience more likely to accept his definition of success as deriving from hard work and sound work ethics due to his development of common ground which results in general understanding of his assertion within his audience.
In the essay, “The Work Ethic, In A Modern Guise”, author Joanne B. Ciulla talks about how the modern style of working is different from the traditional and old work ethic, and how the young and coming generation does not want to work hard but instead wants instant results. The long lasting formula of working hard and performing seems to be fading away. Instead of mastering the subject, students care about the final results and brownie points. Moreover, Ciulla asserts that students engage in activities that pay-off well in the end rather than the excellence of the work. In the article, Ciulla describes the situation of today’s students being more centred about the idea of getting a higher grade. According to Ciulla, students do not show determination but they want second-chances so that they can have a better grade than before. Students want that better grade simply because they have put a lot of time. Sometimes, professors unreasonably give students a higher grade which leads to a false confidence among students which is the root of other causes. In the end o...
“A Generation of Slackers? Not So Much” written by Catherine Rampell is an informative article about today’s millennial generation after high school. It provides the reader with a deeper look into young people’s work ethic, or what some to think to be, lack-there-of. The author does a fantastic job using research, credible resources, and statistics to support her belief that Generation Y (children born in the 1980s and 1990s) is no less productive than previous generations. I will admit that before reading this piece, I was one of those who believed that Millennials were in fact the “coddled, disrespectful and narcissistic generation” (Rampell, 2011, para 3). After reading this article, my opinion has changed. It has touched on issues
This spoiled generation has hit a wall called life and is currently trying to find a way to get over it. The workplace has been a brutal environment for generations now. The millennials, also known as Generation Y, are not the first generation to want change in the workplace, but they are the first ones to be brave enough to step up and place their demands over their own job. The millennials shouldn’t be criticized, they should be admired by every other worker in the workplace. Matchar supports the addition of millennials, but added negative connotation in her article about them.
The Gilded Age was the last three decades of the nineteenth century, when America’s industrial economy exploded generating opportunities for individuals but also left many workers struggling for survival. With the many immigrants, skilled and unskilled, coming to America the labor system is becoming flooded with new employees. During this period, the immigrants, including the Italians, were unskilled and the skilled workers were usually American-born. There was also a divide in the workers and the robber barons. Robber barons were American capitalist who acquired great fortunes in the last nineteenth century, usually ruthlessly. There was much turmoil throughout the business and labor community. Two major organizations, the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, helped represent the workers in this time of chaos. The Knights of Labor, founded in 1869, were representing both skilled and unskilled workers. They were quite popular with a large boost in membership becoming the biggest union in 1885. They sought for equal pay and equal work. All were welcomed to the Knights of Labor; there was no discrimination on race, gender, or sex. They called for an eight-hour day in order to reduce fatigue and for safety issues. The Knights of Labor Declaration of Principles states their purpose is to “make industrial and moral worth, not wealth” (Reading 9, p. 1). This means the moral worth is to what they could contribute to society rather than monetary gains. They were working towards this improvement of the common mans life to advance in civilization and create new ideas for society. They also called upon the employer to treat the employee with respect and fairness so they can contribute to not only their company but to Amer...
The Industrial Era enabled wealth, prosperity, and advancement in American society. But behind the wealth of a few, the new skyscrapers lining big cities, and the influx of new people, the Industrial Era possessed many dark underbellies, such as labor. Factory owners and industry giants treated their employees poorly, and subjected them to long hours, crowded workspace, and dangerous conditions. This is best exemplified in the New York City’s Triangle factory fire. Often times the middle class reformers, the Progressives, are remembered for their work to ameliorate the working class. These supporters worked hard to cause change, but often the efforts of the factory workers themselves are forgotten. Political and economic change occurred because the poor gave the wealthy and educated people a cause and purpose to fight for. Without the original efforts of the rebellious
The American work ethic is something our country should be proud of. Since the days of George Washington Americans have worked hard for what they believe in, what they need, and what they want. It is our right as Americans to be able to work for these ideals. Without out a strong work ethic our country would crumble. From businessmen to politicians a strong work ethic is necessary to keep our country financially and politically stable.
The year is 1946, WWII is over and America was the only nation who’s manufacturing industry was left unscathed. Because of this, along with the worker protections of FDR’s New Deal led to a golden age for the American middle class. At this time nearly anyone can find a decent job, no matter your education, class or experience and live a decent life. This golden age will continue, till 1980 when the 1st Great Recession kicked in (McCleland 550). The combination of other nations rebuilt manufacturing industries, a pattern of poor economic policy, the dismantling of unions, corrupt corporations, new technology, the need for higher education and discrimination will all play a role that lead to
America was built around the idea that if you work hard and endure your hardships you will reap the benefits life has to offer you. As religious leader and author Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Without hard work nothing grows but weeds.” Many families in America continue to instill a hard work ethic within their children, and the prosperity of our country relies its citizens work. Although, living in a country where more vacation time is being offered sounds luxurious in the long run it only negatively affects problems concerning, obesity, less household funds, and increased feelings of stress.
The general essence of the article is that the old ways of work and the work ethic of the older generations have broken apart. In place of stable routine and predictable career paths, employees are now expected to be fluid in their jobs, and open to change on very short notice. Workers of today's generation can no longer expect long term work, or the trust and loyalty that were given to the employees of the older generation. In some ways, the writer argues that this change between the generations is positive, as they can make for a more dynamic economy. However, they are also the cause of the article's title, "The Corrosion of Character". The work ethics of the employees are no longer valued. They are taken as face value, and there is no trust and loyalty. These changes are destructive to the worker's sense of sustained purpose, integrity of self and the trust they hold in others within the workplace.