Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on The Ideology Of The Self-Made Man. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 5 page paper begins with an explanation of how the concept of the self-made man came into being. It was the result of stories written by Horatio Alger and it was reinforced with Russell Conwell and Ben Franklin's writings. Using the examples of Oprah Winfrey and Sam Walton, the writer illustrates how becoming a successful "self-made person" can have both positive and negative consequences. Bill Quinn's book about Wal-Mart is used as evidence. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: MM12_PGslfmd.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
who had made good, all of these boys went from "rags to respectability" and they did so through "pluck and luck" (Center for History and New Media, 2002). The idea
being promoted was that with enough hard work, anyone could become successful in America (Center for History and New Media, 2002). The fact is, however, that in Algers stories, most
of the boys became successful as a result of fortunate accidents rather than through long hard work (Center for History and New Media, 2002). For instance, Ragged Dick Hunter was
one such character who had a chance encounter on the street that led to a chain of events taking the boy from his rags to becoming "Richard Hunter, esq." (Center
for History and New Media, 2002). Nonetheless, Alger promoted Dick as an honest man who worked hard and made himself into a success (Center for History and New Media, 2002).
Self-Making or being self-made suggests that anyone can be whatever he or she wants to be if they work hard and that is what has become known as the American
Dream. Russell Conwell, a former minister who founded Temple University also promoted the success ideology (Center for History and New Media, 2002). It was his lecture "Acres of Diamonds" that
brought him to riches, though (Center for History and New Media, 2002). He was on a national lecture circuit and delivered this speech more than 6,000 times, from which he
earned about $8 million (Center for History and New Media, 2002). So, it was Conwells speech telling people they could become successful quick that actually made him the money. Ben
Franklin also promoted the concept of the self-made man. Franklin believe the true American was a self-made man whose actions were founded on moral virtue and Republican values, and it
...