Write for an Academic Discussion

A professor has posted a question about a topic and students have responded with their thoughts and ideas. Make a contribution to the discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to write.

Your professor is teaching a class on history.

In your response, you should do the following.

• • Express and support your opinion.
• • Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Professor’s question:

Professor's question: When designing history curricula, educators debate whether to focus on major historical figures and leaders or on the daily lives and experiences of ordinary people. Focusing on leaders can teach us about power and major events, while focusing on common people provides insight into the social fabric of the past. Which approach do you think gives students a more accurate and useful understanding of history? Why?

Student response 1:

Student response 1: I believe focusing on the lives of ordinary people is more valuable. History is not just made by a few powerful individuals; it is shaped by the collective actions of everyone. For instance, learning about a typical family during an economic depression gives a truer sense of the era's impact.

Student response 2:

Student response 2: I disagree. While the lives of ordinary people are interesting, focusing on key leaders and their decisions is more effective for understanding historical change. These are the individuals who made pivotal choices that shaped nations and events. Therefore, their stories provide a clearer narrative of why things happened.