issue48,第一篇成稿，大家要猛拍啊！！（附提纲）

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TOPIC: ISSUE48 - "The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."
WORDS: 674

TIME: 01:18:47
DATE: 2009-8-11 17:25:06

提纲：
1.
历史研究要用到的文档中主要记录了伟大的个人而非群体，因而历史研究强调个体是reasonable.
2.
伟大个人的成就卓著，推动了社会的进步，理应受到关注。没有他们的成就，我们的社会不会的今天的样子：分学术、政治、艺术各举一例
3.
伟大的个人可以作为偶像，激励我们学习他们的优良品质。
4.
群众的作用也很重要，个人没有群众支持无法成就伟业

When turning on television to watch historical documentaries, we will find ourselves encompassed by impressive stories about key historical figures and great minds. Our history teachers also remind us more of the significant accomplishment that Lincolns, FDRs has made while rarely mention groups of nameless people. In this circumstance, some people claim that we have paid too much attention to the famous few, neglecting the role of the masses. As far as I am concerned, the accomplishments of the elites are not too much emphasized in the study of history, but the role of the masses in bending the arc of history is also crucial.

The study of history involves the process of reconstructing the real historic occurrence through finding evidence in documents and records such as files, memoirs and letters. We cannot deny the fact that it is easier and more accessible for historians to find evidence concerning the key historical figures than the faceless people in these documents. Great historical individuals, with their reputation and more appeal to the public, enjoy most attention of those who recorded the history. In contrast, the masses, though perhaps sharing a characteristic as a group, hardly have the opportunity to leave each of their names in the records. Therefore, it is beyond blame that history study focus on the few famous.

Besides, considering the incomparable contribution the few elites have made to the progress of our society, they are deserved to become the core of history study. For example, we could not imagine what the national labor relation and the global trade organization would be like without the application of John Nash's theory which serves as a cornerstone in the modern economics and exerts profound influence on a multiple of fields including politics, mathematics and even evolutionary biology. If we turn to politic fields, we may find how dramatic the impact of Open Up Policy- which is proposed by Deng Xiaopin- has brought to China. Just 30 years ago, China was cut off the world and the majority of people are living in extremely poverty. But for the insightful leader Den, China could not have achieved significant economic developments. The same rule applies in the field of art. At the present, we see a prosperity in Modern Dance, but people at the beginning of the twentieth century could not predict its boom before Isadora Duncan laid the groundwork for the Modern Dance movement. Since people nowadays have benefited a lot from these extraordinary accomplishments brought by these great individuals and our society could not keep its progressing step without these elites' contribution, we should and must emphasize the few historical figures.

What' more, the overwhelming emphasis on individuals has more sense in inspiring the current people to learn from famous historical figures who has strong moral codes and reveal sterling qualities in their pursuit of the truth. The great few can serve as role models for later people to emulate. For instance, fearless of difficulties and obstacles, Tomas Edison tried hundreds of materials to find the most proper one to make light bulbs, which is often used as an example for us to follow.

However, although we emphasize the role played by individuals, we should not neglect the fact that the masses also influenced the history significantly. Some elites might be decisive at a certain point of history, but their influence could not have been achieved without the support of some group of people or the public, for every figure and event are not isolated but in a chain of factors. It is the New Deal that made Franklin Roosevelt, but it is the cooperation and effort of a distinct group and the support came from the American people that made the New Deal's formation and implementation. We could not imagine that a politician achieving his ambition with the whole country opposing him. In the same token, a scientist could not accomplish his academic goal if he refused the help of others.

In sum, it is reasonable and necessary for historians to pay much attention on the great individuals. Despite the role of the masses in history are essential, it is the famous few that made the history and propel our society to progress.