50sDiscussion+5.20.10



Answer this essential question by developing a discussion between two sets of people describing the positives and negatives of life in the 50s. Use one color to identify the positive aspects and another color to identify negative aspects. **You should have at least five (5) major aspects explained on each side of the discussion.** **Each aspect should be described with detail**. Make sure you spice up your discussion with some snappy 50s lingo. You'll be in fat city and have it made in the shade if you try your best, dig?

EXAMPLE POSITIVE NEGATIVE

What's buzzin', cousin? The 50s are fat city! Think about rock n' roll! Electric instruments, great rhythms, fun for dancing - teenagers love it. We've got Elvis, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard!

That's the word from the bird! And we have more entertainment because of the new fangled television. We can watch quiz shows, family shows, and keep up with rock and roll on American Bandstand. And we can buy television stuff in the stores. Like my cool Davy Crockett hat?

It sure is boss. But you want to know something that isn't? The poverty that is plaguing many in our nation. The economy may be booming, but farmers and farmworkers are suffering in rural areas, as are coal miners. And I sure wouldn't want to live in the inner cities - those ghettos are becomoing islands of poverty, mostly for minorities.

Your discussion should appear on each members' Unit 8 online notebook. Want to make it even better? Turn it into an xtranormal video and embed it! You will need to sign up for xtranormal, save the file, and publish it to embed it. Go for it - fun stuff!

GREG The 50s were the worst of times because women were discriminated against. They wanted to work outside of the home instead of just staying inside and being a stay at home mother. No jobs were available for them.

WYNN The 1950s were boss! Everyone had jobs except for some women and there was new medicinal achievements like the polio vaccine, Daddy-O!

JOEY Well other than that, there was a major scare when that nerd Mccarthy falsely accused people of being Communists. This caused this caused great turmoil. I was not down with that. He made everyone suspicious and that is NOT boss!

WYNN But other than that everyone was relaxing in their homes in the suburbs with their nice lawns. The general populace was happy and relaxed. Get with it bro!

GREG But Africans Americans couldn't afford this kind of living. They were left out. The people in the inner city never experienced these benefits and the atomic bomb was an overhanging threat at all times.

__WYNN__ Still, there were new jobs and people could all fill them. It was a great time for everyone and new inventions like plastic really improved living conditions. All these new jobs and businesses were great for the economy so cool it dude.

JOEY This was good for a while, but with all these baby boomers, these jobs were being filled and there was a severe housing shortage. People couldn't get homes and there were issues in that sector also. This was bad news.

WYNN Even despite this, more Americans went to college and more Americans owned homes. The economy was booming, so it was a great time for most people and only a few people were affected by this.

GREG People who were less fortunate could not afford cars to move into the suburbs and own good homes. Shot down!!! Some Americans could afford the suburbs, but most couldn't and it was just a relative success.

WYNN Tons of people were living great lives in the suburbs. Especially with new inventions like TV dinners, TV's, air conditioners, and dishwashers!! Any other arguments can not stand up to the power of TV dinners! Good Day sirs, I'm too hip to talk to you wet rags.