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Mr.
Meyers [teacher]
Fredericka
Fieldston [name] Unit
One, Day Five [assignment day] 9/22/99
[assignment due date] ãColumbus:
Hero or Villainä [assignment
day title]
Question
#1 [question number]
1) Was Columbus a
hero, a villain or something else altogether? [restatement]
Columbus was neither a hero nor a villain, but, rather, a well intentioned,
if misunderstood, extra-terrestrial. [topic
sentence- answer and road map] The definition of a hero is: ãA large
sandwich, often including tomatoes, lettuce and dressing, as well as
luncheon meats. A hero is also known as a submarine sandwich (New York
and Northern New Jersey), Grinder (Pennsylvania), or Hoagie (Jersey
shore). [good definitions] It is therefore plain that Columbus was no hero,
as he lacked tomato, and only came to wear lettuce in his later years.
How did we come to believe Columbus
was a hero? [topic sentence #1]
It was actually later scholars who assumed he wore tomato, as is evident
in the work of historian Irving Berlin. [secondary
source] In his seminal work on Columbus, Around the World in Quite a Daze, Berlin cites Columbusâ now famous
line, ãYou say tomayto, I say tomato, letâs call the encounter off,ä
[primary source quote] as evidence of
Columbusâ hero status. But recent scholarship, by Ima Nerd and others,
shows that this quote actually came from Columbusâ first lieutenant,
Botla Heinz. Heinz, 57 years old at the time, [factual
evidence] was Columbusâ oldest and most trusted assistant, went
on to point out that if they called the whole thing off, ãthen we must
part, and, oh, if we have to part then that would break my heart.ä [primary source quote] Indeed, it may have been Heinz, whose caution
was famous, who saved the whole enterprise by moving slowly and tempering
Columbusâ hot temper. [analysis
and explanation] When, on Thursday afternoon, October 10th,
1492, [date] Columbus complained, ãtheyâre keeping
me waiting,ä it was Heinz who argued, ãIs patience that much to ask
for from someone about to get a country, state, university, avenue and
drug cartel named after him?ä This argument persuaded Columbus to wait
and thereby changed the course of American history. [significance]
It also shows us that Columbus was no hero. [transition] But the absence of a tomato does not
prove Columbus a villain. [topic
sentence #2] Villainâs require dark moustaches and a black cape,
and it is clear, from the work of eye witness artists such as the etcher
Paula Roid, [primary source] that Columbusâ cape was
dark gray. This was the cape that Isabella had given Columbus in lieu
of the 3,000 gold doubloons he had requested.
[fact] It is ironic that it would be Isabellaâs stinginess that
would deny Columbus villain status. [analysis
and interpretation]. But if Columbus was not a villain, then what
was he? [transition] So it is clear that Columbus was neither
a hero nor a villain, but an extra-terrestrial. [restatement and conclusion] Not only did he stand only three feet
high, but his finger glowed and he constantly droned, ãCC phone home.ä
[factual evidence] This is significant,
as it shows that America is, and has always been, a haven for immigrants,
from near and far. [significance
and ãso whatä answer] |