Myths and Heroes

[Lyova]

Bonjour, 

Je vais passer mon oral d'anglais. Ce serait super si quelqu'un pouvait corriger mes fautes et m'aider pour le bac. Je vous remercie par avance. 

 

I am going to talk about the notion of myth and heroes. First of all I would like to give a quick definition of that notion. A myth can be defined as a story about gods or heroes, it can be a popular belief or a tradition or a false notion. A hero can be a mythological figure, a person who is admired for his or her achievements, a superhero or maybe a role model or an icon.

Me, I am going to talk about John D. Rockefeller. Yes, a self-made man.

But, why this self-made man is a hero?

I will study this question along two lines. First, I will talk a little about his life and explain why he is the icon of success. After, I will show you why Rockefeller, a “simple” self-made man, is a real hero.

John Davison Rockefeller was born in 1839, in Richford. He was an American industrialist. He is the founder of the Rockefeller family, and also the first billionaire in contemporary times.

Rockefeller is a self-made man. As Churchill said: ”Continuous effort is the key to unlocking our potential”. I know, Churchill lived after Rockefeller but I think this quote explain us how Rockefeller has successes, by a continuous effort.

From his childhood, John D. Rockefeller set itself the goal of becoming a great businessman. He began to earn money in small business. For example he loaned with interest from a few dollars to comrades. He was more attracted by the factories, railways and organization of banks than by art, literature and politics.

In September 1855, when Rockefeller was sixteen, he got his first job working for a small produce commission firm. Making 50 cents a day, the full salary for his first three months work was $50 (equivalent to $1 thousand in 2015 dollars). As a youth, Rockefeller reportedly said that his two great ambitions were to make $100 thousand (equivalent to $3 million in 2015 dollars) and to live 100 years.

In 1862, he invested in well in Titusville but he prefers to partner and create an oil refining company.

Convinced of the possibilities, he decided to invest in this new field, the oil, and offers Flagler, his partner to follow. Flagler was hesitant, so John D. Rockefeller bought his shares of the brokerage firm for $ 72 500 and takes a new partner, the chemist Samuel Andrews. Thus he set up his first refinery in Cleveland to produce naphtha and kerosene.

In January 1870 Rockefeller created the Standard Oil Company of Ohio, which quickly became the most profitable refinery in Ohio. The purpose of Rockefeller was simple: be able to control all US oil refineries.

In 1871, some refiners shall consult in order to form an alliance against Rockefeller but Standard was already very big for them.

Here’s how Standard Oil became one of the largest transporters of oil and kerosene in the country.

In 1872 takes place "the conquest of Cleveland" Standard Oil accounts for 22 of its 26 competitors to Cleveland in less than two months.

 Rockefeller is often quoted saying "The growth of a large business is merely a survival of the fittest.

And, in 1900, Standard Oil controls more than 90% of the volume of refined oil to the United States.

Rockefeller retires in 1896 being the richest man in the United States and one of the most powerful in the world. His son took over the company. He is considered the richest man of all time with a fortune estimated in 1902 at $ 200 million in 1914 to 900 million dollars (one percent of American wealth at the time), equivalent to $ 200 billion in 2001.

Rockefeller was a philanthropist too, that’s why, for me, he is a hero. Rockefeller's charitable giving began with his first job as a clerk at 16, when he gave six percent of his earnings to charity, as recorded in his personal ledger. By the time he was twenty, his charity exceeded ten percent of his income. Much of his giving was church-related.

Rockefeller gave nearly $ 600 million. This money is used among others to found the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research and the Rockefeller Foundation, intended to promote scientific progress in all countries of the world. The Rockefeller Foundation enables the development of black schools in the southern United States.

To conclude, I would say that Rockefeller was a man who followed John Wesley's dictum, "gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can." He is part of the American myth of the self-made men.

 

[enihs]

Le 3/5/2016 at 23:32, Lyova a dit :

Me, I am going to talk about John D. Rockefeller. Yes, a self-made man.

Pas besoin de mettre "Me" ici je crois

 

[Jean B]

 

Bonjour,

Le 03/05/2016 at 23:32, Lyova a dit :

Bonjour, 

Je vais passer mon oral d'anglais. Ce serait super si quelqu'un pouvait corriger mes fautes et m'aider pour le bac. Je vous remercie par avance. 

 

I am going to talk about the notion of myth and heroes. First of all I would like to give a quick definition of that notion. A myth can be defined as a story about gods or heroes, it can be a popular belief or a tradition or a false notion. A hero can be a mythological figure, a person who is admired for his or her achievements, a superhero or maybe a role model or an icon.

Me, I am going to talk about John D. Rockefeller. Yes, a self-made man.

But, why this self-made man is a hero? <L'ordre des mots dans une question directe ?

I will study this question along two lines. First, I will talk a little about his life and explain why he is the icon of success. After, I will show you why Rockefeller, a “simple” self-made man, is a real hero.

John Davison Rockefeller was born in 1839, in Richford. He was an American industrialist. He is the founder of the Rockefeller family, and also the first billionaire in contemporary times. <Il aurait donc 177 ans ? Quelle longévité ! 

Rockefeller is a self-made man. As Churchill said: ”Continuous effort is the key to unlocking our potential”. I know, Churchill lived after Rockefeller but I think this quote explain us how Rockefeller has successes, by a continuous effort.

From his childhood, John D. Rockefeller set itself the goal of becoming a great businessman. He began to earn money in small business. For example he loaned with interest from a few dollars to comrades. He was more attracted by the factories, railways and organization of banks than by art, literature and politics.

In September 1855, when Rockefeller was sixteen, he got his first job working for a small produce commission firm. Making 50 cents a day, the full salary for his first three months work was $50 (equivalent to $1 thousand in 2015 dollars). As a youth, Rockefeller reportedly said that his two great ambitions were to make $100 thousand (equivalent to $3 million in 2015 dollars) and to live 100 years.

In 1862, he invested in oil wells in Titusville but he prefers to partner and create an oil refining company.

Convinced of the possibilities, he decided to invest in this new field, the oil, and offers Flagler, his partner to follow. Flagler was hesitant, so John D. Rockefeller bought his shares of the brokerage firm for $ 72 500 and takes a new partner, the chemist Samuel Andrews. Thus he set up his first refinery in Cleveland to produce naphtha and kerosene.

In January 1870 Rockefeller created the Standard Oil Company of Ohio, which quickly became the most profitable refinery in Ohio. The purpose of Rockefeller was simple: be able to control all US oil refineries.

In 1871, some refiners shall consult in order to form an alliance against Rockefeller but Standard was already very big for them.

Here’s how Standard Oil became one of the largest transporters of oil and kerosene in the country.

In 1872 takes place "the conquest of Cleveland" Standard Oil accounts for 22 of its 26 competitors to Cleveland in less than two months.

 Rockefeller is often quoted saying "The growth of a large business is merely a survival of the fittest.

And, in 1900, Standard Oil controls more than 90% of the volume of refined oil to the United States.

Rockefeller retires in 1896 being the richest man in the United States and one of the most powerful in the world. His son took over the company. He is considered the richest man of all time with a fortune estimated in 1902 at $ 200 million in 1914 to 900 million dollars (one percent of American wealth at the time), equivalent to $ 200 billion in 2001.

Rockefeller was a philanthropist too, that’s why, for me, he is a hero. Rockefeller's charitable giving began with his first job as a clerk at 16, when he gave six percent of his earnings to charity, as recorded in his personal ledger. By the time he was twenty, his charity exceeded ten percent of his income. Much of his giving was church-related.

Rockefeller gave nearly $ 600 million. This money is used among others to found the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research and the Rockefeller Foundation, intended to promote scientific progress in all countries of the world. The Rockefeller Foundation enables the development of black schools in the southern United States.

To conclude, I would say that Rockefeller was a man who followed John Wesley's dictum, "gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can." He is part of the American myth of the self-made men.

Mémorise une bonne fois qu'un récit se fait au passé. De plus, l'emploi simultané ou alterné du présent et du passé ne te cause pas le moindre souci, et vogue la galère !

[Lyova]

Merci beaucoup pour votre aide !!