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Hi! I'm new to this network, I tried looking for a thread or folder that had Written Sample Examples and I couldn't find any. I read the posts, and since the AAMC posts written sample examples publicly, I think editing essay's would be allowed? I was wondering whether anyone be willing to look over my essay and provide feedback? I've been struggling with this prompt.
In the recording of history, it is impossible to be objective.
Write a unified essay in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which it might be possible to be objective in the recording of history. Discuss what you think determines when objectivity in the recording of history is possible and when it is not.
History can be defined as a past event. The recording of history can be considered to be subjective, where subjectivity is defined as the interpretation of an event due personal beliefs or feelings. Subjective recordings may influence the significance of the event and even speculate whether the event actually occurred. Subjective influences may be political in nature, such as the case with the 1937 Nanking Massacre that occurred when the Japanese invaded the small village of Nanking. This is a contentious event between Chinese and Japanese historians where some Japanese historians maintain that the event was a falsely exaggerated for propaganda purposes, and Chinese historians believe that the Japanese are diminishing the significance of the event because of national pride. Chinese historians predict the death toll around 300,000, a sharp contrast to Japans prediction of 20,000. The true death toll is unable to be determined due to the lack of records kept by Japanese soldiers and officials during the raid. This is an example of the subjective recording of a historical event and is determined by the lack of significant third-party observers. A third party observer can be defined as an individual without any prejudices towards the event. In this case, a third-party would ideally not be politically prejudiced towards either China or Japan.
On the other hand, the significant destruction of the twin towers on September 11th 2001 was recorded by numerous video cameras and transmitted to every television set within Canada and the United States of America. Each national broadcasting corporation transmitted this video on this day, allowing for a significant number of third party observers. Although the intentions surrounding the towers destruction can be debated, the fact that this event occurred cannot. It was objectively recorded by multiple cameras and broadcasted nationally and internationally. Thus, the widely known 9/11 event can be considered an objective recording of history.
Historical recordings can usually be described as subjective. However, its subjectivity is dependent on the method of recording and the number of third-party observers. In the case of Nanking, it was the Japanese soldiers and Chinese civilians who witnessed this event, and thus the controversy over its recording surrounds two parties who are may be under subjective political influence. In the case of the 9/11 event in 2001, the event was recorded via an objective device such as the video camera and transmitted to millions of viewers. This decreases the probability of subjective interpretation and has enhanced the validity of the event.
In the recording of history, it is impossible to be objective.
Write a unified essay in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which it might be possible to be objective in the recording of history. Discuss what you think determines when objectivity in the recording of history is possible and when it is not.
History can be defined as a past event. The recording of history can be considered to be subjective, where subjectivity is defined as the interpretation of an event due personal beliefs or feelings. Subjective recordings may influence the significance of the event and even speculate whether the event actually occurred. Subjective influences may be political in nature, such as the case with the 1937 Nanking Massacre that occurred when the Japanese invaded the small village of Nanking. This is a contentious event between Chinese and Japanese historians where some Japanese historians maintain that the event was a falsely exaggerated for propaganda purposes, and Chinese historians believe that the Japanese are diminishing the significance of the event because of national pride. Chinese historians predict the death toll around 300,000, a sharp contrast to Japans prediction of 20,000. The true death toll is unable to be determined due to the lack of records kept by Japanese soldiers and officials during the raid. This is an example of the subjective recording of a historical event and is determined by the lack of significant third-party observers. A third party observer can be defined as an individual without any prejudices towards the event. In this case, a third-party would ideally not be politically prejudiced towards either China or Japan.
On the other hand, the significant destruction of the twin towers on September 11th 2001 was recorded by numerous video cameras and transmitted to every television set within Canada and the United States of America. Each national broadcasting corporation transmitted this video on this day, allowing for a significant number of third party observers. Although the intentions surrounding the towers destruction can be debated, the fact that this event occurred cannot. It was objectively recorded by multiple cameras and broadcasted nationally and internationally. Thus, the widely known 9/11 event can be considered an objective recording of history.
Historical recordings can usually be described as subjective. However, its subjectivity is dependent on the method of recording and the number of third-party observers. In the case of Nanking, it was the Japanese soldiers and Chinese civilians who witnessed this event, and thus the controversy over its recording surrounds two parties who are may be under subjective political influence. In the case of the 9/11 event in 2001, the event was recorded via an objective device such as the video camera and transmitted to millions of viewers. This decreases the probability of subjective interpretation and has enhanced the validity of the event.
