ClearTips: Powerful paragraphs

Getting off to a good start: Present a brief history

Starting with a historical anecdote adds the interest of analogy-and boosts your credibility.

Even the early stages of the Industrial Revolution quickly made England the wealthiest society that had ever existed, but it took a long time for the wealth to be reflected in the earnings of ordinary workers. Economic historians still argue about whether real wages rose or fell between 1790 and 1830, but the very fact that there is an argument shows that the laboring classes did not really share in the nation's new prosperity.

It's happening again. As with early 19th century England, late 20th century America is a society being transformed by radical new technologies that have failed to produce a dramatic improvement in the lives of ordinary working families-indeed, these are the technologies whose introductions have been associated with stagnant or declining wages for many. The Industrial Revolution was not based on silicon and information; but in a deep sense the story is probably much the same.

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