Media Violence1 essays

Media Violence1 essays Top 25 Top 50 Top 100 OPPapers Main Total Papers: 2426 The world today has a variety of problems. Violence is around the top of the list. Everywhere you go that is all you here. It is seen on the front page of the newspaper and as the headlines in the news. Unfortunately it is widely used for entertainment purposes. In the New York Times a 1998 article by Faye Fiore stated: "On average last year, one act of serious brutality was found for every four minutes of entertainment." Today, violence is a major part of video games, television, and popular movies. Violence becomes such an everyday scene for us that it makes us numb to the real world. I think that some of the violence in the entertainment business should be not necessarily abolished but "toned down." Almost every video game out has a violent theme. For example, Mortal Kombat, Wrestling, and even Star Wars. What ever happened to Mario and Luigi or simple sports games? Now it all has to be blood, guts, and gore to sell. Some of the top psychologists related these games to some of the teenagers' rage. One game was even said to influence the two students who were responsible for the Columbine School shooting. Television shows like Cops, WWF, Jerry Springer, and even cartoons flood the "must see" hours. Violent acts are constantly being used for a main source of entertainment. The study's researchers, however, contended that in most of the films, shows and videos they examined, violence was often portrayed as harmless or without consequence, but this does not make it okay to kill someone as long as they are a "villain". Violent acts like this are seen so much that we become less and less affected by it when it becomes reality. Little kids especially portray anything they see on TV unknowing of the true consequences. Little kids are getting a hold of guns and shooting ...

How to Write a Capturing Introduction for a Literary Analysis Paper

How to Write a Capturing Introduction for a Literary Analysis Paper How to Write a Capturing Introduction for a Literary Analysis Paper If you are writing a literary analysis essay it is very important that you find a way to grab your reader’s attention right from the beginning. You want to draw a reader in so that they are eager to find out what you have to say about a particular literary piece. You also want to make sure that your opening paragraph is: well-organized; gives your reader a clear indication of what your thesis or idea is; written in such a way that there is a logical progression of ideas from one sentence to the next. You may be asking yourself how you can fit all of these things into one paragraph without making it â€Å"stuffed†. Here are some tips that you can use to help you. Keep in Mind What You Are Writing and What You Are Writing about This sounds easy but it is one rule that many essayists tend to forget about. You want to keep in mind that a literary analysis paper is specifically designed to look at a particular piece of writing. Your goal, as an author, is to come up with a definitive idea regarding a piece of literature and express that idea or conclusion to your reader. It doesn’t have to be boring, and it doesn’t have to be rigid or inflexible but it does have to have a specific idea or thesis and utilize examples and information from the piece itself to support your arguments. You also need to keep the tone professional rather than conversational. An essay is more of a formal style of writing and the language you use should reflect that. Once you have figured out what you want to write about, it is time to write your opening paragraph. Remember That Your Opening Line Must Be the Most Critical Your opening line is perhaps the most critical part of your essay because it is what makes your reader want to continue. Think about it like a headline for a news article. Some headlines and opening lines immediately make you want to read more. They build excitement for the reader. Others may be more passive or less entertaining. You want to be sure that when you write, your opening sentence falls into the first category. To achieve this goal, you may want to use one of the following opening variants: A passage from the piece you are writing about; A relevant quote from someone famous. This can either be directly related to the piece or illustrate your thesis about the piece; A question that may provoke thought or emotion in your reader. From there you can continue and outline what your thesis is. Keep in mind that the arguments you will be making to illustrate your point will come later in the essay itself and do not need to be mentioned in the opening paragraph. If you structure it properly you may find that your opening paragraph flows well and feels neither rushed nor overloaded. Avoid Unnecessary Words and Phrases Of course, it is important to know what not to do when writing your essay’s opening paragraph. This is the time when language is especially important. A good opening paragraph will have language that is very precise and which can create a clear impression of what you are trying to say. Therefore, you must avoid the number of unnecessary words that do not support or illustrate your point and that may cause vague impression in the reader. It is also important to place your thesis statement in the proper position in your opening paragraph. Placing it at the end of the introductory paragraph will help ensure that your reader recognizes it for what it is: the central, unifying idea that will pull your custom written essay  together.

Penal Station Objectives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Penal Station Objectives - Essay Example The first penal station was established at Newcastle in 1804 and the convicts were put to labor mining for coal and cutting cedar tree. However, with the settlements of the Hunter Valley with colonists, Newcastle was no longer as isolated as it was when it started. And so Port Macquarie was established, and Newcastle closed in 1824. However, Port Macquarie experienced frequent successful escapes, and following an inspection by Commissioner Bigge it was determined that other colony stations be created, and emphasized the need for these convicts to be separated and isolated from the remaining population. As a consequence the Governor of Brisbane developed a penal station at Moreton Bay in 1825. Norfolk Island was also reoccupied, having been abandoned in 1813. The worst criminals were sent to Norfolk Island, and those guilty of lesser offences were transported to Moreton Bay. Meanwhile in Van Dieman's Land a penal station was first established in 1822 at Macquarie Harbour, as it was more difficult to escape from. Unfortunately there were issues with access to the Harbour, and so convicts with minor offenses were sent to another penal station established at nearby Maria Island in 1825. Due to escalating cost though, Lieutenant-=Governor Arthur decided to develop another colony, an din 1830 Port Arthur was established on the Tasman's Peninsula, and in the closing of Macquarie Harbor and Maria Island1.There was a distinct awareness among the governors of the settlements at this time that there was a clear need to portray transportation as an "object of terror," to enable effective and efficient deterrence to future criminal activity in Britain 4,5,6. Subsequently, governors incorporated into their policies, statements that would substantiate the concept of transportation as an act "worse than death". Thus, one of the primary objectives of the penal stations , was to deter others from committing crimes.Another primary objective was for the convicts to be given constant employment, preferably in hard labor4. This was to enable a rigid form of discipline among the convicts, and to provide supervisors and governors with a way to systematically and in a standardized way to oversee the incarceration of the convicts. By way of isolation from the luxuries that were available to the settlements it was anticipated that the third objective could be met, which was reforming of character. As such, it was expected that a number of the transported convicts would become rehabilitate through isolation1, hard labor and the habit making of discipline, as well as perhaps learning new skills such as agriculture, and so return to society as a contributing member. 1 Reynolds, J (1982) The penal stations of New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land. p. 356 4. Shannon. (1968) J.T.Bigge "Report to the Commissioner of Inquiry' British Parliamentary Papers: Colonies,

God's Omniscience and Human Free Will - Contradiction Essay

God's Omniscience and Human Free Will - Contradiction - Essay Example Most of the solutions or arguments are aimed at working around the problem rather than resolving it. I believe that there is no way to solve this conflict without denying either God’s omniscience or the existence of free will. In this essay I argue and attempt to prove that God’s omniscience and human free will are not compatible with each other. Omniscience in the simplest form is defined as the knowledge of everything, infinite or complete knowledge. That is, an omniscient God knows and has knowledge of everything, including what is going to happen in the future1. Human free will on the other hand is defined as the ability, power or force of a person to choose what or what not to do. In a more religious sense it is the ability or power to choose or turn away from good or evil2. Hence, definition of omniscient God implies an all knowing God meaning that God knows what is going to happen in the future. If God already knows what we are going to do in the future, it means that our actions are already predetermined and we have no control over the actions that we are going to take in the future. ... God is omniscient or humans have free will, both cannot be possible. Now let’s consider some of the solutions offered to solve the above conflict and see if it actually attempts to prove the compatibility of the two ideas or not. One of the major arguments made by those supporting omniscient God and human free will is that God’s foreknowledge in no way restricts human free will. That is, foreknowledge does not imply causality. Following analogy is used to support the claim: Sun rises tomorrow and knowing this does not cause the sun to rise. Knowing ahead of time does not restrict or cause an event to occur. Similarly, God’s foreknowledge of what we are going to do does not affect our free will to choose what we are going to do. It just means that God happens to know ahead of time what we are going to choose freely. God does not affect our freedom to choose but he simply knows ahead of time that what we are going to choose3. For this argument to work the concept o f time as we know it must be discarded. God is not restricted by the concept of time as we do. To God past, present and future exists at once, i.e, God exists outside of time. The above argument does not make logical sense and can be termed invalid. Let’s assume that humans have free will and are free to choose what they want to do. If an option A is chosen then by the earlier argument God would have known that option A would be chosen ahead of time. If instead of option A, due to free will, option B is chosen then the argument would be that this is what would have been known4. So either way the conclusion that can be drawn is that the future is determined. Irrespective of causing the event to occur or not, the future remains determined in the analogy used. Knowing that the sun

Michael Moore Capitailism a Love Story Review Essay Example for Free

Michael Moore Capitailism a Love Story Review Essay The film Capitalism: A Love Story is a documentary by Michael Moore which outlines the negative effects capitalism has on modern society. Moore points out that capitalism gives people the opportunity to make a lot of money and to have a high standard of living. However, for many workers, making an income to support a family can be quite impossible. At one time, you could find a secure job and live a good life, but capitalism has evolved into a system of greed where only the rich get richer, and the middle class get poorer with no chance to better themselves. This review will analyze the positive and negative impacts of capitalism shown in the film, as well as provide my comments as to why I enjoyed the film. Capitalism gives us the freedom to do what we want and to make what we want of ourselves. It gives one the opportunity to work as much or as little as one wants, and to have the ability to make more money than others. At one time, if you worked hard, you could make a lot of money, and you could purchase a house, cars and many material possessions for yourself and your family. One could argue that even today, with a good education and a secure job, one could enjoy the benefits of a good life. Thus, corporations provided jobs, infrastructure and security for its employees and subcontractors. However, corporations have evolved and will continue to evolve. In some cases, modern companies have evolved positively where they can profit and, at the same time, treat all employees including CEOs fairly. Some such businesses are run democratically by all the workers, who also own the company, because they have an equal say and vote in the running of the operation. These worker-owned companies, such as the bread company in California, provide a good income for all their workers. The employees share equally in the profits, and profit sharing is not dependent on the position one holds. One owner commented that the more hours one works toward the benefit of the company, the more one shares in the profit. Detrimentally, many corporations have evolved negatively where the CEOs are only concerned about filling their own personal pockets with increasing profits and not caring at all about the well-being of their employees. Michael Moore eagerly points out the negative impacts capitalism has on society. Capitalism no longer provides people with the long-term sustainability needed to support themselves and their families. A good example of this is when Moore speaks out about his hometown of Flint, Michigan, and the GM plant where most of the citizens worked. When the automotive company shut down, the workers lost their jobs, and they had nowhere to turn for money. Moore alluded the reason the plant shut down was for the CEOs’ benefit because they were trying to make more profit, while not giving a second thought for the welfare of the people of Flint. As a result, many families lost their homes, and Flint became an abandoned city. Capitalism does not care about the average person because it is a system where corporations compete for higher profits and more benefits for the rich CEOs. If the GM plant in Flint was planning to close, and there was any regard for its employees, why was there no effort made to retrain employees with skills needed for other jobs so that they could continue to support their families and debts? In fact, CEOs of large corporations lobby and influence government policies to permit special tax cuts and bonuses allowing corporate officials to make more money, and in return, greedy government officials also benefit by receiving corporate favours and benefits. Thus, Wall Street and government officials help fill each other’s bank accounts.

The Truth of Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

The Truth of Huck Finn Throughout the classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain continuously and loosely uses the word "nigger." In the society of the year 2002 that word has become one of the most evil and hated in the English language. It is thought of as so bad that it is rarely even spoken, as people prefer to be politically correct and say "n-word" in it's place. The use of this word has caused the book to be banned and censored by many schools across the country, as people want to shield children from the supposed racism of the novel. It was found to be the fifth most challenged book of the 1990's. This word is definitely terrible and has no place in the current society, but it is important to examine Twain's motive behind the inclusion of this word in the story. The book should not be dismissed as cruel and racist before all of the facts are examined. Before forming a wrong opinion, the evolution of the word and the reasons behind it's use in the novel should be exami ned. After learning all of the facts, the use of the word in the book shouldn't be looked as evil, but as a reminder of how far society has come. This novel was written in a time very different from today. It was first published in 1884 and is set some years before in the early 1800's. At this time slavery was common practice in the southern part of the United States. People grew up believing there was nothing wrong with it. People in this time spoke almost identically to the language presented in the book, including referring to African-Americans as "niggers." Twain explains the dialects he was trying to present before the story even begins. In an explanatory he says he was using "the extremist form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect" and "the ordinary Pike County dialect." Both of these types of speech would have included this word. Twain did not use this word to be derogatory toward black people but for the story to remain authentic. The appearance of the word in this book should be looked at as a reminder of a bad time in history.

Analysis around Freuds view of the human mind Essay

This essay aims to discuss the key ideas behind Freud’s theories, including his model of the mind, psychosexual development, repression and cure through therapeutic techniques. Sigman Freud (1856 to 1939) was an Austrian physician, with an interest in the workings of the subconscious mind. â€Å"Freud spent his life trying to produce coherent a set of theories to explain all human behavioural, but never achieved his goal of one grand theory, (Benson, 1999, P48).  According to Freud, the mind has three levels of consciousness. The conscious equates to 1/7th of the mind, being ‘the awareness we have when awake.’ The pre-conscious, is a boundary containing memories of dreams, and causing slips of the tongue. Finally, the unconscious. Making up 6/7ths of the mind and containing ‘thoughts completely hidden and unavailable to us,’ (Benson, 1999, P47). Freud’s model divides the mind in to three parts: the Id, Ego and Superego. He believed that the first to develop was the Id, operating on the pleasure principle, in the unconscious mind. The Id ‘is the dark, inaccessible part of our personality,’ (Freud, 1933 p27). It drives a baby to seek pleasure, like ‘drink food warmth and comfort and avoid the unpleasureable, like hunger, being wet and cold†¦ The Id is selfish and ‘not concerned with social rules, but only with self gratification,’ (Cardwell et al, 1997 p549). The Id is made of two components. Benson (1999, P51) describes the first, Libido, as ‘the inborn energy we have that motivates us to survive.’ The second component, Freud named Thanatos, and described as the death instinct, expressed through aggression towards self and others. Cardwell et al (1997) explain that the Id’s discharge of energy and excitation without regard for consequence is known as primary proc ess thinking. At around two years old the human mind recognises the need to be realistic and plan for the future, rather than surviving on primary instinct. Thus the ego develops. Operating on the reality principle, it battles the Id for control of behaviour. Unlike the Id, the Ego has a partly conscious, secondary thought process. ‘The ego is still, however, essentially selfish, i.e. protecting the individual from harm,’ (Benson, 1999, p51). At around 3, we start to absorb influence from our parents and the Super Ego begins to develop. The Super Ego expands from our learned morals and the conventions of society. ‘Super means above – looking down and monitoring the â€Å"Id-Ego† Battle,’ (Benson, 1999, P52). Like the Ego, the Super Ego is partly conscious; however it is not selfish and considers others too. As it develops it becomes ‘our social conscience and guides us towards sociably acceptable behaviour.’ (Cardwell et al, 1997, p549).  Freud was responsible for modern society’s understanding of the effects childhood experiences can have on adult personalities. He split the childhood into five stages of psychosexual development. During the first, the Oral stage from 0 to 2 years, the only drive present is the Id. Focused on survival, the Id drives the baby to feed by suckling. Thus the mouth becomes the main source of pleasure. Benson (1999, p52) states that ‘through oral satisfaction the baby develops trust and an optimistic personality.’  From 2 to 3 years, the child becomes aware of its bowels and how to control them. Here begins the Anal Stage, as ‘the focus of gratification shifts to the anus†¦ aiding with potty training,’ a vital step to independence and survival, (Benson, 1999, P54). However, withholding elimination goes against the Id’s nature of random discharge without regard for consequence. This results in the requirement for an ego to develop, ‘and as such has important implications in the personality later in life,’ (Cardwell et al, p550, 1997). The phallic stage, from 3 to 5 years, starts when children become aware of sexual differences and become curious about their own genitals. Benson (1999) explains that boys will develop differently to girls from here on. Boys will develop Oedipus Complex and unconsciously experienced a sequence of sub stages. Firstly he will develop a strong desire for his mother. Then, after noticing the strong (sexual) bond between her and his father, he will become deeply jealous of his father and hate him. The boy’s fear of his father uncovering these thoughts instils a fear of the ultimate punishment, castration. The boy resolves that to avoid castration by pleasing his farther, and at the same time impress his mother, he must become like his father. This is called identification. Girls, having unconsciously concluded that they have already been castrated, do not develop the same fears. Though, ‘since their mother is the same, girls also end up identifying, i.e. adopting their mother’s morality and gender roles. This was always rather vague’ and known as the Electra Complex (Benson, 1999, p56).

Ian Lemke †Compare and Contrast Essay

Compare & Contrast In 1848, Cady Stanton gave her ‘Declaration of Sentiments,’ pleading for the right to vote and fair treatment to be given to women, which was promised already in 1776. While the country was still young, John Adam’s wite, Abigail wrote him a letter requesting the rights of women be Included In the document he was having written. This was the Declaration of Independence. 30th of these selections have a common goal: they are being written with the purpose to gain women more rights. Even though they were written with the same purpose in mind, they are very different. The mood and layout of the articles are completely different, not to mention they had completely separate audiences Despite the obvious differences, they both hit home with their intended audiences. Abigail wrote her letter tor her husband alone. Him being a delegate to the First conunental congress, she had hopes In mind that she could give women the rights they deserve, that she could raise the status of women by leaving an impact on the founding document of the country. Using threats of rebellion, she asked him to â€Å"Remember the ladies, and be more generous and avorable to them than your ancestors†. Stanton, author of the Declaration of Sentiments, wanted to influence the opinions and gain support among the public as well as the leading government officials. Not solely expecting to win the tight tor equality, she had hoped she would make enough of an Impact that people would hear her voice and fight for a change in political structure. She fought for a change in the legal status of women. Using powerful statements like â€Å"Women are civilly dead,† as they’re denied voting privileges, and that marriage deprives women of their ndependence, she got a lot of attention and support from all sorts of places. ntortunately, despite their pleads being heard by the nation, it wasnt enough. There’s a big difference between being heard and making a difference, which they regrettably found out. They tried their best, and clearly left their mark on history but It took another 72 years before women were given their basic rights and freedoms. The saddest part is there†™s still prejudice everywhere you go, all we can do is keep fighting for a positive change and hope it comes soon!

Propoganda in Animal Farm essays

Propoganda in Animal Farm essays Propaganda is the use of language for the spreading of ideas or information for the amelioration of a cause. It is used as a manipulative tool that transfigures ones thoughts into those planted by another, ultimately corrupting ones ability to conceive thoughts and reason properly. Throughout George Orwells novella Animal Farm, substantial evidence is given of the types of propaganda used by the pigs, the governing body of the farm. The primary propagandist is Squealer. He is Napoleons spoke person or press agent, because he has a soft, persuasive voice and large happy-looking eyes. Because of his physical attributes, he is believable and the animals invest their trust in him for answers and explanations on the status of the farm. Squealer uses his oratory skills to make the pigs appear as hard-working, Im-on-your-side individuals by the use of slogans, lying, changing history, imparting fear, and other propaganda techniques. Squealer instills fear into the animals by threatening Jones return. This is the most used type of propaganda in the story. The Seven Commandments ban animals from sleeping in beds. Later in the story, the pigs move into the farmhouse and begin sleep in the beds. The animals confront Squealer and express their concern on this matter. Squealer replies, . . . I can tell you, comrades with all the brainwork we do nowadays. You would not rob us of our repose, would you comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones come back? (Page 80). This causes so much fear in the animals that they disregard their own accounts of the ratification of the Seven Commandments, which they all witness months earlier. They figure that they would rather have the pigs sleeping in beds than have Jones come back, so they reassure Squealer on the point. Nothing is ever mentioned again about the pigs s...

Whats a Good PSAT Score for 2015

What's a Good PSAT Score for 2015 SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips With all the scoring changes on the redesigned College Board exams, what counts as a "good score" on the PSAT these days? There are a few factorsyou can use to define what's good: score percentiles, National Merit criteria, andyour own personal goals for the PSAT and the SAT. First, it's critical to understand how the PSAT is scored. This guide will review the scoring scale of the PSAT, along with National Merit Scholarship Corporation's Selection Index, so you know what counts as a goodPSAT score. To start off, let’s go over a few key PSAT terms that will help you understand the rest of this guide. PSAT Scoring Terms: A Glossary Before examiningthe scoring scale of the PSAT, let’s review a few important terms: scaled scores, section (or test) scores, raw scores, subscores, and National Merit Selection Index. By understanding the difference between these terms and how they relate to one another, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the rest of this articleas wefigure out what makes for a â€Å"good† score on the PSAT. Scaled scores: your overall PSAT scores, which fall between 320 and 1520. Math accounts for half of this score (160-760), and the Reading section and Writing and Language section account for the other half together (160-760). Section (or test) scores: your scores by section, which fall between 8 and 38. You’ll get three section scores, one for Math, one for Reading, and one for Writing and Language. Raw scores: the number of correct answers by section. Your maximum potential raw scores varyby section. Subscores:seven scores between 1 and 15 that tell you how you did on certain types of questions. The questions fall into these seven categories:Command of Evidence, Words in Context, Expression of Ideas, Standard English Conventions, Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math. National Merit Selection Index: the scale used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to determine eligibility for Commended Scholar and Semifinalist. The Selection Index for the PSAT will fall between 48and 228. As you can see,you’ll get a lot of different scoreson your PSAT score report. Now that you have a preliminary sense of these terms, let’s look in more detail at how the PSAT scoring system works. How Is the PSAT Scored? As you read above, the PSAT has aminimum possible score of 320 and a maximum of 1520. Both the low and high end of this range are shifted about 80 points lower than the scoring scale of the SAT, to account for the fact that the PSAT is a somewhat easier test. Math isscored from 160 to 760, and Reading and Writing (technically called Writing and Language) isscored together from 160 to 760. Math makes up half the total score while the Reading and Writing sections will make up the other half together. You can think of the PSAT as half math and half verbal. While your final score will lump Reading and Writing together, you'll get a chance to see your performance on each the three separatesections. In addition to your overall scaled scores, you’ll get three section scores - one for Math, one for Reading, and one for Writing, that fall between 8 and 38. These numbers may feel a little random, but it’s actually pretty easy to convert from your section score to your scaled score. To get your math scaled score, just multiply your section score by 20. To get your Reading and Writing scaled score, add your section scores together and then multiply by 10. This chart gives you one hypothetical example of a student who got section scores of 28, 32, and 34 on Reading, Writing and Language, and Math, respectively: Test Test Score Section Score Total Score Reading 28 (28 + 32) * 10 = 600 600 + 680 = 1280 Writing and Language 32 Math 34 34 * 20 = 680 At the risk of making things more confusing, I'll quickly add that your score report shouldalso tell you your â€Å"raw score,† which is simply one point for each correct answer. Since there are 47 questions on Reading, you could get a max raw score of 47. On Math there are 48 questions, so you could get a max raw score of 48. Finally, on Writing, there are 44 questions, so you could get a max raw score of - you guessed it - 44. Again, your raw score simply reflects the number of questions you answered correctly. Then that raw score is converted to a section score and, finally, your scaled scores. Now that you have a sense of the PSAT’s scoring system, let’s consider our original question: what isa good PSAT score? What Makes for a Good PSAT Score? There are a few ways we can define â€Å"good.† First, we can look at the scores that rank in a high percentile compared to the scores of other test-takers. Second, we can look at what scores qualify for National Merit distinction and scholarships. And third, we can look at what your PSAT scores predict for your performance on the SAT. Let's start by reviewing how percentiles work and how you can predictthe strength of your PSAT scores. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: What Are PSAT Percentiles? Once you get your scores back, you'll see the different values described above - your raw scores, your section scores, and your scaled scores. Additionally, your score report will tell you your percentiles. Your score report will tell you two percentiles: the Nationally Representative Sample percentile and the User Percentile. Your Nationally Representative Sample percentile may look higher, since it confusingly includes projections for all students in a grade, even those who typically don'tthe PSAT. It seems that your User percentile will be the most reliable piece of data, since it only includes students whoare actually very likely to takethe PSAT. Therefore, the chart below gives you User percentiles, or for how your PSAT scores compare to other students in your grade who took the test. So how do percentiles work? They simply tell you the percentage of students compared to which you scored higher or the same. If your scaled scores land in the 80th percentile, for example, then you scored the same as or higher than 80% of other test-takers. The other 20% scored higher than you. Students' performance varieson Math, Reading, and Writing, so a score of 600 on Math, for example, may translate to a different percentile than the same score on Reading and Writing. Readon to see how scores from the new PSAT are expected to convert to User Percentiles. What PSAT Scores Will Rank in a High Percentile? This chart has the full list converting PSAT/NMSQT scaled scores to percentiles.This information is sourced fromCollege Board's dataon the PSAT administered in October 2015. As you read through the chart, notice thatyou don't have to have a perfect scaled score to make it into the top 99%. This is important if you're aiming for National Merit - you don't have to get a perfect score to make it into the top 1%. Score Reading and Writing Math 760 99+ 99+ 750 99+ 99+ 740 99+ 99 730 99+ 98 720 99 98 710 99 97 700 99 97 690 98 96 680 98 96 670 97 95 660 96 94 650 95 93 640 94 93 630 92 92 620 91 90 610 89 89 600 86 88 590 84 86 580 82 83 570 79 80 560 77 78 550 74 74 540 71 70 530 67 66 520 63 61 510 59 59 500 54 55 490 50 50 480 47 45 470 43 39 460 39 36 450 35 33 440 32 27 430 28 23 420 25 19 410 23 16 400 21 14 390 18 11 380 15 8 370 11 6 360 9 5 350 7 4 340 5 3 330 4 1 320 2 1 310 1 1 300 1 1 290 1- 1 280 1- 1 270 1- 1 260 1- 1 250 1- 1 240 1- 1 230 1- 1- 220 1- 1- 210 1- 1- 200 1- 1- 190 1- 1- 180 1- 1- 170 1- 1- 160 1- 1- This conversion might vary a bit each year, and College Board's data on the new PSAT is still preliminary and subject to change. In previous years, the Math section was slightly more competitive than Reading and Writing. Similarly, math getsnoticeably more competitive as you look at the lowest scores, and you would need 30 to 40 points higher in Math than in Reading and Writing to score in the 99th percentile. For the most part, though, both sections look like the same scores convert to more or less the same percentiles.At a few levels, Reading and Writing looks to be even more competitive than Math.Let's take a closer look at these percentiles totry to answer our original question of what makes a good score on the PSAT. The higher percentage, the better. What's a Good PSAT Score Based on Percentiles? Based on the chart above, an average PSAT score, or one that's right in the middle in the 50th percentile, is about 490 for both Reading and Writing and for Math. We can define good as being not just above average, but also as stronger than a significantmajority of other test-takers. Given that definition, these are approximately the scaled scores you need in each section to score in the 70th, 80th, 90th, and 99th percentiles. Percentile Reading and Writing Score Math Score Composite Score 70% 540 540 1080 80% 580 570 1150 90% 620 620 1240 99% 700 740 1440 As you can see, both sections convert to roughly the same percentiles except when you approach the 99th percentile. Then you'd need to score about 40 points higher in Mathto make it into the top 1%. Apart from scoring higher than other students, you might define a good score as one that qualifies for National Merit. Let's take a look at what you need to qualify. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: The original National Merit Scholar. What's a Good PSAT Score for National Merit? The percentiles in the chart above compare students all across the U.S who typically take the PSAT. To determine whether you qualify for National Merit, though, you actually have to look at how your scores compare to those of other students in your state. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) compares scores on a state to state basis. It names the top 3 to 4% of students Commended Scholar. To be named a National Merit Semifinalist, you have to score at the very top. National Merit Semifinalist distinction is given to the top 1%. The important thing to remember about National Merit is that it uses its own Selection Index. Since the PSAT changed its scoring system this year, this new Selection Index differs from that used in previous years. Before scrolling down to the chart below, read this next section to make sure you understand thePSAT Selection Index of today. Important: NMSC'sNew Selection Index National Merit has always used its own Selection Index, or scoring scale, to determine Commended Scholars and Semifinalists. In past years, this Selection Index looked a lot like PSAT scaled scores, so you may not have noticed. This year, though, it looks quite a bit different, even though it’s calculated in a similar way. As you read above, the PSATlumps together the Reading and Writing sections in one final scaled score. National Merit, however, still wants to consider these two sections, Reading and Writing, separately. Therefore, NMSClooks at your section scores rather than at your scaled score. It takes your Math section score, Reading section score, and Writing section score - all of which fall between 8 and 38 - adds them together, and then multiplies by 2. The NMSC Selection Index hasa scale between 48 and228. Confused yet? Let's look at an example. The Breakdown: NMSC’s New Selection Index Where does NMSC get this scale of 48 to 228? Let’s say you got minimum scores of 8 on each of the three PSAT sections. You could figure out your Selection Index by adding 8 + 8 + 8 (= 24) and then multiplying by 2 (= 48). That’s the lowest end of the Selection Index scale. What about the max Selection Index score of 228? You could get that with top section scores of 38 in all three sections. 38 + 38 + 38 = 114. Multiply that by 2, and you get 228. Now you can see that the Selection Index isn’t as random as it might have looked at first glance - it just relies on your PSAT section scores between 8 and 38, rather than your PSAT scaled scores between 160 and 760.You can also see why we took the time to go over all these terms at the beginning of the article! Based on reported data from individuals around the country, we've put together a list of every Selection Index cutoff across the United States for the PSAT in 2015. If you see any error with your state, let us know in the comments! Here are the qualifying scores from the old PSAT (2014 and earlier) and the new PSAT (2015 and later). State OldPSAT Cutoff New PSAT Cutoff Alabama 207 215 Alaska 210 213 Arizona 213 219 Arkansas 206 213 California 222 221 Colorado 213 218 Connecticut 220 220 Delaware 215 218 District of Columbia 224 222 Florida 211 217 Georgia 215 219 Hawaii 214 217 Idaho 211 214 Illinois 215 219 Indiana 212 217 Iowa 207 215 Kansas 213 217 Kentucky 210 215 Louisiana 208 214 Maine 212 214 Maryland 221 221 Massachusetts 223 222 Michigan 210 216 Minnesota 215 219 Mississippi 207 212 Missouri 209 216 Montana 206 210 Nebraska 209 215 Nevada 208 214 New Hampshire 212 216 New Jersey 224 222 New Mexico 210 213 New York 218 219 North Carolina 212 218 North Dakota 201 209 Ohio 213 217 Oklahoma 206 213 Oregon 217 219 Pennsylvania 216 218 Rhode Island 212 217 South Carolina 209 215 South Dakota 203 209 Tennessee 212 218 Texas 218 220 Utah 208 215 Vermont 213 215 Virginia 219 221 Washington 219 220 West Virginia 201 209 Wisconsin 208 215 Wyoming 204 209 Average 212 216 As you can see,New Jersey, DC, andMassachusetts require some of the highest scores to qualify. The average qualifying scores for all states isa little lower at around 216. If you haven't taken the PSAT yet and areserious about achieving excellent scores, then I'd recommend aiming for at least 2 to 5 points higher than these cutoffs, as the actual qualifying scores can vary from year to year. How can you figure out your target section scores? By understanding where the new Selection Index comes from, you can take our estimate for your state and simply work backwards. Let’s consider a few examples. How to Calculate Your Target Scores for National Merit As you read above, National Merit will take each of your section scores between 8 and 38, add them together, and multiply by 2. To figure out your target scores by section, take these steps and go through them in reverse. First, divide your state’s cutoff qualifying score by 2. Let’s say you live in New Jersey, and your cutoff will be an estimated 222. Divide that in half and you get 111 (222 / 2 = 111). Now, your section scores in Math, Reading, and Writing should add up to 111. Divide 111 by 3 and you’re looking at a 37in each section: 111 / 3 = 37. You could define your target scores as about 37 in each section - or a little higher to be safe. If you’re more confident in Math, then you could aim for a top math section score of 38. Then you’d have slightlymore wiggle room in Reading and Writing. Depending on your strengths and weaknesses, you can setyour target scores in theoptimal way. To review, you can define your target section scores by dividing your state’s cutoff in half. Then divide by 3 to get a sense of what you need in each section of the PSAT. Customize your target section scores from there. Of course, only a small number of students are actually aiming to score in the top 1%. You may very well be deciding what's a good PSAT score based on your own goals for the test, as well as for the SAT and ultimately, college. Pause for your quintessential collegiate building. What's a Good PSAT Score for Your College Plans? Even if you're not competing for National Merit, the PSAT still matters and is an important test along the path to college. It's valuable practice for the SAT and can help predict your SAT scores. The redesigned exams are very similar, with matching content and format and comparable scoring systems. By doing some research into the colleges you're interested in, you can figure out what you need to score on the SAT. Simply Google the name of your school, along with "average SAT scores." Most schools release data on the average SAT scores of accepted students, so you have a sense of what you need to be a competitive candidate. Then you can use your PSAT scores to determine where you're currently scoring and how much more you need to improve. Based on your target scores and time you can commit to prep, you can design a schedule to prep and raise your scores. The following is a rough estimate of how many hours you need to devote to studying to achieve certain score improvements on the PSAT. 0-50 SAT composite point improvement: 10 hours 50-100 point improvement: 20 hours 100-200 point improvement: 40 hours 200-300 point improvement: 80 hours 300-500 point improvement: 150 hours+ Whether or notyou've already taken the SAT, your PSAT score is a useful starting pointto measure your level and figure out where you need to go from there. Then you can make a study schedule to get yourself where you want to be. Finally, these are the most important points to remember when you take the PSAT and determine whether or not you're satisfied with your scores. Key Points to Remember If youtookthe PSAT in October 2015, you were kind of a College Board guinea pig. 2015 wasthe first year featuring the redesigned PSAT with a new scoring scale and Selection Index.Remember that the PSAT is now scored between 320 and 1520, which is a composite of the Math section and the Reading and Writing sections together. To score in the 70th percentile or above, you want to aim for at least a 540in Reading and Writing and a 540 in Math (or a composite of 1080). To qualify for National Merit, you'll need something like an impressive Selection Index score of214, or a section score around 35 to 36 in Math, Reading, and Writing. The PSAT is a valuable benchmark that you can use to plan your studying for the SAT. Make sure to check your PSAT scores right away to see if you need to take any further steps, like for National Merit, and to move forward with your SAT prep. What's Next? For more on the changes that weremade to the PSAT in 2015, check out our complete PSAT guide. Then head on over to these free PSAT practice tests and other resources to prepare for the exam. Are you wondering what makes a good SAT score? This article breaks down the percentiles so you can see what exactly counts as a bad, good, and excellent score on the SAT. Besides the PSAT/NMSQT that qualifies for National Merit when you take it as a junior, College Board now also offers the PSAT to 8th, 9th, and 10th graders to prepare. Learn about the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT 10 and how to decide between these tests and the regular PSAT. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Autobiographical Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Autobiographical Narrative - Essay Example ces, although I did not want to be a high school teacher, listening to my mum and her students arguing about various issues in literature sparked my curiosity. I enjoyed hearing them criticize each other and I wished someday I could have the courage and knowledge to debate issues as competently as my mum could. As I grew up, I became an active debater from grade school through to high school, I studied widely more so in literature and politics, which were my favorite subjects. In high school, I ran for the position of class representative and I won. As a class representative, I had the chance to discuss issues that affected students with teachers and with fellow students. I discovered a completely new world of intrigues and vested interest albeit limited to a high school level. Afterwards when I joined college, I continued with my interest in student politics, however it is possible that the gusto with which I immersed myself may have negatively impacted on my performance as since after the first year, my mother insisted that until I stopped scoring anything below B minus, I would have to give politics a wide berth. Frankly, I thought she was being paranoid and overprotective but after giving the matter considerable thought, I decided to conform, not so much because I agreed with her opinion but out of respect and the fact that she had brought me up to respect my elders. It was during my hiatus from active politics that I discovered my other talent which came to dominate my next three years and which took the place of my interest in politics. One of the subjects in that I was failing was contemporary literature and my professor suggested that I might want to try writing something for myself and see how it compares to the work of some of the writers I was s tudying. I started reporting about the student politics and in one particularly sensational case, I investigated; I discovered two candidates for campus leadership had been involved in smear campaigns against