Reliance on National Test Scores in Admissions Essay

Reliance on National Test Scores in Admissions - Essay Example It is perfectly clear that people differ in the way they perceive and process information, and for some students, it may be difficult to deal with SAT and ACT just because they are presented in the form of tests. Also, depending on a person's temperament, time of information processing changes as well. What is more, while some people are able to deal with pressure they face while completing any important task, such as testing, others are more exposed to stress and cannot complete tests properly even though they have enough knowledge to do it. External factors depend on the character of the tests, on those who compose them, and on the society as a whole. For instance, it is believed that the results of these tests highly depend on a class a student belongs to: the richer the students' parents are, the higher are his / her scores. In addition to this, taking into account high stakes, people try gaming standardized tests, and quite often, they do it criminally. Therefore, there is no gu arantee that a student is as good at studying as his / her scores show. The second argument that explains irrelevance of standardized tests is that these tests lack content validity. Content validity is a very important characteristic feature standardized tests should have. It is defined as the extent to which a test represents the content of an area that is measured. SAT and ACT do lack this characteristic feature. The matter is that they leave out a significant portion of material covered while studying.

Asquiths poem, The Volunteer, and the extract from Shakespeares Henry V Essay Example for Free

Asquiths poem, The Volunteer, and the extract from Shakespeares Henry V Essay How effectively do Asquiths Poem, The Volunteer, and the Extract From Shakespeares Henry V Promote the Idea That it is Heroic to fight and Die For Ones Country? What Alternative View, is Offered by Wilfred Owen in Dulce et Decorum Est? The Volunteer is a Pro-War poem written by Herbert Asquith. Asquith uses roman imagery to invoke a feeling of greatness and honour. Asquith begins his poem by describing the miserable, mundane life of a clerk, working in a city grey. He opens with the words Here lies that are normally used to begin writing on a gravestone. This epitaph style opening gives the idea that the clerk has now passed away and the poem will concentrate on events beforehand. We are told the clerk has spent half his life doing boring work (..Toiling at ledgers..), his days drifting away. There is a distinct lack of fulfilment in his life, ..With no lance broken in lifes tournament (Lance is roman imagery) And yet he dreams of ..The gleaming eagles of the legions.. and horsemen ..thundering past beneath the oriflamme.. (or battle flag.) Asquith cleverly uses the expression ..The gleaming eagles of the legions.. to conjure up ideas in the readers mind of great gleaming roman soldiers. This adds to the ideology that war is a glamorous and noble thing. In his second stanza, Asquith tells us that ..those waiting dreams are satisfied.. Obviously, the clerk has joined the army. He talks of ..waiting dreams.. giving the impression that the clerk has dreamt of this for a very long time. He goes on to say ..From twilight to the halls of dawn he went.. I think what he means is that the clerk has gone from his dull city to a new, brighter beginning. And although he died he is happy. ..His lance is broken but he lies content.. Because in that high hour in which he lived and died he achieved something he had dreamt of forever. Asquith also mentions that the man needs no reward for his actions (..he wants no recompense). In his last two lines of the poem, Asquith writes: ..nor need he any hearse to bear him hence, who goes to join the men of Agincourt What he is saying is that he who fights for his country needs no other honour in death for fighting is his reward. This poem is very pro-war and is remarkably influential in using roman imagery to sway the readers judgement in his favour. Overall, it is written quite effectively. Another pro-war poem is Henry V. It is actually a speech from Henry V by William Shakespeare. It is his interpretation of what Henry V would have said to his men in an effort to inspire them before they fought at Agincourt. The writer uses the idea that the men will be remembered as heroes and become famous to enthuse them. He begins his speech by naming the day the feast of Crispian. He goes onto declare that ..He that outlives this day shall stand taller (..Stand a tiptoe) on this day in the future. This will make the men that fight feel superior; and more importantly it will make those who dont fight feel inferior. The words feast and flowing cups are also used. These give the imagery of a better life with plenty of food and drink. (possibly that of a king.) He goes on say that every year the man who fought: ..will strip his sleeve, and shows his scars, And say These wounds I had on Crispins day This quote fits in with the thought that scars are a notable accessory and that they will impress people. The men who fought will have the image in their minds that they will be able to show them off to people and feel courageous. He also pronounces to the brave soldiers that they will undoubtedly become famous. ..Our names familiaras household words.. stating that the names of those who fought will be as famous as ..Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot.. these were all extremely well known and respected figures. Now the men have the belief that for fighting this battle they will be remembered as kings, fame will be theirs. This fame pattern continues with ..this story shall the good man teach his son giving the idea that their story will be passed down for generations and generations. They will become role models as such for young boys, helping them to become good people. He continues to make the men feel unique with ..We few, we happy few.. Repetition of the word few makes the men feel that they should be glad to be a part of something that so few people have the opportunity to be a part of. He goes on to promote this idea of uniqueness with the words, ..we band of brothers.. as if the men have become family through fighting for their country. Henry then proclaims that: ..hethat sheds his blood with meshall be my brother.. He has stated that each man is his equal, making them feel honoured. The poem is rounded off with the thought that ..Gentlemen in England, now abed.. would feel accursed that they werent here fighting with us. And they would ..hold their manhoods cheap.. whenever anyone speaks who fought on Saint Crispins day. He is making the men feel that they are superior to those who didnt fight, and that men in England would give anything to be them right now. The poem promotes heroism very effectively, using images of fame and kings to inspire the men. This poem was obviously extremely effective because these men won the Battle of Agincourt against extraordinary odds. Although, in Dulce et Decorum Est, written by Wilfred Owen there is a completely different message conveyed. Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori is Latin for: it is sweet and honourable to die for ones country. It is a strongly anti-war poem in which Owen describes events from personal experience. In the first stanza, Owen depicts a group of soldiers as they march. He describes their gaunt appearance, speaking of lost boots and lost senses. He goes on, in the second stanza to illustrate the reaction of the men to the cries of: gas! GAS! There is An ecstasy of fumbling.. One man, possibly known by Owen is slow to respond. Owen recalls the horror of his death toward the end of the stanza and subsequently writes his next stanza, consisting only of two lines, about the terrible dreams he has about the experience. This leads Owen on to comment bitterly and vividly about the incident, finishing his final stanza off with: The old lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori If Owen is to achieve his desired effect, he has to be as vivid and evocative as possible. In the first stanza, Owen begins with two similes in the first two lines, describing soldiers as old beggars under sacks and hags. Likening the soldiers to old beggars under sacks gives the reader an indication of the sheer weight of what had to be carried, while likening them to hags, completely dehumanising them. This stanza paints a picture of what it was like for these young men; using words like trudge to suggest heavy movements. We get a zombie like impression as ..Men marched asleep. from the exhaustion of body and mind. Also, it suggests that the men march without point i.e. all hope has been lost, as the five-nines (bombs) fall behind. In the second stanza there is a clear change in tempo, (it begins with a command) Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! There is an ecstasy of fumbling showing that it seemed to take a long time to fit the clumsy helmets. Here, the helmets are personified to help to describe the awkwardness of the things. Water imagery is used to show what mustard gas was like. Phrases like misty panes, green sea and drowning do this very effectively. The third stanza is very tense as it goes on to explain how Owen dreams of the man choking to death as he stands helpless. Again, water imagery is used as the man plunges at Owen in desperation while Owen must watch him ..guttering, choking, drowning. In the final stanza, Owen asks you to pace behind the wagon that we flung him in. the use of the word flung suggests casualness and insignificance. Owen involves the reader with phrases like you and you too. There is alliteration of the letter w as he asks the reader to ..watch the white eyes writhing in his face.. He describes His hanging face, like a devils sick of sinobscene as cancer incurable sores on innocent tongues.. a description to horrify the most unsympathetic of persons. He addresses the reader as my friend showing bitter irony, and states that you would not tell with high zest to childrenThe old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori This poem is extremely effective in making the ideology that war is an honourable and dignified thing disappear using horrific, vivid images to do so. To sum up, I feel that all three poems are effective in their own styles. However, some are more effective than others. Henry V is more effective than The Volunteer in supporting the ideology that war is honourable and dignified. This is so in my opinion due to the way it cleverly gives off the impression that the men fighting will be remembered as heroes by comparing them to kings. Also, it concentrates more on what the men will do when they return home, not if they return home. The Volunteer uses images of death and an epitaph style opening to convey the message of a valiant death. I dont think that making the reader think of death will inspire him or her to fight for their country at all. Dulce est Decorum Est is the most effective poem of the three. Its usage of vivid and horrific imagery could make any patriotic citizen think again before going to war. The structure of the poem is extremely well thought out because it begins to get extremely shocking in the final stanza, almost certainly making the reader sway away from the honourable image he or she had of war before reading. It then finishes with labelling Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori a lie. This is intelligent because the reader is at his most easily influenced after reading the horrific description in the final stanza and therefore is more likely to agree with this point.

Mozart Essays -- essays research papers

Julien Rouleau â€Å"The classical period produced more instrumental than vocal music, a wealth of serious and comic operas as well as vocal religious music also appeared during this time†(Ferris, 231). One of the best composer of this time was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In this paper I will go through his childhood, his friends and family, and of course his music. Enjoy!!! Child of the Enlightenment The world that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart entered ceremoniously in 1756 was brimming in change. Historians refer to this era as the Age of Enlightenment, one of unparalleled scientific, philosophical, and political ferment. Within Mozart’s lifetime it set in motion forces that would fundamentally alter life not only in his native, Salzburg, but also around the globe. The Enlightenment was not, to be sure, a democratic movement. In France, the absolutism of the Sun King, Louis XIV, continued under Louis XV and XVI. But in Austria, Empress Maria Theresa introduced a greater measur e of tolerance and freedom among her subjects, laying a foundation for the democratic revolutions that followed. Wolfgang’s father Leopold came from a family of Augsburg bookbinders. He received a solid Jesuit education, more intellectual than evangelical after a year at the Benedictine University in nearby Salzburg; Leopold stopped attending classes to pursue a career as a musician. â€Å"Leopold figured as Mozart’s most important first model. He taught his son the clavier and composition†(Mercardo 763). Wolfgang’s mother Anna-Maria brought as much talent to her 32-year marriage as did Leopold. Though deprived of a formal education, she was highly intelligent and quick-witted— qualities that attracted the sober and reserved Leopold. Only two of their seven children survived infancy. Wolfgang’s musically talented sister Nannerl was five years older. Yet in this painting, the 12-year- old looks like a spinster of seventy—complete with budding double chin. Wolfgang, too, looks far older than his 7 years, and controls the action from his place at its center. The Child Prodigy Indeed, Mozart marks the beginning of the Western fascination with the child prodigy. Dressed in the festive outfit given Wolfgang in 1762 by the Empress Maria Theresa, this boy of not quite seven years old looks, for all the world, like a miniature adult who has simply skipped childhood. â€Å"Mozart was keenly aware of his exceptional ... ...prodigy. The idealization of Mozart’s genius was complete by the end of the nineteenth century. Between 1762 and 1766, the Mozarts appeared at almost every major court in Europe. Wolfgang dazzled audiences with his ability to read difficult music at sight and to improvise Four of his operas—The Abduction from the Seraglio(1782), The Marriage of Figaro(1786), Don Giovanni(1787), and Cosà ¬ fan tutte(1790) —were premiered or performed in the prestigious Burgtheater. Then Mozart met Haydn; we do not know the occasion on which Mozart first encountered Joseph Haydn. In Haydn, he not only found a composer whose achievements were on a level with his own, but a warm and sympathetic friend in whom he could confide. In the autumn of 1791, Mozart’s health became progressively worse. He died on December 5, 1791, and was buried in a pauper’s grave. Critical thinking:  Why do you think Mozart’s instrumental music has been regarded as â€Å"ab solute music†? Why do you think was Mozart is Called a child prodigy? Suggested Further Listening: Opera: -The magic Flute -The marriage of Figaro Symphony: -Jupiter symphony, K.551 Piano Music: -C Minor Sonatas K.457 -D Major Sonatas K.576

Is K-Pop a Good Influence or Bad Influence?

What is K-Pop? K-pop or known as Korean Pop is a new music genre that was originally come from South Korea, Asia. Some say K-pop offered another style of music which has catchier and offer easy listening songs for their lovers. What makes it different too is that the style the singer has shown is something new for us and how they can deliver music on their own way that I believe none of this ever existed before. Just like how they could mix perfectly between the upbeat songs with various kinds of dancing and obviously with their good looking actresses who will make anyone who watch it will fall for them. Good morning Sir/ Madam, today I would like to talk about how K-Pop brings good influences for many teenagers. The love for K-Pop has been spreading widely nowadays, especially in Indonesia. People are arguing whether K-Pop brings a good influence or bad influence for teenagers. Firstly, it is fine for teenagers to like K-pop. I believe to be fond of Korean idol is fine. How could I say so? First, as I read on an article, admiring someone who has professionalism in doing their job will bring a good suggestion to the fans that will suggest the fans to do the same. As it is already a fan's nature for admiring and feeling proud to the attitude of their idol. Being a K-pop artist is really hard, they must have good grade at school because their grades would show whether they are willing to learn or not, and have a good skill that has been examined by the agency and also a good attitude. So that’s why professionalism is the most important thing for being a K-pop artist. This professionalism will enforce teenagers to do so. Fans want to be like their idols, K-Pop idols are showing hard working attitude and how they never give up their dreams and become better as time goes by, for example they undergo packed and brutal training schedule in order for them to be better and better. Thus it will motivates the fans. Another thing that it is already a nature for fans when they love an idol, they'll do everything. Many of K-pop artists are smart, for example is Cho Kyu Hyun who is very smart in Mathematics and has won several Math Olympiads in South Korea, this encourages the fans of Cho Kyu Hyun to study hard as hey are seeing Kyu Hyun as their role model, at the time when Cho Kyu Hyun won several medals he was also in his teenage year, therefore it's easy for fans to look upon him because it suits their situation now. Secondly, teenagers could widen their social intercourse and even knowledge. Why? When someone likes K-pop I can make sure that they will not keep it for her or himself. They will share it with others, for example joining fans gathering, K-pop fans will try to spread the love. By liking K-pop fans usually will always get the latest updates of their idols as a fans' nature is to dig as much as they can as long as it's related to their idols and that will force them to be aware on how to connect themselves with the world that might make them being sophisticated teenagers. Sounds rare? But that’s the truth. Knowing K-pop will make fans curious about South Korea itself, as they will be trying to be closer to their idols as much as they can, they would try to learn South Korea's culture and language, this is useful for teenagers as it could enriches their knowledge about the world outside. Furthermore, I would like to say that K-pop unites the world. Teenagers nowadays are able to meet new friends around the world through K-pop fancafe or social networks as they are sharing the same interests. Having friends overseas are good as they'll be using English since English is the universal language and that would train them to speak English more. Articles about K-pop for international fans are also written in English, therefore fans will try to improve their English as they don't want to miss their idols latest updates. Despite the view from the adults that liking K-pop will cause teenagers to lose their nationalism, as when someone is obsessed about something, they will do everything related to it and by liking K-pop means that teenagers will spend more time in learning about South Korea and forgetting about Indonesia's tradition and culture. Adults have also been saying that K-pop just gives distraction to teenagers. Especially parents think that their children are distracted from their studies as they always think about K-pop, watching videos about K-pop or reading fan fiction and neglect their studies. Another reason that was given by them is because of the consumerism soul of teenagers. It is true that being K-pop fans is not cheap. Even an album that only has 5 songs in it could cost Rp. 200,000 . It is a fans nature that they want to meet their idols so when their idols come, they become desperate to watch the concerts and moreover whenever there's concert, merchandises such as light-stick, banner would be essential for them to cheer their idols and all of those are not cheap. Adults are thinking that it's just wasting money. People are saying that K-pop artists are fake and just motivates teenagers to do plastic surgery in order to look pretty or handsome. They are saying that K-pop is all about plastic surgery, the K-pop artists will do it so they can be pretty or handsome and sometimes it's necessary if they want to have a lot of fans in Korean music industry. I myself believe that nothing is wrong with plastic surgery, why would we accuse someone for being fake only because they did plastic surgery? It's not like they are doing crime. Every person in this world has their own rights, if the K-pop artists want to do it, then it's their rights, it doesn't go against the human rights. Afterall, what is wrong for someone having a desire to have a better look? I don' think that this brings bad influence for teenagers, even in South Korea itself, parents usually give their children plastic surgery as birthday presents and this motivates the children to be a good and well-mannered child if they want to get plastic surgery as their present. So, I strongly believe that there is nothing wrong with it. All of those are true. However it's back to themselves. It's back to their ability to control themselves and to hold their temptation. As long as it's consumed wisely, I believe that K-pop will only bring good influences for teenagers as I myself experience it. In my experience, I believe that K-pop has bring good influences into my life. Despite people saying that K-pop will distract me from my studies, I am very sure that it doesn't. In fact, K-pop is one of the main factors that motivates me to study even harder and keep up good marks. I see K-pop as my motivation, I always think that if I study hard and get good results, in the end I can award myself by going to K-pop concerts or buying their official merchandises. Whenever there's a big exam coming, I always make a note which says something like â€Å"Rank 1 = K-pop Concert† , and it really motivates me. I really respect all the K-pop artists, they sacrifice everything to chase their dreams. There's this one quote that always stuck in my head, â€Å"If you really want one thing, you have to give up on another† , said Lee Tae Min, a member of SHINee. It teaches me that if I really want something, I have to stick to it, be consistent and not easily influenced by others, I have to focus on my aims. Moreover, K-pop teaches me to fight for what I want, just as what Minho, a member of SHINee, korean boy group says, â€Å" If you don't give up your hopes and dreams, then there will always be a good ending. † Thank you for your attention and now I end this speech.

A comparison of the poems ‘A London Fete’ by George Patmore and ‘Clever Tom Clinch Going to be Hanged’ by Jonathan Swift Essay

The two poems ‘A London Fete’ by Coventry Patmore and ‘Clever Tom Clinch Going to be Hanged’ by the poet Jonathan Swift both share the theme and the horror of public execution, although each poem has a different focus point. ‘A London Fete’ concentrates on the impression the impression that the crowd watching the execution gives to the poet. It expresses the horror that the poet experiences as she watches the crowds attitude towards the execution. The very negative language of the poet expresses how she felt, â€Å"Thousands of eyeballs, lit with hell†¦as when the realm of the damned rejoiced at winning a soul to its will,† compares the event as a vision of hell. The poet describes the crowd as a â€Å"rabble† an uncontrollable force almost like a mob, an evil atmosphere â€Å"as mothers held up their babes to see, who spread their hands and crowed with glee,† everyone in the rabble is involved almost as if they were all one person, all enjoying the entertainment, as it was called during the Pre 20th Century. A crowd would gather around Newgate’s prison, which was a prison in London like death row, during the 1800’s many would have seen the spectacle of a prisoner being brought forth to the hangman’s rope. For many of the people gathered it would have been a form of entertainment almost like a day out and many people would have gathered for the event, waiting with baited breaths. Anticipation rises as the crowd wait for the ‘show’ to begin â€Å"thousands of breasts beat horrid upon hope† depicts how the crowd waited and as more anticipation rose in the already tense atmosphere. â€Å"Blasphemed and fought for places,† describes how everyone wanted a place from which to watch. â€Å"To windows, where, in freedom sweet, others enjoyed the wicked treat,† illustrates how much the people in the crowd enjoyed it, as does â€Å"Thousands of eyeballs, lit with hell. Burnt one way all, to see the rope unslacken as the platform fell† this also shows us that the crowd gathered all stared intently as if they were all one single person. Yet with all the many people there â€Å"a man with yelling tired, stopped, and the culprits crime inquired† the use of vocabulary chosen shows that even though there is a large rabble gathered nobody there at the time knows neither who the â€Å"damned man† is nor the culprits crime was. It didn’t matter about the name of the man, if he had a family or not, even whether he was innocent or guilty, no respect was given to the condemned man. â€Å"The rope flew tight,† the waitings over, â€Å"and then the roar, Burst forth afresh; less loud, but more confused and affrighting.† the crowd has lost its unity, its roar. The use of the word â€Å"common din, the chaos of noises† illustrates the use of how the author describes the pre-hanging scene. â€Å"Clattering and clanging of hateful voices, sickening and stunned the air,† depicts just how much the poet sees the crowd as sinners during this very religious time. â€Å"A thief slunk off with ample spoil, to ply elsewhere his daily toil,† this line tells us that although Public execution was designed to deterrent others from committing crimes others pocketed from the crowd, stealing money, this suggests that the supposed deterrent actually had little effect. â€Å"A baby strung its doll to a stick; a mother praised the pretty trick†¦. two children caught and hung a cat,† Copying the event and the praise received shows that the people considered it to almost be like a show and how it influenced children’s lives even how the children saw of it as a game instead of the dramatic loss of human life. Adults had been little affected even after seeing something so awful â€Å"Two friends went off, in lively chat† Basically it was part of normal life during that time. The poets’ use of language reflects on how she saw the event, its personal, and her view of the crowd as she watched the horrid event and the people almost as bad as the criminals himself. The title itself appears to have a sarcastic tone usually a fete would be a celebration. The poem appears also to be very realistic and quite dramatic with a sinister mood as the crowd is not in anyway sympathetic towards the criminal. ‘Clever Tom Clinch Going to be Hanged’ is also an ironic title seeing as if Tom Clinch was clever then he would never have been caught and the poem also has a comedy feel towards the theme of public execution.