The 4 SAT Sections What They Test and How to Do Well

The 4 SAT Sections What They Test and How to Do Well SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Whether you're actively preparing for theSAT or simply want tolearn more about the ubiquitous college entrance exam, it’s important youstart with the basics: how many sections are on the SAT? What are the names of the SAT sections? And what kinds of skills does each section measure? In this article, we answer all of your burning questions about theSAT sections. We'll begin bydiscussing how many sections are on the SAT as well ashow these sections differ from one another. Then, we’ll go over the different skills on which you'll be tested, giving youour experttips for combating each of the SAT test sections with confidence. Finally,we'll take a look at whether certain sections of the SAT are more important than others and what this meansfor you and your college applications. What Are the SAT Sections? The SAT (which was redesigned in 2016) consists offour sections: Reading Writing and Language Math (which consists oftwo subsections, No Calculator and Calculator) Essay (optional) Asthe College Board(the creator of the SAT) puts it, all sections of the SATwork together totest â€Å"what you learn in high school† and â€Å"what you need to succeed in college.† In other words, the goal of the SAT is to ensureyou possess the appropriate reading, writing, and math skills deemed necessary for success as a college student. Eachof theSAT test sectionsappearsonly once on the exam and varies in the number of questions it contains as well as inhow much time it allocates. The following table showcases some of the major features ofthe SAT test sections: Reading Writing and Language Math Essay (Optional) Order on Test 1st 2nd 3rd 4th # of Questions 52 44 58 (20 No Calculator, 38 Calculator) 1 Question Format Multiple choice Multiple choice Multiple choice, grid-ins Essay Time 65 mins 35 mins 80 mins (25 mins No Calculator, 55 mins Calculator) 50 mins Skills Tested Command of Evidence Words in Context Command of Evidence Words in Context Expression of Ideas Standard English Conventions Heart of Algebra Problem Solving and Data Analysis Passport to Advanced Math Additional Topics in Math Reading Analysis Writing Scoring Combined with Writing and Language for a total Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score on a scale of 200-800 Combined with Reading for a total Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score on a scale of 200-800 No Calculator and Calculator subsections are combined for a total Math score on a scale of 200-800 Three separate scores (Reading, Analysis, Writing), each on a scale of 2-8 According to this table, the longest section (in terms of both time and number of questions) is the Math section. This is because the Math section is composed oftwo subsections: a No Calculator section (which always comes first) and a Calculator section. While theNo Calculator section is fairly brief at only 25 minutes and 20 questions long, theCalculator section lasts for 55 minutes and contains a total of 38 questions. You may also notice a few keysimilarities between the Reading and Writing and Language sections. These two sections were specifically designed to test a couple of the same skills - namely Command of Evidence and Words in Context - in different ways. Thetwo sections also combine for an overall Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score out of 800 points, so they clearly have a lot in common with each other! Lastly,the above table highlights how all sections of the SAT (excluding the Essay) are predominantly multiple choice. Mostquestions on the SAT contain four answer choices from which you mustselect one answer. On the Math section, however, you will also face a handful ofgrid-in questionsfor which you must come up with your own answers and bubble them in using the numbers provided. Now that we've covered all of the fundamentals, let’s take a closer look at each of the four sections of the SAT. The SAT Reading Section The Reading section focuses onreading comprehension and understanding vocabulary in context. Each of the 52 questions in this section will bebased on a passage. You'll be given five passages in total: 1 passage on U.S. or world literature 2 passages on history/social studies 2 passages on science (which may include graphs and/or charts) On some areas of theReading section, you may be givena pair of related passages instead of a single passage. You may also encounter graphs, charts, orother forms of data representation. (Note that you will not have to use any math for these questions, though you willbe expected to know how to interpret the data provided.) As illuminated in the table above, the Reading section test two primary skills: Command of Evidence:your ability to find concrete evidence within the passage tosupport the author’s claims or answers to specific questions Words in Context: yourability to decipher the meanings of vocabulary words within the context of the passage, and yourability to understand how word choice influences the style and tone of atext As you take the Reading section of the SAT, you'll answer the following types of Reading questions: Big Picture Little Picture/Function Inference Vocabulary in Context Author Technique Evidence Support Data Interpretation Below, I describe each of these question types and then provide you withour besttips fordoing well on the SAT Reading section. SAT Reading Question Types Here are the different types of questions you'll encounter on the SAT Reading section. #1: Big Picture and Little Picture/Function These two Reading question typesare opposites: Big Picture questions focusonthe main point of a passage, whereas Little Picture (or Function)questions focus on the function ofspecific lines or sentences within a passage. Your job, then, is to use contextual evidenceto decipher either the author’s overall message or the function of a selected area of the text. Big Picture Little Picture/Function #2: Inference For this Reading question type, you must correctlyinterpret the meaning of a sentence, a group of sentences, or the entire passage. #3: Vocabulary in Context These Reading questions ask you about the meaning of a specific word or phrase within the passage. Thesewords and phrases may not alwaysappearto be difficult but will usually take on lesser-known alternative meanings. #4: Author Technique This type of Reading question requires you toanalyze the author’s stylistic choices in regards to tone, voice, perspective, etc. #5: Evidence Support For Evidence Support questions, you mustlocate contextualevidence for an answer to a previous question. (In other words, these questions are directly related to the questions that precede them.) To answer these questions, you mustidentify a particular line or group of lines from which you found theanswer to a question. #6: Data Interpretation A Data Interpretation questionrequires you to interpret data (usually in the form of a table, chart, or graph) and understand how it relates to the passage. Top 3 SAT Reading Tips Once you've familiarized yourself with all of theReading question types, it's time for you to employour top three tips for the SAT Reading section! #1: Practice Reading Passages Because the Reading section revolves solely around passages, it's critical you dedicate the bulk of your SAT Reading prep to working with SAT-esque passages. The best resources for passages similar to those you’ll encounter on the SAT areofficial SAT practice tests. These mock SAT tests created by the College Board offer a plethora ofrealistic Reading passages thatclosely mimic thestyle and form of the passages you'll be given on test day. In addition to official practice tests, you canalso use unofficial SAT Reading materials - as long as they containhigh-quality Reading passagessimilar to those on the SAT. Finally, it's a smart idea toread real-life texts, such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Psychology Today,from which SAT passages are often borrowed. This way you can familiarize yourself with the type of materials you'll see on test day. #2: Use Process of Elimination Process of elimination is an excellent strategy (and even one recommended by a perfect scorer!) that will aid you significantly on the Reading section. As we already know, each Reading question offersfour possible answer choices of which just one iscorrect. This means thatthe other three choices must contain clear signs indicating they’re incorrect.Some of the most commonreasons answer choices are eliminated are that they're: Too specific Too broad Too loosely connected to the overall purpose or message of the passage Remember, even a single word in an answer choice can make it incorrect,so look closely for any reason to eliminate a choice before deciding on the correct one. Be sure youavoid gettingcaught up in answer choices that sort of sound correct - if a choice doesn’t 100-percent answer the question or is ambiguous in any way, chances are it's wrong! #3: Study Vocabulary Sparingly Unlike the old (pre-2016) SAT, which often tested obscure vocabulary words in complete isolation, the new SAT only tests vocabulary knowledge within the context of passages. Additionally,current SAT vocabulary is only about medium difficulty, meaning many of the words testedare ones you've likely seen and may have even used before. (Woo hoo!) The challenging part of SAT vocabulary, however, isbeing able to identifylesser-known tertiary meanings of common words.What this means is, whileyou no longer need to dedicate hours upon hours tomemorizing thousands of vocabulary words,you do need to familiarize yourself with some of the rarermeanings of common words. Likewise, you should also know how to decipher a vocabulary word'smeaning based on how it's being used in apassage. These days, many SAT vocabulary words are similar to those on the ACT; thus, we recommend studying vocabulary with either our ACT list of 150 medium-level vocabulary words or Scholastic’s 100-word listfor the SAT/ACT. The SAT Writing and Language Section The Writing and Language section (often referred to as simply the â€Å"Writing section†) may looksimilar to the Reading section, but instead of measuring yourreading comprehension skills, this section measuresyour ability to identify and correct grammatical errors and stylistic weaknesses within passages. In other words, theWriting section is all about your proofreading and editing skills! Like the Reading section, the Writing section revolves entirely around passages. These passages cover a widearray of topics, including careers, history/social studies, science, and the humanities. Unlike Reading passages, however, all Writing passages are nonfiction, taking theform of narratives, arguments, and explanatory texts. Your primary mission on the Writing section is tocorrect (or leave as is, if no errors are present) words and sentences within these passages. For science-based passages containing charts or graphs, you may beasked to replace an incorrect sentence with a new sentence that more accurately reflects the data provided. The Writing and Language section measures the following skills: Command of Evidence Words in Context Expression of Ideas Standard English Conventions Below, I discuss each of these four question types and what they measure on the SAT Writing section. I then provide you with our top three tips for getting a great score on SAT Writing. SAT Writing and LanguageQuestion Types In this section, we examine the SAT Writing question types and look atexamples of how they'll appearon the SAT. #1: Command of Evidence These types of Writing questions focus primarily onthe big picture of a passage and usually ask you to provide evidence for why you are making a particular change. #2: Words in Context For these questions, you mustreplace a word or phrase with a more logical choice, or select â€Å"NO CHANGE† if the highlighted areais appropriate as is. #3: Expression of Ideas These questions require you to think about the various waysideas canbe expressed in words. More specifically, you mustrearrange, add, combine, or delete sentences to improve the overall flow of a passage. #4: Standard English Conventions For Standard English Conventions questions, you must correct incorrect words or phrases, so that they adhere to the basicrules of English grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. If the highlighted word or phrase is grammatically sound, selectâ€Å"NO CHANGE.† Top 3 SAT Writing and Language Tips Here areour toptips for getting the score you want on the SAT Writing section! #1: Master Common SAT Grammar and Punctuation Rules Nearly half of all SAT Writing questions focus on standard English conventions, so naturally you can’t expect to do well on SAT Writing if you haven’t mastered the basic rules of English grammar and usage! This doesn't mean you mustreview every single grammar rule in existence - just the ones most commonly tested on the SAT. For more details on what these rules are and how you can master them, check out our in-depth guides toSAT grammar and SAT punctuation. #2: Read Articles and Essays Because none of the Writing section's passages areworks offiction, your best bet is to readreal-life newspaper and magazine articles, persuasive texts, and essays. As you study, you'll use these texts to hone your editorial eye, identifyingtransitional words and connections in thought. You'll also want to examine how the author builds his or her argument or main point throughout the text. What evidence does he or she provide? Is it ultimately effective? Why or why not? There will be awide array of topics for Writing passages, so feel free to dig into a variety of texts. I recommend starting with major publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Wired, and Pyschology Today. #3: Hone Your Writing Skills To be a sharp editor, you must understand how to write well. And to write well, you mustlearn from the feedback on your own writing. Begin by noting any red marks on essays you turn in at school, making yourself aware of any errors you continuously make on your writing. If you’re confused about a mistake you've made, ask yourteacher to explain the mistakeand give youtips on how you can avoid making it again. As you write essays for school, make sure you're alsopaying attention to the structure of your arguments. Consider thesimple "hamburger" structure of essays: you've got yourintroduction (top bun), your evidence and supporting details (lettuce, tomato, and meat), and your conclusion (bottom bun). Knowing how to effectively structure your own essays should over time allow you to develop a keener understanding of how SAT passages are organized. The SAT Math Section Ontothe world of numbers! Unlike the English-centered Reading and Writing sections, the SAT Math section consists ofpractical, real-world math and measures the problem-solving abilities most usefulfor college-level coursework andfuture employment. The Math section comprises two subsections: Math No Calculator, for which you are not permitted to use a calculator Math Calculator, for which you may (but aren't required to) use a calculator The Math section is the only section on the SAT (excluding the Essay) to contain a non-multiple-choice question format called the grid-in. 22 percent of Math questions are grid-ins, so although it’s not the main question format on SAT Math, it’s crucial you understand how it works. The Math section tests you on the following concepts: Heart of Algebra Problem Solving and Data Analysis Passport to Advanced Math Additional Topics in Math Below, I describe each of these Math question types and give you expert tips for securing an excellent SAT Math score. SAT Math Question Types Here are the four types of Math questions you'll see on the SAT. #1:Heart of Algebra This content area constitutes thelargest focus of the SAT Math section, accounting for approximately one-third of all Math questions. Heart of Algebraquestions focus on (you guessed it!) algebra - primarily linear equations, systems of equations, inequalities, and absolute values. #2:Problem Solving and Data Analysis There are 17 Problem Solving and Data Analysis questions on the SAT. All of these questions are on the Math Calculator subsection (meaning you'll see none of these onthe No Calculator subsection). These questions focus on data interpretation (i.e., how to read charts, graphs, tables, etc.) as well as rates, ratios, percentages, linear and exponential relationships, and probability. #3:Passport to Advanced Math There are 16 Passport to Advanced Math questions on the SAT. These advanced questionstest your understanding of the structure of equations and expressions, including your ability torearrange and rewrite them. For these questions, you may be asked to solve a quadratic equation, create an exponential function,or manipulate polynomials. #4: Additional Topics in Math While 90 percent of the Math section deals with the three topics listed above, the last 10 percent targets what the College Board calls "Additional Topics in Math." This question type is basically a catch-all for any math concept that doesn’t fit neatly into the other three categories. Suchtopics predominantly deal withgeometry, trigonometry, and complex numbers. Top 3 SAT Math Tips Use our top tips below to get your best score ever on SAT Math! #1: Review Basic Math Concepts You can’t expect to score highly on the Math section if you’re not familiar with most or all of the basic math concepts being tested on the SAT. To get started, take a look at ourgiant stockpile of SAT Math resources you can use (for free!). This guidecontains links to several Math guides offering a solid overview of critical math concepts you should know for the SAT, including algebra, numbers, coordinate geometry, and plane and solid geometry. You can also check out our guide to the best SAT Math prep booksand browse your options for high-quality Math content review and practice. #2: Memorize Common Formulas Another tip is to memorize allcriticalSAT Math formulas you’ll need for test day. Doing this will allow you to solve many math problems that you can't solve without knowledge of a particular formula. But what about the reference diagram on the test? Do you really need to memorize formulas if you'll be given a list of them on the SAT? Although you may think memorizing these formulas is a waste of time, in realitymemorizing them willactuallysave you time on test day. Here are the formulas exactly as you'll see them on the SAT: By memorizing the formulas above, you won't need to constantly flipback to the diagram and will therefore be able to solve math problems more quickly. This will effectively give youmore time to put towardother math problems that are more challenging. However, there is one caveat:the 12 formulas on this reference diagram deal specifically with geometry, a topic whichmakes up a significantly small portion of the new SAT. So while it’s crucial you memorize these formulas, it’ll be far more advantageous for you to prioritize other major laws and formulas that will not be given to you on test day and are more likely to come up on the SAT. #3: Plug In Answers and Numbers Our final tip for SAT Math is a popular test-taking strategy: plugging in answers and numbers. In this strategy, if you’re faced with a math problem you’re unsure how to solve, you can attempt to solve it by either plugging in random numbers or plugging in answer choices one by one. Doing thiswill reveal which answer choice yields the correct result. Use the plug-in answer strategy for multiple-choice math questions that ask you to solve for a specific value. Always start with answer choice B or C,so you can determine whether to work your way up or down to get a higher or lower answer. For multiple-choice and grid-in questions you don’t understand, try plugging inyour own numbers (or sets of numbers) to see whether equations and inequalities hold truefor various values. Note that these strategies, though helpful, should generally only be used if you’re unsure how to solve a mathproblem using other methods, such assimplification and algebra. Ultimately, though,the SAT doesn’t care how you get an answer - just that it’s the correct one! So if you don't know what to do, get in there and plug away. The SAT Essay (Optional) The SAT Essay is an entirely writing-based section for which you must read a 650-750-word passage and thenwrite an essay analyzing how the author constructs his or her argument as well as how persuasive the argument is. Note that you are not being asked whether you agree or disagree with the argument. You are also not expected to write about your personal experiences (like how test takers were prompted todo on the old SAT). Unlike the other three SAT sections, the Essay is entirely optional. Whether you should take it depends on where you apply, as some colleges may require the Essay for admission. The Essay also uses a unique scoring system compared to those of the other SAT test sections. There are three components to the SAT Essay grade: Reading Analysis Writing For each of these components, two graders will assign you a score on a scale of 1-4. These two scores are then added together to give you total scores for each component(on a scale of 2-8). Thus, a perfect SAT Essay grade would be 8|8|8 (4s from both graders for each of the three rubrics). But what exactly do these three components measure? Below, I describe each of the SAT Essay gradesand introduce to you our top three tips for ensuring a high Essay score on test day. Skills Tested on the SAT Essay The three components of the SAT Essay grading rubric each measure a different skill in regards to your writing ability. Reading The Reading score highlights your overallunderstanding of the passage and how well you use appropriate textual evidence from the passage to construct your essay. Analysis The Analysis score shows how well you understand the construction of the author's argumentin terms of reasoning, style, and evidence. It also measuresyour ability to choose the most effective evidence from the passage to support your evaluation. Writing The Writing score revolves entirely around your ability to write. You will begiven a grade based on the strength of your thesis and on your essay's organization, focus, tone, style, and adherence to standard written English conventions. Top 3 SAT Essay Tips And now here are our expert SAT Essay tips to help you get the high score you deserve! #1: Learn the Types of Examples to Look for in Passages Before you take the exam, make sure you know all of the major types of examples you can look for in passages to use as support in your essay. The six types of evidence to be aware of are: Facts and statistics Anecdotes Counterarguments and counterclaims Explanation of evidence Vivid language Direct appeals to the reader For more information, check out our detailed guide on how to look for and use these pieces of evidence. As you write, besure you’re using the most relevant and effective support; you don’t need to use every example you find! #2: Read the Prompt First Although you'll likelybe tempted to get through the passage before attacking the prompt, reading the prompt first can lend you a big hand as it directly states what the author’s central claim is. Once you know what kind of argument you'll be dealing with, you can then read the entire passage, keeping an eye out for any evidence that supportsthis central claim and thinking of ways you caneffectively incorporate these pieces of evidence into your essay. As a reminder, your essay should focus on what techniques and evidence the authors uses to set up his or her argumentas well as how effective these techniquesare. #3: Write More Than 1 Page Though not explicitly stated on the SAT Essay rubric, your essay must be of a reasonable length (1+ pages) in order to merit a high score. This means anything less than a page is bound toguarantee youa low essay score, as the essay will very likely lack sufficient detail, evidence, and analysis. On test day, you’ll get four pages for writing (and one additional piece of scratch paper for planning and outlining your essay). Aim to use at least two pages for your essay.Anything longer is perfectly fine; however, just rememberit's ultimately better to produce asuccinct and focused essay instead of averbose or tangential one. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today! Are Certain SAT Sections More Important Than Others? Because the SAT has several sections, you may be wondering which (if any) are the most important in regards to scores. To start, the Essay is the least important of all SAT sections.This is because the essay is often optional for many colleges. Schools that don’t require the essay usually choose to do so because they feel other application factors, such as the personal statement, are better indicators of students’ writing abilities. But what about the SAT Reading, Writing, and Math sections? Which of these is the most important? Or are they allequally important? Generally speaking, the SAT Reading, Writing, and Math sections are all offairly equal importance. Most schools report SAT scores using the total score (a combination of the EBRW and Math scores), implying there isequal consideration of theReading, Writing, and Math sections. Furthermore, any school requiring the SAT will always require scores from the Reading, Writing, and Math sections, soall three of these sections are evidently essential for college admission (unlike the optional Essay). In spite of these trends,there may be cases in which one of the two scores (EBRW or Math)will hold slightly more weight than the other. For example, if you are applying to an engineering school like MIT, admissions committees maypay a little extra attention to your SAT Math score - the more relevant score to your program - and less to your EBRW score. In the end, it's best to think of both your EBRW and Math scores as being equally important, and your Essay score (if you took the essay) as being the least important. Key Takeaways for the SAT Sections The SAT is composed of four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math, and Essay (optional). These sections target an array of academic skills deemed necessary for college, from reading comprehension toproofreading to problem solving. To ultimately do well on the SAT, you must understand what each of the SAT sections measures, what each sections tests you on, and what approaches you can use to get the scores youwant. Althoughthe Essay isn’t a requirement for all colleges, thoserequiring SAT scores will often prefer applicants who have astrong set of EBRW (Reading and Writing) and Math scores, so always try to aim for a high total score! What’s Next? Want to learn more about the SAT? Take a look at our complete guide to what the SAT is and get tips on when to start studying and what resources you can use to get the scores you need for college! Thinking of taking the ACT, too? Start with our introduction to the ACT sections (coming soon) and then check outour guide to what a good ACT score isto learn how you can get a great ACT score. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?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:

PR Functions Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

PR Functions - Case Study Example PR performs both organizational and societal functions influencing internal workers and wife target audience. Organizational detention involves workers and investors, management policies and the Board of Directors, etc. At this level, PR bridges information gaps in distribution channels, help coordinate the total marketing system, and adjust products and services to customer needs. Press releases and investors information are integral components of the communications mix (Apple Home Page 2008). Self-image is a function of societal norms. Group membership and group belonging relate directly to self-esteem and favorable self-image; acceptance and the grant of status by various organizations embellish the phenomenal self. The ability of groups to foster the development of more favorable self-images encourages belonging; the ability of products, symbols, services, communications, and other aspects of the marketing program to enhance the self-image encourages consumption behavior. One of the bases for understanding consumer behavior in its psychological and sociological dimensions, the self-image concept adds an important perspective to economic theories of consumption and is directly related to motivation (Gillin, 2007). At the societal level, Apple addresses all stakeholders including society and potential customers, IT professionals and economists, etc. At this level, the value of information about product characteristics varies directly with buyers' costs of search. When transactions and search costs are sufficiently small, buyers search more intensively and the additional advantage of intensive specialized search diminishes. The opposite is true for those with high search costs. Indeed, if search costs are sufficiently high it may not even pay to enter the differentiated products market at all (Gillin, 2007). The value of attribute information also depends on the difference between each consumer's preferences and market availabilities. If individual consumers exhibit little dispersion in their preferences and search costs, the gross value of advertising product characteristics is small and its net social value may be even negative, for the same reason it was in some of the examples in the sectio n above on advertising and perceptions. Since advance knowledge of attributes allows customers to specialize search activities in the most preferred varieties, the value of catering to particular groups is correspondingly greater when there is greater dispersion in tastes among buyers (Apple Home Page 2008). The aim of PR is to maintain relations with stakeholders and create a unique image of the company. The value and importance of PR is that a buyer cannot afford to investigate all of the alternative qualities of the products in the market. If Apple can increase profit and sales by offering a genuinely superior design and price in comparison with the existing configuration, there remains a possibility of accomplishing a similar result by changing buyers' perceptions of an existing good. So far as individual firms are concerned, these activities have the same initial effects on sales and profit as were examined in the preceding section. But the nature of market equilibrium and the social consequences of such actions are markedly different (Apple Home Page

Mexico4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mexico4 - Assignment Example The target groups of rape cases are mainly young women and girls who form the economic underclass of society and work in factories that pay low wages. Sexual murders and unexplained disappearance of women and young girls rank highest in Mexico vis a vis other North American countries according to Statistics by Human Rights Organizations and lobby groups. Chihuahua, Chiapas and San Salvador are places most affected by these cases. Efforts to salvage the rights of women in Mexico have had a plunge occasioned by repugnant tendencies of authorities and employers who actively and openly discriminate against women. They have adversely been mistreated as menial job workers at the Maquiladora Industrial plants; where jobs are terminated in case of pregnancy. Mexicans are considered to be reasonably religious, a situation that has contributed to several States pronouncing abortion as illegal (Wickam-Crowly & Eckstein, 2003). To this end, the jury is still out on whether this enacted law is a violation of the rights of women. Public outcries and sustained protests by Women rights activists led the Government to create the National Commission for Equality between Men and Women, CNDH, to look into social, legal and economic issues that were unfair to women. It also has programs that seek to empower women through teaching them their legal rights and training on ways to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Reproductive healthcare remains an issue of debate as most anti-abortionists see it as the platform used to legalize abortion (Wickam-Crowly & Eckstein,

Inter Generational Theory Of Abuse Psychology Essay

Inter Generational Theory Of Abuse Psychology Essay The inter-generational theory of abuse is a widely accepted notion by professionals and lay people alike. This theory suggests that children exposed to physical, emotional or sexual abuse will subject their offspring to a one of these forms of maltreatment. However, the evidence that undermines this theory is too large to ignore. The evidence that supports this hypothesis refers to abused children becoming juvenile delinquents and the identification of the child with the abuser. Methodological problems, generalizability issues and low validity of the experiments conducted undermined the plausibility and truth in the hypothesis. Another strong factor is the protective factors and predisposition of abused children, who break the cycle of abuse which is more common than thought. In this essay I will discuss the evidence both for and against the hypothesis. Kaufman and Zigler (1987) found that the papers written on studies of inter-generational abuse assert validity without proper evidence because their primary sources of information are unreliable. These studies rely largely on case studies, agency records, clinical interviews, self-report questionnaires. An example of case studies was those mostly done with parents whose children were in hospital for non-accidental injuries (Kaufman Zigler, 1987). Most of these parents reported histories of abuse, but because there were methodological problems (such as limited control measures) the generalizability of the findings is not possible. Agency records also had many of the same limitations. The representative samples, comparison subjects and formal definitions of abuse differed. The omissions in agency records were rarely recorded. Clinical interviews are valuable for generating hypotheses about inter-generational theory but they lacked comparison groups and definitions were far from legal criteria (Kaufman Zigler, 1987). Self-report questionnaires lacked the exploration of the statistical relationships among determinants of abuse (Kaufman Zigler, 1987). Egeland Jacobvitzs observed that the history of abuse could not be separated from influence of poverty, stress and social isolation on parenting behavior. They also noted that the broader the definition is, the greater the apparent link becomes in the inter-generational hypothesis thus make the validity of the collected data low (Kaufman Zigler, 1987). According to Langeland and Dijkstra (1995) the variations of definitions of abuse cause considerable variation of the rates of transmission. They concur that due to bad methodologies making generalizations from the information is problematic. They also highlight the need to study both mothers and fathers (because they have clinical and theoretical relevance), which isnt always the case. Langeland and Dijkstra (1995) show how many studies only examine one child (e.g. Goodwin et al., 1981; Main Goldwyn, 1984; Altemeier et al., 1986; Egeland et al., 1988; Pianta et al., 1989; Burkett, 1991; Boyer Fine, 1992; Caliso Milner, 1992; Herzog et al. 1992; as cited in Langeland and Dijkstra; 1995) and suggest researchers need to look at wider family context (that is brothers, father, grandparents, aunts and cousins). Widom (1989) highlights that the methodological problems play a role in the misrepresentation and overestimation of the actual statistics related to the inter-generational theory. In Widoms review of the literature, she also emphasizes the over dependence on self-report, inadequate documenting of childhood abuse, and the infrequent use of control groups. According to Widom researchers should make a clearer distinction between abused and neglected children because the differences in consequences are significant the information collected overlaps and distorts the results. Widom thus suggests the need for better rating scales for studies, and the need for a greater methodological awareness and refinement. Protective Factors and Predispositions Kaufman and Zigler (1987) observed that some parents (with a history of abuse) became abusive parents whereas other did not. Hunter and Kilstrom (as cited in Kaufman Zigler, 1987) attributed this to the individuals having: extensive social support (e.g. therapy); fewer undecided feelings about being pregnant, they were openly angry about the abuse they endured, and their babies were healthier. Another study by Egeland and Jacobvitz (as cited in Kaufman Zigler, 1987) found mediating factors to be that one parent/foster parent was loving and caring towards the abused child, the abused had an emotionally supportive spouse, they also had fewer current stressful life events and they had a greater awareness of history of abuse and had come to terms with it. This study provides information on the interrelationships (etiology of abuse and other influences) of the many determinants of a parents behavior. Langeland and Dijkstra (1995) also found that many abused children manage to break the cycle of inter-generational abuse. They emphasize the factors that protect/buffer the transmission. Belsky (1980, as cited in Langeland and Dijkstra, 1995) says there are multiple factors at work that cause abuse such as: the individual (personality of parents); familial (the home/family environment e.g. marital relationship); community (formal informal social structures e.g. neighborhood and other family); cultural (societal expectations and attitudes). However, Belsky (1980, as cited in Langeland and Dijkstra) says the interaction of risk and protective factors are important because they effect likelihood of transmission of abuse between generations. Garbarino Gilliam (1980, as cited in Widom, 1989) reiterates that other life events or the predisposition of the child (e.g. natural abilities, physiological predispositions, and social supports) will protect them from the effects of abuse. Deliquency and Identification Kaufman and Zigler (1987) commented on the many other factors that contribute to abuse. Children may find themselves in similar social or relationship conditions (or have long lasting effects of child abuse) that led their parents to be abusive to them as children and cope in the same way. Quinton and Rutter (1988) reiterate that abuse occurs for many reasons namely: substantial social and environmental hardships and a constellation of psycho-social difficulties. It is noted that children may have the same or similar situations as their parents and cycle continues because of the same outside influences. They found that abuse can lead to: personality disorders, alcoholism, and criminality all of which are associated with abuse. Sir Keith Joseph (1972, as cited in Quinton and Rutter, 1988) said poor parenting is a central mechanism for encouraging inter-generational transmission of family problems (that is children learn from their parents). Men that were imprisoned for violence against children were found to have come from large families where abuse was common (Gibbens Walker, 1956; Scott, 1973, as cited in Quinton and Rutter, 1988) and women accused with child-battering were associated with unhappy, loveless and traumatic childhoods (Lukiarowitz, 1971 as cited in Quinton and Rutter, 1988). Quinton and Rutter (1988) noted that the vulnerabilities deriving from exposure to poor parenting can lead to them being abusive (e.g. depression is known to be associated with abuse). Widom (1989) emphasized that the immediate consequences of child abuse are physical injuries or emotional trauma but that the emotional and developmental scars may persist thus leading to the likelihood of inter-generational transmission of abuse. McCall Shields (1986, as cited in Widom, 1989) highlighted the context of violence in culture. Accordingly the approval of such behaviors legitimizes and reinforces the use of violence (Gil, 1973; Huggius Straus, 1980; Steinmetz, 1977; as cited in Widom, 1989) which in turn instigates the high degree of acceptance of violence in culture (R.A. Stark McEvoy, 1970 as cited in Widom, 1989). It is therefore not too difficult to deduce that learning to become violent through normal childrearing experiences might be transmitted from generation to generation (Goldstein, 1986; as cited in Widom, 1989). The social learning of a child and the witnessing/victims of physical and emotional aggression become a model for the child that violence is appropriate in the home (Bandua, 1973; Feshbach, 1980; as cited in Widom, 1989). Straus et al. (1980, as cited in Widom, 1989) suggest that each generation of abusive parents learns to be violent by being a participant in a violent home. Other evidence suggests that abuse leads to aggressive behavior, depression, withdrawal and self-punishing behavior all of which lead to abusive behavior which would suggest that the cycle of abuse can be and is transmitted. It is also suggested that abuse may lead to becoming an abusive parent, a delinquent, or a violent criminal (Widom, 1989). McCord (1983) did a study on abused, neglected, rejected, and loved boys. She found that 45% of the abused and neglected boys ended up being convicted for serious crimes, becoming alcoholics, suffering a mental illness, and/or died unusually young. Their parents were found to have been similar. Other researchers Rocklin and Lavetts (1987) research has demonstrated that identity formation (process by which a child incorporates aspects of a significant other) adds to inter-generational transmission. This is because they form these identifications as a coping mechanism rather than actual identity. However, the identification can persist and is often seen to be used later in life. Conclusion It is clear that being abused puts people at risk of being abusive towards their offspring but it is not the only factor and the path is not direct. There are many protective factors that buffer the adverse effects of abuse, which often breaks the cycle of abuse. The methodological limitations of most experiments (and lack of control measures) have lead to misleading representations of the statistics, and the inter-generational transmission of false facts (Widom, 1989). However the persistent acceptance of the inter-generational theory seems to have undermined many studies as well. The risk factors and society in which a child learns from seems to cause abuse and the transmission from generation to generation. In conclusion abuse is not necessarily transmitted from generation to generation, because there are many protective factors and the path is not direct. The past and present influence the likelihood of abused children becoming abusive parents, not just the possibility of the int er-generational abuse occurring.

Abraham Lincoln: Gettysburg Address Essay

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, summed up the ideals that would go on to shape one of the most powerful nations of the world. Although President Lincoln’s speech was about ten lines, in which he delivered in two minutes, he moved not just the people who had gathered for the honoring of the soldiers who bravely gave their lives in Gettysburg while fighting for freedom, but also people across the globe. In ten lines the President spoke not only about American independence, but about freedom in general. Lincoln addressed the people, by saying it was their job as a whole to continue the soldiers job to make sure this nation remains a democracy with the set beliefs on liberty and equality. He stressed the fact that liberty and equality were the core components for this rising nation; they needed to consider the lives lost in the attempt to unite the nation from what divide it and pay tribute to the brave soldiers. Lincoln emphasized on the fact that the Gettysburg Address may be forgotten in time, but not the soldiers who willingly laid down their lives for a better tomorrow. He urged the gathering to take up the cause and complete the task at hand, to make sure democracy would remain in a government â€Å"of the people, by the people, and for the people†. The speech by Abraham Lincoln, in a way defined the Civil War by centering it on the nations belief system and democracy instead of separating the north from the south. See more: Social process essay He broadcasted the struggle as one meant to witness the rebirth of freedom and people’s power over the state. The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the civil war, making the battlefield a burial ground for hundreds of soldiers. Its significance lies in the fact that Lincoln’s war effort challenged the outcome that otherwise seemed in favor of the south. The importance of the Gettysburg Address sent the individuality of the nation’s commitment to democracy like punch or blow to the opposition. Lincoln had effectively made the people aware of their rights and declared the government accountable to the people. He redefined democracy as by the citizens’ will and not some property of the state legislatures. The Gettysburg Address now finds its place on the south wall of the Lincoln Memorial. It is an inseparable part of numerous works in popular culture, designed for present-day audiences. Democracies around the world have now adopted the definition of democracyfrom the very words of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln may have passed on, but his words still live in the hearts of many, inspiring and preaching to them the values of democracy as they strive towards better futures for their nations in attempt to base them on the values stated of liberty and equality.

Catch Us If You Can

With close reference to the novel that you have read, discuss how courage is shown by one of the characters. In the novel â€Å"Catch Us If You Can†, the character who shows courage is Rory. Rory handles challenges with courage. No fear will ever deter him from being separated from his Granda. He had to risk the dangers from being caught as well as other problems that come his way. Firstly, a boy in his early teens, Rory has the courage to take care of his grandfather all by himself.It is not easy for him because he has to balance between school and taking care of his Granda who is getting more forgetful. It is not easy for a young boy to carry such a heavy responsibility. In addition, when they are separated, Rory plans an escape. At times, he feels like giving up, but courage kept him going. He knows he must be strong and brave to withstand the hardship of the Great Escape. He rescued Granda from Rachnadar and never looked back.Then, another example of courage portray by Ror y was when Granda fails to wake up on top of the hill. Rory had to be bravely run for help where he knocks on a stranger’s door. For a young boy to do that is indeed very courageous thing. Throughout their journey going through the escape, I learnt that Rory is indeed very brave. He did not fear the unknown, caring for his aged grandfather while running from the authorities. He showed courage right from the beginning till the end.

Analysis Of The Movie Perks Of Being A Wallflower

reduction of improved The movie â€Å"Perks of Being a Wallflower is a bout an young teenage boy, name Charlie and his many struggles that he is faced with as he enters his freshman year of High School. The movie, while at times entertaining, addresses many issues that many teenagers go through in early and late adolescent years. Bullying, sexual identity, substance abuse, romantic relationships, loss, high risk behaviors, sexual abuse, and suicide are topics that are addressed in this fascinating movie. The movie a coming of age story that describes a difficult time for many teenagers who struggle to find themselves and their identity in society. Watching this movie, I was reminded of my own high school experience and could identify with the struggles and challenges that Charlie and his friends faced throughout their teen age years. The main character Charlie, a young teenager who shy, socially awkward, introvert who is ready to begin his freshman year of high school. Charlie , struggles with his new transition from middle to high school, and he is uncertain what to expect as he prepares to enter this new life event. His social circle is minimal to non-existent while he is dealing with the suicide of best friend earlier in the year. In addition, he also seems to struggle with the loss of his aunt who was killed in a car accident when he was a young boy. While he does appear to have good family support with his mother, father, older brother, and sister. He appearsShow MoreRelatedPerks of Being a Wallflower Context Analysis1813 Words   |  8 PagesThe Perks of Being a Wallï ¬â€šower: Context Analysis Paper ! Stephen Chbosky, a 29 year-old ï ¬ lm director and screenwriter published his ï ¬ rst semi-autobiographical novel in 1991, The Perks of Being a Wallï ¬â€šower. He later directed the movie in 2011 and released it in October 2012. The central theme of the story revolves around the struggle to understand the terrible things that inevitably hap pen to those we love and to ourselves. It unfolds through a series of letters written by the main character, CharlieRead MoreThe 2012 Film The Perks of Being a Wallflower1233 Words   |  5 PagesThe 2012 film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, directed by Stephen Chbosky, is a modern classic that captures the highs and downs of growing up. It is a moving film about first love, fear, hope, and unforgettable friends. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a great media text to convey the meaning of groups and leaders, technology in everyday life, and the affects on my own media profile. Logan Lerman stars as Charlie, the introverted and naà ¯ve high school freshman. Charlie is already counting downRead MoreThe Perks of Being a Wallflower: Image of the Self Essay2952 Words   |  12 Pagesï » ¿ THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER Czarina Ann B. Baptisma Hum St 25 Ma’am Odal-Devora October 18, 2013 INTRODUCTION Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age novel about a 15-year-old boy, Charlie, who is unable to repress any emotions. The novel was first released on 1999 by MTV Books. It has quietly sold nearly half a million copies.1 Stephen Chbosky was born on January 25, 1970 and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grewRead MoreCase Study : Perks Of Being A Wallflower2094 Words   |  9 PagesCase Analysis for the Perks of Being a WallFlower By: Ahmad Abojaradeh A motion picture normally has between 7,000 and 20,000 words depending on the type of movie (Tameri Guide for Writers, 2012). It takes the right words, in the exact right order and in the ideal situation, to create the right phrase that goes beyond the movie and into the hearts and lives of many. Similar in ways to how phobias and sometimes disorders are formed. It takes the right situation, at the right time, and the right circumstancesRead MoreFilm As A Social Icon3306 Words   |  14 PagesDaniela Velasquez Dr. Partin Film as a Social Icon Movies Discussed: Juno (2007), Friends With Benefits (2011), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013), Avatar (2009), Wall-E (2008), The Social Network (2010), The Purge (2013), The World Trade Center (2006). Film is a way that one can look back in time and see the reflection of the ideals and morals of people in a specific time period. The way in which films are written and createdRead MoreHealthy Minds Movie Analysis Essay1027 Words   |  5 PagesHealthy Minds Character Analysis 1. Using evidence, explain if Charlie has a mental illness? Describe the symptoms and behaviours that are specific to the mental illness that you believe he has. The behaviour that the main protagonist Charlie displays throughout the film indicate that he is suffering from a mental illness, possibly multiple ones. A deviant behaviour that he shows in the film is his tendency to confide in his diary instead of talking to the people around him. He refers to the diary