An analysis of problems with PSAT scores, courtesy of Compass Education

Apparently Im not the only one who has noticed something very  odd  about PSAT score reports. California-based Compass Education has produced a report  analyzing some of the inconsistencies in this years scores. The  report raises more questions than it  answers, but the  findings themselves are very interesting.  For anyone who has the time and the inclination, its well worth reading. Some  of the highlights include: Test-takers are compared to students who didn’t even take the test and may never take the test. In calculating percentiles, the  College Board relied on an undisclosed sample method  when it could have relied on scores from students who actually took the exam. 3% of students scored in the 99th percentile. In some parts of the scale, scores were raised  as much as 10 percentage points  between 2014 and 2015. More sophomores than juniors obtained top scores. Reading/writing benchmarks for both sophomores and juniors have been lowered  by over 100 points; at the same time, the elimination of the wrong-answer penalty would permit  a student to approach the benchmark while guessing randomly on every single question.

Objectification Of Women And Women - 1462 Words

Objectification of women works with benevolent sexism to further oppress women in the media through its effects on self-esteem and well-being. Rollero’s (2013) article â€Å"Men and women facing objectification: The effects of media models on well-being, self-esteem and ambivalent sexism† examines media representations of men and women and how they are related to levels of sexism and psychological well-being. The literature on objectification has mostly indicated the connection between viewing objectified media representations and women’s body displeasure and motivation to achieve a slim body. The goal of the current study was to further past research by studying the effects of objectified media images –considering both male and female models– on psychological well-being, self-regard, and support of sexist states of mind. 166 undergraduates (51.8% males) participated in the study. Results indicated that objectification of men lessened men’s h appiness, whereas objectification of women was more damaging because it lessens women’s happiness, appeal and social self-confidence. Furthermore, objectification of women affects men’s validation of sexist attitudes, increasing aggression toward women while decreasing aggression direct to men. Typically, only women are examined in studies of objectification. The inclusion of both male and female effects in the article makes it unique in comparison to other similar studies. Furthermore, the inclusion of both males and females allows forShow MoreRelatedWomen Objectification Of Women1524 Words   |  7 PagesImages of females are everywhere. The image of females portrayed through advertising for the most part gives off a negative message to girls who struggle with body image and even women who want to look a particular way. The most negative message that advertising portrays is objectification of women and violence towards them. Women and girls need to recognize the tru e meaning behind the advertisements that we see in all aspects of media. They should not allow themselves to be objectified in any way, norRead MoreObjectification Of Women : Women1377 Words   |  6 PagescResearch Paper Slavens  1 Kayla Slavens Mrs. Wiest English 131 22 October 2014 Objectification of Women The objectification of women can simply be defined as â€Å"seeing and/or treating a [women] as an object† instead of a human being (Papadaki). Women today are portrayed as objects because of the overexposure of erotic images and scenarios in society’s media, social networking and their expectations. Say someone is buying something from the local grocery store. While they are in line they notice magazinesRead MoreWomen s Objectification Of Women3147 Words   |  13 Pages Objectification of Women in Media An Assignment Submitted by Name of Student Name of Establishment Objectification of Women in Media Introduction The mass media, in all the diversity, prevail in the contemporary society. Indeed, media technologies, as a means for mass communication, are, virtually, unavoidable, especially with the introduction of new mobile devices that enable constant access to Internet. On the one hand, the ubiquity of media enhances their attributed role as a major informationRead MoreWomen s Objectification Of Women Essay2220 Words   |  9 PagesMen’s objectification of women is a disabling act that reduces women to be considered good for no other purpose than to serve as a source of visual pleasure for their observers. It results in speculation regarding the ability of women to actually be of use to society, in any way other than merely being there as physical manifestations of beauty for men to feast upon. All emphasis is placed on the outer self and this leads to the wider belief that this is a woman’s only purpose. Thus, the potentialRead MoreThe Objectification Of Black Women1378 Words   |  6 PagesThe Objectification of Black Women â€Å"No other group in America has so had their identity socialized out of existence as have Black women†¦ when Black people are talked about the focus tends to be on Black men; and when women are talked about the focus tends to be on white women.† - Bell Hooks Imagine not being in total control of your own life, having someone else tell you what you can and cannot do. Being a prisoner and constantly being policed everyday and every second in a world that does not wantRead MoreThe Oversexualization And Objectification Of Women1528 Words   |  7 PagesThe Oversexualization and Objectification of Women On all platforms of media, women and even young girls are oversexualized; thus leading to men viewing women as no more than breasts, vaginas, legs, or any other body part they prefer. Even in current television shows, movies, comic books, and advertisements, women are still depicted as sexual objects, which can damage a woman’s confidence. The oversexualization of women s bodies can degrade a young woman’s confidence, and when girls try to boostRead MoreMedia Objectification of Women1389 Words   |  6 PagesMedia Objectification of Women â€Å"Dreamworlds 3† To be sociologically mindful is to look for patterns in the society, observe all sides of the social life, ask questions, and seek answers. Being sociologically mindful can lead us to looking into matters that are complex and allow us the opportunity to understand the mechanism behind the division of our society. Race and gender seems to be the most obvious divide lines for this society. While race can sometimes be overlooked in society, discriminationRead MoreThe Sexual Objectification Of Women1403 Words   |  6 PagesWomen have been objectified, and in many cases, insulted or degraded, for decades. It is important to note that to objectify means to â€Å"degrade to the status of a mere object† (Oxford). With the rapid increase of technology, advertising in the media, social media, and the internet, there has been a tremendous increase in the sexual objectification of women. In many aspects, digital images play a major role in the sexual objectification of women. The majori ty of these images consist of advertisementsRead MoreEffects Of The Objectification Of Women3623 Words   |  15 Pages Effects of the Objectification of Women in Music: Societal Acceptance of Permissive Sexual Attitudes Christian Herrera Huntington University Author Note This paper was prepared for Mass Communication taught by Dr. Kevin Miller. Abstract In recent years, three firms have taken control of over 75 percent of the music industry: Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group (McIntosh Pavlik, 2004, p. 99). Because these record labels do not profit from music styles thatRead MoreThe Permissive Objectification of Women1150 Words   |  5 PagesThe Permissive Objectification of Women The poems â€Å"On Sharing a Husband† and â€Å"Things Cheaply Had† illustrate the struggle of women to survive in a male dominated culture. Both poems express a straightforward idea of the objectification of women in two distinct cultures. A close investigation of imagery and diction in both poems reveal the permissive nature of the objectification of women. In accordance, both poems do not hide the idea of being objectified, but conceals the idea of a need to

Walden As A Mirror, Walden - 1453 Words

Reflections: Walden as a Mirror, Walden as a Lens When Henry David Thoreau went to Walden Pond on July 4, 1845, he had no way of knowing that 200 years later, Walden would be required reading for anyone with even a passing interest in American literature, environmental literature, or intentional living. But Walden is so much more than the story of one man’s retreat into the woods to ‘transact some private business.’ Thoreau’s disarming directness and naturalistic style aside, Walden not an incidental text. With extensive revisions, distilling a little over two years into one, every chapter, sentence and word of Walden has a purpose and place. Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo is credited with saying, ‘Every block of stone has a statue†¦show more content†¦In fact, aside from a brief reference to the cycle of the seasons, where Thoreau says that he lived ‘a summer and a winter life; saw how [he] could let the years run off, buffet the winter through and see the spring come in,’ t his chapter gains seasonal association through the knowledge that Thoreau went to Walden in the summer. ‘The Ponds’ brings us explicitly into autumn progressing from ‘a calm September afternoon,’ to ‘such a day in September or October,’ to a November after ‘the severe frosts have come.’ ‘The Pond in Winter’ brings the seasonal theme into the title and finally the culmination of, ‘Spring.’ ‘Where I Lived, and What I Lived For’ begins Walden’s central narrative. ‘Economy’ addresses the practicalities and the surface narrative, but ‘Where I Lived, and What I Lived For’ lays out the groundwork for the extended metaphor that serves as Walden’s symbolic backbone. ‘Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in, I drink at; but while I drink I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains. I would drink d eeper; fish in the sky, whose bottom is pebbly with stars,’ Thoreau tells us at the end of the chapter. This quote illustrates two concepts that recur again and again in Walden. First, the idea of water as simultaneously shallow and deep. Thoreau first proclaims that he can see the bottom of the ‘stream’ but then elaborates, implying that there is something beyond theShow MoreRelatedWalden University And My Future802 Words   |  4 Pagesand my graduate degree from Walden University is almost in my hand. Walden has asked me to give a speech at the graduation ceremony. When I was asked to do this, I was not sure what I would say. I spent some time thinking about my past year at Walden, and all of the things that I learned. I went from not knowing what to say when I was originally asked to having an abundance of things I could say about Walden. My future is bright thanks to Walden University. Walden University has set very highRead MoreThoreau And Transcende ntalism Analysis828 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Nature plays a central role in most of these writings. On the one hand, it serves as a mirror and metaphor of human existence. It reflects the way one lives and provides exemplars of how one might live† (Henry David Thoreau). Thoreau was basically saying people need to live simple happy lives and believe in yourself and trust your spark. Thoreau blends his love for nature and simplicity in this quote from â€Å"Walden†, â€Å"Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and IRead More Comparing Metaphors in Norman Macleans, A River Runs Through It and Henry David Thoreaus, Walden1463 Words   |  6 Pagesand Henry David Thoreaus, Walden In Norman Macleans A River Runs Through It, the author recounts the story of his early life growing up in Montana. The narrative revolves around his family and the art of fly fishing. Through the novel, Maclean begins to understand the wisdom of his father, the fierce independence and downfall of his brother, and the divinity and beauty of nature. A similar theme regarding divinity in nature is found in Henry David Thoreaus Walden. Building his own cabin andRead MoreConquering Sainte Terre in Walking by Henry David Thoreau Essay800 Words   |  4 PagesScholar is about the call for cultural and intellectual independence. He then explains the main influences on what he calls Man Thinking: nature, history, and life as action. â€Å"Men have become the tool of their tools†. He treats nature as if it is the mirror image to of the soul and mind. Emerson believed that institutions diminished the values and passion of the direct experience gained from the real world engagement with society. The American scholar agrees with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolutionRead More The Effects Of Living At Walden Essay1540 Words   |  7 PagesIn 1854, Henry David Thoreau gave us what would become his most famous non-fiction book, Walden; or life in the Woods. In this, Thoreau describes his project at Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau decided that he was going to live â€Å"deliberately† in the woods for over two years and live off of a limited economy and isolate himself from society in order to gain a more objective understanding of it. But one has to ask the question, what does Thoreau mean that he wants to â€Å"live ‘deliberately’†Read MoreWas Chris McCandless a Transcendentalism?1099 Words   |  4 PagesSociety is in a constant rush and McCandless believes that people need to slow down their lives and appreciate nature. Thoreau said something similar in ‘Walden’, which is â€Å"Hardly a man takes a ha lf-hours nap after dinner, but when he wakes he holds up his head and asks, ‘Whats the news?’ as if the rest of mankind had stood his sentinels† (Walden). They both criticize the pace of society and the need for material possessions to live. Thus, McCandless also is considered a transcendentalist becauseRead MoreThe Scrivener, By Herman Melville1722 Words   |  7 Pagesof passive resistance â€Å"all other scriveners for a few passages in the life of Bartleby, who was a scrivener the strangest I ever saw or heard of†(p1483). Civil Disobedience was written by Henry David Thoreau in 1849. â€Å"Thoreau presented himself in Walden as an exemplary figure who by virtue of his philosophical questionings, economic good sense, nonconformity, and appreciative observation of the natural world-could serve as a model for others (p 961).† Both Thoreau and Melville were seen as excellentRead More Chesnutt’s Evolving Treatment of the Color Line Through Naturalism2155 Words   |  9 Pagesto a mulatto man and his family, which will later evolve in Cedars. Chesnutt incorporates his philosophy of literary naturalism to show John Walden, Rena, and Mr. Clayton in relation to their surroundings and as governed by their instincts, passions, heredity and environment. The physical nature of a person carried great weight in the South. Both John Walden and Cicero Clayton are very light mulatto men with good educations, wealth, and clear ideas about how the world should work, mostly in theirRead MoreThe Romantic Movement Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein, And The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner1909 Words   |  8 Pagesof beauty†, feeling the same fulfillment as his creator (Shelley 119). The ardure they have for nature can heal even the deepest of pain and its repetition emphasizes its importance. Finally, Frankenstein’s plot is slightly anti-industry. Early on, Walden, the captain that discovers Frankenstein in the Arctic, foreshadows the â€Å"painstaking† consequences that will come out of Frankenstein’s science experiment writing, â€Å"I am practically industrious - painstaking; a workman to execute with perseveranceRead MoreHelping Teens Avoid Bulimia And Anorexia1028 Words   |  5 Pagesdiagnosed with Bulimia and Anor exia doctors look for many problems that they have. Like some doctors find,† swollen glands, discolored teeth and callouses on the hands, weakness or fatigue, and broken blood vessel around the eyes† (Teen Eating Disorders Walden ). Doctors have also noticed that it starts now with pre-teens and usually goes to when they are in there twenties. â€Å" Up to twenty-four million people struggle anorexia, bulimia or related eating disorders† ( Eating). It is just not females anymore

Observing Leadership Style and Process free essay sample

As the meeting of choice, our monthly assembly for the side project between friends began fairly casually. The meeting starts with opening comments Initiated by the leader. The approach here Is free reign or laissez fairer. While it does Impose Ideas or functions, it allows the other members of the team to be openly expressive and creative. Once the opening phase Is complete and the Ideas have been thoroughly stirred around, the leader then takes back authority and begins the structure and form of the meeting, Glenn the tasks ahead, and some recommended approaches we can take.This Is known as the participative approach. This style Involves the leader Including one or more employees In the decision making process (determining what to do and how to do It). The leader takes the Initiator and gatekeeper behavior: I take the Informer and the clarifier behavior, and the third member assumes the behaviors of the encourager and the harmonize. We will write a custom essay sample on Observing Leadership Style and Process or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The leader, with these behaviors, proposes, suggests, and defines ideas and tasks. I on the other hand propose, suggest, and define ideas and tasks, while interpreting, and clarifying he ideas of others.The third member, during this activity, is warm, responsive, and shows acceptance of these ideas and propositions while inserting his own material. A plus to this member is the ability to reduce tension and reconcile disagreements by adjusting conflicting ideas to be somewhat compatible with each other. The result of the efforts and approaches involved to make the meeting last comes to an end and the surviving ideas and strategy is on the table. The effectiveness of the group reaches near maximum potential with the early age of the group in the morning process.This particular meeting produced a fairly solid plan for teamwork and a boundary for the tasks and actions assigned to the group. As a whole, the group feels informed, included, and roles are re-established effectively. In summary, the efficiency and chemical makeup of the group created a stable atmosphere in which the members could communicate freely and with leadership to guide them In the right direction. Although no well defined actions were to take place In the near future, the groundwork had been laid out and the meeting was In fact an effective concourse of communication and Information.