Stephen Crane On Heroism Essay Example For Students

Stephen Crane On Heroism Essay Crane on HeroismStephen Crane, an avant-garde writer of his time, forced his readers to look beyond his written words for a more underlined, meaningful moral in most of his stories. Crane follows a strict pattern in most of his work. His subject matter usually deals with the physical, emotional, and intellectual responses of ordinary people confronted by extraordinary, extreme experiences. Fairly common themes are presented in his writing, including fallen humanity and harsh realities; yet all seem to overlap in the category of heroism. Crane, fascinated by the status of a hero, seemed to moralize each story he wrote with a sense of hope. Readers get the impression that you do not have to be super-human to possess super-human abilities, and in return, be a hero. We will write a custom essay on Stephen Crane On Heroism specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In Crane’s A Mystery Of Heroism, the search for the question ‘What is a hero?’ is explored. Fred Collins, a union soldier in the Civil War, is a simple man. Out of place, Fred is a shameful, childish man thrown into a war that has no place for him. During the course of the story, Collins yearns for a drink of well water located across an active battlefield. Going against all his inhibitions and judgment, and going along with peer pressure, Collins decides to make the suicidal trip. Remarkably, Collins somehow gathers himself together and reaches the well of water, surprising himself in the meantime. Upon arrival at his destination, Collins ponders the miraculous obstacles he overcame and even dubs himself a hero for a moment. But what is a hero? Must one run across a battlefield for a drink to be put in the category of courageous? Is heroism nothing but defying death? Fred Collins evaluates his life at this point to disprove the title he loosely put upon himself: No, it could not be true. He was not a hero. Heroes had no shames in their lives an, as for him, he remembered borrowing fifteen dollars from a friend and promising to pay it back the next day, and then avoiding that friend for ten months. When at home his mother had aroused him for the early labor of his life on the farm, it had often been his fashion to be irritable, childish, diabolical, and his mother died since he had come to war. On Collins’ return to his regiment, he happens across a dying man in need of a drink. In a hopeless act of kindness, Fred lets the wounded soldier drink from his bucket as he passes. Yet this scene is but a small paragraph in the story, it completes the moral and emphasizes Crane’s goal of the narrative. Although Fred Collins is but a simple man not free from flaws, he uncovers the mystery of heroism. He is not a hero because he put a title upon himself, or because he denied death the satisfaction. He is a hero in the sense that he did a good thing without trying for that hero title. Yet he might not know it, he was a hero for that one moment in the eyes of the wounded soldier. Crane also shows heroism works in very mysterious ways. In another of Crane’s shorts, The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky, the character of Jack Potter is put to the task of proving his heroism as sheriff of his town. As the story opens, the reader is introduced to Jack as a subtle, quiet man. He is on his way to Yellow Sky, Texas riding in a parlor-car with his new wife. Crane purposely does not clue the reader in as to the true identity of Jack Potter in the beginning of the story for the presence of shock value. To find out that this reserved man is a fearless sheriff by day is surprising do to his actions described on his trip: From time to time he looked down respectfully at his attire. He sat with a hand on each knee, like a man waiting in a barber shop. The glances he devoted to other passengers were furtive and shy. .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 , .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .postImageUrl , .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 , .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707:hover , .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707:visited , .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707:active { border:0!important; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707:active , .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707 .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u60f6f307313d084f8089153bdb811707:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Women and The Bible EssayAs the train grows closer to Yellow Sky, Jack ponders the welcome he will receive. Frightened and worried about mixed reactions from the community in Yellow Sky, he sulks. He, the town marshal of Yellow Sky, a man known, liked, and feared in his corner, a prominent person, had gone to San Antonio to meet a girl he believed he loved, and there, after the usual prayers, had actually induced her to marry him, without consulting Yellow Sky for any part of the transaction his friends could not forgive him. Jack’s character shines as a coward; a man who knows no heroism. Yet towards the end of the narrative, Jack confronts his arch rival Scratchy . In a showdown of old west style, Jack is eventually placed, unarmed, looking down the barrel of Scratchy Wilson’s revolver. Jack then confronts Scratchy in the only manner he could. He reveals that he has no weapon and says that he would not fight back in any instance. Crane sets up an anticipated confrontation between the unlikely hero and his gun-slinging counterpart beautifully. He also proves, once again, that the exterior prowess of a man does not prove his heroism. But what does make Jack a hero? We again see Crane’s character defying death, yet the sense of heroism goes deeper than that. Jack Potter used words to save himself instead of violence or cowardly running off. The story ends on an uplifting moral of heroism by inner sanctity, not outer strength. One of Stephen Cranes most famous works, The Open Boat, is a tale of heroic proportion following the story of four castaways on a lifeboat in the ocean. As we saw in Crane’s previous works, the characters are merely atypical, run-of-the-mill, working-class men. To emphasize the plainness of his characters, Crane fails to even name all but one of his crew. The anecdote traces the travel of four men, the oiler, the cook, the corespondent, and the captain of the sunken vessel. The story captivates readers and takes them on a trip of crashing waves, deadly sharks, hardships at sea and grueling pain through which the four men go through. Defying death many times over, the castaways battle past hunger and fight for sanity on the trip to land. Crane’s naturalistic writing takes flight as our four friends struggle against nature and all she has to throw at them, as the sea carelessly tosses their boat around. Yet amongst all the hardships they endeavor, their heroism takes charge. We see this in their constant chant to boost morale: If I am going to be drowned – if I am going to be drowned – if I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods, who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees? Crane’s point is yet again taken into consideration. When the ship goes down, four average, non-heroic characters are saved. Yet, when ordinary people are put upon to perform extraordinary feats, heroes are produced. Stephen Crane was a magnificent author with determination and morals in his heart. He wrote these stories in hope that people find heroes within their average selves. All of his characters were intruders in the land of heroism, yet all were considered literary heroes. He emphasized that you do not have to be Hercules to have super-human strength. You do not have to be a fighter to win a fight. You do not have to defy death to be classified a hero. You do not have to be a hero, to be a hero. Heroism comes from within. Heroism comes in many shapes and forms, and each and everyone of us has it in ourselves to be a hero. And at some point, heroism will show itself without warning. .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 , .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .postImageUrl , .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 , .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7:hover , .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7:visited , .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7:active { border:0!important; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7:active , .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7 .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uec05c0b6507d5ddf832a6ea9816950e7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: God2 EssayEnglish Essays

ACT vs SAT Which Students Should Take Which

ACT vs SAT Which Students Should Take Which SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips As a high school student, you’re probably wondering whether you should take the SAT or the ACT. Which one will give you a better score? Is one easier than the other? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Everyone has different test-taking strengths and learning styles. Based on these factors, it might be to your advantage to take one test over the other. In this article I’ll go through a list of different strengths and weaknesses you could have as a test-taker and as a student in general and which test you should take based on these qualities. Test-Taking Abilities and Style These are a few common pitfalls unrelated to content that students encounter on standardized tests. It might be better for you to take one test over the other based on your experience with these issues. You’re an anxious tester If you tend to get really nervous on test day, you are probably better off with the ACT.The ACT has much more predictable structure and content than the SAT, so you can prepare more confidently. On the reading section of the ACT, for example, there are always four passages in the same sequence of genres: Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science.On the SAT, the structure is not as reliable. We know the topics that appear and the types of passages and questions, but not their order on the test. On the ACT, once the section for a subject is over, that’s it - you’re done with it for the whole test.This is in contrast to the SAT, which has ten sections, six of which are ordered randomly.The SAT also has an experimental section on every test that won’t count towards your scores and sometimes contains unfamiliar material, which can throw you off. You won’t have to worry about this on the ACT. You get tripped up by confusing wording It’s a better idea to take the ACT if this is a problem for you. The SAT has weird question wording that could trick you if you often get confused by that type of thing.The ACT is very straightforward in its question wording, so you usually have a clear sense of what the questions are asking right away rather than having to think about it too much first. For example, a reading question on the ACT might ask â€Å"What was Sam trying to accomplish by talking to her sister?†A reading question on the SAT might ask something more like â€Å"If the author of passage 1 reads lines 16-24 of passage 2, which of the following is she least likely to offer as a response?†You have to jump through a couple more hoops of â€Å"this, not that† logic before you can answer the question. You tend to run out of time If you have time problems, it’s a better idea to take the SAT.Why? You get more time per question, and it’s broken up into ten short sections rather than four long ones.This means that if you have a time problem on one section, it will not necessarily tank your scores. You will have a couple other sections to make up for it (3 math, 3 critical reading, 2 writing). On the ACT, each subject is just one long section, so if you get stuck on a difficult question and end up messing up your timing for a whole section, it’s going to have a much bigger impact on your scores. Anecdotal evidence from students also points to more problems with time pressure on the ACT than the SAT. But what if I’m an anxious tester AND I tend to run out of time, which test should I take? If you have both of these problems, you should plan on doing a lot more prep before your next test.The decision is probably going to rest on where your strengths lie as far as content, which I’ll get to in the next section. Time: The one true enemy of us all. Subject Strengths Let's move on to actual test content. I'll go through the different subject areas tested on the SAT and ACT and which test is the better one to take based on whether you excel or struggle in these subjects. Math Case 1: I consider numbers to be my only real friends If you have great math skills, the test where you stand to gain the biggest advantage is the ACT.The ACT tests more advanced math concepts than the SAT, and no formulas are provided for you (except on some individual questions).It also requires math problem-solving speed and stamina - you will need to solve 60 questions in a row with only a minute for each question. The ACT asks math questions in a more straightforward way than the SAT, so if your math skills are good but your reading comprehension skills are less so, the ACT is the test you want to take. Case 2: Math fills me with wrath You might be better off with the SAT if math is not your strong suit.The questions are more broken up (three sections, two 25 minute and one 20 minute), so if you mess up or run out of time on one math section you won’t necessarily ruin your score. You will have more time per question (67 seconds rather than 60), and the math concepts tested are not as advanced.The SAT also gives you formulasto work with at the start of the math sections. Reading Case 1: I’m a word nerd If you enjoy reading, it’s likely that you already have a strong base of vocabulary and can read passages fairly quickly.If you know a lot of advanced vocabulary words, you’re better off taking the SAT.Sentence completion and vocabulary in context questions make up a significant portion of the critical reading section, and a prodigious vocabulary will give you a leg up.There are also a lot of confusingly worded questions on the SAT in general. You’ll have a much easier time surmounting that obstacle compared to students who aren’t as good at reading. On the ACT, knowing advanced vocabulary won’t help your score much if at all.You might consider taking the ACT if you’re a fast reader and are very good at reading comprehension, not just vocabulary.These skills will help you on the Reading AND Science sections. Case 2: I’m a Spark Notes type of guy/gal This is tough, because reading skills are very important on both tests.I’d say if you are not as fond of reading you should take the ACT.Though there is a lot of reading involved and a lot of time pressure, the questions tend to be more straightforward and less confusing than those on the SAT.You also don’t need to know advanced vocabulary to do well.Practice reading quickly and understanding passages before the test - this will be extremely important on Reading and Science. My brain will just absorb the words. That's how reading works, right? Grammar Case 1: I'm the grammar police, and you're ALL UNDER ARREST If you're good at grammar, you could really take either test, but you'll probably have the biggest advantage on the SAT. The multiple choice on the SAT Writing section is similar to the ACT English section, but it is less passage-based. Most of it is identifying errors in sentences and improving sentences out of context.On the ACT English section, questions are always asked alongside a corresponding passage, so you have more context to work with for your answers. Case 2: I don't care 'bout no stupid grammar The SAT Writing section and the ACT English section will both be tough for you if you’re not so great at grammar, so study the grammar rules beforehand! The ACT English section might be slightly easier because, as mentioned above, it asks its questions in the context of long passages. But it also has a lot more questions (75 vs. 49 on the SAT), so it's a trade-off. Essay Writing Case 1: I’m the next Hemingway If you're a great writer, you should take the SAT.On the SAT you will be writing an essay no matter what, and you only get 25 minutes to do it.The essay also accounts for about a third of your Writing subscore.Essay prompts on the SAT are varied and require you to formulate opinions and examples to support them very quickly, which is difficult if you don't already have strong writing skills. Case 2: I don’t have the write stuff If you’re not as into writing, the ACT is a better choice.You don’t even have to write an essay, and if you do take it with Writing the essay won’t impact your composite score.You also get 40 minutes for the essay rather than 25, and prompts tend to be more straightforward. Prompts on the ACT ask students to consider how changes in the world today will affect humanity in a broad sense, and you can use abstract reasoning and even made up examples to support your points. Science Case 1: I am the lovechild of Bill Nye and his very attractive microscope (don’t ask me about logistics) Take the ACT!Although the science section doesn’t actually require much scientific knowledge beyond basic concepts you learned in elementary school, knowing a lot of science can help you get a better grasp on the experiments and data presented on the test.You’ll have a much easier (and faster) time understanding what’s going on and answering the questions if you are familiar with the science involved. Case 2: I break out in hives when I see a test tube. If you don’t like science, take the SAT.You should know that you CAN still do well on the science section of the ACT without knowing much science at all.However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the data presented and unfamiliar background information even if the questions themselves are not that hard.If you think seeing chemical equations or physics on one of these standardized tests will give you a heart attack, go with the SAT so you won’t have to worry about it. Aughhhh I said no science! You KNOW I'm allergic! Summary and Follow Up In deciding which test to take, you should consider both your testing style and your subject strengths. Here's a summary of the situations listed above and my corresponding test recommendations: Test anxiety? ACTEasily confused by questions? ACTTime problems? SATGreat at math? ACTGreat at reading? SATGreat at grammar? SATGreat at writing? SATGreat at science? ACT Additionally, If you have a strong imbalance in your abilities in different subjects, you might be better off with the ACT.This is because your individual scores on each section are not nearly as important to colleges are they are on the SAT. On the ACT, your composite score is pretty much the only thing that matters. You also won’t have to deal with switching unpredictably between subjects you know well and subjects you struggle with during the test. If you're still not entirely sure which test is best for you or which strengths and weaknesses you have, you should take an ACT practice test and an SAT practice test(each with the official time constraints so you'll know if running out of time is a problem!). Look up average standardized test scores for colleges you would like to attend to figure out your target score for both the ACT and the SAT. Then, score your practice tests and see where you end up. Is one test score significantly closer to your target score than the other? If so, that's the test you want to take. If the scores are similar, you may need to decide based on which test format makes you feel more comfortable. On test day, you'll be under a lot more pressure! What's Next? If you're still looking for more details on how the SAT and the ACT compare to each other, check out this article. Trying to decide when to take the SAT or ACT? Read this guide to find the best test date for you! For more advice on how to combat your weaknesses on either test, take a look at our advice on how to review your mistakeson the SAT or ACT and how to improve your overall scores on both tests. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: ACT vs SAT Which Students Should Take Which SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips As a high school student, you’re probably wondering whether you should take the SAT or the ACT. Which one will give you a better score? Is one easier than the other? The answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Everyone has different test-taking strengths and learning styles. Based on these factors, it might be to your advantage to take one test over the other. In this article I’ll go through a list of different strengths and weaknesses you could have as a test-taker and as a student in general and which test you should take based on these qualities. Test-Taking Abilities and Style These are a few common pitfalls unrelated to content that students encounter on standardized tests. It might be better for you to take one test over the other based on your experience with these issues. You’re an anxious tester If you tend to get really nervous on test day, you are probably better off with the ACT.The ACT has much more predictable structure and content than the SAT, so you can prepare more confidently. On the reading section of the ACT, for example, there are always four passages in the same sequence of genres: Prose Fiction/Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science.On the SAT, the structure is not as reliable. We know the topics that appear and the types of passages and questions, but not their order on the test. On the ACT, once the section for a subject is over, that’s it - you’re done with it for the whole test.This is in contrast to the SAT, which has ten sections, six of which are ordered randomly.The SAT also has an experimental section on every test that won’t count towards your scores and sometimes contains unfamiliar material, which can throw you off. You won’t have to worry about this on the ACT. You get tripped up by confusing wording It’s a better idea to take the ACT if this is a problem for you. The SAT has weird question wording that could trick you if you often get confused by that type of thing.The ACT is very straightforward in its question wording, so you usually have a clear sense of what the questions are asking right away rather than having to think about it too much first. For example, a reading question on the ACT might ask â€Å"What was Sam trying to accomplish by talking to her sister?†A reading question on the SAT might ask something more like â€Å"If the author of passage 1 reads lines 16-24 of passage 2, which of the following is she least likely to offer as a response?†You have to jump through a couple more hoops of â€Å"this, not that† logic before you can answer the question. You tend to run out of time If you have time problems, it’s a better idea to take the SAT.Why? You get more time per question, and it’s broken up into ten short sections rather than four long ones.This means that if you have a time problem on one section, it will not necessarily tank your scores. You will have a couple other sections to make up for it (3 math, 3 critical reading, 2 writing). On the ACT, each subject is just one long section, so if you get stuck on a difficult question and end up messing up your timing for a whole section, it’s going to have a much bigger impact on your scores. Anecdotal evidence from students also points to more problems with time pressure on the ACT than the SAT. But what if I’m an anxious tester AND I tend to run out of time, which test should I take? If you have both of these problems, you should plan on doing a lot more prep before your next test.The decision is probably going to rest on where your strengths lie as far as content, which I’ll get to in the next section. Time: The one true enemy of us all. Subject Strengths Let's move on to actual test content. I'll go through the different subject areas tested on the SAT and ACT and which test is the better one to take based on whether you excel or struggle in these subjects. Math Case 1: I consider numbers to be my only real friends If you have great math skills, the test where you stand to gain the biggest advantage is the ACT.The ACT tests more advanced math concepts than the SAT, and no formulas are provided for you (except on some individual questions).It also requires math problem-solving speed and stamina - you will need to solve 60 questions in a row with only a minute for each question.The ACT asks math questions in a more straightforward way than the SAT, so if your math skills are good but your reading comprehension skills are less so, the ACT is the test you want to take. Case 2: Math fills me with wrath You might be better off with the SAT if math is not your strong suit.The questions are more broken up (three sections, two 25 minute and one 20 minute), so if you mess up or run out of time on one math section you won’t necessarily ruin your score. You will have more time per question (67 seconds rather than 60), and the math concepts tested are not as advanced.The SAT also gives you formulasto work with at the start of the math sections. Reading Case 1: I’m a word nerd If you enjoy reading, it’s likely that you already have a strong base of vocabulary and can read passages fairly quickly.If you know a lot of advanced vocabulary words, you’re better off taking the SAT.Sentence completion and vocabulary in context questions make up a significant portion of the critical reading section, and a prodigious vocabulary will give you a leg up.There are also a lot of confusingly worded questions on the SAT in general. You’ll have a much easier time surmounting that obstacle compared to students who aren’t as good at reading.On the ACT, knowing advanced vocabulary won’t help your score much if at all.You might consider taking the ACT if you’re a fast reader and are very good at reading comprehension, not just vocabulary.These skills will help you on the Reading AND Science sections. Case 2: I’m a Spark Notes type of guy/gal This is tough, because reading skills are very important on both tests.I’d say if you are not as fond of reading you should take the ACT.Though there is a lot of reading involved and a lot of time pressure, the questions tend to be more straightforward and less confusing than those on the SAT.You also don’t need to know advanced vocabulary to do well.Practice reading quickly and understanding passages before the test - this will be extremely important on Reading and Science. My brain will just absorb the words. That's how reading works, right? Grammar Case 1: I'm the grammar police, and you're ALL UNDER ARREST If you're good at grammar, you could really take either test, but you'll probably have the biggest advantage on the SAT. The multiple choice on the SAT Writing section is similar to the ACT English section, but it is less passage-based. Most of it is identifying errors in sentences and improving sentences out of context.On the ACT English section, questions are always asked alongside a corresponding passage, so you have more context to work with for your answers. Case 2: I don't care 'bout no stupid grammar The SAT Writing section and the ACT English section will both be tough for you if you’re not so great at grammar, so study the grammar rules beforehand! The ACT English section might be slightly easier because, as mentioned above, it asks its questions in the context of long passages. But it also has a lot more questions (75 vs. 49 on the SAT), so it's a trade-off. Essay Writing Case 1: I’m the next Hemingway If you're a great writer, you should take the SAT.On the SAT you will be writing an essay no matter what, and you only get 25 minutes to do it.The essay also accounts for about a third of your Writing subscore.Essay prompts on the SAT are varied and require you to formulate opinions and examples to support them very quickly, which is difficult if you don't already have strong writing skills. Case 2: I don’t have the write stuff If you’re not as into writing, the ACT is a better choice.You don’t even have to write an essay, and if you do take it with Writing the essay won’t impact your composite score.You also get 30 minutes for the essay rather than 25, and prompts tend to be more straightforward.ACT essay prompts usually ask about issues related to high school, so they make it easier for you to figure out your opinion on the question from personal experience. Science Case 1: I am the lovechild of Bill Nye and his very attractive microscope (don’t ask me about logistics) Take the ACT!Although the science section doesn’t actually require much scientific knowledge beyond basic concepts you learned in elementary school, knowing a lot of science can help you get a better grasp on the experiments and data presented on the test.You’ll have a much easier (and faster) time understanding what’s going on and answering the questions if you are familiar with the science involved. Case 2: I break out in hives when I see a test tube. If you don’t like science, take the SAT.You should know that you CAN still do well on the science section of the ACT without knowing much science at all.However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the data presented and unfamiliar background information even if the questions themselves are not that hard.If you think seeing chemical equations or physics on one of these standardized tests will give you a heart attack, go with the SAT so you won’t have to worry about it. Aughhhh I said no science! You KNOW I'm allergic! Summary and Follow Up In deciding which test to take, you should consider both your testing style and your subject strengths. Here's a summary of the situations listed above and my corresponding test recommendations: Test anxiety? ACTEasily confused by questions? ACTTime problems? SATGreat at math? ACTGreat at reading? SATGreat at grammar? SATGreat at writing? SATGreat at science? ACT Additionally, If you have a strong imbalance in your abilities in different subjects, you might be better off with the ACT.This is because your individual scores on each section are not nearly as important to colleges are they are on the SAT. On the ACT, your composite score is pretty much the only thing that matters. You also won’t have to deal with switching unpredictably between subjects you know well and subjects you struggle with during the test. If you're still not entirely sure which test is best for you or which strengths and weaknesses you have, you should take an ACT practice test and an SAT practice test(each with the official time constraints so you'll know if running out of time is a problem!). Look up average standardized test scores for colleges you would like to attend to figure out your target score for both the ACT and the SAT. Then, score your practice tests and see where you end up. Is one test score significantly closer to your target score than the other? If so, that's the test you want to take. If the scores are similar, you may need to decide based on which test format makes you feel more comfortable. On test day, you'll be under a lot more pressure! What's Next? If you're still looking for more details on how the SAT and the ACT compare to each other, check out this article. Trying to decide when to take the SAT or ACT? Read this guide to find the best test date for you! For more advice on how to combat your weaknesses on either test, take a look at our advice on how to review your mistakeson the SAT or ACT and how to improve your overall scores on both tests. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

English (rough draft ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

English (rough draft ) - Essay Example The difference then is that I was apprehensive about being away from my parents and spend hours with other kids I hardly know. In San Diego, I did not mind being away from my folks but I also could not settle easily with the idea that I would be away from my close friends at home and be in a school I never planned to be in. This is exactly the problem, the cause of tension between me and my parents. There were other things that I can write and be introspective about. However, every time I encountered troubles with classmates, friends, and even with my studies, I could not help thinking again of the problem in my relationship with my parents. People cannot blame me if I still feel this way even if I already face the prospect of graduating soon and leaving UCSD for good. Studying in San Diego was an idea I never dared to entertain. It was my folks’ decision and although I tried explaining to them that a school within LA would be a better option, but with the sheer obstinacy characteristic of Asian parents towards their kids, they managed to send me to San Diego and finish a college degree far from my home. There was nothing I could do but comply with their wishes. It was not just because I was brought up to be fearful of parental authority. It was also because I wanted to succeed in a career too and if college education is a guarantee, I would certainly need my parents help. I would like to think that my parents sent me to UCSD simply because they want me to have the best employment opportunities in the future. It is weird, but even in a country as free as the United States an individual still has to get the best education in order for her to have the doors of better employment opened. Otherwise, the individual can just end up with a mediocre job and a corresponding unsatisfactory pay. It goes without saying though that there are hundreds of thousands who still graduate from college every school year who end up with