Howard Zinn on Democratic Education Essay

Upon reading the book, Howard Zinn on Democratic Education, I felt a lot of questions I had regarding education was answered. I had always regarded education as something liberating, something that would be able to teach students how to become enlightened. That is why I read a lot of books. But regarding my schooling, I questioned why we are loaded with so much homework and tests, we end up not deeply understanding anything at all, because there is no time to process all the information. It is as if our schooling stunts our educational growth. Yet, the irony of it is they teach us so much facts of how, where, when, who, and what, but I had this nagging suspicion that teachers were hiding vital information from us. I did not know what exactly, but I always felt something was missing because I could not connect what I learned in school to what was happening to our country as I watched the news. It was as if there was a missing link, a key that would make everything make sense. Yet, as the years in the academe passed, I encountered no such link. Until now. It was as if my youthful objections found validation. I had always felt that my schooling lacked feeling. All these hard facts were discussed as if they did not involve people. We really never knew, through history, how terror felt when planes during the World War II flew overhead, or triumph when the war was declared over. It is not anybody’s fault. I think, history cannot be studied; it has to be lived. Although in my opinion, it can be remedied. Instead of sitting in classrooms all day, reciting facts, we should focus on gathering our own information regarding events. This does not mean reading even unassigned readings. I have always thought that people are not foolish. Each individual has a unique story, if we only care to listen. We should experience learning, and this can only be done by going out of the classroom, and learning from living people. After all, the papers our books are made up of were once living things too. The critical question now is, what now? Now that we possess such knowledge, what must we do with it? Knowledge that is not followed by action is a dead thing. We could start through transforming our own classroom, if we are to teach, or even in our own homes. Drop-out rates are not surprising due to the fact that so few kids feel remotely connected to their schooling. If we involve these kids, make them see that it is also their classmates’ loss if they do not attend classes, they can be pulled back into the academe. To do this, they must be able to feel that they can contribute something to the discussion, whether it be a question or an opinion. We must impress upon our minds that there are no right or wrong questions or opinions. Each comes from a different background (hence a different culture), so we must be patient and understanding. We must also find tangent points; we must connect the academe with their lives. We must do away with the notion that scholars have ivory towers. We must reconnect. Because this is what education does. It reconnects people with other people. It reconnects people with ideas. It reconnects people with opportunities. It reconnects people with hope. If all the attendants in a classroom participate freely and energetically, actively molding their curriculum to suit their individual needs, we will have captured the essence of a democratic education. Through this, we will have a truly democratic country. References Schugurensky, D. (2005). Howard Zinn on Democratic Education. International Journal of Citizenship and Teacher Education , 1, 99-100.

How to Build an ACT Study Plan 4 Sample Schedules

How to Build an ACT Study Plan 4 Sample Schedules SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The best way to attack the ACT is to use an ACT study plan. With a study plan, you can manage your prep time more easily, figure out your weaknesses, and hone the skills you need to get the score you want on test day. We give you four top-notch ACT plans to choose from, based on your ACT score goals. Before we take a look at those, though, let’s go over the benefits of having an ACT schedule and the steps needed to find the right ACT study plan for you. What Are the Benefits of a Study Plan for ACT Prep? Everyone studying for the ACT should start with a thorough study plan. But what are the benefits of having one? For one, having an ACT study plan allows you to balance your prep time so that you’re spending enough time on the topics you need to study- but aren’t overworking yourself. For example, if I had four months to prep for the ACT, my plan would tell me how many hours to study per week as well as how I could arrange these hours to fit my schedule. ACT plans are also highlyadaptable. This means you can change your ACT schedule to better suit your study needs and work around any obligations you have. So if you’re struggling with math but have already completed your "ACT Math Review" day, you could spend some of your â€Å"ACT Reading Review† day reviewing more math concepts you need to know. Finally, an ACT prep schedule can tell you whether you’re en route to hitting your goal score. A good study plan will tell you when to take ACT practice tests (starting withofficial ones) so that you can gauge your overall progress and pinpoint your weaknesses. Clearly, there are many benefits of having an ACT study plan. But how can you find the right schedule for you? Choosing a Study Plan for ACT Prep: 5 Preliminary Steps Before you decide on an ACT schedule, you need to figure out where you’re currently scoring, what your goal score is, and how much prep time you’ll need. Below, we cover the five preliminary steps you must take to find the best ACT study plan for you. Step 1: Set a Goal Score The first step is to set an ACT goal score. This is the score most likely to get you admitted to all of the schools you’re applying to.You'll want to aim for this score on test day, but to do this you must prep accordingly (which we help you do in our study plans below!). To set a goal score, look for the 25th and 75th percentile ACT scores for each of your schools. These scores represent the middle 50 percent, or average range, of scores of admitted applicants. Ideally, you’ll get an ACT score in at least the 75th percentile for your schools. This will mean you've scored higher than 75 percent of admitted applicants! The easiest way to keep track of ACT score info for your schools is to make a chart (you can also download our pre-made chart). To find your schools’ ACT score info, go online and search for â€Å"[School Name] PrepScholar.† This will bring up links to our database. Click on the â€Å"Admission Requirements† page for your school. On this page, scroll down to find your school’s ACT score info.You'll see a big banner containing your school's average ACT score. Beneath that are your school's 25th and 75th percentile ACT scores. Here’s an example of how this looks onNotre Dame's PrepScholar page: Once you’ve gathered the 75th percentile scores for all of your schools and recorded them in your chart, look for the highest score. This will be your goal score, as it’s the one most likely to get you accepted to all of the schools you're applying to. Let's say I applied to Notre Dame, the University of Michigan, Indiana University Bloomington, and Indiana State. In this case, my ACT goal score would be 34 (the highest 75th percentile score, for Notre Dame). Step 2: Find Your Baseline Score Next, it's time to get your baseline score. A baseline score is essentially your starting point in ACT prep- it’s the score you’d get right now on the ACT, without any prep. To find your baseline, take an official ACT practice test. Official tests are the best resources to use for getting your baseline score since they’re by far the most realistic tests out there. As you take your practice test, make sure to simulate real testing conditions as closely as possible: take the test in a quiet room, use an ACT-approved calculator, and abide by theofficial time limitson all sections. When finished, use your test’s scoring guide to calculate your scaled scores. Your composite score (that is, the average of your four section scores) will be your baseline score. For example, if I got 32 on English, 25 on Math, 28 on Reading, and 30 on Science, my final ACT score would be 29 (since 28.75 rounds up!). Step 3: Calculate How Many Hours You’ll Need to Study Now, it's time to use your baseline and goal scores to figure out roughly how many hours you’ll need to prep for the ACT. First, subtract your baseline score from your goal score. Then, match the difference to a point range below to see how many total hours you’ll need to study: 0-1 point improvement: 10 hours 1-2 point improvement: 20 hours 2-4 point improvement: 40 hours 4-6 point improvement: 80 hours 6-9 point improvement: 150 hours+ The more points you need to improve by, the more hours you’ll need to study. In my examples above, my goal score was 34 and my baseline score was 29. This comes out to a 5-point improvement, equaling about 80 total hours of prep. Step 4: Pick a Test Date When picking an ACT test date, you'll need to consider the following three factors: How much time you want to prepare for the ACT How busy your schedule is around a test date Your college application deadlines The most important point to remember is this:the more hours you need to study, the more time you should give yourself before test day.If you're planning to make large gains of 4 or more points, choose a test date that’s further out so that you have ample time to prep for the exam (and relax as needed!). I suggest prepping forthree to six months,though you might need more or less time depending on how big of a point improvement you want to make. Additionally, choose a test date that works well with your schedule. If you have tons of activities or commitments with little to no time to study, go with a test date at a different, more relaxed time to make your schedule less stressful for you. Finally, if you’re a senior, make sure to take the ACT well before your college application deadlines. If your scores arrive after deadlines, your application could get disqualified, so always choose an early test date. Generally, seniors should be able to do the September and October test dates and possibly the December test date- but not anything later! Step 5: Gather ACT Study Materials Before you begin your ACT prep schedule, spend time gathering high-quality study materials. Far and away, the best resources you can use are official ones (i.e., anything created by ACT, Inc.). Here are some of the top official ACT resources: Official ACT practice tests: These free, full-length practice tests are the best out there and offer highly realistic ACT test-taking practice. Use these to check your progress and monitor your score improvement. Official sample test questions:ACT, Inc., offers online batches of sample questions for each ACT section. This free resource comes with detailed answer explanations and is ideal for both general practice and drilling weaknesses. The Official ACT Prep Guide: At about $25, this official ACT prep book offers three full-length practice tests, 400 practice questions, and test-day guidance. Just be aware that if you already have the 2016-17 version, the 2018 one is essentially the same. Additionally, all three practice tests sharesignificant overlap with the free tests above, so you might want to get the third edition of the book instead (which comes with five unique tests). You can also use high-quality, unofficial ACT resources to supplement your prep. Our guide to the best ACT prep books gives you our top recommendations for official and unofficial ACT prep books. Pro tip: always be pickier when buying unofficial ACT resources since many are low quality and don’t contain realistic practice questions. Get your popcorn ready as we preview four Oscar-worthy ACT study plans! 4 ACT Study Plans for You to Choose From You are now ready to pick an study plan for ACT prep! Below, we offer four study plans to choose from. Each one differs in intensity (how many hours you need to study per week) and length (how many months the program is). Each plan also comes withsuggested time frames to help you balance your prep. That said, you are free to tweak our plans so that you’re spending more or less time on certain topics and skills. Remember,a good ACT study plan canadaptto fit your needs. If you’re struggling with Math and Science, for example, but are strong at Reading and English, you could (and should) focus more on honing your Math and Science skills. Just be sure you’re generally following your ACT schedule so that you’re not missing any critical practice, review, or progress checks. The four ACT study plans we offer are as follows: A three-month, medium-intensive plan A three-month, low-intensive plan A six-month, medium-intensive plan A one-month, high-intensive plan ACT Study Plan #1: 3-Month Program, Medium Intensity This moderate study plan lasts three months and requires a total of 80 study hours, or about six and a half hours a week.With this plan, you’ll be able to raise your total ACT score by up to 6 points. This is a great plan to use any time of the year but works best if you’re studying over the summer (to take the September or October ACT) and have more free time to dedicate to ACT prep. First tip for your ACT Reading studies: don't remove your glasses! Month 1: English Reading Basics For the first month, you’ll get to know the ACT, specifically the English and Reading sections. Week 1: Learn the ACT Format 1. Take an official practice test. To get your baseline score, take a full-length ACT test. Be sure to recreate real testing conditions as closely as possible- this means taking the test in a quiet room without interruptions. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs 2. Score your practice test and analyze your results. Your composite score will be your baseline score (the score you start with before beginning any test prep). You should also take some time to go over your results and see what questions you got right and wrong. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Learn the overall format of the ACT. Familiarize yourself with the basics of the ACT: what kind of content it tests, what kinds of questions it has, and how much time you’ll have on each section. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs Week 2: Focus on English 1. Learn the English test format. Understand what it tests and what types of passages you’ll need to edit. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Study all ACT grammar topics and punctuation rules. You’ll need to know all of the major English rules that can appear on the ACT, from pronouns to apostrophes. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 3. Learn and practice the graf-by-graf reading strategy. This passage-reading strategy is by far the best one for ACT English. With this strategy, you'll read a passage one paragraph at a time and answer questions for each paragraph. Once you understand how this strategy works, practice it using realistic ACT English passages. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Week 3: Turn to Reading 1. Learn the Reading test format. Understand how this section differs from the English section, what kinds of passages there are, and what sorts of questions you'll be answering. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 2. Find the passage-reading strategy that works best for you. You’ll want to use a strategy that’s both quick and effective. To figure out which one you like most, test out a few different strategies using Reading practice tests. The strategy that gives you the highest score is the one you'll use in your prep and on test day. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 3. Practice your chosen passage-reading strategy. Once you've decided on a strategy, continue practicing it using quality Reading practice tests. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs Week 4: Learn Reading English Strategies 1. Memorize common ACT vocabulary words. Our ACT vocabulary list contains 150 common words you should know for the exam. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Learn English and Reading strategies. Most importantly, practice the #1 critical rule for Reading so that you can know how to eliminate incorrect answer choices. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 3. Practice strategies. Use official practice questions or high-quality, unofficial questions to test out the various English and Reading strategies you’ve learned. Suggested Time: 2 hrs On the ACT, you get to play the part of a scientist- but, sadly, do not get to work with red goo. Month 2: Math Science Basics Now, you’ll move on to math and science topics. This month teaches you the format of the Math and Science sections and how to strategize for them. Week 5: Move Toward Math 1. Learn the Math test format. Get to know the basic structure of the section and what kinds of topics it tests. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Go over basic math concepts. Readour basic guide to integersfollowed byour advanced guide to integers. Then, learn about fractions and proportions. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 3. Review algebra. Key topics include the following: Single-variable equations Systems of equations Operations Functions Word problems Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs Week 6: Learn More Math 1. Study key geometry concepts. These include the following: Lines and slopes Reflections, translations, and rotations Lines and angles Polygons Circles Triangles Solid geometry Suggested Time: 3 hrs 2. Go over all other math topics- in particular,trigonometry. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 3. Memorize all critical formulas. You won’t get any on test day, so definitely get these down pat! Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs Week 7: Switch to Science 1. Learn the Science test format. Understand what kinds of passages you’ll have and what the questions will look like. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Find the passage-reading strategy that works best for you. This strategy might be different from the ones you use for Reading and English. To find the right one for you, test out a few different strategies using Science practice tests. Whichever gives you the highest score is the one you'll use in your prep. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 3. Practice your chosen reading strategy. Use high-quality Science practice tests to help you get used to reading scientific passages and answering questions. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Week 8: Learn Math Science Strategies 1. Learn Math and Science strategies. For Math, the most important ones include plugging in numbers and plugging in answers. In addition, make sure you know what kind of science is on the ACTand how to read tables and graphs. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 2. Practice strategies. Use high-quality practice questions to test out the Math and Science strategies you’ve learned. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 3. Learn the Writing test format.If you're planning to take the ACT essay, you'll need to know what kind of essay you'll be writing, how much time you'll have for it on test day, and what kinds of prompts there are. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Month 3: Progress Check Review Now, it’s time to review everything you’ve learned and check your progress to make sure you’re on track to getting your goal score. Week 9: Check Your Progress 1. Take an official practice test. This will tell you how much your score has improved since your baseline test. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs 2. Score your test and determine your weaknesses. Look at the questions you got wrong and try to see whether there are any patterns in your mistakes. These will be the areas you’ll need to drill more in your prep. Suggested Time: 3 hrs Week 10: Practice Writing Strengthen Your Weaknesses 1. Practice writing ACT essays using high-quality prompts.This way you'll get used to writing quickly and effectively. I suggest getting someone to score your responses so that you can figure out what skills you need to work on in order to produce more cogent essays. Suggested Time: 2.5 hrs 2. Use high-quality practice questions to drill general weaknesses. For example, if you’re having problems solving algebra problems, spend more time reviewing algebraic concepts and practicing them as they appear on the ACT. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Week : Check Your Progress (Again) 1. Take your third and final practice test. As always, take it in a quiet place and in one sitting to get an accurate reflection of your scoring ability. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs 2. Score your test and closely analyze your results. Are there any question types or topics you’re still getting wrong? What’s eating up your time and taking more energy than it needs to? Get a feel for what’s holding you back and then figure out how to fix your approach. Suggested Time: 3 hrs Week 12: Review as Needed 1. Continue reviewing concepts and strategies you want to work on. Use high-quality practice questions and resources to help you hone your skills. Just don’t overdo your prep at this point- it's OK to take some time to relax and mentally prepare yourself for the test! Suggested Time: 6.5 hrs (with 0 hrs on test day and the day before) ACT Study Plan #2: 3-Month Program, Low Intensity This is another three-month program but of a much lower intensity. With this plan, you’ll study for a total of 40 hours, or just three and a half hours per week. At this rate, you'll gainup to 4 total points on the ACT. This ACT schedule should work well for those prepping during the school year since it’s lighter and less demanding than the plan above. However, because you're only studying a handful of hours a week, you're limited in the number of points you can gain. Therefore, only choose this plan if you need to make small gains on test day. Grammar is a key part of ACT English. And, uh, graminivorous is not. Month 1: English Reading Basics During this first month, you’ll familiarize yourself with the ACT format and learn the basics of the English and Reading sections. Week 1: Find Your Baseline Score 1. Take an official ACT practice test and score it. This week will slightly exceed your weekly time limit. You’ll spend about 3.5 hours on the test and a half hour scoring it. Remember to recreate real testing conditions to give yourself a more accurate indicator of where you’re currently scoring. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Week 2: Learn the ACT Format 1. Analyze your results from your baseline test. A score doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about your ACT abilities, so take some time to analyze your practice test's results and see where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Suggested time: 2 hrs 2. Learn the format of the ACT. You must understand how the ACT tests concepts and sets up questions in order to do well on it. Specifically, you should know what's on the ACT, what its time limits are, and how it's scored. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs Week 3: Focus on English 1. Learn the English test format. Understand what kinds of passages you’ll see, how grammar questions are presented, and how many questions there are in total. Suggested Time: 1 hr 2. Study all ACT grammar topics and punctuation rules. Get down the most important grammar and rhetorical topics likely to appear on the ACT. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Learn and practice the graf-by-graf reading strategy. This strategy is the best one out there for the English section. You’ll read passages in paragraphs and answer questions for each paragraph. Suggested Time: 1 hr Week 4: Turn to Reading 1. Learn the Reading test format.Get to know the types of passages you'll read, what Reading questions look like, and how much time you'll have. Suggested Time: 1 hr 2. Practice the best passage-reading strategy for Reading: read the questions first and then skim the passage. This strategy is ideal for the ACT, as it teaches you to identify correct information fast. Always practice with high-quality Reading practice questions. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Memorize common ACT vocabulary words. Our list contains 150 ACT vocabulary words and their meanings for you to study. Suggested Time: 1 hr The ACT assumes you know the basics of math and don't need to count on your fingers for everything. Month 2: Math Science Basics This month focuses primarily on the fundamentals of the Math and Science sections. Week 5: Move Toward Math 1. Learn the Math test format. You should know what kind of math you’ll face on the ACT, how questions are worded, and approximately how much time you’ll have per question. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 2. Go over basic math concepts. Read our basic guide to integers and our advanced guide. After, get started on reviewing the basics of fractions and proportions. Suggested Time: 1 hr 3. Memorize all critical ACT Math formulas. Oftentimes, an ACT Math problem can only be solved with a formula, so getting these down will help you get a great Math score. Suggested Time: 1 hr Week 6: Learn More Math 1. Review algebra. Algebra plays a key part on ACT Math, so make sure you understand the following concepts: Single-variable equations Systems of equations Operations Functions Word problems Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 2. Study key geometry concepts. Like algebra, geometry plays a big role on the ACT. The most important topics you should know include the following: Lines and slopes Reflections, translations, and rotations Lines and angles Polygons Circles Triangles Solid geometry Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Go over all other math topics. Trigonometry, for example, is a less commonly tested but still important topic you'll need to know for the ACT. Suggested Time: 30 mins Week 7: Switch to Science 1. Learn the Science test format. Know what kinds of passages and questions you'll encounter on test day. Suggested Time: 1 hr 2. Practice the best passage-reading strategy for Science: read the questions first and then skim the passage. This is similar to the approach you’ll use for the Reading section. Be sure to use high-quality Science practice tests when practicing this method. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 3. Review the science topics you’ll need to know for the ACT.Generally, you won't need any specialized knowledge to do well on ACT Science, but you should still be familiar with certain biology, chemistry, physics, and math concepts. Suggested Time: 1 hr Week 8: Check Your Progress 1. Take an official practice test and score it. As always, find a quiet place to take the test and take it all in one sitting. This will let you see how much you’ve improved since your baseline test. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Acing the ACT is all about strategizing. Month 3: Strategies Review To wrap up this ACT study plan, you’ll spend your last month learning key test-taking strategies, checking your progress, and reviewing topics you’re still struggling with. Week 9: Learn Strategies for Each Section 1. Practice English and Reading strategies.Above all, be sure to practice the #1 critical rule for Reading, which teaches you how to eliminate incorrect answer choices. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 2. Practice keyMath and Science strategies, such asplugging in numbers and plugging in answers. For Science, practice reading tables and graphs. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Week 10: Check Your Progress (Again) 1. Take your third and final practice test and score it. This will give you a last look at what kinds of weaknesses you still have and what topics or skills you should review more before test day. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Week : Strengthen Your Weaknesses 1. Drill any weak spots you have.Use your third practice test's results to get a clearer picture of what areas you're still having trouble with. Then, practice these mistakesand test out strategies to help you overcome them. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs Week 12: Review as Needed 1. Continue drilling any difficult concepts, skills, or strategies. Just be careful not to overdo it. This week isn't only for practicing but also for calming your nerves. So don’t study the day before the test or on test day- your brain will appreciate the break! Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs (with 0 hrs on test day and the day before) By the time you finish this next plan, it'll be spring! ACT Study Plan #3: 6-Month Program, Medium Intensity Need more study time? This six-month ACT schedule offers you a more relaxed and balanced approach to test prep. With this plan, you’ll study a total of 150 hours, or six to six and a half hours a week, to improve your composite score byup to 9 points! This plan is ideal for high-achieving sophomores wanting a head start on ACT prep. Ideally, you’ll take your first ACT in the fall of your junior year (in September or October), meaning you'd likely study the end of your sophomore year and over the summer. Juniors, too, can use this plan for a spring or summer ACT. Since this schedule lets you spread out your prep across several months, you'll feel less overwhelmed by homework and ACT prep. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Month 1 Find Your Baseline Score Take an official practice test (3.5 hrs) Score your test to see your weaknesses (1.5 hrs) Learn the ACT format (1.5 hrs) Understand Structure Learn the English test format (3 hrs) Learn the Reading test format (3 hrs) Understand Structure Learn the Math test format (3 hrs) Learn the Science test format (3 hrs) Choose a Passage-Reading Strategy Practice the graf-by-graf strategy for English (1.5 hrs) Choose and practice a passage-reading strategy for Reading (2.5 hrs) Choose and practice a passage-reading strategy for Science (2.5 hrs) Month 2 Learn Math Content Review basic math concepts and formulas (3 hrs) Build algebra foundation (3 hrs) Learn English Reading Content Go over major English grammar and punctuation topics (2 hrs) Study vocabulary (2 hrs) Practice reading comprehension (2 hrs) Learn More Math Some Science Build geometry foundation (3 hrs) Learn additional math topics such as trig (2 hrs) Learn basic science topics (1.5 hrs) Check Your Progress Take a practice test (3.5 hrs) Score it, analyze your answers, and re-solve missed questions (3 hrs) Month 3 Learn English Reading Strategies Practice eliminating wrong answer choices (3 hrs) Practice other English and Reading strategies (3 hrs) Learn Math Science Strategies Practice plugging in answers and numbers for Math (2 hrs) Practice reading graphs and tables for Science (2 hrs) Practice other Math and Science strategies (2 hrs) Review Practice Practice questions for each section, reviewing concepts as needed (6.5 hrs) Check Your Progress Take a practice test (3.5 hrs) Score it and analyze your answers (3 hrs) Month 4 Study the Essay Format Learn the Writing section (essay) format (2 hrs) Practice writing timed essays (4 hrs) Review Practice Practice questions for each section, reviewing concepts as needed (6.5 hrs) Review Practice Practice questions for each section, reviewing concepts as needed (6 hrs) Check Your Progress Take a practice test (3.5 hrs) Score it and analyze your answers (3 hrs) Month 5 Review Needed Math Topics Practice any Math topics or strategies you’re still struggling with (6.5 hrs) Review Needed English Topics Practice any English topics or strategies you’re still struggling with (6 hrs) Review Needed Science Topics Practice any Science topics or strategies you’re still struggling with (6 hrs) Review Needed Reading Topics Practice any Reading topics or strategies you’re still struggling with (6.5 hrs) Month 6 Check Your Progress Take a practice test (3.5 hrs) Score it and analyze your answers (3 hrs) Review Needed Concepts Practice any English, Math, Reading, or Science topics you’re still struggling with (6 hrs) Review Needed Concepts Practice any English, Math, Reading, or Science topics you’re still struggling with (6.5 hrs) Prep Lightly Review Zero in on any final topics you want to practice, and rest up before test day (6 hrs) ACT Study Plan #4: 1-Month Program, High Intensity This high-intensity plan requires a lot of commitment to make it work. For this brief one-month program, you’ll study a total of 40 hours, or 10 hours a week, to get amaximum 4-point increaseon the ACT. In truth, onemonth isn’t a particularly long time to prep for the ACT, but you can be successful if you're willing to put in the effort and stick to a regular schedule. This ACT study plan works best if you don’t have a lot of activities or commitments going on and can therefore focus primarily on test prep. If you’re using this plan while in school, you’ll need to carve out study time during the week, as prepping for 10 hours every weekend is fairly difficult. For more advice on how to study for the ACT in a month, check out our step-by-step guide. Week 1: Study Structure 1. Take an official practice test to get your baseline score.Find a quiet room with no distractions and time yourself using official time limits. Suggested Time: 3.5 hrs 2. Score your test and analyze your results.Use your baseline test results to determine your weaknesses and look for any patterns in your mistakes. Suggested Time: 1 hr 3. Learn the overall ACT test format. Know how long the test is, what’s on it, and how it’s scored. Suggested Time: 1.5 hrs 4. Learn the English test format. Get to know the kinds of questions and passages you'll encounter on test day. Suggested Time: 1 hr 5. Learn the Reading test format. Acquaint yourself with the different types of Reading passages and how questions are worded. Suggested Time: 1 hr 6. Learn the Math test format.Briefly review how the math section is set up, what kind of math you’ll need to know, and how much time you’ll have for this section and per question. Suggested Time: 1 hr 7. Learn the Science test format. Go over how long the section is, what kind of science it tests, and what role passages and data play. Suggested Time: 1 hr Week 2: Get Down Key Content 1. Review themost important English grammar topics and punctuation rules. Knowing which grammar rules are most likely to be tested is key to doing well on English. Suggested Time: 2 hrs 2. Learn and practice core ACT Math topics. Understand the basics of integers as well as ratios and proportions. Above all, know the ins and outs of algebra and geometry. Specific topics in these fields include the following: Algebra Single-variable equations Systems of equations Operations Functions Word problems Geometry Lines and slopes Reflections, translations, and rotations Lines and angles Polygons Circles Triangles Solid geometry Suggested Time: 5 hrs 3. Memorize the most important ACT Math formulas. Many questions can only be solved with a formula, so knowing these guarantees you’ll have a better shot at getting a high Math score. Suggested Time: 1 hr 4. Practice reading graphs and tables for Science.Understand how data is presented in this section and what kinds of questions will be asked about it. Suggested Time: 2 hrs Week 3: Strategize Check Your Progress 1. Practice your passage-reading strategies for English, Reading, and Science. The best one to use for English is the graf-by-graf method. For both Reading and Science, I recommend reading the questions first and then skimming the passage. Suggested Time: 3 hrs 2. Learn and practice key strategies for all sections of the exam. The most important ones include plugging in numbers and plugging in answers for Math and the #1 critical rule for Reading. Suggested Time: 3 hrs 3. Take and score a practice test to check your progress. Use the test to see how much you’ve improved since your baseline test, and look for any weaknesses you'll need to target in your final week of prep. Suggested Time: 4 hrs Week 4: Review Practice 1. Review and practice difficult ACT topics and strategies. This is the time to zero in on your weaknesses so that you’ll feel more confident and make fewer mistakes on test day. Additionally, if you're taking the ACT with Writing, you can use some of this time to go over the format of the essay and practice answering prompts. Just don't study the day before or the day of the test- you need to give your brain a rest! Suggested Time: 10 hrs (with 0 hrs on test day and the day before) Which plan will lead you to victory? Recap: What's the Best ACT Study Plan for You? A good study plan for the ACT not only helpsyou reach your goal score but also fits easily into your schedule, changes to fit your study needs, and gives you ample confidence on test day. Before choosing a plan, make sure to complete these five preliminary steps: Set a goal score Find your baseline score Figure out how many hours you’ll need to study Choose a test date that works well for you Gather high-quality ACT study materials Finally, here are some key points to remember as you consider what type of ACT schedule might work best for you: Remember your commitments. Don’t choose a study plan or test date that’ll interfere with any major obligations or activities in your life. You should have plenty of time to dedicate to ACT prep, so choose a test date that’s got less going on around it. Find a routine. You’ll get the most out of your ACT study plan by following a routine. This means you should try to prep on the same days and at the same times each week. In turn, you’ll be less likely to procrastinate and won't forget to study. Customize your schedule. An ACT study plan should always adapt to fit your needs, so feel free to change up our plans to give yourself more or less time with certain topics. Just avoid completely skipping any major concepts or strategies! Be confident. Last but not least, stay calm and go into the test optimistically. As long as you’ve followed your ACT study plan and targeted your weaknesses, you’re sure to get a great ACT score! Good luck with your ACT studies! What’s Next? Need more help preparing for the ACT?Read our guides to learn how long you should study for the ACT andhow many times you should take it. Aiming for a perfect ACT score?Our expert guide can show you what steps to take and what strategies to use to get that coveted 36 on test day. Taking the SAT, too?Then get started today with one of our four SAT study plans! Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Georgia O essays

Georgia O essays The twentieth century brought forth WWI, Hitler, and the Great Depression to the world. It was a time of turmoil and out of turmoil comes change. The art world would also be turned upside down and forever changed. Fauves, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Fantasy, Dada, Surrealism, and early Abstract art where some of the new art forms. One of the most renowned American painters of the twentieth century was a woman named Georgia OKeeffe, known for her abstract yet objective style, simplified shapes, organic forms, and content that included abstract images, flower paintings, bleached animal bones, landscapes of the desert, and sky cloud paintings, among other works of art. Georgia was born to a prosperous farming family in Sun Prairie Wisconsin, 1887. After high school she enrolled in classes at the Art Institute of Chicago, and two years later she attended the Art Students League in New York City. Georgia studied with the American Impressionist William Merritt Chase. OKeeffe was however repelled by the rigid academicism of her art instruction, and in 1909 she abandoned her studies to work as a commercial artist in Chicago. In 1912, Georgia attended art classes under the direction of Columbia University professor Arthur Wesley Dow. Dow was an admirer of Oriental art and a student of Post-Impressionism. Dow believed in purely decorative art. His only concern was to fill a space in a beautiful way. Dows teachings convinced Georgia that there were modes of expression more satisfying than academic realism. OKeeffes enthusiasm for painting was reawakened, and she moved to Texas to accept a position as an art teacher. It was in Texas, 1912 when Georgia began to create abstract compositions. During the first decades of the twentieth century, a number of artists including OKeeffe moved toward abstraction as a visual language capable of signifyi...

Khotan - Capital of an Oasis State on the Silk Road

Khotan - Capital of an Oasis State on the Silk Road Khotan (also spelled Hotian, or Hetian) is the name of a major oasis and city on the ancient Silk Road, a trade network that connected Europe, India, and China across the vast desert regions of central Asia beginning more than 2,000 years ago. Khotan Fast Facts Khotan was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Yutian, beginning in the 3rd century BCE.It is located at the western end of the Tarim basin in what is today Xinjiang Province of China.One of a handful of states who controlled trade and traffic on the Silk Road between India, China, and Europe.  Its main exports were camels and green jade. Khotan was the capital of an important ancient kingdom called Yutian, one of a handful of strong and more or less independent states who controlled travel and trade throughout the region for well over a thousand years. Its competitors at this western end of the Tarim basin included Shule and Suoju (also known as Yarkand). Khotan is located in south Xinjiang province, the westernmost province in modern China. Its political power was derived from its location on two rivers in the southern Tarim Basin of China, the Yurung-Kash and the Qara-Kash, south of the vast, nearly impassable Taklamakan Desert. According to historical records, Khotan was a double colony, settled first in the third century BCE by an Indian prince, one of several sons of the legendary King Asoka [304–232 BCE] who were expelled from India after Asokas conversion to Buddhism. A second settlement was by an exiled Chinese king. After a battle, the two colonies merged. Trade Networks on the Southern Silk Road Endless dune in Taklamakan desert, in southern Xinjiang province of China.   Feng Wei Photography / Getty Images The Silk Road should be called the Silk Roads because there were several different wandering pathways across Central Asia. Khotan was on the main southern route of the Silk Road, which began at the city of Loulan, close to the entry of the Tarim River into Lop Nor. Loulan was one of the capital cities of Shanshan, a people who occupied the desert region west of Dunhuang north of Altun Shan and south of Turfan. From Loulan, the southern route led 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) to Khotan, then 370 mi (600 km) further to the foot of the Pamir mountains in Tajikistan. Reports say it took 45 days to walk from Khotan to Dunhuang; 18 days if you had a horse. Shifting Fortunes The fortunes of Khotan and the other oasis states varied over time. The Shi Ji (Records of the Grand Historian, written by Sima Qian in 104–91 BCE, implies that Khotan controlled the entire route from Pamir to Lop Nor, a distance of 1,000 mi (1,600 km). But according to the Hou Han Shu (Chronicle of the Eastern Han or Later Han Dynasty, 25–220 CE) and written by Fan Ye, who died in 455 CE, Khotan only controlled a section of the route from Shule near Kashgar to Jingjue, an east-west distance of 500 mi (800 km). What is perhaps most likely is that the independence and power of the oasis states varied with the power of its clients. The states were intermittently and variously under the control of China, Tibet or India: In China, they were always known as the western regions, regardless of who currently controlled them. For example, China controlled traffic along the southern route when political issues cropped up during the Han Dynasty about 119 BCE. Then, the Chinese decided that although it would be beneficial to maintain the trade route, the territory was not critically important, so the oasis states were left to control their own destiny for the next few centuries. Commerce and Trade Trade along the Silk Road was a matter of luxury rather than necessity because the long distances and limits of camels and other pack animals meant that only high-value goods- in particular in relation to their weight- could be economically carried. An Imperial Khotan-Green Jade Seal from the Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period.   Marco Secchi / Getty Images The main export item from Khotan was jade: the Chinese imported green Khotanese jade beginning at least as long ago as 1200 BCE. By the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), Chinese exports traveling through Khotan were primarily silk, lacquer, and bullion, and they were exchanged for jade from central Asia, cashmere and other textiles including wool and linen from the Roman empire, glass from Rome, grape wine and perfumes, slaves, and exotic animals such as lions, ostriches, and zebu, including the celebrated horses of Ferghana. During the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), the main trade goods moving through Khotan were textiles (silk, cotton, and linen), metals, incense, and other aromatics, furs, animals, ceramics and precious minerals. Minerals included lapis lazuli from Badakshan, Afghanistan; agate from India; coral from the ocean shore in India; and pearls from Sri Lanka. Khotan Horse Coins Six Zhu Sino-Kharosthi coin with the image of a horse surrounded by Kharosthi script, circa 1st-2nd century CE. Gohyuloong One evidence that the commercial activities of Khotan must have extended at least from China to Kabul along the Silk Road, is that indicated by the presence of Khotan horse coins, copper/bronze coins found all along the southern route and in its client states. Khotan horse coins (also called Sino-Kharosthi coins) bear both Chinese characters and the Indian Kharosthi script denoting the values 6 zhu or 24 zhu on one side, and the image of a horse and the name of an Indo-Greek king Hermaeus at Kabul on the reverse side. Zhu was both a monetary unit and a weight unit in ancient China. Scholars believe Khotan horse coins were used between the first century BCE and the second century CE. The coins are inscribed with six different names (or versions of names) of kings but some scholars argue that those are all differently-spelled versions of the same kings name. Khotan and Silk Khotans best-known legend is that it was ancient Serindia, where the West is said to have first learned of the art of silk making. There is no doubt that by the 6th century CE, Khotan had become the center of silk production in Tarim; but how silk moved out of eastern China into Khotan is a tale of intrigue. The story is that a king of Khotan (perhaps Vijaya Jaya, who reigned about 320 CE) convinced his Chinese bride to smuggle seeds of the mulberry tree and silkworm pupa cases hidden in her hat on her way to Khotan. A fully sizeable silkworm culture (called sericulture) was established in Khotan by the 5th–6th centuries, and it is likely to have taken at least one or two generations to get it started. History and Archaeology at Khotan Documents referring to Khotan include Khotanese, Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese documents. Historic figures who reported visits to Khotan include the wandering Buddhist monk Faxian, who visited there in 400 CE, and the Chinese scholar Zhu Shixing, who stopped there between 265–270 CE, searching for a copy of the ancient Indian Buddhist text Prajnaparamita. Sima Qian, the writer of the Shi Ji, visited in the mid-second century BCE. The first official archaeological excavations at Khotan were conducted by Aurel Stein in the early 20th century, but looting of the site began as early as the 16th century. Sources and Further Information Bo, Bi, and Nicholas Sims-Williams. Sogdian Documents from Khotan, II: Letters and Miscellaneous Fragments. Journal of the American Oriental Society 135.2 (2015): 261-82. Print.De Crespigny, Rafe. Some Notes on the Western Regions  . Journal of Asian History 40.1 (2006): 1-30. Print.è ¥ ¿Ã¥Å¸Å¸Ã‚  ; in Later HanDe La Vaissià ¨re, Étienne. Silk, Buddhism Bulletin of the Asia Institute 24 (2010): 85-87. Print.and Early Khotanese Chronology: A Note on the Prophecy of the Li Country.Fang, Jiann-Neng, et al. Sino-Kharosthi and Sino-Brahmi Coins from the Silk Road of Western China Identified with Stylistic and Mineralogical Evidence. Geoarchaeology 26.2 (2011): 245-68. Print.Jiang, Hong-En, et al. A Consideration of the Involucre Remains of Coix Lacryma-Jobi L. (Poaceae) in the Sampula Cemetery (2000 Years Bp), Xinjiang, China. Journal of Archaeological Science 35 (2008): 1311-16. Print.Rong, Xinjiang, and Xin  Wen. Newly Discovered Chinese-Khotanese Bilingual Tallies. Journal o f Inner Asian Art and Archaeology 3 (2008): 99-118. Print.

Development plan for strengthening scholarship and professional life Assignment

Development plan for strengthening scholarship and professional life - Assignment Example A scholarship enables an individual to make educational advancement in improving professional performance within the nursing profession. The personal development plan remains essential in ensuring improvement of both the professional and scholarship lives. Within the professional life as a nurse, the fundamental role remains the provision of nursing care to individuals who require the services. The functions undertaken as a nurse have been fundamental in determining the quality of services offered within the profession. The fundamental requirements in undertaking the various responsibilities include different skills, which are essential in performing various functions. Communication remains a basic requirement within this profession as individuals must communicate in seeking to gather information from individuals being provided with care. Effectiveness of the services delivered in the nursing profession remains highly dependent on effective communication. This enables one to understand the other individuals and the patients receiving care as well. Working relationships with other professional employees also presents a significant impact upon the services delivered within the healthcare sector. Many of the care services are provided by different professional in achieving holistic care. The relationships existing between these professional have fundamental effect in care delivery and establishment of good relationships remains a basic requirement for the ole of a nurse. Knowledge and understanding enables one to effectively manage the various situations which commonly face nurses within the profession. The knowledge is commonly gained from educational training and work experience, as well (Sinclair & Ferguson, 2009). This remains one of the fundamental aspects required in ensuring effective delivery of healthcare services. Continuous improvement of the above aspects remains

Exam questions in History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Exam questions in History - Essay Example Analyzing the factual evidences and the historical facts, it becomes lucid that Columbus enjoys a distinction among the explorers which is not completely substantiated by his deeds. It is a fact that he initiated some important explorations which helped the European explorers to establish their imperial superiority in the land. However, it does not adequately establish his role as the chief explorer of the European desires and, in fact, he fell short of his ultimate goals. "Christopher Columbus is an unlikely figure to be considered the discoverer of America and the leading symbol of European exploration overseas... None of this is certain and probably never will be... By contrast, Columbus...knew what he was looking for--a sea passage that would carry him to the fabled wealth of China by sailing west from Europe. This is not what he found." (Marshall, 1998, p 16). The most essential irony of his life and explorations is that Columbus, all through his life, failed to recognize that h e had not reached the Orient but had stumbled upon vast lands totally new to the European mind. Thus, Columbus was a failure in achieving his ultimate goal and was a self-conscious explorer driven by the craving for discovery. It was never Columbus but others who found the full significance of his discoveries. In short, the profound popularity of Christopher Columbus is not completely substantiated by his actions. A. Module 1, Q 2: The actions of the Spanish, French, English, and Dutch explorers and colonizers and their impact on the native peoples, the environment, and Europe. Explorations and colonization by the European explorers including the Spanish, French, English, and Dutch explorers have influenced the course of human history in general and that of the native peoples in particular. These sea-faring nations of Europe were determined to enlarge their influence on the rest of the world through their explorations and colonization in the early fifteenth century. The main motive of these explorations and colonization was profit and the native peoples needed to suffer for the advantage of the European nations. The impact of the actions by the European explorers was favorable to the Europe, while the native peoples and their environment were adversely affected. The European explorers such as the Spanish, French, English, and Dutch attempted to discover better trade routes to Asia and the trade interests in home nations increased tremendously. Explorations were also fueled by the interest for colonization by the European nation, along with the quest for kno wledge about the new lands. The entire Europe has been enjoying the fruits of the explorations and colonization by the early explorers, while the colonized and explored lands of Asia, Africa, and America have been deeply disfavored by these explorations. "The nineteenth century was the great age of European expansion. For 300 years, following the voyages of Columbus, Da Gama, and Magellan, the shadow of the European hegemony had been moving across the oceans. For ten generations hardy explorers, traders, and colonizers had been hoisting sail in the harbours of the Old World to lay the broad

Capitol Budgeting Long Term Financing Assignment - 4

Capitol Budgeting Long Term Financing - Assignment Example Consequently, the operating budget will be capital dependent on the long-term goals of a firm. Capital budget decisions are made independent of operating decisions. Consequently, managements make long-term capital commitments without understanding the repercussions for daily operations. In addition, they are not flexible thought out the year from draft day to end of the financial year. In case an emergency arises at a certain point, it impose capital strains on the operating budget and the effectiveness of a company declines, as the management tends to cut the budget to respond to the emergency at hand (Mary Alexander, Infusion Nurses Society, Ann Corrigan & Judy Hankins, 2010, p. 137). Operating budgets in some firms operate on fixed asset depending on the season of sales. They mostly entail heavy inputs that later give a considerable profited output. With capital budgets in sight and the knowledge that cash is limited, companies tend to pull out on some projects that have low yields and the amounts set for operations reduces accordingly. In conclusion, Capital budget is not solely responsible to affect operating budget, but plays a major role in determining the operations of a