Essay about Creative Writing - Belonging - 1278 Words

Creative Writing I jump back as a black feline shoots across the path in-front of me. I catch a glimpse of its matted fur; a screeching hiss pierces the night air as it encounters a mammal in the undergrowth. They say a black cat at night is bad luck, but I honestly doubt my luck could get any worse in light of recent events. â€Å"Get out, you don’t belong here anymore†, â€Å"Just looking at you makes me sick. Leave now and get out of our lives†. It’s funny how the ones who are meant to love you the most, can turn on you so easily. My adolescent legs strain as I continue along the path aimlessly, my stomach rumbles in emptiness as I realise I left without food. How can one think of such things at a time like that? I most certainly didnt, and†¦show more content†¦I weave myself through the animal-made track, slipping on loose stones and running into the occasional webbed trap. Eventually, I make my way to a clearing with scattered belongings and a stool sized log surrounding a scrap wood fire. A twig snaps behind me and I swing around, instincts putting me in a fighting mindset. Instead of a threat, I am greeted by a grey haired man with shabby clothes and a dirty beard. He stares at me for a few seconds as if evaluating me as a risk and then speaks to me in a calm voice. â€Å"howdy stranger, can I help you with anything?† I try to reply but still surprised my words fail me. Instead, he continues to speak, â€Å"that’s a deep looking cut you’ve got on your forehead. He moves towards me, limping a little, reducing pressure on his left leg naturally. I step back warily, but he swiftly covers the ground between us and grabs my shoulder with his left hand. His unclean breath blows in my face for a moment, and a shiver of fear and disgust runs down my spine. The shiver leaves as he turns his head to the side, seemingly searching for something on his belt. Out of a small bag attached to his belt he produces a plastic packet. After tearing open the package with his teeth he pulls out the prize, and dabs the alcohol soaked swab on my wound. I flinch as the alcohol seems to burn my unprotected flesh. I grab my forehead in agonyShow MoreRelatedWork Report, English Extension 21534 Words   |  7 Pagesfools speak the truth† From the many different options of major works available in Extension 2, I chose to write a short story as the creative aspect of this option was appealing. The reality of this course was not exactly what I had initially expected, and the first two terms which were nearly purely investigative were challenging. I believe that if I had begun writing earlier, and implementing research only when necessary, I would have made more progress by now. My intention was to write a seriesRead MoreThrough My Creative Writing And Reading Experience, I Have1156 Words   |  5 PagesThrough my creative writing and reading experience, I have been exposed to a variety of literary genres. My preferred genres have consistently been free verse poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. For the purpose of this class, I have chosen the genre of creative non-fiction. My focus will be literary essays that address humanity’s universal desire for a sense of identity and belonging; these essays will be written from a personal perspective, containing anecdotes, internal conflicts, and external opinionsRead MoreCopyright Laws Essay949 Words   |  4 Pagesbrought about a potential crisis. It seems that a lot of artwork, literature, and music by our most creative authors, musicians, and artists have fallen into the hands of pirates. Our artists can no longer support themselves nor feel safe in creating new work. Their work is being shared all over the Internet as we speak. We need to put a stop to this. What would happen if your favorite musicians stopped writing and publishing their music? Do you want to listen to the music of your grandparents? Thats whereRead MoreIn My Creative Nonfiction Genre Proposal, I Stated That,1571 Words   |  7 Pagesmy creative nonfiction genre proposal, I stated that, â€Å"my [creative writing project s] focus will be literary essays that address humanity’s universal desire for a sense of identity and belonging; these essays will be written from a personal perspective, containing anecdotes, internal conflicts, and external opinions† (1). A little over ten weeks later, I believe I have achieved this goal in my final draft because of the stylistic approaches and revisions I made with the help of the Creative WritingRead MoreTeaching Methods Reflection1216 Words   |  5 Pages Barker, K., Nosworthy, M., Sinclair, C., Nanlohy, P. (2010), have helped me to understand this in particular . In composing my essay about teaching methods and other themes, my learning was solidified, my knowledge deepened by my research and my writing skills honed. How my beliefs about teaching have changed from the beginning of the unit The one belief I had about teaching that has changed since I began this unit, is that all teachers, more or less, taught in the same way. Perhaps thisRead MoreEssay about Cypop 71055 Words   |  5 PagesCYPOP 7 – Promote creativity and creative learning in young children 1.1 – Analyse the differences between creative learning and creativity Creative learning is about how children are actively involved in their own learning and their ability to make choices and decisions. This can be achieved by providing a creative environment, allowing exploration through play and praising the child’s creative efforts. Creative learning is about helping children develop imaginative thinking through explorationRead MoreEssay on Nvq Level 5 Unit 136976 Words   |  4 Pagesskills may be for e.g. threading a bead on to a piece of string, gross motor skills are for e.g. star jumps and hand eye co-ordination is for e.g. throwing a ball and catching it. These activities can be done indoors and outdoors. Creative development Creative development is all about imagination, role play, messy play, making music , junk modelling and mark making. Equipment that they use within the foundation phase are sand and water, drawing and painting materials, empty containers, playRead MoreSpeaking And Listening : Rohan Essay819 Words   |  4 Pageswork on his fluency as he can sometimes lack flow when reading aloud. Writing - Handwriting – Rohan takes great pride in the presentation of each piece of work. His letters are shaped clearly and are consistent in size. He has grasped the cursive style of handwriting and forms each letter correctly. When writing, Rohan uses an appropriate pace and applies the correct amount of pressure to his pencil so that his writing is clearly legible. After each piece of work Rohan makes efforts to proofRead MorePoetry Is Not Just The Vision Of The Writer1036 Words   |  5 Pagesgothic works of many romantic poets—such as Keats and Coleridge—have influenced popular entertainment across the spectrum of creative media. The family of the Gothic is huge. The genre is more than the commonly associated novels, poems, and stories. Films, music, video games, opera, art, and comics are all belonging together within the same family. Each of these creative modes utilizes the gothic in new ways though they all give viewers the experience of the sublime. They continue to shock us outRead MoreAbraham Maslow s Influence On The Human Psyche1660 Words   |  7 Pagesan operation by which people may use a hierarchy of needs. The higher categories of this hierarchy are reached by psychologically well rounded, and performing self-actualizing humans. Also, Maslow claims that these self-actualizing people are very creative and show a large tolerance to resolve issues and problems of which most people can not deal with , such as death against life and freedom versus imprisonment as two small examples. At the end of the day, Maslow’s statements put a big belief on

Analysis Of Sophocles Play Antigone - 1308 Words

Throughout history, many cultures from around the world have set standards for women to follow. In ancient Greece, women had just about the same rights and freedom as slaves. A women would always live under the control of her father, husband, or any other male relative at the time. Women did not leave the household but instead they took care of it. Only wealthy women and that s not even half the amount of the ladies that didn’t have to work and just supervised slaves. The treatment of males and females are not always equal. Equality is the matter of people treating each other equally. Gender is a range of characteristics associated with males and females. You could say that when gender and equality are put together both sexes are†¦show more content†¦Throughout the character of Antigone, women finally get to present real life viewpoints about their character.The feminist movement has strongly been sought equality between sexes of females and males. At certain times of the play of Antigone, there are many points that an individual must analyze when considering themes. There are many distinct actions going on at once and they all blend together to form a strong story. Some of the main topics that are discussed in the play are pleasure, the struggles of individuals, the threat of tyranny and a gender battle which the most important part, dealing with the situation of women in society. Antigone wants women to have as many opportunities as men and a woman’s life should not be predetermined because of her sex. Antigone starts the play with the idea of going against men’s rule over women, and later takes her plan into action, leading to the death of Creon authority due to his inability to be flexible. For example, in the play, Antigone is used as an example to show how the roles of women were heading to change in society in a feminine perspective. A good way of saying it is like when a dictator dies, his image and popularity dies with him , but when an individual that is self sacrificing and independent dies, their legacy just begins. This statement could be true because abused subjects do not intentionally andShow MoreRelatedBiography of Sophocles Essay1496 Words   |  6 PagesBiography of Sophocles Sophocles was born near Athens, in the small town of Colonus, around 495 BC. His ninety-year life span coincided with the rise and fall of the Athenian Golden age. The son of Sophillus, a wealthy armor maker, Sophocles was provided with the best traditional aristocratic education available in Athens (Page 3). Very little is known about Sophocles as a youth, although one public record suggests his participation in â€Å"The Chorus of Youths,† chosen to celebrate the Athenian navalRead MoreJustification of Creon in Antigone by Sophocles Essay994 Words   |  4 PagesJustification of Creon in Antigone by Sophocles Antigone is a tragic play written by Sophocles in about 441b.c. The play is a continuation of the curse put upon the household of Oedipus Rex. Sophocles actually wrote this play before he wrote Oedipus, but it follows Oedipus in chronological order. The story of Antigone begins after the departure of Oedipus, the king of Thebes, into self-exile. Oedipus’ two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, were left to rule over Thebes. An argument over rightsRead MoreAntigone Character Analysis1422 Words   |  6 Pages Antigone, the final play in a series including Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, discusses the ideas of leadership, family, and choices. It features two central characters: Antigone, a girl who chooses to illegally bury her brother, and Creon, a king who decrees the burial of the brother to be illegal. Upon the first encounter of the text, it appears that Antigone is the â€Å"hero† of the play, but on further analysis, one realizes that the tragic hero, as defined by A ristotle, is actually Creon. The ideaRead MorePathos In Antigone978 Words   |  4 PagesAntigone and Aristotle’s definition of tragedy The beauty of tragedy is its ability to capture the audience and evoke a particular emotion in it. Tragedy, as Aristotle defines it, â€Å"accomplish[es] by means of pity and fear the cleansing [katharsis] of these states of feeling† (Poetics 1449b 27-28). Aristotle claims that tragedy offers some certain value for the audience – a social and psychological value – through the empathy it sets in place for the audience. Sophocles’ tragic play, Antigone, isRead MoreVanity Or Valor : When Lines Are Skewed1434 Words   |  6 Pagesreal world, theses lines between â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† become indistinguishably skewed. Sophocles’ Antigone is not to be viewed through the eyes of morality because together hero and villain lie within the motives of both the play’s main characters. Simon Goldhill asserts that â€Å"it is difficult, in other words to read Antigone without making not only moral judgments, but the sort of one-sided moral judgments that the play itself seems to want to mark as leading to tragedy†, but this frame of mind must beRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King And Antigone1170 Words   |  5 Pagescivilizations such as Athens, women were looked down upon and this battle to leave behind tradition proved to be almost if not fatal. Sophocles Oedipus the King and Antigone exemplify three distinct female Athenian characters who approach this battle with different fronts. Through analysis of Ismene, Antigone and Jocasta’s distinct characters, the reader better understands how Sophocles uses a feminine voice to break away from the tradition discerned in Athenian life to advocate for the rise of a matriarchalRead MoreEssay on Antigone1426 Words   |  6 Pagesultimately suffer from the consequences of their actions. In Sophocles Antigone, these prejudices notably surface in the form of paternalism as demonstrated through Creons government, highlighting the importance of gender role s throughout the play. Therefore, analyzing the motif of gender roles and its effect on the definition of justice through the perspectives of Ismene, Antigone, and Creon enables the audience to understand how Sophocles macroscopic analogy to humanitys prejudiced judgments asRead MoreSophocles Use of Social Commentary in Antigone1334 Words   |  6 Pagesmatter their origin. In Antigone, Sophocles does this by creating a fictionalized Thebes in which he reflects upon the politics, religion, and societal norms of his own world. He creates a ruler, Creon, whose tyrannical actions serve to promote the merits of democracy and criticize the contemporary government. He also creates a protagonist, Antigone, who challenges the validity of the social structure while upholding ancient traditions. This social commentary allows Sophocles to connect with his bothRead MoreAntigone : Human Law Vs. Divine Law1418 Words   |  6 PagesLauren Wolfson Professor Neil Scharnick THR 3270 History of Classical Theatre 30 November 2016 Antigone: Human Law vs. Divine Law The most prominent theme in â€Å"Antigone† by Sophocles is the conflict of divine law vs. human law; it is the driving force behind the entire play. It is an issue of which law is the right law, and if Creon s and Antigone s acts were justifiable. It is also a question of what motivates them both to act as they do and if they were predestined to their fates dueRead MoreAn Analysis of Fate vs. Free Will in the Theban Plays1392 Words   |  6 PagesAn Analysis of Fate vs. Free Will in the Theban Plays When Teiresias asks in Antigone (line 1051), What prize outweighs the priceless worth of prudence? he strikes (as usual) to the heart of the matter in Sophocles Theban Plays. Sophocles dramatizes the struggle between fate and free will, in one sense, but in another sense the drama might be better understood as the struggle between the will of the goods (which it is prudent to follow, according to Teiresias) and mans will (which is often

Behaviorism To Teach Human Behaviors. Author’S Name....

Behaviorism to Teach Human Behaviors Author’s Name Institutional Affiliation Abstract The paper discusses the various problems encountered while employing the concept of behaviorism to teach human behaviors. The concept of free will and its relation with behaviorism is deliberated and their differences are highlighted. Determinism and Reductionism concepts are linked with each other and their differences and relationship with behaviorism and free will is examined. Skinner’s views of society and his perspective on learning theory and his ideas on behaviorism are mentioned. Behaviorism Resulting in Problems in Society Behaviorism is based on the idea that behavior is developed through conditioning. Behaviorists†¦show more content†¦It can happen with strong coordination between conscious and unconscious mind and self-control. Determinism vs. Reductionism Determinism suggests that all behavior is predetermined and foreseeable because of former influences. The laws of determinism form the foundation for psychological science. Free will is the notion that we can choose how we act and assumes that we are unrestricted to choose our behavior. People can choose to commit a crime or not. This suggests that the person is free from the impact of former events and that person is accountable for their own deeds. Psychologists who support free will interpretation believe that determinism eliminates free will and self-respect and disregard human behavior. The uniqueness of human beings ability or freedom to choose their destiny is not valued in the deterministic approach. Reductionism deals with the idea that human behavior can be explained by simplifying it into smaller factors. Reductionists believe that to understand the behavior we have to study the easiest parts in our systems and determine how they work with the help of a simple explanation. Reductionist methods do not let us recognize why behaviors occur. They can explain how our fear centers in the brain create an anxiety reaction to help us in running away fast from a dog but they cannot explain our fear of the dog. Reductionism is closely associated with Behaviorism which assumes that all behavior can be concentrated on a simple action of responseShow MoreRelatedHistory of Management Thought Revision17812 Words   |  72 Pagestheir main influence came later, and we will conclude with an overview of the influence of scientific management in its environment. Chapter 7 The Advent of Scientific Management Frederick W. Taylor is one of the more widely recognized names in the management literature. Far more rare, however, is an accurate account of him and his ideas. This chapter intends to portray Taylor with his faults as well as his virtues. Though sometimes inconsistent in what he said and what he practicedRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesOrganizational Behavior This page intentionally left blank Organizational Behavior EDITION 15 Stephen P. Robbins —San Diego State University Timothy A. Judge —University of Notre Dame i3iEi35Bj! Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services:

Frida Kahlo Art Essay Example For Students

Frida Kahlo Art Essay Among the most well known and influential artists of Mexico stands out the crippled soul and the crippled body with an amazing talent Frida Kahlo. This talented woman came out with her talent and began painting when she was around 18 years old. It is highly unknown if she would even begin doing the artwork if she wasnt involved in a bus accident which left her with severe body injuries and a mental scar for an entire life, among with some family and political problems in Mexico at that time. She was born on July 6, 1907 in Mexico, her father was born in Germany, but at 19 he moved down to Mexico and married Fridas mother. One of the main things which have influenced and affected Frida in many ways has been the family environment she grew up in. First off, the marriage of her parents wasnt exactly great and they were actually quite unhappy. The second factor was that Frida had 3 other sisters, two of them older, so she grew up with a large circle of females around her, with constant conflicts, and this is what made Frida spend most of her life close to her father. The second and perhaps the most important factor affecting her life and artwork was probably the deformities she got throughout her life due to accidents and illnesses. The first one was at age six when she fell sick with polio and it left one of her legs looking thinner than the other, and she hid it most of her life by wearing long skirts. But the most radical accident happened when Frida was 18 years old, she was riding a bus which collided with a trolley car. The injuries she received were grand a broken collar bone, a broken spinal column, broken pelvis and ribs, fractures in right leg, dislocated foot and shoulder, and when an iron bar pierced her stomach, it damaged the uterus. Frida spent a lot of time in recovery, but for the injuries she received, the recovery time seemed fast, although excruciatingly painful. In most of her paintings and self portraits, it is easy to see the sad and depressed face of Frida, regarding to the struggles she is going through, she first began painting during her long hospital stays. Frida first met Diego Rivera (the most famous of Mexican muralists and a very strong political force) as a high school student and was fascinated with him ever since, despite the fact that he was as her friends would say the disgusting fat old man. They have met again after Fridas accident 3 years later, and he was fascinated with her infatuation of him, and they married a year later. As Herb Kernecker describes in his book When in Mexico, Do as the Mexicans Do, what started on that day was anything but a marital bliss. For Frida it was a roller-coaster ride of intense creativity, travel, betrayal, international success, infidelity, and excesses; suspicion of participating in Russian Leon Trotskys assassination; Diegos exile, separation, and divorce; and amputation of a leg all the while celebrating life. Last but not least, another great effect on her work was cast from the fact that she couldnt have children as a result of the bus accident, and it is something she portrayed in a great amount of her paintings. It was something which may have actually changed her life, could make her a happier person, but was never meant to be, not for Frida at least. As Sandra Kemp wrote in her book her paintings represent the moment of abjection which institutes a flickering in and out of existence of bail, permeable boundaries between inside and outside, pleasure and pain. The Korea Question EssayMany people say that if it were not for Fridas struggles, she might have never became who she is now an icon of pain and suffering, but someone who was able to show to the world of what she has felt. Although it is hard to say if its something Frida wanted to do from the beginning of her life to paint, it is easy to say why she began doing it. It is also easy to conclude and say that among little daily problems, the things that influenced Frida the most were her medical problems, her troubled childhood and the political background.

Young Childrens Symbolic Behaviour Essay Example

Young Childrens Symbolic Behaviour Essay This assignment is about Young Childrens Symbolic Behaviour: theories of representation. It consists of an observational study carried out on one particular childs development in various areas of provision which supports mode of representation. I am however aware of the other forms of representational modes in the setting.  The summarised observations will be based on the weekly tasks which are clearly labelled in the appendix session. Before I move on to the main part of the essay, I will give a brief biography and reasons for choosing this particular child. I will move on to discuss different theorist research about representation and the implications of early childhood practices.  I will then make references in connection to the findings of the observations through the various forms of the childs representations. Photographs and samples of the childs form of representation will be included. I will demonstrate the role of the adult in this area throughout. This assignment will be concluded by demonstrating why it is important for all children regardless of who they are, to have the opportunities in representing themselves through various forms and media.  Symbolic Representation is whereby children represent their world and play in different and various ways such as language, feelings thoughts and understanding. According to Gardner (1983p304), during childhood children acquire certain basic understanding of symbolic activities and systems and which during school age, having achieved some basic competence in symbolization the child goes on to acquire higher level of skills in certain culturally valued domains. We will write a custom essay sample on Young Childrens Symbolic Behaviour specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Young Childrens Symbolic Behaviour specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Young Childrens Symbolic Behaviour specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer These symbolic behaviours and representation emerges as schemas during early childhood. Schema has been described as patterns of early repeatable behaviours Athey (1990p128). In observation 3(p15-16). Target child was demonstrating a high level of symbolic representation with actions. She performed these actions by putting food on a plate, pretend sprinkling salt on the food and offering it to the people (her peers) for lunch. This demonstrates Piagets notion that thought consists of internalized and co-ordinated actions schemas (Piaget 1959p357-386) in Athey (1990p128). Target child displayed transporting schema as well as pilling and moving food from one place to another as The Froebel Education Project termed as action representation of the dynamic aspects of object and events.. Nutbrown (1994) in Smidt, (1998p111) said the early years educator can, through observations identify the schematic interest and nourish it with worthwhile curriculum content The research of theorist such as Piaget, Bruner and Vygotsky has helped practitioners to explore presentation Bruce (1987p66). They also contributed towards the understanding and development of presentation and symbolic behaviours. Observation 2(p12-14) shows how target child represents her play symbolically by using her imagination of sitting on a donkey and riding it. This Piaget in Ginsbury Opper (1988p70) termed as appearance of the semionitic function which means children uses objects in representing something else which is not present. This observation also identifies Bruners enactive, iconic and symbolic mode of representation. Target child did replace the action with an image and used appropriate language in describing her play. Bruce (1987p66) Vygotsky on the other hand talked about the theory of actual development which links in to where target child initiated her own imaginary play without the help of an adult or peer Bruce (1987). Children represent themselves in various ways. Target childs preferred representation is mark making, which Matthews (2003p74) termed it as Visual representation and expression. Samples of these mark making can be found on (p24). Her representation in this observation (observation 4p19) reflects Matthews (2003pg27) idea about how first and second generation mark-making gestures are organised together and undergo transformation.

Empowering Others Example

Empowering Others Example Empowering Others – Coursework Example Empowering Others Empowerment Employee empowerment is the belief that one has ability to make informed decisions and take the necessary course of action. It is also a way of delegating decision-making authority down to the lower levels within an organization and also giving employees the necessary skills and resources to use that authority effectively. Delegation by itself does not empower employees if they are not provided with additional authority. To feel empowered, employees have to feel a sense of competence, self-determination, meaning and influence. Employees perceive the sense of self-determination as a freedom to make choices, and their actions are not subject to policies, systems or managerial dictates. Providing more autonomy for employees helps them to feel a sense of self-determination. The higher the level of employee competence, the more they appreciate and succeed when given more autonomy. On the other hand, new employees within the organization that require getting n ew skills have to develop a sense of confidence in their abilities before getting empowered by the autonomy.Several researchers have shown that empowered employees are as a result of job/workplace environment and also things about the employee. In order to empower a job, one has to portray positive leadership skills (e.g. trust, support, authenticity), high performance managerial practices (recognition, training, rewards, participatory decision making), political/social support (e.g. fairness, access to resources, information sharing), and work characteristics (interesting working environment)Some of the best practices that enhance empowerment include:Self-responsibility-: employees are taking responsibility to have their team, job function, and organization the way they wish to be.Caring- organizational leadership demonstrating a tangible ways of concern for individuals where this inspires employees to give their very best effort to the organizationTrust- employees feeling safe eno ugh to take risks without fear of being put down or reprimand by the superiorsReferenceHughes, R. L., Ginnett, R., & Curphy, G. J. (2012). Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Are AP Classes Worth It Should You Take Them

Are AP Classes Worth It Should You Take Them SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're in high school, you've probably heard about AP classes. You might have even taken some already. But is all the hard work that goes into an AP class actually worth it? We think AP classes can be a great choice for students, as long as you’re well prepared, get a lot out of the class, and align your schedule to work with your college goals. However, AP classes might not always be the best choice. Keep reading to learn when AP classes are a good idea and when they're wasting your time- as well as what steps you must take to build an optimal schedule. How AP Classes Can Be Worthwhile: 4 Benefits There are several compelling reasons to take AP classes in high school. We'll discuss the different ways taking AP classes can help you discover new interests and make you a competitive applicant for college. #1: You Can Get a Challenging, Rigorous Academic Experience AP classes exist to expose high school students to college-level courses. Even though you’re taking the class at your high school, AP classes tend to have harder, more detailed curriculums than your typical high school classes do. So if you’re looking to take more difficult classes or want to impress college admissions offices with a rigorous schedule, AP classes can be a great way to up the rigor of your schedule. (As we’ve discussed in the past, AP classes are just one way to signal to colleges that you're taking the most challenging schedule available to you as a high school student.) AP classes are also useful for showing off a particular academic strength. For example, if you’re strong in math, taking AP Calculus BC and getting a 5 on the test is a concrete way to demonstrate your skills to admissions committees. #2: You Can Earn College Credit If you pass the AP test at the end of the school year (meaningyou get a score of 3 or higher), you will be eligible to receive college credit for that test. This processcan vary at different colleges. While some will grant you actual course credit, allowing you to graduate faster and therefore save time and money, others will use the AP credit to put you in harder classes as a freshman. Either way, AP credit can be very helpful! We recommend looking up the AP credit policies of schools you’re interested in to get a better idea of how the AP classes you want to take could save you time and/or money in college. #3: You Can Learn Time Management and Self-Study Skills Maybe this isn’t the most exciting reason, but taking AP classes can really improve your studying skills. Since AP classes culminate in a cumulative test at the end of the school year, you can’t just go from unit to unit as you can in other high school classes.Rather, you need to ensure you're retaining information the whole year and have a foolproof study plan for the AP test! While any good AP teacher will include review sessions in their curriculum, since there is limited classroom time, students will inevitably have to do some studying on their own. Speaking from experience, I learned a lot of my time-management and study skills by taking AP classes in high school. Every year, I made my own study schedules in the spring to make sure I was prepared for each AP test. Making study schedules and sticking to them ultimately helped me develop more effective time-management skills, which were invaluable in college! #4: You Can Explore New Interests Although some AP classes build off a typical high school schedule (particularly the math, English, history, and science classes), many others are more specialized. Taking these AP classes can allow you to explore specific fields of study as a high school student. Here are some examples of specialized AP classes: AP Micro and Macroeconomics Computer Science Psychology Art History Human Geography Statistics While you can definitely take these courses in college, taking the AP version in high school gives you early exposure and can help you discover a unique academic interest. A specialized AP class can also add a fun, interesting twist to your typical routine of math, English, science, and social studies. How AP Classes Can Waste Your Time: 5 Scenarios Taking AP classes can be helpful for a variety of reasons. But if you slack off, don't get much out of the material, or (worst of all) fail the exam, the AP program loses a lot of its benefits. In this section, we give you some reasons why the AP program might not be the best choice, and offer tips for making the most of your schedule. Scenario 1: You Fail the AP Test While an AP class isn’t a total waste if you fail the test- you still get the academic experience of a harder class, after all- it’ll be much less beneficial. As we discussed, you need a passing score in order to get college credit for an AP class.Without a passing test score, your AP class will be a lot less useful. What's more, colleges will look to see whether you passed the AP test. If you didn't pass, the AP class loses a lot of its admissions benefit. Even (or especially!) if you get an A in the class, that would just mean your class was too easy compared with those in the rest of the country. In short, how good an AP class will be for you hinges on whether you pass the exam or not. Scenario 2: AP Classes Ruin Your GPA Even if you pass your AP tests, if AP classes dramatically drag down your GPA, they won't be worth taking. Colleges want to see that you’re taking the hardest classes available to you, but they also want to see that you’re mostly succeeding and that you know your limits! This doesn’t mean that getting an A- in Calculus BC is a bad thing, though. (In fact, an A- in Calculus BC is more impressive than an A in regular Calculus.) What this does mean isthat taking four AP classes and getting Cs in all of them will not look good. As a general rule, don’t worry about an AP class knocking your usual grades down one half step- that is, an A to an A-, or an A- to a B+. But if you see a full grade drop, even in one class (A to B, B to C, etc.) that’s cause for concern. You should either make serious changes to your study schedule or, if you continue to struggle, consider dropping down to the regular course. This is why not overloading and knowing your strengths is important when signing up for classes! Scenario 3: You Don't Get Much Out Of the Class Even if you pass an AP class and the test, if you personally feel like you didn’t learn much or if the class didn’t improve your study skills, it might not have been worth it. Even if you get college credit for a particular class, it won't be worth it if you decide to take the same version of that class in college. It’s also not worth it if the class doesn’t significantly improve your studying or academic skills. Since all AP classes have a pretty big cost in terms of time, if they’re not serving to develop your academic interests or improve your skills, they’re likely not worth taking. This effect is more dramatic if you’re overloading on AP classes: the fourth AP class you take in a year might not add as much to your skills as it’s taking away from your time. For example, if you’re heading toward a humanities major in college (English, Economics, Political Science, etc.), trying to cram in AP Statistics and AP Calculus your senior year might not be helpful. You’re not likely to do a lot of deep learning in either math class if you’re also busy with college applications and other commitments. And if you don’t do well in these math classes, you might have to retake one in college anyway. Or, let's say you’re a future computer science major going out of your way to fit in an AP Human Geography class, just so you can have another AP class. This, however, likely won’t add much to your schedule, and if it’s not a personal interest, you probably won’t get much out of it. To sum up, if you're taking an AP class just because it's AP, you should reconsider taking it. You don't want to be this guy. Scenario 4: AP Classes Become Your Main Extracurricular While AP classes can be great- academically rigorous, cost effective, interesting- if they’re taking away from the rest of your schedule, those benefits begin to shrink. For example, if you neglect studying for the SAT/ACT because you’re so busy with AP classes, this can really hurt your college admission chances. We strongly recommend taking adequate time to study for the SAT/ACT, since having a high score can greatly boost your college admission and scholarship chances. Furthermore, if you stop getting involved in extracurriculars because you’re too busy studying, that doesn’t help your college applications, either. We’re not saying you need to be a perfectly well-rounded student who's in 10 clubs. But we do think it’s important to a have a few strongly developed interests- and overloading on AP classes can take away from that. In short, AP classes should enhance your schedule and indicate your academic interests- they shouldn't be your chief extracurricular. Scenario 5: You Burn Out in High School Even if you do really well in all your AP classes, you need to have the big picture in mind. If you graduate senior year completely exhausted and struggle your freshman year of college, you’re setting yourself up for a substandard college experience. Remember that the goal of AP classes- and high school in general!- is to be prepared to do well in college. Taking one less AP class but staying more sane and balanced might actually help you more in college than overloading your schedule with APs. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your AP schedule, don’t feel bad about dropping an AP class. If dropping that class allows you to do better in your other classes and stick to your commitments, it will be better for you in the long run. You don't want to be running on empty during your freshman year of college! Next Steps: Should You Take AP Classes? As you know, AP classes can give a huge boost to your college applications, but they can also hurt your college chances if you're not careful. So how do you make sure you're getting the most out of your AP classes? Follow the steps below to make sure your AP schedule is challenging but not overwhelming. Step 1: Learn the Reputation of AP Classes at Your School Learning the reputation of AP classes at your high school can help you decide if taking certain AP classes is worth your time. There is a huge amount of variation in how AP classes are taught at different high schools. You'll struggle if an AP class is poorly taught or overly difficult. On the flipside, a well-taught class might not only help you pass the AP test, but also help you discover a new academic interest. Talk to your guidance counselor, older students, and other teachers at your school to get a sense of which AP classes have positive buzz- and which ones have a reputation of being overly hard or poorly taught. Don’t necessarily avoid a hard class, especially if it’s in an area of interest for you. Also, don’t sign up for multiple AP classes with especially tough reputations the same school year. But if an AP class has rave reviews at your school, strongly consider adding it to your schedule! Step 2: Consider Your College Goals Knowing your college goals can help you decide between AP classes or how many AP classes to take. For example, if you’re aiming for your local state school and want to complete as many general education requirements as possible during high school, you should focus on core subject AP classes, such as Calculus, Literature, Biology/Chemistry/Physics, and US History. However, if you’re trying to get into top colleges, you'll want to use AP classes to demonstrate your academic strengths. In this case, your AP classes might be more concentrated in either math/science or the social sciences/humanities, depending on your interests. Check out our in-depth guideto learn moreabout choosing the right number of AP classes based on your college goals. Step 3: Talk to Your Guidance Counselor Your counselor will be able to help you come up with a challenging but manageable schedule. She'll also have a sense of your school’s context, including how many AP classes students take on average, which teachers get the best AP test results, and how to build a challenging schedule that doesn’t overload on AP. Even if you don’t have a close relationship with your counselor, it’s her job to know about school context, and she has lots of important information.So don’t be afraid to make an appointment and talk through your AP plans with your counselor! Step 4: Remember the Big Picture Your goal in high school is to learn as much as possible and be prepared for college. Taking one extra AP class is not going to dramatically affect your future, but cultivating a strong academic or extracurricular interest will. Try to create a course load that is both challenging but reasonable, and definitely don’t hesitate to drop something from your schedule- e.g., an AP class, a sport, volunteering- if you’re feeling like you’re reaching your breaking point! What’s Next? Need more help picking AP classes? Learn about the hardest and easiest AP classes you can take. AP classes are great, but they’re not going to guarantee admission to college. Learn why a high SAT/ACT score is the best single way to improve your chance of admission to a competitive school. Studying for the SAT or ACT?Check out our in-depth study guides to the SAT and ACTfor expert tips and the best study materials available online! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 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: