The essay “Proficiency” by Shannon Nichols is very effective. In this essay, Nichols provokes the reader to think about how this “proficiency” test may affect students by giving the example of how it affected her while she was in high school. She not only expresses the way the score made her feel and the negative effect it had on her attitude towards writing, but also points out how the score contrasted with that of her high school English classes. Nichols states that until the test, “Until that time, I loved writing just as much as I loved math. It was one of my strengths.
Most students in the United States go through their K- 12 schooling years not knowing how to write a proper essay. Most teachers are all about short cuts and getting papers done with the least amount of work as possible. This has led to college students not knowing the basic skills that professors assume they already know. With teachers avoiding teaching necessary writing skills and today’s technology creating shortcuts to use for everything, students are not only having trouble comprehending the English language, but also with writing grammatically correct essays. In the article “For $100k, You Would At Least Think That College Grads Could Write,” contributor George Leef expresses his opinion on the flaws in writing education in the United States.
In Mike Rose's 1985 Article, The Language of Exclusion: Writing Instruction at the University, he discusses five misconceptions associated with composition in higher-education. He starts by explaining how educators judge students writing abilities from a quantify perspective based on the presence of errors. Then he breaks down the misinterpretation of writing as a tool rather than a discipline. As a result, universities implement courses to remediated students, a program which Rose calls into question. He also examines the proportion of students entering the academy that are consider academically illiterate.
Pro: Public High Schools Lowering Standardized Testing Requirements When considering the quantifiable number of students applying to college each year, roughly in the tens of millions, colleges become swamped with numerous applications. The main method colleges use to compare these applicants is through standardized test scores, from SATs and ACTs, which assist them in weeding out the less qualified applicants. What are the circumstances behind the current system? Why is it that we need to improve the current standards of the education of high school students entering college?
Why we should not have Standardized Test. People think that standardized test has a positive effect on student achievement and are also a reliable measure of students achievement. I think schools should not have standardized tests. They are not fair to non-English speakers and students with special needs, they measure only a small portion of what makes education meaningful, and they cause severe stress on younger students.
Mike Watanbe, a researcher, found that “…writing has “become less” like a real writer writes’ in that the focus of writing has shifted to form over content and product or process” (cited in Au, Gourd 14-19). These mandated tests causes the voive of the studnets to not be heard. The content inside the essays have lost the meaning and is all about the product and to pass the test. Therefore, high-stake testing should be reevaluated to save the meaning of
Cons of Standardized Testing Standardized testing is a topic that has been discussed for multiple years, among students, teachers, and many government officials. Standardized testing has been around for well-over 150 years. Proposed by Horace Mann, standardized testing was a better way of testing a student’s ability than the oral exams. Originally, the idea for the tests was dismissed, however, around eighty years afterward, the “most important test of ability”, the Scholastic Aptitude Test, was started (). Only in the past few decades have standardized testing flourished, but even then, 65% educators do not believe that these tests are appropriate.
What have you thought about standardized tests in the past? Do you think that taking these tests is a good thing? Many people believe that taking standardized tests is a great experience for when the students are older and helps parents know how their child is doing compared to kids locally and across the city, state, and nation. On the other hand, people have different opinions on taking standardized tests. They state that teachers are too focused on teaching the students what is going to be on the test that they can’t learn things that will be used in the real world.
Standardized Testing Standardized testing has lately become a huge controversy within the field of education between educators, parents, and the government. It all began when the No Child Left Behind Act was passed in 2001. Its main goal was to ensure that every student in the nation graduate from high school. The Act requires testing that is meant to help keep all children across the United States stay on the same academic pace as each other no matter what race, social class, or gender.
What if you forgot to study for a test at school due to a rough night or just forgetting? Ok, now say you did study, but still did not receive the best scores. What if that one test determined your future and the progress you have made throughout the whole year? Do you think it's fair for students of all grade levels to have their academic performance based off of one exam? Standardized test are mandatory exams that are given to students starting in Kindergarten and are taken all the way until 12th grade.
Collateral Damage of Standardized Testing State mandated standardized testing has become a way of life for teachers and students alike in the recent years. “The No Child Left Behind era has seen a huge expansion of standardized testing and misuse of tests” (How Standardized Testing Damages Education). Schools use tests to guide curriculum, teaching, and promotion. Although there are certain benefits of the testing system, the cons heavily outweigh the pros. The failing system that is in place in most schools is harming students, teachers, and the future generations to come.
Standardized testing has been a topic of debate for years. Some people believe it is the most impartial way to assess all students on what they have learned during their year in school. Others believe that all children are different and learn differently, so no single test can accurately assess what they have learned. This essay will look at a few of the advantages and disadvantages that are associated with standardized testing for English Language Learners (ELLs).
Standardized tests are assessments put together by experts in the subject and published for use in many different schools districts nationwide. Since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was enacted, most states across the United States have adopted standardized test in grade schools. One of the most significant advantage of standardized tests is teachers and schools are held accountable. Educators and schools are responsible for imparting students with the knowledge required to do well in these standardized tests. Standardized scores are public record bringing the focus on teachers and schools that perform poorly .The
What do you think about standardized testing? I think that they are unnecessary. My class and I have been learning that standardized testing has pros and cons. Standardized testing is unnecessary to me because students spend too much time on these tests than anything else they work on in school. Standardized tests are harmful because students students spend too much time on them, some students get too stressed and some students are at a disadvantage.
Dear Texas Association of School Administrators, I am writing to this board to draw your attention to some of the problems and that come with high-stakes standardized tests like the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). I believe that standardized tests should not have such a huge role in your education for three reasons. First of all, the STAAR puts pressure on the teachers to “teach to the test” by only teaching what is necessary for one 8th grade standardized test, instead of what information will be necessary for higher levels of education Next, as standardized tests become more and more important, skills and qualities like critical thinking, creativity, and leadership are becoming less valued than test taking. Finally,
