Social factors effecting educational attainment Essay Example for Free

Social factors effecting educational attainment Essay This essay will attempt to examine the extent to which home factors may affect social class differences in educational attainment, looking at factors such as culture, income and the nature of the curriculum with reference to sociological theories. The essay will consider these factors, mainly focusing on home factors, and attempt to conclude which if any factors have the largest impact on educational achievement. The first part of this essay will look at the home factors and how they affect educational attainment, home factors essentially define our social class, aspects like income, space per person and effective money earned per year all amount to our class in society. For the purpose of this essay we define class as â€Å"A set or category of things having some property or attribute in common and differentiated from others by kind, type, or quality† and in reference to how this is being used in this essay we have three classes in the UK, the upper class which has the highest net worth and will often contain a family legacy of money, the middleclass who are people with higher level jobs such as managerial positions in company’s and the working class which consists of people working manual, often unskilled jobs which results in the lowest net worth of the three. Highlighting the difference in terms of educational attainment when it comes to social class is important as it allows us to focus on the working class and what affects their children in school. The Youth Cohort Study found that in 1998 children who had parents working in a managerial or professional position on average would achieve a 69% rate of 5 or more GCSE’s at A*-C level compared to children with parents working unskilled manual jobs only achieving a 20% rate. (Youth Cohort Study 2002, 2006, 2008). From this figure we can see how your class affects your level of educational attainment. This essay will now look at the home factors effecting social class and thus educational attainment. Feinstein conducted research into how educational attainment was based around parental attitude and support; this was often times measured by teacher’s assessments of how much interest the parents showed. This would mean that working class children would receive less help , support and encouragement with their school work when compared to a middle class child, Feinstein argued this was a major factor in educational attainment and pointed out that working class people who are earning less in unskilled manual jobs may have to work more hours and because of the physical nature of the job may be more tired and thus not have the time or energy to attend which would give the teachers a negative perception of the parents. Douglas, Gerwitz and Halsey all argued that home factors such as poor diet, lack of privacy and lack of school resources could all play a role in determining what social class a family would be classified as and thus how it would effect educational attainment. Douglas believed that a number of factors such as size of the family which would mean less space to work in, students health; which would be affected by the diet they could afford which would be poorer in working class family’s and the amount of support they could afford would all effect educational attainment. These are all areas which will be worse off when comparing working class family’s to middle class family. Bourdieu’s cultural capital theory builds upon this idea of class effecting educational attainment and states that the education system is systematically based on the culture of the most dominant social class and thus values knowledge and ideology’s that middle class parents may enforce upon their kids and devalue the skill sets and values which a working class child might have. Bourdieu argues that the major role of education is cultural reproduction of the dominant classes which would mean that the things that a working class child brings to the education system would not be of as much value as that of a middle class child and thus they are indirectly discriminated against in terms of how teachers see their skills. This could result in students preforming poorer simply because home factors determine their social class and thus their educational attainment. We can see how home factors can radically change the educational attainment of a child when we look at Hymen’s theory that even when IQ is held constant throughout the class, the working class children will do worse than the middle class children. Hyman theorizes that this is down to the values and morals of the different classes and they would be dictated these classes by the home factors mentioned earlier so there is a strong argument that home factors drastically change the level of educational attainment that a child might get. When comparing one sphere of influence to another, for example out and in school factors to home factors we can see that they all influence students educational attainment based on class. When looking at in school factors Hallum theorized that the curriculum was written by middle class people for middle class people, this obviously leaves the working class people, who have different values and morals, at a disadvantage. When the curriculum favors a certain skill set both in terms of values, morals and general ideology’s the group which don’t have this set of skills are going to lag behind and not be valued as much, as an example this could result in a working class child who performs academically in a set which can only achieve a max grade of D at GCSE when the child is perfectly capable of attaining a B+ grade. In this example we would see the middle class child be kept in a higher set because of the values and morals in place and the lack of recognition of the strengths of the working class child. Another in school factor would be speech codes. Bernstein thought that different classes had different modes of speaking which were valued differently in a middle class school environment. Bernstein said that working class children were limited to restricted speech codes which were characterized by shorthand speech, grammatically simple structure, meaning often conveyed by gesture and slang. This is in stark comparison to middle class children who have command over both elaborate and restricted speech codes which gives me a massive advantage as they can use the restricted speech code when necessary but also use the elaborate in situations such as exams or writing practices which are looking for the elaborate speech code usage. To conclude we can see that home factors affect social class massively and thus affect educational attainment and success massively as well. Theory’s such as cultural deprivation, parental attitude and speech codes have critics but they have elements of truth which highlights how a middle class curriculum and often times middle class teachers favor middle class students and their moral and value systems they have in place, this can lead to working class children who have to deal with a home environment which isn’t as well suited to learning and education also having to cope with being given less opportunity’s despite a similar level of IQ which can result in a lower level of educational attainment.

Purple Hibiscus by Chidimanmanda Ngozi Adichie Essay -- nigeria, violen

Chidimanmanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author, her first ever novel Purple Hibiscus was criticised for addressing the important issues of postcolonial studies such as violence against women and brutal feminism. Alice Walker is an American author as well as a poet, her bestselling novel The Colour Purple was firmly criticised on showing the severity of feminist injustice Feminism is a movement defining the equality and rights for women. Feminism opens potential meaning in these novels as it creates a gateway for the females who are victimised to speak up and to portray their feelings and situations which arise in the novels for the women to vindicate themselves and earn their freedom from the men that surround them. Points such as male domination, marital status and infidelity, the occupations of a woman and redemption and empowerment will help to convey the important meanings through female criticisms in the novels. Walker’s novel The Colour Purple deals with male dominance as a norm in the country. She exposes the act of sexual aggression as being the main form of male domination. The character of Celie is a perfect example of this point. She is shown in the novel as a weak. She does everything the men surrounding her tell her to do therefore she is taken advantage of many times. She deals with bullying and domination in her family, her Pa rapes her twice when she is only fourteen years old. Alphonso beats and rapes her then later on decides to sell her to Mr._ without any acknowledgement of Celie’s feelings. Celie deals with rape with her husband also who sees her as an object to take care of their household and please him. Celie is too afraid to stand up for herself as she thinks fighting back will be the death of her.... ...2003, Purple Hibiscus, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Walker AW, 2004, The Colour Purple, Phoenix an imprint of Orion Books Ltd, Orion House, London. Websites: http://279askt.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/feminist-analysis.html cited 19/11/2013 http://www.litnotes.co.uk/color.htm cited 19/11/2013 http://www.gradesaver.com/the-color-purple/study-guide/major-themes/ cited 5/12/2013 http://phsapenglish.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=summerreading&action=display&thread=61 cited 5/12/2013 https://blogs.stockton.edu/postcolonialstudies/purple-hibiscus-a-feminist-reading/ cited 19/11/2013 https://blogs.stockton.edu/postcolonialstudies/purple-hibiscus-a-feminist-reading/aunty-ifeoma-and-beatrice-diverging-paradigms-of-postcolonial-feminism/ cited 22/11/2013 http://afrrevjo.net/journals/multidiscipline/Vol_5_num_3_art_20_Fwangyil.pdf cited 5/12/2013

Research: Computer and Video Games

Chapter Two Abstract This research paper explores published articles that report on results from research conducted on how portable electronic communication gadgets affect a student’s study habit. The articles, however, may vary in their own point of view regarding the effects on the students. According to A. Saez (2011), it was pointed out that technology is an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Other articles included in this paper elaborated positive and negative effects of gadgets. According to Admin (2011), electronic gadget devices can have positive and negative effects on youth.Also, According to Jessy Norman (2009), computers and other related technologies have become an enormous part of our daily lives. They have altered our sense of people, space, and time. shadow66 (2006) has pointed it out that the main problem is the proper use of this gadgets or the knowledge that are easy to be accessed. Introduction Electronic Communication gadgets are essential to society and to people’s everyday lives. These gadgets have benefits but as well as drawbacks. Take modern technology as an example to elaborate.According to shadow66 (2006) Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology; Technology can be defined as science applied to practical purposes. Nowadays, when the rapidness of development and research is so impressive, it is easy to think about the advantages of modern technology. On the minus side, there is weaponry which is the inseparable issue of the new technologies. Hence, the main problem is the proper use of this knowledge. Nevertheless, weapon engineering propels and provides a huge advance also the industry despite highly developed machinery pollutes the globe.According to Admin (2011) What is the Effect of Electronic Gadgets on Youth? ; Electronic gadget devices can have positive and negative effects on youth. According to the National Institute on Media and the Family, video games can help children practice following direction s and problem solving, and refine motor and spatial skills. Negative effects include social isolation, aggressive behavior, violence, confusing reality and fantasy, and poor grades. Signs of possible psychological addiction to computer or video game use among youth an include worsening school grades; choosing the computer or video games over family, friends or social activities; or restlessness and irritability when not playing a video game or on the computer. Signs of possible psychological addiction to computer or video game use among youth can include worsening school grades; choosing the computer or video games over family, friends or social activities; or restlessness and irritability when not playing a video game or on the computer. According to Australia's media network ABC, Monash University's research shows that children who sent text messages were faster on some tests, but also less accurate.In a NetWorkWorld article, Text Message Language Won't Affect Kids Spelling, Canad a's University of Alberta said that boys who used emphasized â€Å"text speak† were on average worse spellers, while girls who largely abbreviated were better spellers. A 2007 Pew Internet & American Life Project study revealed that strangers contacted 43 percent of social-networking teens online; 31 percent of social-networking teenagers have online â€Å"friends† they have never personally met. According to Jessy Norman (2009) Bad Effects of Technology; Computers and other related technologies have become an enormous part of our daily lives.They have altered our sense of people, space, and time. From our living rooms, we can now talk to people, and watch events unfold in far-off places. Shopping, banking, and game playing are just a few of the other daily activities that have also changed. So many aspects of the ways we communicate and handle information have been altered by technological development. Cellular phones, answering machines, voice mail, fax machines, cab le televisions, computer networks, satellite communications and e-mail are only some recent changes.Other manifestations of this change would be the location of where it is happening. Yes, it is everywhere, including the classrooms for the use of educating children. Technology is now becoming more popular in the presence of classrooms all around the world. Tomorrow's future is in the hands of today's students. According to Angel Lucifer (2009) What Are The Negative And Positive Effects Of Advance Technologies, Like The Internet, To Student's Performance? ; One of the most compelling arguments made against the use of omputers by children is the risk of repetitive motion injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This problem may be greater for children than for adults because their musculature and skeletal systems are not fully formed and may be at greater risk for injury. Children's risk of suffering repetitive motion injuries may be further increased because they tend to use computers that are sized for adults, placed on adult-sized furniture, and positioned for an adult user. Another possible risk of using computers is eye-strain, which may include dryness due to not blinking enough, headaches, and blurry vision.To reduce this risk, it is important to limit the time spent staring at the screen; take frequent breaks, making sure to focus the eyes on distant objects; and blink frequently. It is also important to position the monitor sixteen to twenty-seven inches away and in a way that ensures that the user views it at a slightly downward angle. Following some highly publicized events in Japan, it has been suggested that there may be a risk of seizure for children playing video games containing bright flashing lights. Many video games include an elementary school student uses a computer in the school library while another students looks on.The ease and facility with which children use computers comes from the ability children have for assimilating tools in their e nvironment for their personal use. (O'Brien Productions/Corbis) a warning to this effect in their documentation. Fortunately, very few children are susceptible to this condition. For those who are, however, this is potentially a very serious situation. According to Alex Saez (2011) Bad Effects of Electronic Gadgets; Technology is an integral part of our day-to-day lives. People all over the world rely on it for things like communication, organization and employment.Not a day goes by when you don't encounter someone talking on his cell phone, tapping away on a laptop or listening to an MP3 player. While this technology is impressive, there are certain drawbacks in areas like health, public safety and education that should be addressed. Being aware of these dangers can help diminish or reverse these drawbacks. According to the website Healthy Hearing, one-third of teenagers own an MP3 player, such as an iPod. Dr. Craig Kasper, Director of Audiology at the New York Otolaryngology Group , warns that these devices can cause ear damage if used improperly.If the volume is too high or if the individual listens for a long time, hearing damage can happen. Also, ear buds are more dangerous than regular headphones. Healthy Hearing recommends that listeners keep the volume below 70 percent and limit listening time to between 60 and 90 minutes. If you want to listen indefinitely, turn the volume down to 50 percent. Text slang, such as â€Å"ur† instead of â€Å"you're† is commonly used through cell phone texting. However, a recent study shows that kids and teens are actually letting these obscure abbreviations seep into their normal writing.A recent study by Pew Internet in 2008 revealed that 50 percent of students use informal slang in their assignments. Furthermore, 38 percent admit they have used abbreviations in their schoolwork like â€Å"LOL†, which stands for â€Å"laugh out loud†. Additionally, 25 percent say that they use emoticons such a s â€Å"smiley faces† in formal writing. The problem has become so apparent that some U. S. politicians are concerned that the English language and sentence structure is being twisted, negatively affecting students' learning. Electronic gadgets are now very essential to our society today.We need electronic gadgets to do business, to have some recreation and help us get through our daily lives. For better or worse, technology has a significant influence on the study habits of students. In many ways, such as with computers, researching and fact gathering is made easier. However, whether you are a student, a teacher or a parent, you have probably found that the vice is often wrapped in the virtue, and that the same things that are beneficial can also prove to be distracting. References Admin, (2011). Electronic gadget devices result to positive and negative effects on youth. What is the Effect of Electronic Gadgets on Youth?Lucifer, A. (2009). Use of computers by children is the risk of repetitive motion injury. What Are The Negative and Positive Effects of Advance Technologies to Student’s Performance? Norman, J. (2009). Computers and other related technologies have become an enormous part of our daily lives. Bad Effects of Technology. Saez, A. (2011). People all over the world rely on it for things like communication, organization and employment. Bad Effects of Electronic Gadgets. Shadow66, (2006). Technology can be defined as science applied to practical purposes. Advantages and Disadvantages of Modern Technology.

The Personal A of Spanish

In English, theres no difference in the way the following two sentences are structured: I saw the tree.I saw Teresa. But in the Spanish equivalent, theres an obvious difference: Vi el à ¡rbol.Vi a Teresa. The difference is a one-letter word — a — but its an essential one to learn. Known as the personal a, the short preposition is used to precede direct objects when those objects are people. Although a is usually translated as to, the personal a normally isnt translated into English. The First Rule of the Personal A The basic rule is a simple one: The a precedes the mention of a specific person or persons used as a direct object, and (except in some rare cases where its used for clarification) it is not used in other cases. Some simple examples: Levantà ³ la taza. (He lifted the cup.)Levantà ³ a la muchacha. (He lifted the girl.)Oigo la orquestra. (I hear the orchestra.)Oigo a Taylor Swift. (I hear Taylor Swift.)Recuerdo el libro. (I remember the book.)Recuerdo a mi abuela. (I remember my grandmother.)No conozco tu ciudad.  (I dont know your city.)No conozco a tu padre. (I dont know your father.)Quiero comprender la leccià ³n. (I want to understand the lesson.)Quiero comprender a mi profesora. (I want to understand my teacher.) The a is not used if the object doesnt refer to anyone specific: Conozco a dos carpinteros. (I know two carpenters.)Necesito dos carpinteros. (I need two carpenters.) Keep in mind that a is a very common preposition with a variety of translations. The basic rule here pertains to its use preceding a direct object, not in the numerous other cases where a preposition is called for. Although the basic rule is quite simple, there are a few exceptions (arent there always?), and even an exception to an exception. Key Takeaways: The Personal A in Spanish The personal a is used in Spanish before direct objects.The personal a is generally used when the direct object is a person, or an animal or thing that is thought of as a having personal qualities.Although in other contexts a is the equivalent of the English to, the personal a is usually not translated to English. The Exceptions With certain pronouns: This is really more of a clarification rather than an exception. When used as direct objects, the pronouns alguien (somebody), nadie (nobody) and quià ©n (whom) require the personal a. So do alguno (some) and ninguno (none) when referring to people. No veo a nadie. (I dont see anyone.)Quiero golpear a alguien. (I want to hit somebody.) ¿A quià ©n pertenece esta silla? (Whose chair is this?) ¿Taxis? No vi ningunos. (Taxis? I didnt see any.) ¿Taxistas? No vi a ningunos. (Taxi drivers? I didnt see any.) Pets: Many pet owners think of their animals as people, and so does Spanish grammar, so the personal a is used. But the a isnt used with ordinary animals. Veo a mi perro, Ruff. (I see my dog, Ruff.)Veo tres elefantes. (I see three elephants.) Personification: A country or object can be personified, that is it can be treated as if it were a person. Use of the personal a often implies some sort of a personal relationship, such as an emotional attachment, with the noun personified. Yo extraà ±o mucho a Estados Unidos. (I very much miss the United States.)Abracà © a la muà ±eca a causa de era mi amiga. (I hugged the doll, for she was my friend.) With tener: Generally, the a is not used after tener. Tengo tres hijos y una hija. (I have three sons and a daughter.)No tengo jardinero. (I dont have a gardener.) Exceptions to an Exception After tener: The personal a is used after tener when it is used in the sense to physically hold someone or to have someone somewhere. Tengo a mi hijo en los brazos. (I have my son in my arms.)Tengo a mi hija en el pesebre, I have my daughter in the crib. The personal a can also be used after tener when its usage suggests a particularly close or emotional relationship. Cuando estoy triste y necesito hablar, tengo a mis amigos. (When I am sad and need to talk, I have my friends.)Tengo amigos.  (I have friends.)