Chemistry is in the Air!

Chemistry is in the Air!The first episode of the new season of 'Chemistry' is coming soon to a television near you. For those of you who haven't heard about this, it's an addictive drama series that is premiering its new season. In this episode, we're going to take a look at what's in store for the fans this season.For fans who have been asking about the chemistry and relationship between the characters this season, the answer will be... lots of chemistry. This is not only true for the main characters, but even for some supporting characters too.Chemistry is in the air this season because the main characters will get their own drama. We know that they've been fighting since the beginning of the season, but with the chemistry this season, we can expect some shocking moments that will catch your attention. One particular moment that I can't wait for is the kiss between Kat and Keith. They're both so hot and I can't wait to see how they interact.Chemistry, or the lack thereof, has been a popular topic among viewers ever since the show began. For fans of the series, knowing that chemistry will be back will give them a reason to get excited about this season.When you're watching the chemistry in the show, it is best to remember that chemistry isn't always easy to attain. In fact, sometimes chemistry is so hard to establish, that it takes a lot of time and effort to make it happen. These two are opposites, but with time and effort, chemistry can be achieved, and in the end, it will be the best one.Chemistry is in the air this season, so get ready to get excited. This is going to be an exciting season to watch. Watch the episodes now to make sure that you don't miss the chemistry this season.Tchemistry season 1 Chemistry will be back and it will bring you one hell of a ride! Stay tuned to Chemistry Discovery to find out when the next episode is airing!

What is a Growth Mindset

What is a Growth Mindset All You Need to Know about Growth Mindset Theory. ChaptersWhat Do We Mean by Mindset?The Difference Between a Growth Mindset and a Fixed Mindset?The Evidence and the Appeal.You may well have heard about growth mindset, the hugely influential new psychological theory from Carol Dweck. As an idea, Its influence can be seen pretty much everywhere â€" in the school system, in business, even in politics.If you haven’t heard about this already, then maybe it’s high time that you pay attention.This theory developed by Dweck, a professor of social psychology and developmental psychology at Stanford University, proposes that there are two categories of mindset into which the vast majority of the population can be grouped.These two categories relate to the ways in which people understand the origin of their ability. Those people with a ‘fixed mindset’ believe â€" whether consciously or not â€" that their ability is innate; that they were born with it. Meanwhile, those with a ‘growth mindset’ believe â€" again, maybe not consciousl y â€" that their abilities come from their having acquired them, and their being able to acquire more.This, quite simply, is the long and short of it. Yet, the appeal of such an idea comes from the fact that the growth mindset, as proposed by Dweck, is more likely to make you successful, less stressed, and more able to adapt to failure and new challenges.Think about it: success comes simply with a change of mindset.It’s this that explains why everyone is talking about it. And this is why you need to know about this idea.Find out more in our introduction to growth mindset! Learn to love learning with your growth mindset!Meanwhile, the growth mindset rather looks at intelligence and says, ‘intelligence can be developed; talents and abilities can keep growing â€" and I can acquire new ones’.These two mindsets define a continuum â€" a continuum on which we all sit. So, whilst we may have elements of a growth mindset in some fields â€" like, ‘if I practise my guitar I will get better’ â€" there are some fields which a fixed mindset is present for pretty much all of us: very rarely will someone believe that, if they try hard enough, they will be able to fly.However, some of us have more of a growth mindset, or of a fixed mindset, than others.The Effect of the Different Mindsets.However, whilst this all sounds super simple, the ramifications of this basic attitude to the source of intelligence are plentiful. Because whilst one leads us to believe that we can change ourselves, the other suggests that there is no real hope of that at all.The Fixed Mind set.From the fixed mindset comes the general desire to look clever at all costs â€" and to defend the ability that is already enjoyed and that is innate.As a result, people with a fixed mind set, according to Dweck, have a mental attitude that shirks from challenges and gives up easily when struggling. This mindset leads people to believe that effort is fairly useless â€" because intelligence is unchangeable â€" whilst criticism, however helpful, tends to go ignored.People with a fixed mindset tend to have an inclination towards a fear of other people’s achievement and success â€" as the success of others challenges the very notion of their own innate intelligence.All of this leads to a generally deterministic view of the world in which nothing can change and in which the lot that you are dealt is the situation with which you have to deal.Find out how to develop your growth mindset! The growth mindset can start in the classroom.The Growth Mindset.In comparison to this, the growth mindset is the inverse. People with a growth mindset, rather than a desire to demonstrate their intelligence, have a desire to learn. And this changes everything.People with a growth mindset face challenges happily as a step in the process of learning. Every setback produces greater persistence, a desire to persevere, whilst they are happy to take risks and to develop new strategies to overcome problems.Effort takes on a new importance in the growth mindset. As intelligence is something than can be endlessly developed, effort is the key to its growth. If you keep going, you can get there.Meanwhile, criticism and advice are accepted gratefully â€" and it is learned from â€" whilst the success of others is a continued source of inspiration.As a result, people with a growth mindset are thought to have a greater sense of free will. They have an attitude in which they can achieve what they w ant to achieve â€" constantly pursuing learning and growth and acquiring new skills.It is not hard to see which one Dweck might prefer…The Evidence and the Appeal.Over the last century, many people have argued along similar lines as Dweck. From philosophers like John Dewey, who argued that the self and its intelligence are in a continuous process of development to contemporary scientists and theorists who argue for the brain’s neuroplasticity. In all of this, the brain appears as something like a muscle, that is endlessly being strengthened.All of these people’s ideas give something of a defence to Dweck’s very popular theory of the mind. Yet, her ideas came out of the context of education.Her theories, for example, are based on a study that she conducted in which two groups of children sat a test. Following the test, in which all of the children were told they did well, the children were given praise.However, this praise differed between the two groups. One group were prais ed for being intelligent, whilst the other were praised for the effort they put in.They then continued to monitor the kids and their future test scores. The result was that those who were praised for their intelligence did not perform as well later as those who were praised for their effort.Praising effort, then, became the concern of many educators â€" and the growth mindset was born.Find growth mindset resources! You are never to young to develop a growth mindset.The Appeals of the Growth Mindset â€" and Criticism.It is true that mindset theory is one of the most influential theories of intelligence out there these days, having been used to frame, in business, what has been called an ‘entrepreneurial mindset’, and having been used to inform the way that praise is given and academic achievement considered in the education system.However, the rhetorical â€" and in some sense, ideological â€" elements of the theory might give it a greater appeal than it might otherwise have had.Part of its appeal comes down to the fact that it is, at root, very simple. It proposes a dichotomy of attitudes that are easily comprehensible â€" and it gives a quick fix image of success: to be successful, all you need to do is to develop a mindset of growth.Meanwhile, the growth mindset â€" emphasising effort and the idea that we can all achieve â€" is the scientific legitimation of a meritocracy, in which the suc cessful deserve their success and the unsuccessful deserve their unsuccess too. The world perhaps likes this theory so much because it tells them what they want to hear.

Studying in an Arabic-speaking Country

Studying in an Arabic-speaking Country Signing Up to an Arabic School ChaptersWhich Country Should You Study Arabic In?How to Choose the Right University in an Arabic-speaking CountryHigher Education in the Persian Gulf“A tree begins with a seed.” - Arabic ProverbIt’s much easier to learn Arabic by studying in an Arabic-speaking country.Universities in the United Arab Emirates saw a rise in foreign students from 206 in 2006 to 862 in 2016.According to Cedwyn Fernandes, the director of the Middlesex University Dubai, there was only one international university with 645 students in 2002 and now there are 26 with over 30,000 students.If you want to learn more about Islam by studying the texts, are interested in working in North Africa or the Arabian Peninsula, or just want to learn more about Middle Eastern culture, learning to speak Arabic is one of the best ways to do it.There are few better ways of learning a language through immersion or by studying in a country where it's the official language. With so many Arab countries, there are plenty of o ptions for learning Arabic and there are plenty of schools where you can learn the language.There are 22 members of the Arab League (countries where Arabic is spoken) so there are plenty of choices of places to go to. Arab culture is rich and varied so if you want to learn the Arabic alphabet, improve your linguistic skills, and find out more about Arab culture, studying with Arabs is the way to go.Here’s our guide on how to choose a university in an Arabic-speaking country.How to Choose the Right University in an Arabic-speaking CountryOf course, going to study at a university in an Arabic-speaking country isn’t the same as applying to a university in the UK.You’ll need to think about how easy it to do and your goals.Here is a list of things to think about when choosing universities:Your level in ArabicBudgetThe type of education you wantThe safety of the countryThe type of ArabicTuition feesThe cost of livingThe prestige of the universityYou should definitely consider gettin g Arabic lessons before you go as well to increase your chances of being accepted onto a course.In the UK, you can do a degree in Arabic Studies to learn more about the language, history, and culture of Arabic-speaking countries.This means that you’ll have to learn the Arabic writing system, grammar, vocabulary, and the literary version of the language.Lookup for Arabic classes here.In terms of costs, studying in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expensive. Tuition can cost up to £13,000 and you’ll need around £1,400 per month to cover the costs of accommodation, transportation, and food.That said, Morocco is very cheap although the universities aren’t usually as prestigious as those in the Persian Gulf.88.5% of the population in Dubai are foreigners who’ve come to learn the Arabic language, study at a university, or work in the United Arab Emirates.One reason to choose certain universities is how they’ll further your career once you’ve graduated. Internation al competition is increasing and somebody who has a degree from Dubai may find a job more easily than someone who studied in Cairo.Finally, four universities from Saudi Arabia were featured in a list of the best universities in the Arab world.Saudi society, however, is one of the most closed off in the world. If you want to study Islamic science, you can still get a student visa for Saudi Arabia.  While it’s more complicated, it’s not impossible!Saudi Arabia is the only country in the Arab world to have created its own brand of education whereas its neighbours in the Gulf are importing universities such as the University of Wollongong, Curtin University Dubai, the University of Middlesex, London Business School, and the University of Canada, for example.Higher Education in the Persian GulfArabic is an important language in international relations and knowing how to speak is becoming increasingly important for recruiters.Learning Arabic will open a whole new world to you. (Source : Guenni13)In the Gulf, a lot of teaching takes place in English and Arabic.Keep in mind that universities here tend to have very strict admission policies and you’ll need to have really good grades if you want to study a degree in one of these prestigious universities.  These places can also be very elitist.With fees going up to £13,000 per year, it can be very difficult for working-class students to attend these universities without the very best grades and that’s if they manage to get together the admission fee!Students from the United Arab Emirates don’t actually have to pay these fees as their education is completely free. However, many students will need scholarships or a student loan to fund their studies in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.Education in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf is a major concern: the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia have invested billions into research and the funding of new schools.Each city, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, e tc., are attracting prestigious schools.  The city of Dubai even has an entire area of the city dedicated to education, Dubai International Academic City.There are over 70 universities in Dubai offering courses in all manner of subjects.  The most common courses cover business, marketing, cinema, media, law, economics, management.Your studies may start sooner than you expect! (Source: Free-Photos)Finally, if you want to study Arabic at a university in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, for example, you’ll need a student visa. You’ll also need to be sponsored by the host university. A student visa can cost up to £600, too.Of course, there are a number of countries that we wouldn't recommend studying due to security risks. For example, the Arab spring has destabilised some states in the Arab League and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine means that these places should be ruled out as a potential destination for learning Arabic. Similarly, you should avoid Yemen, Lib ya, and Syria.Are you still ready to go?Then check out the different universities and go for it!

Why Taking (Video) Voice Lessons from Christina Aguilera is a Bad Idea

Why Taking (Video) Voice Lessons from Christina Aguilera is a Bad Idea Suzy S. Can you learn to sing through videos, like the ones advertised with Christina Aguilera? Read on for voice teacher  Elaina R.s thoughts   Have you seen the online ads offering  a voice lesson course taught by Christina Aguilera?  Promos for the course have inundated many Facebook feeds, and since I know many professional singers and voice teachers, I’ve been able to watch them react to the ads. Most voice teachers have been amused, terrified, or both by the prospect of people learning how to sing from Ms. Aguilera. Why are the degree-holding vocalists of the world not on board with Christina Aguilera teaching voice? She is, after all, a six-time Grammy Award winner with an estimated net worth of $130 million. Are we just jealous? The short answer is no! We are truly concerned for voice students who turn to Christina Aguilera for advice, and here’s why. Talent Does Not a Teacher Make You are likely an expert chewer. You chew food many times a day, and you have done so for your entire life. One could argue that you are a talented chewer, even. But what if someone who didn’t know how to chew asked you to teach them to chew? You would likely have to think long and hard about your process. In the end, the best answer many people would be able to come up with is, “You just do it.” Christina Aguilera is a gifted singer. She has a good voice and natural musicality, and her performances often reflect that. However, her innate ability to sing and the fact that she was born with a good singing voice do not mean she knows how to teach singing. As any teacher will tell you, teaching is in and of itself a skill, and it isn’t one that Christina, with her flourishing artistic and television career on top of parental duties, has had any time to curate. Modern Pop Technique In addition, Christina Aguilera is a pop singer who specializes in belting (high chest voice). Belting is an extremely taxing form of singing that, when done wrong, can produce disastrous results. Not only does bad belting sound horrible, but it can rapidly destroy your voice. The vast majority of voice teachers are university trained, which almost always means they have a foundation in classical vocal technique. While classical singing sounds very different than belting, the same rules (breath support, throat relaxation, resonance) apply. Learning proper vocal technique through classical pieces   or at least less taxing pop pieces   greatly reduces the chance of vocal injury. If learning to sing with low-impact music is like light strength training, trying to skip to belting is like immediately attempting a 300-pound deadlift. It’s just plain unhealthy. Knowledge is Power Frankly, the most famous pop singers in the world today usually have no idea what they are doing. Christina Aguilera was blessed with a fair amount of natural ability, but as many of her performances exhibit, she falls prey to many of the same issues that beginning voice students have. She often suffers from jaw, neck, and tongue tension, resulting in a pressed, flat, raspy sound (and sometimes cracking). Even pop singers who do not have these issues are just vastly talented people who can’t teach anyone how they do what they do. Professional voice teachers, on the other hand, are a different breed. We may be talented, but we also dedicated ourselves to learning how singing works. We have studied anatomy and vocal technique in an academic setting and can describe exactly why specific faults, such as cracking and straining, occur. A good voice teacher is not just a good singer; she knows the specific details of what she is doing to sing well, and she can describe those details to her students. That’s something that even the most talented singer in the world can’t do. Can I Learn to Sing With Other Online Videos? Too busy for lessons, and want to just  teach yourself to sing  using YouTube videos or other programs? Heres the thing absolutely nothing can substitute the help that a private teacher can provide you. While you can learn to  sing songs and basic music theory with online resources, if you want to sing well, working with a vocal teacher is extremely important. Your teacher will be able to notice and correct bad habits that can lead to injuries or those that may be affecting your sound. Plus, the motivation and inspiration you can get from this type of guidance can make a huge difference! Ready to find a teacher? Browse our teacher profiles here. Want to ease into learning? Check out our free,  online group singing classes! Post Author:  Elaina R. Elaina R. teaches opera voice and singing in Ypsilanti, MI, as well as through online lessons. She received her Master of Music from  the University of Michigan, and she has a B.M. from the University of Southern California. Learn more about Elaina here! Photo by D.S.B Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

What Every Parent Should Know About the Common Core Assessments

What Every Parent Should Know About the Common Core Assessments Our approach to education has changed a great deal in recent years. For instance, students of all ages must complete a growing number of tests in order to ensure that they are learning and retaining information. This reality can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when you take into account the jargon and regulations that surround each exam. Perhaps you have heard of the Common Core State Standards Initiative and its related assessments. With 43 states participating in this initiative, many families may be wondering how its annual exams will affect their students. This guide aims to help. Here is what every parent should know about the Common Core assessments: They vary from state to state The 2014-2015 school year is the first year in which students will be tested on their understanding of the Common Core State Standards. Assessments will be offered by two consortiums PARCC, or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. Each approaches assessment differently. Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island plan to give the PARCC exam. (Pennsylvania has expressed an interest, but has not yet committed.) The PARCC assessment is computer-based and consists of two parts. There are also two optional tests one at the beginning of the year and one in the middle. The second group, the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, consists of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium will also utilize a two-part end-of-year exam. The first portion will be adaptive, while the second section will not be. Both will be computer-based. Each state chose its specific assessment or chose to abstain Each individual state was responsible for choosing which assessment would be provided to its students. However, while some states are working through the two organizations discussed above, others are developing their own comprehensive exams. You can help to prepare your student(s) There are several things you can do to help your student preparefor the Common Core assessments. First, introduce him or her to different technologies, such as video and electronic text. (This is especially important if your child is young.) These 3 ways can help you better utilize your electronic textbooks. Both assessments focus on comparing, contrasting, and synthesizing information, so you can also practice these skills with your student. Encourage your child to respond to questions using a computer, and practice computer skills manipulating graphs, typing, and so on. These are some great tips on how to create a good study environment. Students will be asked to write on the assessments, which may differ from past exams that were largely based on multiple-choice questions. Many students will find it useful to complete sample prompts, as this allows them to perfect their timing. These are some great tips for writing an essay. Finally, ensure that your studentis making real-life connections to the test material. When they can connect, they will be more likely to truly learn and remember the exam content. As always, be sure to check your states Department of Education page for the most recent and relevant information on Common Core assessments.

Three Tips to Find a Qualified Tutor Online for Higher Education

Three Tips to Find a Qualified Tutor Online for Higher Education 0SHARESShare Higher education is always challenging as it includes specialization in particular subjects where student learn subject much more in detail.   Homework and assignment and test preparation also gets complex and harder in higher degrees. If you are taking any higher education course and get stuck up with your difficulties, it is advisable to find qualified tutor online for higher education. Here are a few tips to find qualified tutor online for higher education: Qualification: Depending on your level of higher education degree, seek online tutor with qualification at least one or two degrees more than your level. E.g. if you are seeking online tutors for college degree then tutor should qualified post-graduate or Ph.D in your subject. The higher the level of tutoring you are looking for the higher should be qualification requirements. The tutor should be well aware about the subject that you are specializing. Experience: Experience is more important for higher education degrees. The experienced tutors are more matured have devised ways to keep student engaged and motivated on targeted success. There is college education degree which prefers tutors who have real time professional experience in the particular industry. However, highly experienced online tutor will take premium charges for their services. Recommendation/Reputation: Higher education students should seek registered tutors from reputed online tutoring service providers. They are screened, thus hold accountability for the tutoring. You can also seek word of mouth from family and friends pursuing online tutoring  from the service provider. These three are the most essential parameters that concern find a qualified tutor online for higher education. [starbox id=admin]

Five Tips for Reviewing the Midyear Report Card

Five Tips for Reviewing the Midyear Report Card Its a brand-new year and a brand-new term of school. That means the midyear report card has come home, which might be a source of stress, a source of pride or a little of both. As Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center says, this is a great time for parents and their children to have open and honest conversations about school. We always encourage parents to think of the midyear report card as much more than something they should read through and file away, says Huntington. The report card presents an opportunity to review childrens strengths, areas that need attention, study habits and so much more. Most importantly, this time of year is ideal for parents and children to talk about school. When reviewing the report card, Huntington offers parents these five tips: Focus on progress. Pay attention to progress indicators and benchmarks on the report card to see how your child is moving toward mastery of grade-level standards. Look at the report card prior to this one. How do your childs grades in each subject compare to those on this report card? Talk about your childs methods. What did your child do to earn that A in English? What led to the C in math? Grades are a measurement of your childs knowledge, but its essential that you dig deeper to understand what your child is or isnt doing to earn themand keep up in school. Take note of any discussion about time management and organization. Some teachers put comments on the report card about these critical aptitudes, but if they do not, talk with your child about them. Have your child walk you through his or her approaches to staying organized and keeping track of all homework, due dates and other obligations. Gauge how your child feels about school. If youve noticed a lack of motivation or some negativity about school, open the lines of communication. What is causing your childs indifference or frustration? Look to the report card for any comments from the teacher about your childs demeanor and attitude too. Pay attention to any remarks about other skills. In todays complex world, students need a range of abilities to succeed in the 21st-century learning environment. The report card might have a section assessing college-ready and career-ready aptitudes like higher-level thinking, problem-solving and comprehension skills. Huntington reminds parents to reach out to their childs teacher about the report card or attend midyear parent-teacher conferences. She adds the importance of being positive and keeping perspective. Report cards might highlight trouble spots as well as areas of strength, but parents must remember that every student has ups and downs, says Huntington. One bad gradeor even several bad gradesdoes not define your child, and no problem is insurmountable. Whether your child is struggling a little or a lot, report card time is a checkup and nothing to be afraid of. If your child had a difficult first half of the school year and youd like to understand whats going on more thoroughly, call Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN. Well assess your childs current skills and identify areas where he or she might need additional help to get back on track.

Heart Math Tutoring Launches Funding Initiative to Double School Partners - Heart Math Tutoring

Heart Math Tutoring Launches Funding Initiative to Double School Partners - Heart Math Tutoring Heart Math Tutoring Launches Funding Initiative to Double School Partners Heart Math Tutoring Launches Funding Initiative to Double School Partners February 24, 2016 Goal is to fund 15 CMS school sites in 2016/17 school year We are proud to announce that we have launched our funding initiative for the 2016/17 school year. Our goal is to double our number of school partners and reach 15 CMS school sites! The plan is  to raise $750,000 by June 30, 2016 to support 750 students and 860 volunteer tutors across 15 schools in 2016/17. To date, $335,000 has been raised from grants, corporation donations and from community support. Several local and state-wide foundations have made commitments to Heart at the “School Sponsorship” level ($25K $50K): the Belk Foundation, North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and Social Venture Partners. Around $125,000 has been received from individual donors. We believe volunteers can be a powerful instructional resource when given adequate tools and support, which is why we want to expand our services and double our school partners this coming school year.  To make a donation to Heart’s 2016 spring funding initiative, contact executive director Emily Elliott, eoeutg or 980-292-2297. No amount is too small. Heart accepts individual donations and sponsorships from corporations and foundations. Read the full press release here.

Important SAT Essay Tip From an Irvine SAT Tutor - TutorNerds

Important SAT Essay Tip From an Irvine SAT Tutor - TutorNerds SAT Essay Tip: The Passage is Trying to Trick You! SAT Essay Tip: The Passage is Trying to Trick You! While the essay portion of the SAT is now optional, it can still be a valuable component of your college application â€" particularly if youre trying to emphasize your writing or English skills (book your private Irvine SAT tutor today). The directions for the essay are the same for each test: As you read the passage below, consider how [Author] uses: -evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims. -reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence. -stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed. They will then ask you to choose one or more of these elements and write about how the author uses them and why (focusing on the most relevant features in the prompt). These instructions do not change, so they should be memorized beforehand in order to save time reading during the test. However, the passage itself will be different every time. Remember that these passages are meant to be persuasive. You will be reading some authors argument where they are using various methods to try to convince you that their opinion is correct. They also tend to be rather strong and compelling arguments â€" they are hand-picked for the SAT after all. These passages lead to a common issue that I see students have: they are persuaded by the author and agree with him/her by the time theyre done reading. Now, agreeing with the passage does not have to be a bad thing, but it does tend to lead to two problems when it comes to writing your essay: You include your approval in your essay You dont notice the persuasive elements being used Of these two, the first is common but easy to deal with. The directions for the SAT specifically say that you should NOT say whether or not you agree with the authors claims. Many students get motivated and enthusiastic about the cause that the author is championing after they read the passage, and they write about how the author is correct and even bring in extra outside support. This is NOT what you are supposed to do. Likewise if you disagree with the author. You are only supposed to discuss which of the above examples of persuasive elements you see in the passage and how/why they are used. The second is the more difficult to get past. When you disagree with someones argument, you are more likely to be on high alert for any flaws in their arguments or tricks they are trying to utilize. This is more difficult if you agree with them and are simply nodding along in support. Its easy to be less critical when you agree with someone. So here is the tip to help you notice more persuasive elements in the prompt: Pretend that the author is trying to trick you. Go into reading the prompt thinking that the author is wrong but that they are trying to trick you to make you believe them. Even if the passage is called Why People Like Puppies, you need to be thinking to yourself I know that people dont like puppies and this guy is trying to trick me that they do. It does not matter what you actually think. It does not matter if the author is right or wrong. What matters is that you find evidence, reasoning, and persuasive elements that the author is using in their argument. And it is easier to find the persuasive elements when you have the mindset that they are out to trick you. Continuing with our puppy example, here are some things you could see: Author: Suzy, a suburban mother of three, tells us how her pottery club includes two members who brought their puppies to a meeting one day and everyone unanimously enjoyed their company. You: Suzy and her pottery club are only a small group and specific demographic. The author is just using a happy anecdote to make me believe them. Author: Puppies are the quintessential eliminators of stress on college campuses during finals weeks. Everyone knows that finals are a difficult time, why wouldnt we support something that helps ease that stress? You: Thats a gross hyperbole that theyre using to convince me. Theyre also using a rhetorical question that I know has nothing to do with puppies, AND theyre trying to relate to me by mentioning finals that might appeal to students. Im onto them. Now, these are more lighthearted examples than you may see on the real test, but they get the point across. It would be easy to read these statements by the author, and just think yes, people do like puppies, this is correct, I agree. However, you need to look at things with a critical eye. The author is trying to persuade you, to convince you, to trick you â€" and you need to see how and why in order to ace your essay. Are you taking the SAT soon? Sign up for a private Irvine SAT tutor today. Michael C. is currently a private math, science, and standardized test tutor with TutorNerds in Irvine and Anaheim. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.