Month: November 2019

Topic 1- Nature vs Nurture

The first topic that our public controversy group has decided to analyze is the nature vs nurture idea involving serial killers and the criminally insane. There has been much debate about what has more influence on the minds of serial killers their upbringing or some genetic factor. There are many studies that show many serial killers as abused during their childhood which forces them to think about violence as the best problem solving method. Therefore, many serial killers have upbringings that are abusive which affects their mental state in adulthood. This would be a good History of a Public Controversy topic because there have been many studies about the origin of the serial killer mind. Whether there are biological agents that make children more prone to being serial killers or their upbringing affects their likelihood to become a serial killer, there is a lot of information within the debate to look at. 

Topic 2- Legalization of Marijuana

One of the most controversial legislation that is being talked about in U.S politics is whether Marijuana should be legalized. Although it has been legalized in some states there is still some backlash by U.S politicians about whether those states were justified in legalizing the drug. There are many studies that show both the harm and harmless nature of the drug, which is why it makes a good history of a public controversy topic. There is a lot of literature on both sides of the argument which would make it a good topic to analyze. By looking at the affects of marijuana compared to other controlled substances, it would be interesting to see which side of the argument has the stronger rhetoric and data to back them up.  Many articles found that the drug does not have adverse effects on people and could actually benefit the economy, however many other articles find that there are adverse effects on physical and mental health.

Introduction

When I was a rising Junior in high school in the summer of 2017 I was shipped off to SAT boot camp with the rest of my friends in the area. We were given copious amounts of homework in preparation for one of the biggest tests of our entire lives. Personally, I felt that the SAT boot camp motivated me and helped me maximize the score I can get. However, we did live in a wealthy area with all the resources I needed to succeed. However, that can not be said a majority of SAT test takers. In the 1970s there was a boom of SAT coaching which allowed people that can afford it to be better prepared for the test. With the SAT coaching movement, it has allowed more wealthy test takers to essentially buy a higher test score, disenfranchising the less affluent test takers and creating an education system that reenforces test taking. 

Powers and Rock from the Journal of Educational Measurement studied the effects that SAT coaching had on students. The data indicates that coached students had seen a marginal increase in SAT scores of about 100 points. Also, it helped them prepare for the intangibles of test taking such as stress management and test pacing. In a test that has so much impact on a students future those intangibles and the marginal point change can make all the difference in the world. This advantage that is only offered to the upper class test takers seems to give them an advantage over their less wealthy counterparts. 

Effects on disadvantaged students—> By not giving less wealthy students an even playing field the processes in the status quo are just furthering the struggle that these students face.

Education System—> With tests such as the SAT, many students are encouraged to drill testing strategies into their brain rather than focusing on more innovative aspects of learning such as creativity and critical thinking skills.

Conclusion—> With all this emphasis in Standardized Testing there needs to be a change in the way we value intelligence and how we measure it. As it stands there is one test that can change the lives of high schoolers forever and that test itself is not even fair. There needs to be something that better reflects the hard work and dedication students put into their educational lives that is not influenced by wealth, or coaching. Although not an easy task reassessing the SAT, one of the most important tests in students lives, can be the first step to making a more fair system. 

The most interesting aspect of my paradigm shift has to be the implications of test optional colleges. Studies show that when schools transition to test optional admission processes there is actually an increase in diverse applications and student body. This research is actually backed by many reliable sources such as the Princeton University research department and Wake Forest research department. Princeton University found a 3 percent increase in African American students admitted and a 10.6 percent increase in hispanic students being accepted. Wake Forest found that African American and Latino applications to the university also went up 70%. This would be interesting to look at because the data shows that test optional schools give a better chance to underrepresented minorities to enter into college and gain a higher education. The education would help them come out of poverty and help fight against any racial biases that happen within the education system. The paradigm shift critically analyzes the impact that SATs and test optional colleges have on the most disadvantaged people which is interesting because college students never really consider the negative effects that SAT and standardized testing can have. Many Penn State students and especially honors students never have had to deal with the problem of their SAT barring them from college, but analyzing the other perspective would make for an interesting TED Talk. Also showing the impact of a more diverse student body in colleges would be an interesting topic to analyze. Since not many people have heard of the idea of a creativity crisis it would be interesting to look at because it is having adverse effects on our economy without people even knowing it. There needs to be some discourse about the reform of the college admissions process, so this Ted Talk could look at that discussion under a critical light for the benefit of future students.