Friday, March 20, 2020

Free Essays on Stephan King

Stephen Edwin King is one of today’s most popular and best selling writers. King combines the elements of psychological thrillers, science fiction, the paranormal, and detective themes into his stories.1 In addition to these themes, King sticks to using great and vivid detail that is set in a realistic everyday place.2 Stephen King who is mainly known for his novels, has broadened his horizons to different types of writings such as movie scripts, nonfiction, autobiographies, children’s books, and short stories. While Stephen King might be best known for his novels The Stand and It, some of his best work that has been published are his short stories such as â€Å"The Body† and â€Å"Quitters Inc†.3 King’s works are so powerful because he uses his experience and observations from his everyday life and places them into his unique stories. Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine, on September 21, 1947, at the Maine General Hospital.4 Stephen, his mother Nellie, and his adopted brother David were left to fend for themselves when Stephen’s father Donald, a Merchant Marine captain, left one day, to go the store to buy a pack of cigarettes, and never returned.5 His fathers leaving had a big indirect impact on King’s life. Stephen King recalls how his family life was altered: â€Å"After my father took off, my mother, struggled, and then landed on her feet.† My brother and I didn’t see a great deal of her over the next nine years. She worked a succession of continuous low paying jobs.†6 Stephen’s first outlooks on life were influenced by his older brother and what he figured out on his own. While young Stephen and his family moved around the North Eastern and Central United States. When he was seven years old, they moved to Stratford, Connecticut.7 Here is where King got his first exposure to ... Free Essays on Stephan King Free Essays on Stephan King Stephen Edwin King is one of today’s most popular and best selling writers. King combines the elements of psychological thrillers, science fiction, the paranormal, and detective themes into his stories.1 In addition to these themes, King sticks to using great and vivid detail that is set in a realistic everyday place.2 Stephen King who is mainly known for his novels, has broadened his horizons to different types of writings such as movie scripts, nonfiction, autobiographies, children’s books, and short stories. While Stephen King might be best known for his novels The Stand and It, some of his best work that has been published are his short stories such as â€Å"The Body† and â€Å"Quitters Inc†.3 King’s works are so powerful because he uses his experience and observations from his everyday life and places them into his unique stories. Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine, on September 21, 1947, at the Maine General Hospital.4 Stephen, his mother Nellie, and his adopted brother David were left to fend for themselves when Stephen’s father Donald, a Merchant Marine captain, left one day, to go the store to buy a pack of cigarettes, and never returned.5 His fathers leaving had a big indirect impact on King’s life. Stephen King recalls how his family life was altered: â€Å"After my father took off, my mother, struggled, and then landed on her feet.† My brother and I didn’t see a great deal of her over the next nine years. She worked a succession of continuous low paying jobs.†6 Stephen’s first outlooks on life were influenced by his older brother and what he figured out on his own. While young Stephen and his family moved around the North Eastern and Central United States. When he was seven years old, they moved to Stratford, Connecticut.7 Here is where King got his first exposure to ...

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

5 Strategies for Private School Admissions Test Prep

5 Strategies for Private School Admissions Test Prep Most private schools require applicants to take a standardized test as part of the admission process. Essentially what the schools are trying to determine is how prepared you are for the academic work that they want you to be able to do. The most commonly used tests in independent schools are the SSAT and the ISEE, but ther are others that you may encounter. For example, Catholic schools use HSPTs and COOPs which are similar in content and purpose. If you think of the SSAT and ISEE like the college level SAT or its preparatory test, the PSAT, then you get the idea. The tests are organized in several sections, each designed to assess a specific skill set and knowledge level. Here are several tips to help you best prepare for this important exam. 1. Start Test Prep Early Begin final preparation for your admissions test in the spring for testing in the following fall. While these standardized tests measure what you have learned over the course of many years, you should begin working some practice tests in the spring and summer before you actually take the real thing in the late fall. There are several test prep books that you can consult.  Want some study tips? Check out this blog for some SSAT test prep strategies. 2. Dont Cram Last minute cramming is not going to be very productive when it comes to learning material you should have been learning over several years. The SSAT is designed to test what you have learned over time at school. Its not designed so that you have to learn new material, just master the material you have been learning in school. Instead of cramming, you might consider working hard in school and then during the last few weeks before the test, concentrate on three areas: know what is expectedtake practice testsreview subject material 3. Know the Test Format Knowing what is expected when you step through the door to the testing room is just as important as taking practice tests. Memorize the format of the test. Know what material will be covered. Learn all the variations in the way a question can be presented or worded. Think like the examiner. Paying attention to details like how youll take the exam and how it is scored can help you excel overall. Want more test prep strategies? Check out this blog on how to prepare for the SSAT and ISEE. 4. Practice Taking practice tests is critical to your success in these standardized tests. You have a certain number of questions which must be answered within a fixed time. So you must work to beat the clock. The best way to perfect your skills is to actually try to duplicate the test environment. Try to match the test conditions as closely as possible. Set aside a Saturday morning to work a practice test to the clock. Make sure that you do the practice test in a quiet room and have a parent present you the exam, just as if you were in the actual testing room. Imagine yourself in the room with dozens of your classmates taking the same test. No cell phone, snacks, iPod or TV. If you are really serious about honing your timing skills, you should repeat this exercise at least twice. 5. Review Reviewing subject material means exactly that. If you have pursued your studies in an organized manner, that  means pulling out those notes from a year ago and going over them carefully. Note what you didnt understand. Practice what you werent sure of by writing it out. Thats a common test prep strategy, writing things out, because for many people, this strategy will help them remember things better. As you practice and review, make a note of where you excel and where you need assistance, and then get help in the areas where you have deficiencies. If you plan to take the tests next year, understand the material now so that you can nail them. Dont put off thorough test preparation. Remember: you cannot cram for these tests. Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski