Separation Anxiety Disorder and Depression

Separation Anxiety Disorder and Depression Depression Childhood Depression Print Separation Anxiety Disorder and Depression By Lauren DiMaria linkedin Lauren DiMaria is a member of the Society of Clinical Research Associates and childhood psychology expert. Learn about our editorial policy Lauren DiMaria Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 Depression Overview Types Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Coping ADA & Your Rights Depression in Kids Kajetan Kandler/Getty Images Separation anxiety disorder and depression share many symptoms.  As a parent, you are probably familiar with separation anxietyâ€"the feeling an infant experiences when separated from her caregivers, for example. You may be less familiar with separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and its relation to depression. This is not to be confused with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Separation Anxiety vs. Separation Anxiety Disorder Your infant will likely experience some separation anxiety when you or other caregivers are out of sight. This is a normal developmental process and usually begins around eight months and lasts through the childs second year. For an infant, when you are out of sight, you are gone forever. As your infant matures, she will learn through experience that you will return and she will begin to be more comfortable with separations. For some children, however, the thought of you or another caregiver leaving them is so overwhelming that they will do what they can to avoid separation. This is a separation anxiety disorder. In order for it to be diagnosed, symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with a childs daily functioning for at least four weeks. When a child starts to miss out on important things such as school and social activities to avoid a separation, it is considered to be SAD. SAD affects approximately 4% to 5% of children. Research has indicated that a high rate of children who develop SAD later develop a depressive disorder. With such a strong correlation between SAD and depression, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of both disorders and to seek out early treatment for your child. Symptoms of SAD According to Dr. Peter M. Lewinsohn, Ph.D., who published a study of SAD in The Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the underlying fear of a child with SAD is that he or his parent will be harmed, lost or gone forever as a result of the separation. Additional symptoms of SAD may be: Persistent worry about being separated from the parentRefusal to attend school or social events for fear of being separated from the parentWorry about something bad happening to a parent even when they are nearRefusal or hesitation to go to sleep aloneNightmares involving a theme of separationExcessive worry about being kidnapped, lost or kept from the parentComplaints of physical ailments, especially when separated from a parent (a headache, bellyache, generalized pain) How SAD Relates to Depression In Lewinsohns long-term study of children with SAD, he estimated that 75% of children with SAD developed depression by the age of 30. Though research hasnt proven that SAD is the cause of depression in these children, the association between the two is a substantial one. SAD and depression actually share many symptoms. Clinging to a parent, refusing to go to school and avoiding social activities, worrying that harm may come to self or a parent, and vague physical complaints such as a headache, bellyache, and general pain are common symptoms of both disorders. Again, the research findings do not suggest that all children with SAD will experience depression. Nor does it confirm why such a large number of children with SAD go on to develop depression. But given the findings, it is important for parents and clinicians to keep a close eye out for any depressive symptoms in children with SAD. What Parents Can Do Keep an eye out for additional signs of depression in children, including unexplained crying, feeling misunderstood, withdrawing from family or peers, losing interest in things of former interest, sleeping difficulties, appetite and weight changes, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, and thoughts or actions of self-harm. Talk to Your Child   Try talking to your child when they are at an age-appropriate level. Find out what he is scared of and why he doesnt want to leave you. What you hear may surprise you. Your child may have a simple complaint, which you can easily remedy. If it is something more serious (he is worried he will never see you again, for instance), you should consult with your childs physician. A recent tragic event, such as an earthquake or the death of a loved one, may temporarily disrupt your childs sense of security. In this case, providing your child with some extra attention may ease his anxiety. Prepare Your Child Prepare them for an upcoming event or separation. Explaining what will be happening, who will be there, how long he will be away from you and how he can reach you may help him feel more comfortable with separation. If your efforts, support, and compassion do not seem to be helping your child adjust to even short separations, you should consult with your childs physician. If you notice any symptoms of depression in your child, it is important to seek help. Depression is associated with serious short- and long-term consequences such as poor self-esteem, poor academic performance, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts and behavior. A Word From Verywell Remember, your child may go through phases when he is more in need of your attention and love, especially during times of significant stress or tragedy. However, given the high rate of depression in children with SAD, it is best to check with a physician if you have any concerns about your childs behavior.

Relational And Non Relational Database Model Essay

2 Literature Review Many theories have been written to clearly explain the concept of relational and non-relational databases. Although those literature hightligted varieties of significant theories, this review will attempt to establish a clear meaning of relational and non-relational database Concept, NoSQL data model, ACID and Base properties, CAP Theorem and Scalability. Furthermore, it will attempt to critically evaluate structured and unstructured data, elucidate on the strength and weakness of relational and NoSQL databases and give an overview of the benchmarks used to evaluate the reliability and performance of databases. 2.1 Relational and Non-Relational Database Concept The relational database model was invented in 1970, by Edgar Ted Codd, a Mathematician at IBM’s San Jose Research Lab in California, United States of America. At the time, nobody realized that Codd’s theories would spark a technological database revolution. Until 1970, a database stored large volume of data using hierarchical data model that was difficult to navigate and lacks flexibility [8]. Today, the benefits brought to us by relational database model are enormous. Ted Codd in his paper titled A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks†, he created and visualize the concepts for organizing and accessing data that is embodied in the relational database, he proposed that data should be structured according to principles based on identified relations [9]. In order to eliminate dataShow MoreRelatedDocument Based Data Modeling Technique And Relational Technique1230 Words   |  5 PagesJanu Barot Database System Midterm Exam Document based data modeling technique and relational technique In todays era, the volume of data we manage has developed to terabytes. As the volume of data continues developing, the sorts of data produced by applications get to be wealthier than some time recently. 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Richard Wrights Native Son Free Essay Example, 1000 words

He warns how there will be more men like Bigger if America does not put an end to it. Nevertheless, Bigger is sentenced to death. Bigger is not a traditional hero by any means (Wright 2010). Wright forces us to enter into Bigger’s mind and to understand the devastating effects of the social conditions in which he was raised. Bigger was not born a violent criminal. He is a â€Å"native son†: a product of American culture and the violence and racism that suffuse it. Richard Wright himself was born on a farm in Mississippi in September 1908, and although he attended a porochial school, much like Bigger Thomas in Native Son he was rebellious. An illnesses Wright’s mother suffered drained the family and forced him to work a number of jobs during his formative years, but despite sporadic schooling, he graduated valedictorian of his junior high school, but financial troubles worsened. Wright was forced to drop out of high school after only a few weeks to work. Just pri or to the Great Depression, his family moved to Chicago, where Wright devoted himself seriously to writing. In 1934, Wright became a member of the Communist Party and began publishing articles and poetry in numerous left-wing publications (McAdam 1999). We will write a custom essay sample on Richard Wright's Native Son or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Still his family’s sole financial support, Wright took a job with the Federal Writers’ Project helping research the history of blacks in Chicago. Native Son stirred controversy shocking the sensibilities of both black and white America. He wanted readers to see the inequity of race relations. Wright does not inoculate Bigger with any romantic traits so common to literary heroes. Instead, Bigger is a resentful product of his world. Bigger is a fusion of men Wright had himself known growing up in the South. Confronted by racism and oppression and left with few options, many became antisocial and violent. They were disasters waiting to happen. In some ways, Bigger Thomas is Richard Wright. In the late 1940s, Wright became involved in the existentialist movement. Native Son is Wright’s warning that if American did not change, the oppressed would rise up against the power structure. It is clear to see how Richard Wright’s expe riences in 1930s America influenced his writing of Native Son. Like Bigger, Richard had not only seen others suffer under the sociopolitical economic status quo of the time but he himself had also experienced the difficulty. Knowing the details, it is not difficult to understand his message. If people’s lives are difficult enough, they become like trapped animals and may act out not much differently.

Parliamentary vs Presidential Governments Free Essays

In a democratic government there are two most popular types of government: presidential and parliamentary. They are somewhat similar, but their branches, executive,legislative, and judicial, work differently and are responsible for quite different jobs. Most European countries run by the parliamentary systems, such as Britain, because it once was monarchy. We will write a custom essay sample on Parliamentary vs Presidential Governments or any similar topic only for you Order Now Even now the Great Britain has a Queen Elizabeth II. Countries like the United States are ran by the presidential form of government. The most significant difference in the Parliamentary form of government versus the Presidential is that the president is both the chief executive and the head of state. The President has the power to veto laws, execute the instructions of Congress when it declares war, has the right to approve the treaties without the legislature’s permission. The president has the right to deploy military, but cannot declare war. Parliamentary system divides the chief executive and the head of state into two separate offices. The chief executive is usually the Prime Minister and the head of state is the president. In Britain, for example, the chief executive is the Prime Minister, and the head of state is the queen Elizabeth II. The Prime Minister is usually the highest political authority in the country and is the head of the Cabinet, or the executive office. He does all the decision making, approves laws, nominates all the ministers and the Cabinet members, has authority to control all the governmental departments. another big difference between the two governments is how they get elected. In Presidential government, for example in the United States, the candidate for presidency is being elected by the Cabinet or the Senate, further to be selected by the votes of the nation. The Prime Minister, as in Britain, is elected by the Cabinet. People do not vote for him, but they do vote for the congressmen, who may soon become the Prime Minister. The President and the Prime Minister are both people with the most authorities in their country, and both can be dismissed at any point in time by the Cabinet. The Presidential system and the Parliamentary system differ in each country, because each country has its own constitution. For example in Great Brittan, the person with the most authority is the Prime Minister, but in Russia, it is the President, even thought Russia has a Prime Minister. The two democracies work the same way, only people with the same titles do different jobs, and people with similar jobs have a different title. How to cite Parliamentary vs Presidential Governments, Papers

Starwars Essay Example For Students

Starwars Essay Star Wars By George Lucas Paperback, November 1998 Star Wars is a science fiction adventure novel. The symbolism and characterization was really excellent in the story. The story gives a great look into the future as it has many different types of things we have not yet invented; blaster rifles, space ships that go the speed of light, fat alien slugs, and beam swords. The plot of the story sucks you into the novel and makes you want to continue reading the novel. The plot of the story mainly reflects on a young boy, Luke Skywalker. Luke was raised on his Uncles moisture farm on the planet Tatooine. He meets up with Obi-Wan Kenobi by following a droid, R2-D2, he had purchased through a small natives of Tatooine known as Jawas. R2-D2 believes he is the property of Obi-Wan and decides to search for its master. Luke is attacked by another group of natives, Tusken Raiders also known as sand people. Obi-Wan comes and saves Luke from the sand people and take him back to his home. Obi-Wan te lls Luke a little about his father. He tells Luke that his father was his apprentice in learning the ways of the Force. Obi-Wan gives Luke his fathers old light saber and Obi-Wan finds something inside R2-D2. It is a message from Princess Leia. She sent the two droids, R2-D2 and C3-PO, to send this message to Obi-Wan. Luke and Obi-Wan head back to Lukes house and find a Sandcrawler, a vehicle the Jawas travel in, destroyed. Luke thinks that some Tusken Raiders did this, but Obi-Wan points out that Imperial Storm Troopers have attacked the Jawas. Luke then finds out that his uncle and aunt are dead. He then decides to train to be a Jedi Knight. They head to a Mos Eisley, a spaceport to search for a pilot to get them to the planet Alderaan. Obi-Wan and Luke meet up with a smuggler named Han Solo and his co-pilot, Chewbacca the Wookie also known as Chewie. They make a deal for Han to take the two humans and the two droids to Alderaan. While preparing the ship Han runs into a crime lord , Jabba the Hutt. Jabba was mad at Han for dropping off his shipments and running with out paying him. Han promises Jabba he will have his money soon and a little more. As they start boarding the ship some Storm Troopers find them and started attacking. They take off in the Millennium Falcon and escape the Imperial forces. While heading for the planet Alderaan, Luke trains in the Millennium Falcon. Obi-Wan suddenly feels something evil through the force. They reach the area where Alderaan is and find that it had been blown up. They see an Imperial TIE Fighter. They follow it to a small moon, but discover it is not a small moon, but a space station, The Death Star that was built by the Empire. They got sucked into the station by a tracker beam and had to hide from the Storm Troopers, who were checking the ship for the crew. Han, Luke, Obi-Wan, Chewie, and the two droids hid in secret compartments Han used to smuggle goods. When some rookie Storm Troopers came aboard they mugged them and took their uniforms to sneak through the Death Star. Obi-Wan headed alone to deactivate the tracker beam from inside the Death Star. Luke, Han, and Chewie went to the prison block to free Princess Leia. They get attacked by Storm Troopers and escape into a garbage chute. There the crushing walls in the garbage chute almost flatten them, but C3-PO and R2-D2 barely save them by shutting down the garbage crushing units. After their escape from the garbage disposal unit they get chased by more Storm Troopers, but this time Luke and Leia get separated from Chewie and Han. They meet back at the Millennium Flacon. There they watch Obi-Wan battle with Darth Vader in a grueling light saber duel. Darth Vader one, but in the same time lost. Han, Luke, Leia, and Chewie escape the Death Star and head for the Rebellion Base on the planet Yavin. There, Han and Chewie get their reward money for saving Princess Leia and leave, but Luke stays to help the Rebels fight against the Empire and its de adly Death Star. The Death Star finds the rebellion base and heads towards it. The Rebels send an attack of X-Wings and Y-Wings to destroy the Death Star. After many attempts to destroy it Luke finally hits it in its only weak spot with the help of Han Solo who felt bad for leaving them with out helping. Luke, Han, and Chewie are rewarded metals for their bravery. The novel symbolizes what George Lucas thinks the future may be like. His imagination was put to great heights to write this novel as he thought of interesting characters to introduce us to; Jabba, Chewie, Greedo, and many others. The novel gives great machinery and space age type weapons; blaster rifle, light saber, land speeder, Death Star, X-Wing, and others. He does this by writing as if we know about all this stuff. Star Wars was a great novel. George Lucas did a very excellent job in writing this novel. He draws you into the novel by introducing you to many different, out of this world weapons and creatures. It was a pleasure in reading this novel and is my all time favorite. People who like science fiction novels or adventure novels should try to read this one. .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .postImageUrl , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:hover , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:visited , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:active { border:0!important; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:active , .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud828da2e598eb6c1d5ec244a0ddb3a1c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Pretty Woman Essay We will write a custom essay on Starwars specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

Is ACT Writing Important Expert Guide

Is ACT Writing Important Expert Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Writing portion of the ACT has always been an optional portion of the exam. However, it was significantly revised in fall 2015 with the aim of better testing the kinds of analytical writing skills that are necessary for college work. Some colleges require or recommend that students take it for their application, and others don’t. With the recent revision of the SAT, the SAT Essay portion has also become optional. In light of this change, many colleges are changing their admissions policies and no longer requiring or recommending the SAT Essay or the ACT Writing section.But what does this whirlwind of change mean for you? Is the optional ACT Writing section still important? In this article I’ll break it down. First I’ll give a brief of overview of the ACT writing section and how it’s scored, which colleges require ACT Plus Writing, why schools require the Writing section and how they use it, and why other schools won’t require the Writing section going forward. Finally I’ll provide guidance on how to figure out if the ACT Writing section is important for you. ACT Writing: a Brief Overview On the ACT Writing section, you’ll be presented with an issue and then three perspectives on that issue. You then have 40 minutes to write a unified essay that addresses the following two tasks: Present and support your own opinion on the issue Explain how your opinion and at least one of the other three perspectives are related. The scoring system for the resulting essay is fairly complex. Two graders score your essay in 4 domains from 1-6, giving you a total potential score of 12 in each domain. Your scores between the four domains are then averaged to get your overall score from 2-12. For more on ACT Writing scoring, see our complete breakdown. It’s important to note that your score on the Writing section does not affect your composite score. However, it is a part of your English-Language Arts subscore, for which your English, Reading, and Writing scores (scaled to a 1-36 score range to calculate the ELA score) are averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number. The Writing section will also cost you an extra $16-17. It's a little-known fact that the first step in grading your ACT essay is solving an elaborate maze. Who Requires ACT Plus Writing? Most (over two-thirds) of colleges will not require the ACT Writing section for applicants in 2017 and beyond.However, there are quite few institutions that will continue to require it for applicants, especially amongelite-tier schools. The Ivy League is notably divided on the issue, with half requiring the ACT Writing section (Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale) and half leaving it optional (Columbia, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Brown). Unfortunately, the ACT’s database of schools’ Writing requirements is very out-of-date and reports many schools as requiring the essay that have in fact dropped the requirement for 2017 applicants. For the most up-to-date information on a school’s position on the ACT plus Writing, check a school’s admissions website. Those schools that do require Writing have gone on the record with specific reasons for doing so. I’ll break those down in the next section. Why Do Schools Require the ACT Plus Writing? You may be curious about why some schools require the Writing section of the ACT in light of the fact that so many schools have made it completely optional.Based on public statements from school officials, there seem to be three main reasons why schools require the ACT’s optional Writing section: Consistency Many schools feel that the revised SAT essay is much better at testing the kinds of analytical skills important for college writing. For those schools that feel the SAT essay is worthwhile, it makes sense for them to also require the ACT’s Writing section for the sake of consistency. More Information Is Better Some college admissions offices have the philosophy that all of the information they can get is useful in evaluating applicants. The Writing section provides another data point on a student’s language and writing skills in addition to transcripts and admissions essays. Thus, schools that value having all the information that it is conceivably possible to obtain about a student tend to require ACT Writing. See Your Writing Skills Under Pressure The ACT Writing section gives admissions officers a unique chance to see how you use your analytical writing skills under time pressure. Your college admissions essays are polished and tightly edited pieces of writing, while your ACT Writing efforts will be much more raw and unvarnished. Again, it’s another data point for schools. The infamous Tower of Time Pressure. These reasons provide some insight as to why schools require ACT Writing- but how do they use your scores? How Do Schools Use ACT Plus Writing? If you are applying to schools that require ACT Writing, it’s important to know how they use it in evaluating your application. Is it a critical piece, a bit of extra fluff, or something in between? I spoke on the phone to admissions officers at different schools about how they use the ACT’s Writing section. Some themes emerged: Admissions officers feel that the ACT Plus Writing gives a more â€Å"rounded† picture of an applicant’s skills than the ACT without Writing. Essentially, they value having the additional information about an applicant’s language skills as part of their standardized test scores. However, they also stress that students are evaluated holistically, and their primary concern would be if a student’s essay score seemed inconsistent with the student’s other writing-based application materials. For example, if your application essay was phenomenal and you got straight-As in your English classes but then a overall score of 5/12 on the essay, that would be a red flag that something bizarre was going on. The general consensus is that schools do really look at the score, but it’s not a super-important part of the application unless the score seems inconsistent with an applicant’s other qualifications.However, your best bet if you are interested in a given school that requires the Writing section and you want to know exactly how they use it to evaluate applicants is to call the admissions office and ask. It’s also worth (re)stating that except for in the most selective tier of institutions, schools that require the ACT Writing section are in the minority. Most schools won’t require or even recommend the new optional essay, and they have their own reasons for doing so. UC Berkeleydoes require the ACT plus Writing. Why Don't Schools Require the ACT Plus Writing? There are three main reasons that schools have given for not requiring the ACT Writing section going forward: Consistency When the essay portion of the SAT was required, it made sense for schools to require the optional Writing section of the ACT for consistencies’ sake. Now that the SAT essay is optional, however, schools can re-evaluate their stance on the issue. Schools that have decided to not require the optional SAT essay have, in general, also removed their ACT Writing requirement to preserve consistency in testing guidelines between the two tests." The Writing Section Is Redundant Some schools feel that they already have sufficient evidence of an applicant’s writing capability through application essays and student transcripts in English. This is particularly true at institutions where multiple essays are required as part of the application. Requiring the ACT Writing Is a Burden to Underprivileged Students Some schools are concerned that the extra cost associated with the Writing section may be a deterrent to underprivileged students. University of Pennsylvania has stated that minority and first-generation college applicants are least likely to have a â€Å"complete testing profile.† They’ve eliminated the ACT Writing requirement in the hopes of attracting a more diverse applicant pool. A diverse applicant pool as represented by these decorative squashes. Is the ACT Writing Section Important for You? I’ve gone over how and why schools will require or not require the ACT Writing section going forward. But how does this affect you? Should I Take the ACT Plus Writing? This comes down primarily to whether or not you are applying to schools that require or recommend the ACT Writing Section. (I generally err on the side of treating recommendations as nicely-worded requirements in the college application process.) If you don’t take the ACT Writing section and later realize you need it, you will unfortunately have to retake the entire exam! So if there is even a chance you might be interested in a school that does require/recommend the Writing section, you should take it. This is especially salient if you are applying to top-tier schools, as about half of them require the ACT Writing section. If you know for certain that you are definitively not interested in a single school that requires or recommends the Writing section, go ahead and skip it. But only if you know you won’t change your mind! Another note here is that if you are very good at timed analytical essay-writing, you might also want to take the Writing section even if you are only applying to schools where it is optional. A stellar score will look good on your application even if it’s not required- in fact, it will show that you took some initiative. How Important Is My Score? The answer to this question is not completely clear-cut, as it does depend on the schools to which you are applying. What’s most important in general is that your Writing score is consistent with your other test scores. It certainly doesn’t have to be a perfect correlation- if you get a 36 for your composite and a 9/12 on writing, I wouldn’t stress too much. But if you have a 30 composite and an 6/12 on the essay, that may cause concern among admissions officers that you aren’t ready for college-level writing. How Can I Succeed on the ACT Writing Section? If you do need to take the Writing section, you can definitely learn the skills necessary to do well. Here are some general tips: Take a few minutes to plan out your essay before you start writing it! Be sure to discuss at least two of the perspectives in your essay, and definitely make your own opinion clear. Support all of the points you make with specific examples. Make sure your essay is logically organized and has an introduction and a conclusion. Write more than a page! For more on how to hit ACT Writing out of the park, see our step- by-step guide to writing an ACT essay, 15 tips to raise your essay score, or our guide to a perfect essay score. These kittens are proud of you! Key Takeaways Because the SAT has made the essay section of the exam optional, schools are taking the time to reevaluate their requirements for the ACT Writing section as well. Many schools have dropped the requirement entirely. However, elite-tier institutions are divided on the issue, with some continuing to require the Writing section and others dropping it. For those schools that do require the Writing section, it may not be clear exactly how they use it in evaluating your application. The general consensus among admissions officers I spoke to was that the Writing score provided valuable information, but that it was mostly used to check for consistency in an applicant’s language skills. In evaluating whether the ACT Writing section is important for you, consider the following: Are you applying to schools that recommend or require the ACT Writing section? Then take the ACT Plus Writing. Are you not sure where you’re applying yet? Take the ACT Plus Writing, because otherwise if you end up needing it later you will have to sit for the whole exam again. If you are taking the Writing section, how important is your score? Well, it’s most important that your score is generally consistent with the rest of your test scores and application profile. But the good news is that it’s very possible to learn how to write an excellent ACT essay. My final word, then, would be don’t ignore the Writing section and definitely prepare for it if you’re going to take it, but don’t stress too much about getting a perfect score. Nothing is truly perfect...except this puppy. What's Next? Wondering about the SAT essay? See our expert guide on the importance of the SAT essay. If you're not surehow important the ACT is for college admissions, see our guide. Prepping for the ACT? See our collection of free ACT practice tests, our comprehensive list of ACT guides, and our total guide to ACT test day. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this ACT Writing lesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get your ACT essays hand-graded by a master instructor who will give you customized feedback on how you can improve. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

How to Write a Great College Application Essay Title

How to Write a Great College Application Essay Title Your application essays title is the first thing the admissions folks will read. Although there are many ways to approach the title, youll want those words at the top of the page to make the proper impression. Why a Title? Lets start with the  basics: Is your essay about something? Do you want your reader to know what its about? If so, your essay needs a title. Ask yourself which work youd be more excited to read: The Casque of Amontillado or Some Random Story by Edgar Allan Poe Thats About Something that Youll Figure Out After You Read It. If you dont provide a title, you dont give your reader any reason to be interested in beginning your essay other than a sense of duty. Make sure the college admissions folks are motivated to read your essay by curiosity, not by the necessity of their assigned drudge work. Picture a newspaper in which every article lacks a title. What article do you want to read? Which ones sound interesting? Clearly a newspaper without titles would be ridiculous. Application essays arent that different. Your reader wants to know what it is that he or she is going to read. The Purpose of an Application Essay Title Weve established that you need a title. But what makes a title effective? First off, think about the purpose of a title: A good title should grab your readers attention.Related to #1, a title should make your reader want to read your essay.The title should provide a sense of what your essay is about. When it comes to #3, realize that you dont need to be too detailed. Academic essays often have titles that look like this: Julia Camerons Photography: A Study of the Use of Long Shutter Speeds to Create Spiritual Effects. For an application essay, such a title would come across as over-written, pompous, and ridiculous. Consider how a reader would react to an essay with the title,  The Authors Trip to Costa Rica and How It Changed His Attitude Towards Biodiversity and Sustainability. After reading such a long and belabored title, the admissions folks wouldnt feel like they need to read the actual essay. Sample Good Essay Titles In general, there are no concrete rules for titles. Good titles can take a variety of forms: A good title can be clever or play with words. See, for example, Porkopolis  by Felicity or Buck Up  by Jill. Porkopolis is a nonsense word, but it works well for an essay on becoming a vegetarian in a meat-centric world, and Buck Up employs both a literal and figurative meaning of the phrase. As youll read below, however, you dont necessarily want to try to be too clever. Such efforts can backfire.A title can be provocative. As an example, a student who wrote about encountering new foods while abroad titled her essay Eating Eyeballs. If your essay focuses on a humorous, shocking or embarrassing moment in your life, its often easy to write an attention-grabbing title. Titles such as Puking on the President, Romeos Ripped Tights, and The Wrong Goal are sure to peek your readers interest.An essay title can be concise and straight-forward. Dont feel that you need great wit and alliteration in your title. Simple and direct language can be quite effective. Consider, for example, The J ob I Should Have Quit  by Drew,  Wallflower  by Eileen, and Striking Out  by Richard. These titles dont play with words or reveal great wit, but they accomplish their purpose perfectly well. In all of these cases, the title has provided at least a partial sense of the essays subject matter, and each has motivated the reader to continue reading. What the heck does Porkopolis mean? Why did you eat eyeballs? Why should you have quit your job? Avoid These Title Mistakes There are some common missteps that applicants make when it comes to titles. Be aware of these pitfalls: Vague language. Youll be off to a remarkably bland start if your essay is titled Three Things That Matter to Me or A Bad Experience. Bad (or good or evil or nice) is a painfully subjective and meaningless word, and the word things might have worked well in Tim OBriens The Things They Carried, but it rarely adds anything of value to your essay. Be precise, not vague.Broad, overly general language. This is a continuation of the vague language problem. Some titles try to cover far too much. You dont want to call your essay My Life Story or My Personal Growth or An Eventful Upbringing. Such titles suggest that you are going to attempt to narrate years of your life in a few hundred words. Any such effort is doomed to failure, and your reader will be doubting your essay before beginning the first paragraph.Overblown vocabulary. The best essays use clear and accessible language. When a writer attempts to sound intelligent by adding unnecessary syllables to every word, the reading experience is often torturous. When an essays title is My Utilization of Erroneous Rationalizations During My Pupilage, the readers immediate response is going to be pure dread. No one wants to read 600 words of that garbage. Strained cleverness. Be careful if youre relying on wordplay in your title. Not all readers are fans of puns, and a title may sound ridiculous if the reader doesnt understand a supposedly clever allusion. Cleverness is a good thing, but test out your title on your acquaintances to make sure it works.Clichà ©s. If your title relies on a clichà ©, youre suggesting that the experience that you are narrating is unremarkable and commonplace. You dont want the first impression of your essay to be that you have nothing original to say. So if you find yourself writing When the Cat Got My Tongue or Burning the Midnight Oil, stop yourself and reevaluate your title.Misspellings. Finally, nothing is more embarrassing than a misspelled title. There, at the top of the page in bold letters, youve used the word its instead of its, or you wrote about patients instead of patience. We all make these mistakes, but take extra care with your application essay. An error in the title is a sure way to elim inate any confidence your reader has in your writing ability. A Final Word About Application Essay Titles Many writers- both novices and experts- have a difficult time coming up with a title that works well. Dont hesitate to write your essay first and then, once your ideas have truly taken shape, go back and craft the title. Also, dont hesitate to seek help with your title. A brainstorming session with friends can often generate far better titles than a solitary session of pounding your head on your keyboard. You do want to get your title right- its going to make an immediate impression on the admissions folks who read your essay, and you clearly want them to enter your essay in a curious and eager state of mind. Finally, if youre writing your essay for the Common Application, keep in mind that your title will go in the text box with the rest of the essay, and the title will count toward your essays overall word count.