Memoirs Of A Sleep

Memoirs Of A Sleep The paper traces the meanings of associated with the word savage by analyzing the book by Edgar Huntly, Memoirs Of A Sleep-Walker by Brown. The paper recognizes that the different nuances of the word savage have been brought into use to justify the attitude in colonialism.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Memoirs Of A Sleep-Walker specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In this paper Conrad’s work the Heart of Darkness is used to illustrate the attitude of colonialism towards African societies that are seen as savage. The paper cites information from colonialism informed materials that have taken to support the savage attitude as the lowest form of a human society. The paper ends with a note that colonialism was an attempt to raise the savage to civilized standards of the world that resulted to conflict. Savage as a word has many connotations and meaning when used in the daily use of language. As a result therefore wh en uttered the obvious and most common meaning inferred is that of lacking complex or advanced culture. In this meaning the word savage is taken to refer to a people or a country that lies behind the normal standards as relatively measured by the civilized concepts. Civilization is the opposite where a people or a nation are seen in terms of culture and practice as complex, sophisticated and modern. By this definition therefore, any culture whose practices, way of life as well as perspectives seem to differ than the standardized norms and to some extent viewed in a negative sense bear the mark ‘uncivilized’ and hence its inhabitants become savage. By inferring to the other meanings of savage this paper seeks to understand the nuances of the word application in many uses. Savage has another entry in the language dictionary of one which has not been domesticated. This has the sole meaning that the subject of talk is not under human control and therefore may be termed wild . To term the subject wild translates to the opinion that it is untamed and thus the principles of operation are based and understood from the animalistic point of view. This means that they are guided by animal instinct (Chidester 12).Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The other entry meaning of savage refers to the lack of restraint which is observed by human beings. In this meaning the subject referred to as savage lacks the normal human control skills hence it is guided by this nature to become ferocious and fierce. It may also take the form of uncultivated or wild as well as rude to mean of manners. This work will thus aim to evaluate the usage of the term savage in Brown’s work ‘Edgar Huntley Memoirs of a Sleep Walker’ as well as the colonial usage of the word (Page 45). In his work Brown makes the main protagonist refer to his enemy in a pa rticular view that denotes the different meanings of the word savage. One such use of the word is found in the line â€Å"†¦my condition, the savage rushed from his covert in order to complete his work† (Brown 4) is used in the sense that depicts the enemy who is the main protagonist. In this story the protagonists relents his story that occurs to the reader as a battle requiring the participants to use every necessary techniques to defeat the enemy. As a result therefore, this reference to the enemy who happens to be an Indian as later the character reveals can only be taken to mean the ferocious enemy bent on killing another. It is important on the other hand to note that the attitude of the main protagonist is skewed against his enemy based on the fact that he becomes the victorious participant of the ensuing charade despite his admission that he had been injured on the cheek. As a result therefore the reader finds pejorative attitude towards the character’s op ponent which runs through the novel (Bain-Selbo 23). In another instance he describes the last enemy of the five group gang against his survival in the following words â€Å"†¦He moved on all fours and presently came near enough to be distinguished. His disfigured limbs, pendants from his nose and ears and his shorn locks were indubitable indications of as savage, (Brown 23).† This meaning is purely based on the definitions of savage that borders and translates to wild and uncultivated. To infer to this meaning this enemy is rendered beastly by the description of moving on ‘all fours’ which gives the impression of animal.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Memoirs Of A Sleep-Walker specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The main character creates the image of an animal which is further extended to ferocity based on the fact as explained by the character that his actions were meant to kill (Jauregui 1 5). The description of the pendants hanging from his ears and nose clearly give the reader the impression of an ancient culture whose notoriety of using such ancient jewelry is on records. In the present image therefore the main character invokes the meaning of uncivilized being that lacks taste in the choice of usage beautifying elements. As a result therefore the reader perceives this enemy as crude and unsophisticated. This image is further stretched by the narrator in the description of the loud shrieks that his enemy throws after receiving the bullet. These ‘doleful’ shrieks at first convince the narrator to run away from the scene only to compel him later to end the necessary task of killing the enemy. It is only worthy to note that the narrator at first attributes the movement of the enemy to that of a beast like a panther or a bear (Brown 21). Indeed he refers to his enemy as a wretch who needs to be relieved his present pain and pangs and thus this gives the na rrator the excuse to eliminate him as an enemy now and in the future. In this story the character is related to an English colonial man who is his uncle in the state country of India. His predicament follows from the fact that he is being chased for some particular reasons by the natives of India. In his description of Queen Meb it becomes clear that the settler are unwanted in this country and hence the ensuing conflict between them and the natives lead to the apparent state of affairs that inform of his predicament (Meining 16).Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More By the description of the thicket and country side where he walks through it is clear that the country is in position that is explainable in savage terms. The country side lacks serious roads that depict countries at the time of colonialism. Based on the fact that the English was far much advanced its colonies could only be referred to shabby shadows of itself and therefore they were by all terms uncivilized. In his book, Conrad attributes the same character traits to the natives of the African lands. In their description Conrad using his major narrator a stem engine driver the reader is informed of savage attitude towards them. This is clearly depicted by the dying scene at the station of black figures that the narrator does not first recognize as human beings. He observes that their presence in the station makes it move forward through their hard work. In return they would get nothing except hunger that resulted to emaciated figures whose beautiful reward was to succumb to the bow els of the earth through untold suffering. In this work Conrad’s presentation of the natives is of the pure most savage attitude and meaning noting from the choice of his words. The narrator refers to the place of as the heart of darkness which is only characterized by big buttressed forests that seems to stand and stare forever with no apparent movement (Conrad 81). Indeed this is well confirmed back in England by the doctor whose experiment seeks to measure the impact of the experiences of the ‘heart of darkness’ upon seafarers and explorers. The narrators attempt to decline experimental measurements of the skull for his studies come to a futile effort when he explains the purpose and the impeding danger he is to face (Bird Rose 34). As if to confirm this fact the narrator’s search for Mr. Kutz as the most famous and trusted explorer leads to confirm these truths as of the savage nature of the natives. He narrates that the man responsible for repairing t he engine of his steam boat is one who can not be trusted despite the fact that he had been trained very well. He therefore has to guide and watch his work to ensure that everything was right. In this attitude he makes the statement that the Africans are savage starting from their environment to themselves (Moses 13). When he meets Mr. Kutz he gets disappointed by his state of affairs. Although he is the most famous explorer in the region he has turned to tendencies that reveal his inferior nature to the former self. The narrator realizes that Mr. Kutz has been affected by his long stay in the heart of darkness and thus his mentor powers and brilliance no longer match or reflect his stock heritage. His efforts to save Mr. Kutz are fraught with instances that reveal his attitudes of the natives as savages who get frightened by the sound of a whistle (Conrad 90). In their book Woodard and Minkley (32) observe that the origin of slavery appeared in the scientific quest for the state of nature of the infancy of mankind. The discussions sought to classify people into in relation to superior and inferior codes in the theory of political governance. These discussions had been influenced by issues like the social contract which led to the question of the need for civil laws in civil societies. Enlightenment issues after indicated that the development of human societies started from the most basic forms, savagery to attain the highest levels of human form. Therefore savage represents the lowest form of human being or society and hence colonialism would be justified as a form of practice that would help to change from this low form to a better more advanced form (Piomingo 3). In these respect therefore, these historical thinking informed and guided the start and onset of colonialism in the world. As an example the Khokhoi and the San were seen as a society lacking the necessary ingredients to inform of a civilized society and therefore the British and the Dutch colonial practices were justified. This would only make the ‘savages’ better hence the need for colonialism (Brown et al. 24). As a result therefore, the meaning of savagery in the colonial times was a means to move and in the countries in an attempt to raise the low human beings close the best society. In this process the colonialist would take the position of a guide to new and civilized tastes of the human society already civilized. However, in this process conflict would arise as the savage sought to rid himself of the burden of mistreatment and oppression resulting to the states explained by Brown. Bird Rose, D. Hidden histories: black stories from Victoria River Downs, Humbert River, and Wave Hill Stations. Sydney: Aboriginal Studies Press, 1991.Print. Brown, Charles B. Edgar Huntly, or Memoirs of a sleep-walker. Oxford: Oxford University. 2006. Print. Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. London: Penguin Popular Classics, 1994. Print. Chidester, David. Savage systems: colo nialism and comparative religion in southern Africa. Studies in religion and culture. Virginia: University Press of Virginia, 1996. Print. Dickason, Patricia, O. The Myth of Savage and the Beginnings of French Colonialism in the Americas. Alberta: University of Alberta Press. 1997. Print. Jauregui, Carlos A., and Morana, Mabel. Revisiting the colonial question in Latin America. Madri:Iberoamericana Editorial, 2008. Print. Meining, Sigrun. Witnessing the past: history and post-colonialism in Australian historical novels. Langeweisen: Gunter Narr Verlag, 2004. Print. Moses, Dirk. Empire, colony, genocide: conquest, occupation, and subaltern resistance in world history. Oxfor:Berghahn Books, 2008. Print. Page, Melvin E., Colonialism: an international social, cultural, and political encyclopedia. California: ABC-CLIO, 2003. Print. Piomingo. The savage. New York: T.S. Manning. 2006. Print Woodward and Gary Minkley. Deep histories: gender and colonialism in Southern Africa. Amsterdam:Rodo pi. 2002. Print. Bain-Selbo, E. Judge and be judged: moral reflection in an age of relativism and fundamentalism. Oxford: Lexington Books, 2006

Whats Actually Tested on the ACT Math Section Concepts, Subjects, and Skills

What's Actually Tested on the ACT Math Section Concepts, Subjects, and Skills SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you preparing for the ACT? You’re probably wondering what you need to know to be ready for the math section. For many students, the math section can be the most stressful part of the ACT because of its breadth and time difficulty. In this post, we'll break down exactly what will appear on the ACT math test, with sample questions. We'll also give you the resources you need to start studying so you can get the best score possible. What's the Format of the ACT Math Section? The ACT math section is 60 minutes long, with 60 questions total – so you’ll have just one minute to complete each question. You’ll definitely have to work quickly if you want to answer each one! Every question is multiple choice, and there is no penalty for guessing. Pacing and problem solving are the big challenges on the ACT math section. Pacing is tricky because you have to answer questions as quickly as possible without losing accuracy. In addition, you have to be able to quickly identify ways to solve problems. This is why studying specifically for ACT math is so important, since it requires you to work faster and more strategically than you have to in math class. You need to be able to problem solve, or use what the ACT calls using reasoning abilities. In addition, the math questions are not ordered by topic, so you need to be prepared to quickly switch between topics like statistics, algebra, and geometry. Test Content and Requirements The ACT tests math skills that most students know by the beginning of grade 12 – which in practice means nothing beyond Algebra II. If you’re an advanced student, ACT math content will be very straightforward. The content breakdown for ACT math is: Pre-Algebra (20-25%) Elementary Algebra (15-20%) Intermediate Algebra (15-20%) Coordinate Geometry (15-20%) Plane Geometry (20-25%) Trigonometry (5-10%) We’ll explore those sections in-depth with example problems and explain how you get scores for each section. You can use a calculator – but it has to be a permitted one. However, you’re not required to use a calculator, meaning all problems on the ACT can be solved without one. Be careful not to rely too much on your calculator if you use one, as it can actually slow you down. (For an expert discussion on the best calculators for standardized tests, see our post.) Unlike the SAT, you’re not given a reference sheet, so you have to know basic math formulas (y = mx + b, the area formula, the quadratic formula, etc) but nothing too complex. What Are ACT Math Section Subscores? Your score is based on how many total points out of 60 possible you earn. That raw score is converted to a section score between 1 and 36 (for more on that process, see our ACT scoring guide). You also receive three subscores based on the six content areas: pre-algebra and elementary algebra, intermediate algebra and coordinate geometry, and plane geometry and trigonometry. The subscores basically give more detailed information about your performance, but are generally not looked at too closely by colleges (your overall math section score and ACT composite are most important). However, you can use the subscore areas to focus your studying by math topic. We will explore the three math subsections and show some example questions for each. You might find that you are more than prepared for one area but need to focus your practice on one topic, like trigonometry or coordinate geometry. While we will give a detailed overview of what you can expect to see on the math section, we also recommend doing full practice tests so you can really get a sense of what the ACT math section is really like. #1: Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra Pre-Algebra (20-25%) Basic operations using whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and integers Place value Square roots and approximations The concept of exponents Scientific notation Factors Ratio, proportion, and percent Linear equations in one variable Absolute value and ordering numbers by value Elementary counting techniques and simple probability Data collection, representation, and interpretation Understanding simple descriptive statistics A basic operations problem. A probability problem based on a real-world situation. Elementary Algebra (15-20%) Properties of exponents and square roots Evaluation of algebraic expressions through substitution Using variables to express functional relationships Understanding algebraic operations The solution of quadratic equations by factoring Two elementary algebra problems. The first uses variables to express a real-world relationship. The second tests evaluation of algebraic expressions through substitution. #2: Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry Intermediate Algebra (15-20%) The quadratic formula Rational and radical expressions Absolute value equations and inequalities Sequences and patterns Systems of equations Quadratic inequalities Functions and modeling Matrices Roots of polynomials Complex numbers Coordinate Geometry (15-20%) Graphing and the relations between equations and graphs, including points, lines, polynomials, circles, and other curves Graphing inequalities Slope Parallel and perpendicular lines Distance Midpoints Conics #3: Plane Geometry/Trigonometry Plane Geometry (20-25%) Properties and relations of plane figures, including angles and relations among perpendicular and parallel lines Properties of circles, triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, and trapezoids Transformations The concept of proof and proof techniques Volume Applications of geometry to three dimensions Trigonometry (5-10%) Trigonometric relations in right triangles Values and properties of trigonometric functions Graphing trigonometric functions Modeling using trigonometric functions Use of trigonometric identities Solving trigonometric equations Example questions via Preparing for the ACT. Where Can You Find ACT Math Practice Materials? Now that you know what's on ACT Math, your next step is to start practicing! The most important way to prepare for the ACT is to take practice tests. We havelinks to free, official online practice teststo get you started. If you need to especially practice math, you can just take the Math sections, but for everyone we recommend you take at least a few full-length practice ACTs so you can get an idea of how well you'd do on the entire exam and get experience taking such a long test. A prep book can also be a major help while you're studying ACT Math, especially if there are some concepts you're still struggling to understand. However, it's important to get a high-quality prep book.See our guide tothe best ACT prep books on the market. What’s Next? Not sure what your target ACT score should be? Learn what a good, bad, or excellent score looks like, and the type of score you should aim for based on your dream colleges. Want some help studying? Consider using our PrepScholar program. We take the hard part out of studying so you can focus on practicing for the test, using high-quality practice questions, and improving your weak areas. Are you not a big fan of geometry? See if it’s possible to take the ACT without geometry. Looking for a perfect ACT math score? Get tips from our 36 full-scorer. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by ACT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today: