If you’re like most soon-to-be college students, chances are there’s a philosophy course waiting in your future. While you may recoil in horror at the notion of studying things like utilitarianism and deontology, the truth is that looking at the world through a philosophical lens can be fun and — dare I say it? –- enlightening.
Still skeptical? Then maybe you should try easing yourself into the realm of philosophical discussion with the help of the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series. Each book from this ongoing collection is dedicated to analyzing a different cultural icon or show within the entertainment world. Chapters are written by college professors from across the nation and are as educational as they are representative of fandom at its finest, with everything from character motivations to plotlines discussed.
Case in point: After reading just two chapters of Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul, I’ve been introduced to classical and contemporary thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and Judith Jarvis Thomson — all in the course of pondering popular Batty topics like why Batman is better than the Man of Steel, and Bruce Wayne’s motivations for ever donning the cape.
In short, the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series is a perfect easy-to-understand crash course in philosophy cushioned by a topic you already love. Where else will you be able to read about the philosophical implications of hot shows like 24, Lost, Family Guy,The Office, and even The Daily Show?
It’s not unusual to hear about kids taking more pains to cheat than to study – there are even entire movies written around the concept as in the case of “The Perfect Score” – but a high school student in Orange County, California may have recently taken things to the extreme.
Known for his Cs and Ds at the prestigious Tesoro High School, 18-year-old Omar Khan now has to deal with some heavy math. There are 69 criminal charges pending against him — and they’re all related to an alleged scheme to turn lackluster grades into sterling As! Using everything from identity theft and spyware, to the old standby of and breaking and entering, Khan is alleged to have broken into his school’s computer databanks to up grades for himself and a dozen others.
While these charges may seem petty when taken on their own, together they result in nearly four decades of jail time. Though it’s doubtful Khan will get even half that amount if convicted — a few years of jail and community service is far more likely — it’s still a high price to pay for what could have easily been gained through a few hours of studying.
So maybe next time Khan will try cracking some books before he has to crack open a jail cell. With his leet hacking skills and computer prowess he could have easily embarked upon a lucrative career in technology. And trust me, “career criminal” doesn’t sound half as good as “computer systems analyst” to a prospective employer.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
Update: Looks like Khan had a “study buddy” in all this. Fellow student, Tanvir Singh, is suspected in connection with the cheating scandal and will turn himself in next week.
Snoop tells the new issue of Esquire: “A lot of people like to fool you and say that you’re not smart if you never went to college, but common sense rules over everything. That’s what I learned from selling crack.”
This from the man who speaks in “izzle-isms.”
Sure, college doesn’t teach you everything, Mr. Dogg, that’s why it’s important for people to live life, act on their entrepreneurial passions, soak up lessons both in and out of the classroom, and then go, go, go. But still, college equips you with the foundational knowledge to make sound decisions, excel in the business world, and deal with everyday situations both on the job and off.
And for those who have a life goal greater than dealing crack in a back alley, it sure does help.
Lengthy novels, obscure phrases, and unfamiliar metaphors — combine them all and you may have a tough time landing a 4.0 in your college lit class. But don’t stress yet. There are plenty of ways to boost your reading comprehension and your grades. While study groups and study guides (like CliffsNotes and SparkNotes) are classic strategies, Internet-savvy teens like you might be interested in the next level of studying: Book Glutton.
Created as a type of social marketing network for bookworms, Book Glutton (www.bookglutton.com) lets users create free accounts and then download and discuss literature with each other. Although these free e-books are limited to works that are in the public domain (e.g. Voltaire’s “Candide”), students will find that many of their required readings are offered on Book Glutton. Presented in an online reader format, each book has a real-time chat box in which users can discuss their interpretations and views. Book Glutton members can also add notes to a book, allowing future readers to benefit from their insight as well.
As for the social aspect of the site, Book Glutton members create profiles, friends lists, and join and create reading groups — a handy solution for college students who want to create study groups but who can’t always meet on campus. Aspiring writers can even choose to upload their own works for discussion and review by others.
Still in its beta version, Book Glutton seems like a promising way for college students and lifelong bibliophiles to learn and share.
“The SAT is often viewed as a deal maker or breaker, instead of being viewed as a test that measures a fairly limited set of skills.” – Michele LoBosco, tutoring center co-founder and writer of a book about acing the SAT.
There are lots of books out there that try to help you crack that scary SAT exam. So which is the right one for you? Check out what these books have to offer you for your SAT prep!
How to Survive the SAT [and ACT] (Hundreds of Heads Books, LLC, 2007) In this small, handheld book, you can flip through quotes from real students and parents. Get advice, reactions, and tips on how to survive that test all students dread: the SAT. You’ll see firsthand actual guidance from people who have been there and done that.
Although there are no actual SAT practice questions in this book, it certainly has helpful strategies, with charts, boxes, statistics, and horror stories.
Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT (Workman Publishing, 2006) With an extensive word list, the 2007-2008 edition of this SAT help book certainly aims to “up your score.” It includes more than 600 words and if you’re not that in to reading a book all the time, you can download the words onto your iPod and study them on the go! The same word list appears throughout the book and uses silly sentences as ways to remember vocab that’s most commonly found on the SAT.
Charts and pictures help to serve as explanations that will make learning strategies easier, while a partnership with PrepMe.com provides a free online test.
How to Ace the SAT Without Losing Your Cool (MJ Publishing, 2007) This SAT prep book was written by two tutoring center owners, who happen to be sisters. In it, there are instructions on acing the SAT: it is broken down by section, followed by sample practice problems. The authors pose questions to the reader to get them thinking about their own skills (ie. “What happens when…” and “What does this mean?”). It’s almost like the authors are having a conversation with their audience.
There are step-by-step explanations, charts, and a great appendix equipped with parts of speech and sample sentences. The SAT prep book really helps you set goals and achieve them in the time before the SAT, even though there is no beginning to end test provided in the book. To find more advice from the book’s authors, click here.
It’s never too early to prep for the SAT! Convenience pairs up with practicality in the latest and greatest tutor. Franklin Electronics has teamed up with the Princeton Review to create the Pocket Prep Interactive Handheld Tutor for the SAT and ACT ($129.95 at http://www.franklin.com).
Its lightweight feeling, as well as its sleek carrying case make this tutor extremely convenient to take anywhere. Study on the bus ride to school or in between classes. With practice tests, study aids, and test prep, you’ll get lots of practice and learn to ace that standardized test within no time at all.
Each practice test has 10 sections, with reading, writing, math, and essay questions. And the best part is that the device keeps time for you so you don’t have to continually watch the clock and monitor your time. You just need to glance at the top of the screen to see how many minutes remain. Furthermore, you’ll be able to get your score when all is said and done.
In addition to its convenient carrying case, your tutor comes equipped with a pencil and a graph paper pad. There’s even a place to put your calculator! Your tutor is easy to use and everything you need is right there, including electronic flashcards. It makes it that much easier for the student.
Don’t forget to register for the exam! Here are some important test dates:
SAT:
November 3, 2007
December 1, 2007
January 26, 2008
March 1, 2008
May 3, 2008
June 7, 2008
ACT:
December 8, 2007
February 9, 2008
April 12, 2008
June 14, 2008
Find out more about the popular Twitter chat, #CollegeBound, which can connect you with college respresentatives and others who have the same goals, struggles, and questions you have. Every Monday at 4 p.m. EST on Twitter. Get detailed info here.
Who We Are
Follow our smart and savvy CBN bloggers as they guide you through every step of your quest to find the right college. Whether it’s figuring out that FAFSA, making sense of the SAT, or simply dishing gossip about celebrity smarty pants, they’ve got you covered. But be warned—these bloggers are fully caffeinated and know how to use their social media powers for both good and evil! So, whaddya’ say — do they get an A+?
Chapters are written by college professors from across the nation and are as educational as they are representative of fandom at its finest, with everything from character motivations to plotlines discussed.
In this small, handheld book, you can flip through quotes from real students and parents. Get advice, reactions, and tips on how to survive that test all students dread: 
With an extensive word list, the 2007-2008 edition of this SAT help book certainly aims to “up your score.” It includes more than 600 words and if you’re not that in to reading a book all the time, you can download the words onto your iPod and study them on the go! The same word list appears throughout the book and uses silly sentences as ways to remember vocab that’s most commonly found on the SAT.
This SAT prep book was written by two tutoring center owners, who happen to be sisters. In it, there are instructions on acing the SAT: it is broken down by section, followed by sample practice problems. The authors pose questions to the reader to get them thinking about their own skills (ie. “What happens when…” and “What does this mean?”). It’s almost like the authors are having a conversation with their audience.
It’s never too early to prep for the SAT! Convenience pairs up with practicality in the latest and greatest tutor. Franklin Electronics has teamed up with the Princeton Review to create the Pocket Prep Interactive Handheld Tutor for the SAT and ACT ($129.95 at http://www.franklin.com).