Many people believe that previous generation of Americans was completely different than the generation that lives now days. Ideology and interests have completely changed. For instance, we all know that previous generation cared a lot for peace in the world, human rights and equality of mankind. Martin Luther King, John. F. Kennedy and Malcolm X are people who fought for equality among people and most famous representatives of Generation X. But compared to the previous generation, my generation is completely different, and many people are having a debate whether it’s good or bad. Thomas Friedman in his essay “Generation Q” called current generation quiet American for a good reason. In his opinion they are not outraged as they should be (98-100). On the other hand, Rob Fishman argues that “Generation Q” is too ready to defer to technology (72-75). After reading these articles, it’s clear that both authors define this generation from different perspectives; however, they both discuss an influence technology had on people. In Friedman’s perspective, this generation has become too quiet because of what technology has brought. But according to Fishman’s response, people of this generation are taking full advantage of technology in good ways rather than hiding behind screens…
“Intelligence includes the ability to reason abstractly, the ability to profit from experience, and the ability to adapt to varying environmental contexts” (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p. 167). Tests to measure intelligence were first developed in 1905 by Frenchmen, Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon. The purpose of the tests was to measure these abilities to help children who difficulties in school. At that time, the French government began requiring all children to attend school, they wanted to be able to identify those with difficulties. The tests were made to measure skills that children would use in school “including measures of vocabulary, comprehension of facts and relationships, and mathematical and verbal reasoning” (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p. 167). The original tests developed by Binet and Simon were revised in 1916 and 1937 by Lewis Terman while at Stanford University. He wanted to revise the tests for children in the United States, and they were termed the Stanford-Binet tests. There were six different tests for different ages. When taking the test, the child would take the individual tests designed by age until he reached a test that he could not complete. A formula was used to determine the Intelligence Quotient (as known as IQ) of the child based on their scores. Binet and Simon compared the children’s actual chronological age to their “mental age” defined as “the age level of IQ test terms a child could successfully answer” (Bee & Boyd, 2012, p. 168). There have been revisions over the years in how IQ scores are calculated and today they are calculated by comparing a child’s score with that of children of the same age. There has been a need for changes in computing IQ scores because IQ scores have increased gradually over the last five decades. If a child today were to take the tests given in the early 1930s, he would score higher than the average of 100.…
As the years go by, every generation has an idiosyncratic aspect to them that no other generation has before. This aspect, though, could either be positive or negative. The Baby Boomers (1946-1966) are characterized by the increase of births due to the end of World War I and World War II. Generation X is known for their independence, both a negative and positive factor. Finally, the Millennial Generation known for their assumption of technology; this is also both a positive and negative thing especially when it comes to the work force. Although some see Millennials as lazy due to their dependency on technology, it might be this dependency that makes the Millennials an unique and important member of the workforce due to their experience…
Mark Bauerlein claims that “you guys don’t know anything.” And by “you guys”, he means the under-thirty generation, OUR generation, which he believes to be “The Dumbest Generation.” However, we are just adapting our learning abilities to the situation in which we are educated, which is completely media-focused right now. Technology has provided us with the chance to do our work and research more efficiently. Bauerlein has made a serious, judgmental claim about today’s society, but he has forgotten to acknowledge the positive effects of the new world’s technology and learning habits.…
Bauerlein's first statement in the excerpt begins by saying, "This is the paradox of the Dumbest Generation" (Source 1). He introduces some of the positives of young Americans such as "... life has never been s yielding, goods so plentiful schooling so accessible, diversion so easy, and liberties so copious" (Source 1). As he concludes this list, he begins to state the original claim that people under thirty are considered the dumbest generation. Bauerlein should not have used the list of positives of the young Americans. This adds a place for the reader to attack and weakens the point that Bauerlein is trying to make. Bauerlein leaves another fragile place for a reader to take advantage of when he says, "... knowledge and skills haven't kept pace, and the intellectual habits that complement them are slipping. The advantages of twenty-first century teen life keep expanding..." (Source 1). He contradicts the idea made in the first line with the use of the second one. If current people make advances, how can Bauerlein call this generation to be the dumbest? Using Bauerlein's own words, it can be determined that he clearly lacks the ability to present and support his claim at an intellectual…
In Generation Me, by Jean Twenge, the attacks on the generations’ ways of life and standards for living are far-fetched, in my opinion. Twenge remarks on how generation me is self-absorbed, politically uninvolved, too direct and to the point, against tradition, and all about personal happiness. These things have little to do with major problems such as global warming or the oil crisis, and are more about Twenge’s own personal pet peeves. Yes, we want to be happy, but who doesn’t? Doing well by ourselves doesn’t mean we have a complete lack of understanding and compassion to others around us. My generation is the one who is going “green”, working to solve global issues, which were not caused by our generation, but we are the ones left to clean up the mess, and trying to protect our environment. We put ourselves out there, striving to live in what we feel makes us happy and fulfills our personal needs. If you are not happy with yourself and your life, then what was the purpose of anything you did while living that life? To be who you are and to know what is truly important to you, gives you a true understanding of what makes you happy. Rather than being cold, cut-off, and self-centered as Twenge states, generation me is caring and open to ideas and change as evidenced by our out reach to global poverty and the want to preserve our world for generations to come.…
Mark Bauerlain, in his book The Dumbest Generation, claims that the current under thirty generation is the “dumbest” in modern history, citing the fact that they “don’t know anything” (Bauerlain). Yet the under thirty generation has revolutionized social and linguistic conventions at a rate unmatched by all save for the Ancient Greeks, have grown up in an intelligence-centered culture, and, older people have been complaining about the ‘shortcomings’ of the younger generations for centuries. The facts don’t support Bauerlain - his claims that young people are “dumber” are completely unfounded and radiate an aura of elderly bitterness. Millenials are in the midst of transforming society and language at a breakneck pace, “the likes of which haven’t been seen since Greek civilization” (Clive). Young people “write far more than any generation before”, and have created “new forms of expression and rules for social behavior” (Ito, Clive).…
He justifies this by making points such as our strong attachments to our cellphones and other devices. He says “This is the hallmark of what I have called the Dumbest Generation” (352). However, he says “Wounds from lunchroom gossip and bullying… These form a horizon of adolescent triumphs and set the knowledge of history, civics, religion, fine arts and foreign affairs beyond the pale of useful and relevant acquisitions” (350). It makes sense because the childish train of thought to Bauerlein in his article is a “drag on maturity.” I do agree with the article that an immature child’s train of thought is a “drag on maturity.” However, Bauerlein contradicts himself at the end when he says “These kids have just as much intelligence and ambition as any pervious cohort…” (352). He just talked about how his generation was more knowledgeable about history, civics, religion, fine arts and foreign affairs, yet at the end of the article Bauerlein just contradicts what he already addressed earlier in the…
In the United States between 1932 and 1978, mean IQ scores rose 13.8 points, or approximately 0.33 points each year (Flynn, 1984), and IQ scores continued to increase at least into the mid 1990s (Rowe & Rodgers, 2002). Even more striking increases in IQ scores were reported in other countries; for example, IQ scores in Great Britain surged 27 points between 1942 and 1992 (Flynn, 1999). Smaller increases were reported in numerous other countries (e.g., France, the Netherlands, and Norway) during shorter time periods (Flynn, 1987). The Flynn effect, as it is referred to by researchers, is supported by a growing body of research that indicates that even within relatively short timeframes, mean IQ scores tend to increase (Dickens & Flynn, 2001). Furthermore, the Flynn effect is not limited to developed countries (Daley, Whaley, Sigman, Espinosa, & Neumann, 2003). Meanwhile, research has identified numerous practical problems created by the Flynn effect. For example, rising scores require intelligence tests to be restandardized, which alters the scoring of tests such as the WAIS, and changes in test norms create difficulties in assessing the mental capacity of the mentally retarded (Tomoe & Ceci, 2003) and the elderly (Verhaeghen, 2003). Moreover, the Flynn effect may undermine the current theoretical concept of intelligence or the validity of intelligence tests (Flynn, 1984). Although numerous explanations for the Flynn effect were proposed (e.g., Dickens & Flynn, 2001; Flynn, 1987), debate on the origins of the Flynn effect continues (e.g., Rowe & Rodgers, 2002).…
The author of “Generation Me” is a social psychologist whose name is Jean M. Twenge. She is one of the “Me” Generation as she was born in 1971. Twenge suggested a different interpretation of some of the commonly held conceptions of the generation variously referred to as Generation Me. Steve Eubanks summarized this book as “…first half of the book makes the case that this is a generation in which the importance of the individual supersedes all other concerns, focusing on the cultural and demographic forces that have influenced this generation cohort. The second half of the books explores how this individual focus affects members of Generation Me, their relationships with each other generations. Twenge closes the book with a number of suggestions for how institutions can be better prepared to deal with Generation Me.” Her stance is that Generation Me has the highest self-esteem of any generation, but also the most depression. People who were born within “Me” generation are more free and equal, but also more cynical. We expect to follow our dreams, but are anxious about making that happen. I agree with her stance in some instance. She did a huge, decidedly un-GenX amount of research and replaced them with actual data. She provided a lot of helpful data and evidence from either individual or professional studies that can persuade me to believe in her arguments. “Generation Me” is a very professional book which includes an insightful analysis of the young adults Twenge labels ‘GenMe’-their supreme self-confidence in their own worth and their concern with doing things by their own way. However, I don’t recommend this book for future 1A students because it cannot catch readers’ interests and contains a wide range use of vocabulary.…
"The score on an intelligence test does predict one's ability to handle school subjects, though it foretells little of success later in life."(Gardner) Intelligence by definition is the capacity to understand and apply knowledge. Honestly, how can that be tested? What happens if the test taker is sick or he/she is answering the questions stupidly for some odd reason? There is too much esteem behind this test; it should have no bearing other than a predicting tool. Not the scale that one must measure up to be considered intelligent.…
In today's time and age, grownups are overestimating the effects of media and new technologies. The new generation is born into the digital age but that doesn't necessarily mean they are any less intelligent than the previous generation. The misconception that the new generation appears dumb exists because of the media, technology, and choices made by the new generation.…
You are part of the millennial generation if you were born between the years 1980 and 2000. “They are more ethnically and racially diverse than older adults. They're less religious, less likely to have served in the military, and are on track to become the most educated generation in American history (Keeter & Taylor 2010, p.1). What can we expect from the Millennial Generation? Millennials are sheltered, their parents are known for coming to their child’s defense quickly and monitoring their children’s online activity this leads to greater trust and relationship between the parent and the child. Millennials are team oriented, this generation is social and does well working in groups. Millennials are confident, “With so much positive reinforcement from parents and other authority figures, the Millennial Generation is confident about the future. They believe success will translate into success for their environment and society as a whole” (McAlister 2009, p.1). Millennials are achievement oriented and pressured, they want to achieve success in every part of their lives, they like to be challenged, and they participate in many activities. Millennials are multitaskers, they use a variety of communication devices while doing other activities like homework. Other characteristics of the millennial generation are conventional, less devoted to faith, optimistic, materialistic, stressed, environmentalists, and techno-savvy.…
ration Why are employers having such great difficulties attracting and retaining young employees? Maybe it is time that we try to see things from their point of view as well.…
Why are teens gradually destroying their generation? Based on from the article by Jean Twenge, she shows an tremendous change from Generation X and Generation Z. I really thought her idea of calling my generation iGen was very innovative because it really describes the generation in one word and it is very precise. I am amazed by the changes from Generation X to Generation Z like the difference between hanging out with friends, being anxious to drive, dating, sex, feeling lonely, and the sleep students tend to get. One part that resonated with me the most was when she talked about having cell phones with you before going to…