Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer's Essay 'Pitching Your Praise'

She asks the question what can we do to help children. She suggests why don’t we process praise in other words “intelligence praise”. This creates kids that a hardy and resilient. This creates more effort strategy and perseverance. She wants to change student’s mindsets. Also wants people to push out of their comfort zones because that will make them smarter. This will help a lot with struggling students according to her.

Children and young peoples should always be given enough of praise to motivate them. Praise on its own will not only improve their self-esteem and confidence but will also make them better individuals. Praise and encouragement plays a major role in increasing resilience and self-confidence. Believing in oneself makes a big difference in one’s self efficacy, it not only gives children the opportunities to achieve more than expected but also helps them begin to value that their own efforts make a difference. Children and young people who have previously had a very damaging childhood feel the ability to value how far they have overcome huge obstacles in their lives. With confidence, they can make decisions for themselves and take up responsibilities.

In “The Secret Of Raising Smart Kids”, Carol S. Dweck suggests overpraising children may be counterproductive. Effort, not intelligence or ability, is the key to success in school and life according to the article. Dweck claims there are two views of intelligence, “growth mind-set” and “fixed mind-set”. “Fixed mind-set” is when a student believes that intelligence is a fixed trait and losses confidence when errors are made attributed to their lack of ability. “Growth mind-set” thinks of intelligence as something that can be developed through education and difficult work. Instead of praising a child for their intelligence she suggests giving them a pat on the back for effort. Also, Dweck states that children can develop a “growth mind-set” through a workshop involving a series of study skills sessions and classes on how to apply a “growth mind-set” to school work. I find it hard to agree with Dweck’s claims that there are only two views of intelligence, a proper way to praise, and proposes a child can make up their own mind-set through her workshops.

“If we’re going to become kinder, that process has to include taking ourselves seriously - as doers, as accomplishers, as dreamers. We have to do that, to be our best selves. Still, accomplishment is unreliable. “Succeeding” […] and the need to do so constantly renews itself.” (ll. 203-211).

She is a certified Positive Discipline Educator and a mother, meaning she has experience with this topic. Due to her positive ethos, the article is reliable and a strong argument. Along with McCready’s ethos, she presents her ideas in a clear, logical way. This also strengthens her argument and provides coherence. McCready utilizes proper organization, including visual appeal due to the fact all of her paragraphs look about the same length; this pleases the eye and subconsciously makes the reader flow through the article more smoothly. Another aspect of organization apparent within the article is unity. The paragraphs include unity, along with contributing to the main, unified idea. The information was presented in a logical, well-constructed manner, and it is applicable to a large portion of the population--parents and teachers. Another positive characteristic is her use of a rogerian argument in the beginning. This entices the reader and allows them to start thinking. Despite the article’s flaws, it is a strong argument presented with a sound

The positive effects of adult support for children can be witnessed as children gain confidence and show an increased level of self-esteem. These positive effects are reinforced when encouraged and given praise for their achievements from teachers, parents, carers, and other adults.

Furthermore, children enjoy receiving praise to and will seek it out at every available opportunity. For example, if a child receives a trophy for one event that they participated in, they might expect the same reward for everything that they do in the future. Parents do not want to let down their children's expectations and now demand that their children receive rewards whenever possible. Therefore, the reason children and parents have come to expect that the children are rewarded are quite understandable. Yet this is also the basis for the so-called youth epidemic of narcissism.

A gothic novel is an English genre of fiction that was popular in the early 18th and 19th centuries that combines horror, mystery, and death in a seemingly meaningful setting. Frankenstein took place in continental Europe, specifically Switzerland and Germany, with other parts taking place in Arctic regions. The location/setting is just one characteristic that makes this a gothic novel. Gothic novels consist of various elements such as; castle settings, atmospheres of mystery and suspense, ancient prophecies, omens, portents, visions, supernatural or inexplicable events, and numerous other elements. However, each gothic book varies because

Initially, In the article, “The Secret to Raising Smart Kids”, Carol S. Dweck analyzes the correlation between parents who praise their children for intellect and how that praise negatively affects the child’s academic performance. In 1972, a study was performed when a group of elementary and middle school students displayed helpless behavioral attributes. One group who exhibited the “helpless behavioral trait” learned to keep trying as the problems increased in difficulty. Another group who exhibited the same “helpless behavioral trait” and were rewarded for their intelligence and success on easier problems failed to complete and fully answer problems that

1. I agree process praise encourage and motivate children to work hard learn, explore and have a healthy outlook on their abilities and praise that is sincere and conveys realistic expectations can promote a child's self-motivation. 2. I read The Flip Side of praise and I disagree with the article saying that praise is a way to manipulate children to comply with adult wishes. 3. I will practice process praise because I read in the article that process praise shown to encourage children to develop a flexible mindset comfront their weaknesses and take on challenges.

A parent must remember that it is important to always be conscientious of what he expresses to his child because children believe what they are told about themselves. Likewise, parents should avoid comparing their children to others such as siblings, friends or classmates. Comparing a child to others can cause the child to begin to fear failure. The child may also feel as though he will never measure up to whom they are being compared. Instead children must be commended on their own efforts without the use of comparison.

Write about what the teacher likes. Look around your teachers room, what do you see? If there’s football posters, dance trophies, or funny pictures or sayings it’s a good chance that writing about those things will help you fake the essay and get away with it. Annie Paul, a famous journalist, says “This will give your reader a sense of being energized and invigorated, captivated and enthralled.” The more they like your essay the easier they will be on you when grading the paper.

I picked this book because, like my previous book, it was written by John Green. The Lexile level for this book is 890. In my opinion, the title doesn’t have very much significance to the book. However, it reflects on the fact that the main character, Colin, had 19 girlfriends named Katherine. The first two paragraphs describes him taking a bath, which isn’t important to the plot at all except that it vaguely notes that Colin is a teenage prodigy and just got dumped by Katherine (number 19 to be exact). It didn’t pull me in at first, but as I read further, it felt like I was being dragged inside by a rope.

Not only are children learning that they do not have to work for their praise, but they are also becoming dependent on praise. In essence, students are becoming dependent on praise because it is wrapped up with their self-esteem. This dependency stunts growth, creates a fragile psyche, and even a sense of helplessness that undermines achievement. (Kamins and Dweck, 1999) A child with such a dependence on praise will have a tougher time in life than that of a child who is not so dependent on praise.

Giving praise to our children comes naturally; most of us have done it hundreds of times without even thinking about it. The phrases: “you’re so smart” or, “wow you did a great job” just roll off our tongue. After all who doesn’t like to receive recognition for a job well done? But by praising children, are we setting them up for failure? Telling our kids they are smart does not keep them from underperforming, but instead might be causing it. B.F. Skinner’s work in operant conditioning showed us the process in which behavior can be manipulated (Wood, et al, 2008, p. 155), but Skinner didn’t take into account the long term effects of such manipulation. Are we conditioning children