The Troubling Nature of Pop Culture

The Troubling Nature of Pop Culture We’ve all been MTV’d. We grew up with pop drivel invading every dark corner of our media-saturated lives: The glowing box in the living room showcasing ideal families in ideal homes living ideal lives. The car stereo blaring bland top-40-isms during rush-hour traffic. Newspapers foretelling inescapable doom and irremediable despair without any hope of salvation or redemption. Magazines twaddling the latest gossip about such and such and what’s his name. Our collective brains have soaked up the meaningless muck and are now waterlogged with platitudes and cultural niceties and the false expectations of the way life should be. American Express: Never leave home without it. Coca-Cola: It’s the real thing. McDonald’s: I’m lovin’ it. We know these corporate slogansâ€"and many othersâ€"by heart. We’ve let them in without even knowing we were letting them in. We’ve accepted these mantras as maxims by which we should make our decisions. If someone continuously repeats a lie, does it eventually become the truth? Is it not safe to leave our homes without our credit cards? Is the realest thing in our lives a carbonated aluminum can of sugar? Do we really love the golden arches? Even Pringles admits they know we are programmed: Once you pop, you can’t stop! Sadly, they’re right. It’s difficult to shake the sedative weight of everything we’ve learned from pop culture. Fortunately, though, once you go pop, you can stop. We never opted-in to pop culture: it had us in its sinister clutch at birth, an invisible umbilical cord no one thought to cut. After all, what’s the harm in a little TV, in a little late-night news, in catching up on the day’s current events? Nothing. But when we simply accept the idiot box’s catchy one-liners as epigrams by which we must make our most important decisions, we get lost quickly. It’s easy to be passively entertained and informed, accepting catchphrases to be self-evident. Even the news has to be “info-tainment”  these days so it’s more palatable to the casual listener (read: consumer). That’s because it’s easy to be entertained, but it’s hard work to seek out the truth, it’s difficult to form our own opinions based on multiple points of view, and it’s much easier to allow someone elseâ€"be it Rush Limbaugh, Keith Olbermann, or a faceless corporation with a seemingly endless marketing budgetâ€"to form an opinion for us. Besides the problems of its inherently passive nature, today’s commercial-riddled pop-information can’t inform us of life’s larger problems, of our deepest troubles and fears, of what it actually means to be aliveâ€"what it means to be a human being in the most complex time in human history. The American Dream is brokenâ€"it has been for decades, and attempting to go back to “the way things were” will not fix it. “Fixing it”  would only perpetuate the inevitable, making it worse in the long run. The longer we put off our troubles, the harder they are to deal with. Instead, as a culture, we must take responsibility. We must fix ourselves. We must create the disciplines necessary to be alive in this complex world. We must become aware of what’s going on around us so ultimately we can be aware of what’s going on inside usâ€"only then will we know what’s truly important. Read this essay and 150 others in our new book, Essential.

Gerontology Interview - 1645 Words

Interview Paper My grandfather recently passed away 6 months ago. So I have personally witnessed my grandmother go through the grieving process as well as deal with her own sickness. Unfortunately my grandmother will have to enter a nursing home because my mother can no longer tend to her needs. This is a difficult time for my family because my grandmother doesnt want to go into a nursing home, but she requires 24/7 care. For my interview I chose the neighbors mother who’s situation, age and lifestyle are very similar to my grandmother’s. Her name is Lucy and she is 82 yrs. old living with her oldest daughter. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome to the questions I asked her. We conducted the interview in her home†¦show more content†¦However, she did mention that she didn’t understand what young people saw in rap music. She said it is so negative and its causing young people to do bad things, but she assumed that it was just a phase that most will grow out of. Lucy remains busy by singing in her church choir. That seems to be the only outlet she has. Although choir rehearsal is twice a week, Lucy has been able to make it at least once a week. I know that there are people who do this with their church but I did not realize that some of them were much older adults. I think these activities help to prevent disengagement theory from being present in her life. She is so involved with church and it’ activities that she gets to continually interact with people and not lose that social connection to others. Lucy mentioned that she talks to someone from her church family at least 4 times a week and her church family fills that empty v oid left by the death of her husband. Her daughter lives with her and she plays the role of mother by doing the cooking and cleaning and not allowing Lucy to do anything for fear of hurting herself. This living condition does not make Lucy happy. . In the book â€Å"Issues In Aging† by Mark Novak, the author speaks about people achieving a greater spirituality later in life. He mentions that many older people feel a stronger connection to religion and have a strong religious faith as they age. Lucy mentioned inShow MoreRelatedInterview . Interviewee Expertise. M.Lang Has Worked With1079 Words   |  5 PagesInterview Interviewee Expertise M.Lang has worked with older adults in a variety of positions for 7 years. Her educational and professional experiences include working as a physical therapy assistant, assisted living activities director, and activities specialist (M.Lang, personal communication, March 5, 2017). Depending on either her role as director or specialist, the number of clientele served at a time ranged from 20 to 40 individuals from the young old to the oldest of old (M. Lang, personalRead MoreA Research Study On Successful Aging919 Words   |  4 Pagesand self-growth in later life on the other† (Reichstadt, Older Adults Perspectives on Successful Aging: Qualitative Interviews, pp. 567-575.) Gerontology as a field of scientific study can be traced back to the late 1800s; a time when research primarily focused on the negative attributes of aging, such as health decline. It wasn t until the introduction of social gerontology in 1983 that researchers began to more rigorously study the psychological and social aspects of aging. In recognizingRead MoreElderly Interview1449 Words   |  6 PagescRunning head: ELDER INTERVIEW Elder Interview Jorge Fernandez Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing NURS 3313 – Care of the Healthy Aging Adult Elder Interview General Appearance Normal Signs of Aging Mrs. L is a 64 year old female Caucasian who lives in West Texas. Her hair is naturally gray, but she dyes it, and appears thin and evenly distributed on her head. There are no signs of baldness but her hair is thinning. Tabloski (2006) states â€Å"the hair of a older personRead MoreThe Interview with a Ms.Brown, Elderly Person Essay example629 Words   |  3 Pageselderly, in particular, Ageism, social network, Caregiving. I countries like , Mexico, where grandparents form a constituent part in a family, the United States has seen a major shift away from this reality. On my second interview with Ms. Brown, I decided to bring my Gerontology notebook â€Å" Aging, the Individual, and Society†, so I could share with her some facts about aging, elderly, how society views it, and most important. From the book, we look up about Ageism, I asked her, what she had to sayRead MoreInterview A Senior citizen1899 Words   |  8 PagesInterview a Senior Citizen PSYCH/600 September 22, 2014 Interview a Senior Citizen The most rapidly growing age group in the United States is the elderly, or those individuals age sixty-five and older (Wood, Wood, Boyd, 2011). Late adulthood stretches from age 65 to the end of the lifespan (Laura E Berk, 2010, p. 1). Or it can be called gerontology which is the study of the aging processes and individuals as they grow from middle age through later life. (Association For GerontologyRead MoreThe Social Gerontology Textbook Was Great Supplemental Tool917 Words   |  4 PagesThe book Tuesdays with Morrie and how it relates to the Social Gerontology textbook was great supplemental tool. Tuesdays with Morrie also was enlightening to read during our group service learning project at the Amistad Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The two sources and the group service learning project were educational, emotional, and experiencing. Gerontology, the study of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging (Hooyman Kiyak, 2011). Aging is a process of life thatRead MoreVisiting A Nursing Care Facility Essay1409 Words   |  6 PagesVisiting a nursing care facility while learning about gerontology they go hand and hand. While learning about aging the best way to fully understand the information is to make observations. There are numerous connections that can be made from observations and the class readings. Throughout this course, there have been many chapters in Social Gerontology that provide a lot of information to understand aging. The adult facility I choose is White Oak Manor. The type of rehabilitation services availableRead MoreEssay on Ashford Soc 304 Discussions3762 Words   |  16 Pagestheory. c. Discuss how the theory that you selected differs from the activity and disengagement theories of aging. d. Contact a person who would fall into one of the categories of old age (i.e., young old, middle old, or oldest old) and interview them about how their lives have changed since they reached the milestone of being an older adult. In your post, include a brief synopsis of what you learned with regard to that person’s activities, illnesses, social support networks, and employmentRead MoreIdentifying Elder Abuse Within Healthcare Settings1277 Words   |  6 Pagesreported and the abuse continues until mortality. Statistics The cases of elder abuse or neglect reported is alarming. The association of morbidity and mortality is astonishing as more victims are being identified. Studies, including surveys and interviews, have been done to identify what group of elders are at higher risk for abuse. The occurrence rate is increasing with the elder women, as they are being controlled and threatened by their abuser. It is more than likely that more than one type ofRead MoreAging And The Life Course1528 Words   |  7 Pages203) yet the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) follows seven individuals who are seeking a place that can accommodate their elderly needs. Despite this being a fictional film, the text Aging and the Life Course: An Introduction to Social Gerontology (Quadagno, 201) can support the ways in which the film accurately depicts various obstacles associated with aging. Each of the characters in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel overcome ageist social constructions present within western cultu re but represent

Haitian-American Author of a Collection of Short Stories...

Edwidge Danticat, a Haitian-American writer, immigrated to the United States at the age of twelve from a Haiti that was filled with violent turmoil where she lived with relatives in a poverty-stricken area of Haiti. She soon learned English in the United States and began to develop as a young writer. Unlike most fictional writers, Danticat wrote her literature about the pain and suffering of her country from her own experiences. â€Å"She often says that her voice is the only one of many representing the Haitian people†(eportfolio). Her collection of fictional short stories Krik? Krak! depicted the lives of Haitians at different points throughout the twentieth-century(Chen 36). â€Å"A Wall of Fire Rising† is one of the short stories in the cycle in†¦show more content†¦Little Guy recites this speech: â€Å"A wall of fire is rising and in the ashes, I see the bones of my people. Not only those people whose dark hollow faces I see daily in the fields, but all those souls who have gone ahead to haunt my dreams. At night I relive once more the last caresses from the hand of a loving father, a valiant love, a beloved friend† (a wall 319). The speech reveals the symbolic meaning of the title and its symbolic attachment to Haitian revolutionary history as a picture of rising fire is painted when Boukman’s powerful words come out of Little Guy’s mouth. The theme of entrapment is starting to be revealed from the speech. The lives lost in the revolution, those that did not get to see freedom, resonate through the paper and becomes a reality. The slaves that died in the effort to revolution will be forever trapped in a life of slavery. Furthermore, â€Å"The image of a rising ‘wall of fire,’ conveyed by the storys title, historically refers to the dramatic sight of insurrection in 1791 after the Bois Caà ¯man ceremony† (Chen 7). The Bois Caà ¯man ceremony was a meeting led by Dutty Boukman in which slaves met in order to revolt againt the white planters. This would mark the beginning of the Haitian Revolution. Within days the Northern Plain was up in flames as the slaves burned and pillag ed the land. â€Å"A Wall of Rising Fire† coincidentally was individually released exactly two centuries

Moments of My Life Free Essays

Moment Of My Life Life is not made up of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or years, but of moments. You must experience each one before you can learn how to live it. Well, can’t but agree with that. We will write a custom essay sample on Moments of My Life or any similar topic only for you Order Now If I was asked to describe the meaning of the word â€Å"life†, I would compare it with making a movie which consists of enormous amount of shots. Each of these reflects a separate and unique moment, which can be happy, touching to the core of your heart, those which make you laugh, shiver or even cry. Absolutely, these moments happen to each of us every day. Some of them we forget as fast as they happen, but others will stay in our heart and mind for the lifetime. I was given an opportunity to describe the very special moment of my life. The moment that changed it, that shook me and turned my world upside down. It was an early morning when my mom was seeing me off at the airport. We were sitting in the cafeteria holding hands and looking at each other without saying a single word. I could see tears in her eyes. She looked worried, upset and proud of me at the same time. It’s not easy to let your still little daughter go on her first flight to unknown far-far away country and being aware of that you won’t see her In the next couple of years. The emotions were overwhelming me. I was terrified and full of courage, worried and excited, already missed my family but couldn’t wait to take off. And here I was making a small step out of the plane In New York but a gigantic one Into my new future. Being out of reach for my old world I was dragging through the crowded airport seeking for the familiar face of my only friend in this big apple. Had no back up plan on my mind because I am absolutely convinced that If you are making a change up In your life you should just go for it without any thought of drawing back. My friend was standing in front of me. I was still speechless of everything going on around but so happy to meet the only connection with the new world. It was late at night. I remember getting off Penn Station and walking couple off blocks to take the other train. It seems pretty funny right now but that time I was wondering if it is ever going to be able to understand the subway map and the endless routes of trains. I can’t but say that this thought left my head immediately. After I found myself I the middle of the street surrounded by the impressive skyscrapers being such a contrast to each other, the flow of people still rushing somewhere or Just walking around and so much light that made the streets look like it’s a day time. That very second my inner soul and me realized it was my new home. This city with millions of people, great and Inspiring architecture, but tons of garbage In the streets and smell of food trucks is my new world where I want to be, want to find myself and settle down. New York is the city where everyone is equal at the start line. I am sure that this great city can teach you to live your life, to be always In motion, to see good and bad more clear, to catch every opportunity that comes your way and to appreciate the certain things when you have them. While talking about me I would say that despite the fact I was terrified at the beginning of what was going to happen to me next I was totally happy and grateful to my life for giving me this chance and experience of all those great feelings and moments. BY pituitary You must experience each one before you can learn how to live it. Well, I can’t but agree with that. If I was asked to describe the meaning of the word â€Å"life†, I would country and being aware of that you won’t see her in the next couple of years. The excited, already missed my family but couldn’t wait to take off. And here I was making a small step out of the plane in New York but a gigantic one into my new future. Seeking for the familiar face of my only friend in this big apple. I had no back up plan on my mind because I am absolutely convinced that if you are making a change up in your life you should Just go for it without any thought of drawing back. My friend was inspiring architecture, but tons of garbage in the streets and smell of food trucks is teach you to live your life, to be always in motion, to see good and bad more clear, to How to cite Moments of My Life, Papers

The Kinetic Energy Essay Example

The Kinetic Energy Paper The aim of this piece of work is to investigate the factors that affect how fast a marble/ball bearing travels once it has travelled down the curtain rail. Factors: There are 5 main factors that affect the speed of the marble/ball bearing once it hits the ground after travelling down a curtain rail.   The surface may well change as it changes from the curtain rail to the floor. It could be smoother or rougher. If its rougher the ball will slow down its speed quite quick due to friction whereas if it were smoother it would travel a further distance because it will have a higher speed. It will be easier to pass over the surface if it is smooth. The marble/ball bearing itself could be of importance. Its weight and diameter could affect the speed. The bigger and heavier the ball the shorter the distance it will travel because the speed will be slower than with a small light ball which will travel faster.   Another point would be the height of the beginning of the track from the floor. The higher the track the faster the ball will travel when it comes off the end. However, if the track is very close to the floor the marble/ball bearing will not get very far due to low speed. We will write a custom essay sample on The Kinetic Energy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Kinetic Energy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Kinetic Energy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This is the most important factor because it more or less determines the speed the marble/ball bearing is going to travel and how far it is going to travel.   Air resistance may play a minor part in the speed of the marble/ball bearing. There is nearly always air resistance therefore it could slow the ball down a tiny fraction.   The length of the track could play a large part. The longer the track the faster the marble/ball bearing has to go to get a longer distance. If it is a short track the ball bearing will be at a higher speed as it reaches the floor because it hasnt had much time to slow down. Fair Test For this to be a fair test everything has to be done equally. If you decide to choose the height of the track to be the most influential factor then that is the only thing we must vary. The same ball must be used for each test. If not the size of the ball could speed up or slow down the average speed of the same ball. The same track must be used each time. If not the different tracks could have a rougher or smoother surface from each other and this may affect the speed of the marble/ball bearing once reached the floor. Before timing each test the distance measured and timed at the end of the curtain rail must be the same each time you do it. It must also be done in the same place to make sure that the air resistance is the same. All these aspects must be undergone for it to be a successful experiment. Predication and Scientific Knowledge My prediction is that the higher the curtain rail at the beginning the faster the marble/ball bearing will travel along the floor and the further it will travel along the floor. The lower the curtain at the beginning the slower the ball will travel because there isnt as much gravity forcing it along the rail. On a rollercoaster for example there is Gravitational Potential Energy at the top of a drop which converts into Kinetic Energy when it reaches the bottom of the drop and slows down. Gravitational = mass x height x gravitational Field Strength Potential Energy Kinetic Energy = 1/2 x mass x speed 2 There is also transferred into heat energy and sound energy. But then if we forget about the laws of friction and the energy given off from friction both Gravitational Potential Energy and Kinetic can be equal. If the height changes on one the velocity will changes to be equal as well. Method: To find the speed of the marble/ball bearing travelling along the floor it will have to be timed over a certain distance. The distance should be accurate and reasonable to be able to get a good time in. It should be 2 or 3 metres. Preferably 3. It should be measured from five heights and timed on each one. This should be done at least 3 times to get a good average and set of results that you can work with. The range of heights need to be equally set apart. In this case it should be 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 40cm, and 50cm. The times need to be recorded from when the ball leaves the curtain rail to where the 3 metres is finished. All results must be recorded. Preliminary Experiment: In our preliminary experiment we found that Gravitational Potential Energy converts into Kinetic Energy once at the bottom. The marble/ball bearing gradually slowed down as it travelled along the floor. Another thing on the preliminary experiments was that once the ball had fell down the bottom and up the other side of the curtain rail and reversed in couldnt reach the same height as the start because the marble/ball bearing has lost most of its Gravitational Potential Energy and therefore cant turn it into Kinetic Energy anymore. The Obtaining.

Why Nursing is a Popular Option for Career Changers

Why Nursing is a Popular Option for Career Changers Choosing a career is a momentous decision - one which holds the potential to lead to a lifetime of satisfaction †¦ .or misery. Not everyone gets it right the first time. Most recently, a trend is arising in which an increasing number of people in their 30s, 40s and 50s are pursuing second careers in nursing. Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon. Supply and DemandThe nationwide demand for RNs is set to undergo a 21 percent increase by 2025, according to a December 2014 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. These numbers fail to factor in emerging care delivery models which will see nurses in new preventative care and care coordination roles thereby further increasing demand. The demand for LPNs is also projected to increase at a rate of 36 percent.While the country is recovering from the recession and in the process of bouncing back, many people remain scarred by layoffs, cutbacks, and ot her threats to job security. The anticipated demand for nursing removes this fear from the equation, and instead promises a secure future.And while registered nurses may not bring home the same high paychecks as doctors, they do make a comfortable income: a median pay of $65,470 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.The Fast Track to a New CareerWhile switching to a new career can take years in some professions, many nursing programs off a â€Å"fast track† which can be completed in as little as 12 months for college graduates. While most people don’t have the time or financial resources to invest in a long, drawn-out period of training, nursing offers a great career with minimal investment.The Chance to Make a DifferenceMany people enter first careers motivated by money and prestige. However, as people age, their priorities change. This is particularly true for those who may have experienced their own personal health issues, or witnessed a loved one go ing through a health catastrophe.In many cases, nurses are the primary point of contact for patients and families, and can make or break the quality of care. Because of their tremendous impact, many new, aspiring nurses are inspired to become nurses themselves.And while nurses may not have the prestige of their fellow doctors, they have something perhaps even more important: the trust of their patients. According to a recent Gallup poll, nurses received the highest ratings for honesty and ethical standards, surpassing medical doctors, police officers, and even members of the clergy.While changing careers can be an immobilizing decision - how do you know if you’re making the right choice? - it can also be an invaluable â€Å"second act,† for many American workers. At any age or stage of your career, following your calling into nursing can have innumerable benefits†¦both for you and the patients you serve.

ACT Hand Scoring Should You Order It

ACT Hand Scoring Should You Order It SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Did your ACT scores seem way out of whack? Enough that you think there was an error in the scoring process? It’s possible to get your test rescored manually for a fee. Read on to find out why you might decide to use ACT Score Verification (also known as ACT Hand Scoring) and how you can order it. What Is Hand Scoring? The multiple choice sections on the ACT are scored with scantron machines, which is why there's so much emphasis on filling in the answer sheet accurately with dark marks.Machines may interpret a stray mark as an answer or penalize you because you accidentally skipped a question and bubbled in a string of answers in the wrong spots.If you order score verification, your test will be reviewed again by a human being to see if there was a problem in the original scoring process or if you made an obvious bubbling error that would be apparent to a human grader but not a scantron. ACT score verification is available for both the multiple choice and essay sections of the test (if you did ACT Writing).It’s a $50 fee for the multiple-choice section, $40 for the essay section, or $90 for both.If you're at all familiar withSAT Hand Score Verificationor have ordered it before, you should know thatACT Score Verification differs in one important way.For SAT Hand Scoring, there's the risk tha t your score will go down if mistakes in scoring are found that aren’t in your favor.For the ACT, your score will either stay the same or go up- ordering hand scoring can’t hurt your score, it can only hurt your wallet.If the ACT does find a scoring mistake that works in your favor, your scores will be changed and the fee will be refunded. Special note: In past years, ordering ACT essay score verification meant that your essay was reread and rescored (if your score was higher; otherwise, your score stayed the same). Now, however, getting score verification for your ACT essay only gets you confirmation your essay was scored by two independent graders (or by a third grader if the two scores differed by more than a point in any domain) and that your essay was scanned correctly. When Should You Use Score Verification? Here are a couple of scenarios where you might consider Hand Scoring as a score verification method: Scenario 1: Your Overall Score Was Very Different from What You Expected How different is â€Å"very different†?If you get a score on one or more of your ACT sections that is five or more points lower than the score you consistently earned in practice sessions, you might consider hand scoring. With this much of a discrepancy, it’s likely that something weird happened in the scoring process or you did something on the answer sheet that caused your answers to be read inaccurately. Scenario 2: You Missed Many â€Å"Easy† Questions That You Would Normally Get Right If you look at your score report and notice that you got a bunch of questions wrong in subjects that you usually ace, you might start to question your scores.However, you should consider ordering the Test Information Release, described in my next point, to verify the difficulty level of the questions you missed before jumping to any conclusions. Scenario 3: You’ve Investigated Other Score Verification Options The ACT Test Information Releaseprovides a more comprehensive view of the test. It includes all the questions, a list of your answers, the answer key, scoring instructions, and the writing prompt and scoring rubric along with your scores (if you took the ACT with Writing).You can order the Test Information Release for $20 (per test date). This will either clear up confusion about your scores or verify that something went wrong and you need to order ACT Score Verification (hand scoring). When Should You NOT Use Hand Scoring? You shouldn't jump right to hand scoring if your score is only a little lower than you expected it to be. Say you get your scores back and you did about four points worse than you expected on one or more sections. Do you order hand scoring?I would say that’s the tipping point. A discrepancy between expectations and reality of four points or less is probably not significant enough to indicate an error in scoring. If you're still concerned, you should go ahead and order the Test Information Release so you can understand your scores better.Try not to jump right to blaming the test if you score a couple points lower than you expected- it’s not going to help you learn from your mistakes! The best place to learn is on top of a pile of past mistakes. How to Request Hand Scoring To have your test hand scored, just fill out this form and mail it to the ACT within 12 months of your test date.Include your name (the original one that you wrote on the test), address, and date of birth along withthe ACT ID, testing location, and test date from your original score report. You should also include a check made out to ACT Student Services with the applicable fees for whichever part of the test you want hand scored.Remember, multiple choice is $50, essay is $40, and it’s $90 for both. Mail everything to this address: ACT Student ServicesP.O. Box 414Iowa City, IA 52243-0414 You can also request to be in the room for the hand scoring process for your multiple choice questions (but without access to the test questions) at a location designated by the ACT. If you would like to do this you should mail this request in writing along with everything else, although I would say that unless you are super paranoid about them messing up the scoring again you probably don’t want to bother with it. The ACT says that additional fees apply, but the information they give about it is very vague- you may want to call them to find out more details before you decide to put in a request. The number for ACT Customer Service is 319-337-1270. After you mail your score verification request, you should get a letter back from the ACT in three to five weeks. It will tell you whether your original scores were confirmed or changed due to an error in the original scoring process. If they were changed, you and all your designated colleges will get new score reports free of charge. What's Next? Are you wondering whether you should take the ACT again? Learn how many times you can take the ACT and how to decide whether you should retake it. Are you just unsure of when you should take the ACT? Use this guide to the best test dates to make an informed decision. If you need to go over your mistakes on your last ACT to prepare for the next test date, check out this article for advice on the best way to review. 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 your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial: