Rhetorical Analysis of “Standardized Tests Are a New Glass Ceiling” Standardized testing is a key feature of the American education system. Built into almost every grade from K-12, are standardized tests administered by the 50 states to collect data on the minds of the youth in their public education systems. But in regards to big tests such as the SAT or ACT, data is able to prove the imbalance between men and women with how they score on standardized testing. In his article, “Standardized Tests Are a New Glass Ceiling,” Andrew Hacker is able to establish a footing that women do significantly worse than men in test scores. Testing is used to give opportunities to those who do well on them; the possibility of scholarships or grants for educational
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only 8,851 women had majored in mathematics and statistics.” Not only does this prove Hackers point, but it brings in actual numbers of women likely in the year 2015 that were able to major in such fields as well, taking up a 5th of the population majoring in fields like computer science. Along with his evidence, he is able to choose his wording correctly to persuade the reader's emotions to follow how he himself feels in regards to the social structure built around standardized testing. Hacker even went to the length of contacting organizations such as National Merit Scholarship Corporation to further gather data to support his ideas, but was shut down by the organization, saying they wouldn’t disclose that information. But going further than that, he researched the semi-finalists and was proven correct as men provided the majority of the list compromised. Hacker's use of the phrase “glass ceiling” grabs the attention of the reader as the invisible barrier is proven time and time again when Hacker brings in evidence or logical persuasion to further prove his point. The article in itself is nicely structured and informative as it gets its point across while still playing an emotional point of view on how standardized testing affects
only 8,851 women had majored in mathematics and statistics.” Not only does this prove Hackers point, but it brings in actual numbers of women likely in the year 2015 that were able to major in such fields as well, taking up a 5th of the population majoring in fields like computer science. Along with his evidence, he is able to choose his wording correctly to persuade the reader's emotions to follow how he himself feels in regards to the social structure built around standardized testing. Hacker even went to the length of contacting organizations such as National Merit Scholarship Corporation to further gather data to support his ideas, but was shut down by the organization, saying they wouldn’t disclose that information. But going further than that, he researched the semi-finalists and was proven correct as men provided the majority of the list compromised. Hacker's use of the phrase “glass ceiling” grabs the attention of the reader as the invisible barrier is proven time and time again when Hacker brings in evidence or logical persuasion to further prove his point. The article in itself is nicely structured and informative as it gets its point across while still playing an emotional point of view on how standardized testing affects