Plato was very much in favor of music, but he came from a time where music was literally just sound. There weren’t words to persuade his thought. He even said, “Music is moral law…” Without moral law, there can be nothing else but anarchy and chaos. Although silence can allow students plenty of thinking space with no distractions, music without words should be able to be played through headphones because it will help students to make better grades and will relieve test anxiety.

The idea of music being played during a test sounds preposterous to most people. They say that music will keep the mind unfocused and disrupt a student’s chain of thought. This is true. As sound would pass through the headphones, words would ultimately distract the students’ subconscious whether they realize it or not. As we all know, it is extremely difficult to read and comprehend a passage while listening to music with words because there are two sets of words that would be running through a person’s brain which is like listening to two conversations at once. However, music without words should be able to be played while testing.

Allowing students to listen to music without words during a test should be allowed because it will help them make better grades and relieve test anxiety. For example, it has been proven that a student is more likely to remember something when listening to music than when not. If music were allowed, a student might be able to allude to a book, which could potentially change their score from a B to an A. Furthermore, music during testing can help a student to remain calm, cool, and collected. Before writing this essay, which is being timed, I was freaking out because I was scared that I wasn’t going to finish in time. However, I listened to music, without words, that calmed me down and gave me confidence. I’m starting to feel nervous again, and I believe that music would help me in this situation again. Thus, music without words should be able to be played during testing because it will help students to make better grades and will relieve test anxiety. Show this essay to any teacher or state test administrator you can find so that students nation-wide can easily overcome tasks.

In the Bible, Jesus weeps because Martha and Mary do not have faith in Him. As a result, Jesus proceeds to raise their dead brother, Lazarus, from the dead. Although that a close friend has died may make a person feel gloomy, learning will have a positive effect on a person’s life because it allows for survival and prosperity.

It is said that receiving news of a lost relative will make people mourn. This is true. If a mother comes home one day to find two military officers that will tell her that her baby boy has died in combat, she will break like a balloon falling onto a bed of nails. With her life now in shambles, the distraught mother may not have the heart, will-power, or strength to move on, so now she sits in a lonely chair lingering in the memories of her son. However, learning will be able to have positive effects on peoples’ lives under the right circumstances.

Learning will have a positive effect on peoples’ lives because it will allow them to survive and prosper. For example, a student will benefit if they go through college to earn a higher education. Studies have shown that students who have earned a college degree are generally more successful than those who don’t. There is a significant difference in the number of job opportunities a college graduate has and the number a high school graduate has. Life will be more prosperous for those who have a college education because they won’t have to worry about what they have to find to eat. Furthermore, learning how to cope in the wild will help people to survive. In The Cay, an old man and young boy get stranded on an island alone. The old man teaches they young boy, who happens to be blind, all the things he needs to know in order to survive. Later, the old man dies from a hurricane. With his newfound knowledge of survival skills, the young boy is able to survive and eventually get rescued.

Thus, learning, under the correct circumstances, will have a positive effect on a person’s life. Contact every state official you can find and tell them to end this STAAR testing so that we students can actually learn instead of having to worry about a test.

Thesis: I have decided to research body language so that I may know where the study of body language originally began, how to use it for personal use, and how body language is used when dealing with people in jobs.

Outline

I. Introduction

  A. Why I chose body language

  B. Structure

II. Origin

  A. Francis Bacon

  B. Charles Darwin

III. Personal Uses

  A. Confidence

  B. Spotting liars

IV. Uses in the work-field

  A. Sales

  B. Crime

V. Conclusion

  A. What I’ve learned

  B. Final thoughts

Adrian R. Snyder

Professor Monica L. Pearce

English 2 PreAP

13 May 2015

Silent Words

As a young adolescent, I am expected to learn how to conduct myself in a manner in which is socially accepted. It is true that many people have become successful without the knowledge of body language, but if I can learn to master this skill, then I believe the chances I have at success will skyrocket. In my study of articles and websites, I found an abundance of information on what body language is and how to identify it. Whether it is realized or not, people subconsciously pick up other people’s body language signs and interpret them; humans are masters of body language, however, most people don’t realize it.  Body language is, as proven by experts such as M.Farouk Radwan who has a Masters Degree in Science, the main form of communication for human beings. I have decided to research body language so that I may know where the study of body language originally began, how to use it  personally, and how body language is used when dealing with people in jobs.

To properly inform those who read this, I have organized this paper into three main sections which all have two sub-points. In my first section, I show where the study of body language originally began and how people took what they knew and further studied it. In my second section, I provide information on how to use and control body language to one’s personal advantage so that they can enhance their mood and confidence, therefore, making life easier on themselves. In my third section, I show how body language is a  vital role in some jobs and how it can greatly enhance others. Finally, I close with a general summary of what I’ve learned and then give my final thoughts.

ORIGIN

Humans have been communicating since the dawn of our existence. Even before people had a set-in-stone language, we used our bodies to help us show how we feel or what we want. Finding the Rosetta Stone was a major breakthrough for decoding verbal language, but virtually nobody knows where or when the “Rosetta Stone” of body language was found. The study of body language began in the sixteen hundreds with Francis Bacon and later with Charles Darwin.

Francis Bacon. As a philosopher, scientist, and politician, Francis Bacon is believed to be the world’s first person to view body language from an “empirical perspective”. (Webb) In other words, Francis Bacon was one of the few that was able to understand the concepts of body language with visual aspects because he had conducted observational experiments on others. Also, Bacon’s drive to know about body language came from the words of King James the First, “As the tongue speaketh to the ear so the gesture speaketh to the eye.” (Webb) Since Bacon had the initiative to write down these famous words straight from the king, Bacon deliberately placed great value on the idea of studying more than just the structure of the body as Aristotle did. (Webb)

Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin is commonly known as the Father of Evolution, however, his studies went deeper than just the idea that man evolved from apes. Though he wasn’t gaining knowledge about the entirety of body language, he did, in fact, pay attention mostly to the region of the face. (Ekman xxii) Darwin did more than just study and watch his specimens; he watched their behavior. Instead of just recording what he found, he gave a detailed explanation of what he thought each facial expression and behavior meant. (xxi) Darwin concluded that facial emotions, such as smiling when happy, are not something that is inherited through birth or evolution, but instead, it is something that every human has to learn from the rest of society. (xxii) This was also later confirmed by Albert Scheflen when he says that communication “based on extensive culturally learned behavior.” (Scheflen) In the end, Darwin’s final conclusion was that the different types of facial expressions correlate directly with whatever emotions a human, or any other given species, is feeling at the moment based on what he or she has learned. (Ekman xxii)

PERSONAL USES

With body language being the main form of communication, it is vitally important that we need to master the skills of keeping our body language under control. It has been proven that someone who practices a particular type of body language generally reflects that type of mood.  (Radwan) So, if a person continually walks around slouching, they will more than likely be in an unhappy mood. Any person in their right mind would agree that they like being happy more than they like being sad, so why not try? If using body language to a personal advantage is wrong, then Hellen Keller was never blind.

Confidence. Ninety-three percent of the first impression that people make of you is based off of body language. (Radwan) Now, wouldn’t we all agree that a good impression is better than a bad one? Of course! To achieve such an impression, many people use all of the gestures regarding confidence. For example, when a person holds their hands behind their back, they do so because they always feel confident or feel that they know a great sum of information on a topic being discussed. (Radwan) Another body language gesture is having a straight back. When a person has a straight back, it generally means they are interested in something or are “conscientious of their surroundings” which further goes to enhance the goal of achieving a state of confidence. (Radwan) Finally, speaking with a clear, slow voice shows confidence in speech. (Yolande) As a result of having this newfound knowledge, anyone can apply it to their life so that they may leave extraordinary first impressions on whomever they wish.

Spotting Liars. Every human in the world has the capability to lie to another. Every human in the world also has the ability to spot liars. Whether it’s just because people don’t like being lied to or because they desperately need the truth, most people can tell when someone is lying if absolutely necessary, though, it is with a “gut” feeling that it is detected. Body language can be used to spot liar almost immediately every time. One example of spotting a liar is when a girl goes to the doctor and tells him that she has extreme feelings for her boyfriend while shaking her “head from side to side in subconscious denial.” (Fast 1)  Spotting liars may take a little more effort than showing that you are confident because there are more steps involved. There is no single sign to immediately spot a liar; to increase your success rate in spotting liars, it is recommended that there are at least three of the following signs showing. (Radwan) A great amount of people believe lying is immoral and will more than likely get uncomfortable when committing the act. What do people do when they get uncomfortable? They touch their nose, hide their palms, and bend their back. (Radwan) Another key factor to detecting a liar is their eye contact. A person may be lying if they have poor eye contact with you, “darting eyes”, a gaze down to the ground, or an increased blink rate. (Tarakanov) Also, a person may swiftly move their heads in a jerk when directed with a question. (Smith) So, with a combination of any three of the above, one can almost always tell when a person is lying. The greater number of signs there are the higher the accuracy will be. (Radwan)

USES IN THE WORKFIELD

Being able to use body language to one’s personal advantage is good and all, but why not take it one step further and put it to use while working for a living? Body language is used in the workforce every day in every occupation ranging from school teachers to Business men. However, the two most notable jobs that use body language are salesmen and law enforcement.

Sales. Brace yourself. The body language required for use in a sales job combines all of what has been previously stated plus more. Having to appear confident with a positive smile and bright look in their eyes isn’t enough for most salesmen to be successful. Salesmen have to be able to pick up and perceive their customers’ body language as well. Sometimes, a customer takes on what is called the defensive position. (Radwan) This usually happens when someone has heard something they don’t like or has been offended. Other times, a customer may appear in a confident position with a tilted head which means that they are interested in what there is to sell, and they know a lot about what is being sold. (Radwan) Furthermore, a customer may be doubting what is said when they hide their mouth, and they may also be wanting to leave if their feet or shoulders are pointed in a direction other than the salesman. (Radwan) They may also want to leave if there is a lot of minor body movement going on such as “tapping, banging, or thumping of the hands.” (Ciganik) So, to be a successful salesman, one must master all of the skills that require reading people and knowing what they feel so that they can use what they know to their advantage.

Crime. Body language is more commonly used in weeding out crime that one would realize. It is especially used in interrogation rooms and court rooms as we have recently seen with Aaron Hernandez who played for the New England Patriots. During his trial, just as the verdict is about to be read, he can be seen standing in the confidence position with a tall chin and straight back. (Glass) However, “as soon as he hears the verdict of ‘Guilty in the First Degree’” he shows that he wasn’t anticipating the verdict he heard by closing his eyes. (Glass) Soon afterwards, he turns toward his mother and girlfriend and gets a case of “dry cotton mouth” which shows that his feelings are starting to be brought up. (Glass) Therefore, the use of body language when fighting crime is evident enough to be important. Even if he was to be brought back into court on new evidence, they probably would still have the same verdict because of the body language signs he gave off during his first trial.

CONCLUSION

What I have Learned. Before researching body language, I would have never paid attention to how important it is in our world. I use to think it was witchcraft or magic whenever someone knew exactly how I was feeling, but now I know they used body language signs.  I’ve learned that there is  lot more to body language than just being able to know when someone is lying, and I now know how to positively use my body language and others’ body language as a weapon so that I may get things done.

Final Thoughts. I think the reason I have enjoyed learning about body language so much is because it is in the psychological field of study. When dealing with communication, body language is like icing in a cake. Without it, the true meaning of whatever message is trying to be sent will never be read; texting, for example, is more difficult when trying to decode what someone is saying than when talking face to face because there is no body language involved to show in what context the words are being said.

Notes

1. The defensive position usually occurs when someone crosses their arms and legs the “protect” themselves against whatever they face.

Works Cited

Ciganik, John. “How to Decode Body Language to Increase Sales.”         How to Decode Body

Language to Increase Sales. LifeHealthPRO, 5 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 May 2015.

Darwin, Charles, and Paul Ekman. Charles Darwin: The Expression of the Emotions in Man

and Animals. London: Harper Collins, 1999. Print.

Fast, Julius. Body Language. New York: M. Evans, 1970. Print.

Glass, Lilian, Dr. “Aaron Hernandez Telling Body Language As Guilty Verdict Is

Read.” Dr Lillian Glass Body Language Blog. N.p., 15 Apr. 2015. Web. 07 May 2015.

Radwan, Farouk M. “Learning Body Language | 2KnowMySelf.” Learning Body

Language |  2KnowMySelf. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2015.

Scheflen, Albert E. “Body Language and the Social Order; Communication as Behavioral

Control.” ERIC [EBSCO]. N.p., 1972. Web. 10 May 2015.

Smith, Vivian Giang and Jacquelyn. “11 Signs Someone Is Lying To You.”Business Insider.

Business Insider, Inc, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 10 May 2015.

Tarakanov, Sinay. “Study Body Language.” Study-Body-Language.com. N.p., 2012.

Web. 07 May 2015.

Webb, David, and Craig Baxter. “Body Language History: Early Pioneers.” Body

Language History: Early Pioneers. Web. 7 May 2015.

Yolande. “Body Language: Understanding Non-Verbal Communication.”Body Language.

Mind Tools, 2015. Web. 10 May 2015.

I understand that this isn’t perfect MLA formatting, however, I can only fix a small amount of of the errors that have occurred because the editing section while writing won’t allow me to fix them.

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