The author claims that people are better off if they are more street smart than book smart. We will always remember his i have a dream speech for being inspirational without exaggeration. Its not so much the everyday worries like there are evil people in the world or what if my kid gets sick or injured. The more extreme and negative stereotypes are that book smart people are naive, easily manipulated, and have bad judgment in bad situations, while street smart people are unintelligent and incapable of achieving a higher education. Someone who is street smart knows how to deal with difficult or dangerous situations. For many people, there is no difference between smart and intelligent, because the. Similes use the words like or as to compare thingslife is like a box of chocolates. The general definition of book smart is someone who is intelligent and very well educated. Some people are analytically intelligent or book smart. Street smart versus book smart free essay sample new.
It means you ve learned how to take what has happened to you, good or bad. Street smart definition and meaning collins english. Students shouldnt be too focused on having book smart. While which one is more helpful can be a matter of debate and also depends on the context, it is generally seen that street smarts weigh more on the scale when it comes. Street smart person finds his own interest, and gets his knowledge from experience. Being street smart beats being book smart any day of the week. The ideal situation is street smart thinking accompanied by a book smart approach. Street smarts do win the race against book smarts but it is the combination of two that does the wonder. The general definition of street smart is someone who is intelligent, has good common sense, knows how to handle bad situations, and has the skills necessary to function where they live usually the ghetto or the streets. Sure, your friends always tell you how clever you are. He states, the need to prove i was smart and the fear of a beating if i proved it too well. Study this, take this test, get this right answer, move.
Sep 08, 2015 but as for book smarts and street smarts, why does one have to be better than the other. Its possible for street smarts to make it far in life and. Jan 31, 2014 the truth is, being book smart and street smart has a lot more to do than just your upbringing and personality. Gerald graff is an english professor at the university of illinois and has written many books. A person wearing an official uniform with shiny shoes and buttons can look. It is great to read a book and learn about a particular subject, viewpoint or opinion. As someone who is really book smart, i desperately wish i was more street smart and at this point in my life would be willing to trade my book smarts for street smarts. Street smart versus book smart in his article hidden intellectualism, gerald graff criticizes those that do not put value into street smarts.
Youre probably all wondering what i would quantify myself as. What are the key differences between being book smart and being highly intelligent. And if youre street smart and not book smart, then read a goddamn. That is in contrast to street smart, which describes the person as having common sense. While intelligence has been defined in many different ways including as ones capacity for logic, understanding, selfawareness, learning, emotional knowledge, planning, creativity, and problemsolving.
In the article, hidden intellectualism, gerald graff discusses the topic of book smart versus street smart. This type of intelligence is used to recall or recognize, analyze, evaluate, and. If you want more than average out of life then you. In real life, its harder to say who comes out on top. Essay on street smarts versus book smarts 706 words bartleby. The object of a simile is to spark an interesting connection in a readers or listeners mind. When people discuss street smarts and book smarts, its usually implied that you can only have one or the other. In the end, though the street smart folks made an impressive showing, it was a book smart contestant who walked away with the prize.
You dont really need to look them up in urban dictionary to know that a person with street smarts is one with strong common. I mean, getting a degree is what will get you into a good career. However, the term is usually used to contrast and compare with another term known as book smart. Book smarts refer to the education, schooling and other kinds of knowledge that one has acquired. Invariably, a higher education and iq level will better enable someone to fully comprehend the value of street smarts. When asked which is better, being street smart or book smart, which would you choose.
Test your smarts with these savvy questions to find out if youre book smart or street smart. The truth is, being book smart and street smart has a lot more to do than just your upbringing and personality. While both similes and metaphors are used to make comparisons, the difference between similes and metaphors comes down to a word. All the literature trivia in the world you may know wont help you get out of a parking ticket. If youre book smart and not street smart, then get out in the freaking world. The general definition of book smart is someone who is intelligent and very well educated academically. To see the essays introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion, read on.
Why are book smart people considered as nerds many times, in a derogatory manner and street smart people considered as imaginary smart. Furlough has featured heavily in uk media recently. Book smarts relate strongly but not exclusively to academics. I just cant think up of really good and unique ones. The ladies of the real share their views, in this girl chat. In 2006, when five hundred dropouts were interviewed, they gave many reasons for leaving school. We all know people who are book smart but clueless in the real world, and those who are street smart but unable to handle any environment other than the one theyre used to. Umair zia houghton english june 30th, 20 book smart vs. Street smarts relate almost exclusively to experience. Street smart the psychology of good and bad judgment on november 10, 2015, in dr. When someone says im not book smart, im street smart, all im hearing is youre not smart.
Book smart or street smart who would be your choice. Introduction there are certain skills people need to become successful in life that can only be gained through experience. Street smart in the article, hidden intellectualism, gerald graff discusses the topic of book smart versus street smart. I personally have no street smarts, so i like being around people who have a similar educational backgroundinterest to me who can also teach me a thing or two about how the real world works. However, the stereotype of a street smart person is someone who is. The stereotype of a street smart person is someone who is intelligent and.
Book smart person is a gobbler of books who is well educated. Being street smart puts you at the centre of the knowledge. Street smarts vs book smarts talking about thinking. Youll never hit the street smart plateau while under the comfort of mommy and daddy. Book smarts in academia 28 words 6 pages our society has always had an obsession with labels whether in the form of fashion, our description of personal relationships, or the way we see ourselves as individuals. You are essentially studying what someone else has discovered. Like graff, malcolm x has similar experiences regarding book and street smarts. There is a basic distinction between book smart and street smart. Apr 18, 2011 book smart person is a gobbler of books who is well educated. In contrast, metaphors directly state a comparisonlove is a battlefield. Similes can be found just about anywhere from poems to song lyrics and even in everyday conversations. Apr 29, 2018 2 thoughts on street smarts vs book smarts scolon april 29, 2018 at 6. Tomas chamorropremuzic, hr examiner editorial advisory board contributor.
The stereotype of a book smart person is someone who is upperclass and well educated but less knowledgeable when it comes to handling important situations faced in bad neighborhoods and lower. Graff says that knowledge goes far beyond academic learning and continues into our everyday living. Go get an apartment, or reach for a more challenging job. In 2006, when five hundred dropouts were interviewed, they. When someone says im not book smart, im showerthoughts.
Essay on street smarts versus book smarts 706 words. Last season the apprentice was based on this dichotomy, pitting a team of people with higher education against a team whose members had less formal education. Im just lonely and the world terrifies me and i just want to feel like i have more of a place in it. Huckleberry finn is said to be a classic example because he is able to come up with. These examples of similes will help you see that a simile is one of the most common forms of figurative language. The more extreme and negative stereotypes are that street smart people are unintelligent and incapable of achieving a higher education, while book smart people are naive, easily manipulated, and have bad judgment in bad situations. Dec 14, 2005 in the end, though the street smart folks made an impressive showing, it was a book smart contestant who walked away with the prize. Mar 18, 2016 the major difference between being street smart and being book smart is that being book smart is much better.
Rachel khona has written for the new york times, the washington post, playboy, penthouse, maxim, and cosmopolitan among. If you are a street smart with knowledge, it works best. Being street smart means having interest in other activities more than in school work, while being book smart is the complete opposite of that. If you want more than average out of life then you need to be street smart, you need to get in touch. The figured world of smartness in the lives of marginalized, urban youth. On this program we talk about words and expressions that we use in everyda. Why being street smart is better than being book smart. Jul 27, 2006 people who are too book smart are too prudish and uptight for me, while people who are too street smart are too loose and uncouth for me. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way.
Psychoanalytic concepts as depicted in victorian era masks epic simile in paradise lost. I suppose i would say that i am a bit more book smart than i am street smart, but over the past couple of years i have really made an effort to boost my street smarts, and i think that i have made great strides. On this program we talk about words and expressions that we use in. Book smarts enjoy the structure of the learning environment. Another huge distinction between book smarts and street smarts is who is in the middle of the knowledge. It means youve learned how to take what has happened to you, good or bad. Why street smarts always win out over book smarts when it comes to success. Both stereotypes arent always true and any semblance of them are only due to different lifestyles and experiences. Basically, graff is saying that street smarts let the student really get out and experience what theyre learning, so it feels more real to them. However, the underlying idea is that the person deals with situations especially bad or difficult situations from an intellectual d. X grew up as a smart child, however when he was in eight grade he dropped out of school. Graff believes that having the personality of a street smart person can benefit society if one knows how to channel their potential correctly.
How do you know someone is naturally smart vs book smart. What is the difference between book smart and street smart. One is book smarts whereas the other is street smarts. Now, its time for words and their stories from voa learning english.
One who possess both smartness and then the other one that doesnt possess any. A simile is one of the most common forms of figurative language. The ideal situation is street smart thinking accompanied by a book smart. On the flip side, being book smart comes from being wellversed with books. Sep 10, 2017 the general definition of book smart is someone who is intelligent and very well educated academically. Street smart versus book smart free essay sample new york. Book smarts and street smarts, both have their advantages in the corporate world and it depends upon what the employer is looking for to determine who gets the upper hand. Street smart the psychology of good and bad judgment. Book smart can be described as exam smart or academically smart.
This distinction is a direct challenge by the youth to the dominant discourse of smartness or book smarts as it operates in schools. Tomas chamorropremuzic, editorial advisory board, leadership, learning, talent management, by dr. The sample essay on book smart vs street smart essay deals with a framework of researchbased facts, approaches and arguments concerning this theme. Yes, ill admit that at one time, i thought book smart was the only way to be. People who are too book smart are too prudish and uptight for me, while people who are too street smart are too loose and uncouth for me.
Finding the best job for you if you are trying to figure out whether book smarts or street smarts will land you a job easier or even score you a higher starting salary, you are probably still living in the past. Why street smarts always win out over book smarts when it. Examples of similes can be found just about anywhere from poems to song lyrics and even in everyday conversations. Street smart, which is the shrewd resourcefulness needed to survive in an urban environment be it people management, project management, or business management, comes from experience. I think that you need an equal mix of both street and book smarts. And beside these, we got another couple more variations of smartness. He might have problem putting his knowledge into real world. Ive always wondered in the back of my mind what the actual outcome of this would be, so i was pretty excited when i saw your title. Book smart is simply describing that the person as generally intelligent, well educated and do well academically. For example, smart can describe someone who is very neatlooking. Intellectualism by gerald graff is street smarts versus book smarts. Why you need to be street smart, not book smart better.
Simply put, a person who has book smarts is someone who is intelligent and well educated. It has a lot to do with your preferred learning style, and which way you perceive the world. Its clear that some people have better judgment than others. The authors is very persuasive using real life examples.
Not much book knowledge but knew enough to survive in real life. Common sense or street smarts, a basic understanding of the mechanisms of the world disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term this disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title street smart. Book smart vs street smart essay research paper example. He has intelligent common sense, and uses it well in society. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. It solely is a theoretical understanding of facts or ideas. However, the term is usually used to contrast and compare with another term known as street smart. The youth made key distinctions between being book smart vs. Most important perhaps, being street smart comes from experience. There is a need of both in this world because we need smart presidents to make decision like street smarts that arent educated, havent graduated, or can survive circumstances. Nov 10, 2015 adding on to this lack of smart social skills, being street stupid also means its difficult to convince and persuade others to achieve what you want. Jun 18, 2014 why street smarts always win out over book smarts when it comes to success. Sure, but the real value is the way you learn to work with people.
636 1518 428 882 748 1524 145 1547 39 966 550 337 431 489 1377 906 1497 681 735 1070 626 600 1241 438 889 1400 1483 1287 903 59 1105 442 1031 409 586 1258 890 1252 625 1262 266 862 635