All the possible OWLS - The Nature of O.W.L.s

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 125659


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "M.Clifford" <Aisbelmon at h...> wrote:
> 
> "L Sanford" <lsanford at l...> wrote:
> 
> > I'm trying to figure out what the twelve subjects are .... Here is 
> > what I have:
> > 
> > 1.  Potions
> > 2.  Herbology
> > 3.  Transfiguration
> > 4.  Charms
> > 5.  Defense Against Dark Arts
> > 6.  History of Magic
> > 7.  Care of Magical Creatures
> > 8.  Divination	
> > 9.  Ancient Runes
> > 10. Astrology
> > 11. Arithmancy
> 
> 12. Muggle Studies 
> 
> Valky

bboyminn:

Actually, Astrology is part of Divinations, Astronomy is a separate
subject.

The core (require by all up to OWLs) subjects are

1.) Charms
2.) Transfiguration
3,) Potions
4.) Herbology
5.) Defense Against Dark Arts
6.) History of Magic
7.) Astronomy
8.) Care of Magical Creatures

a.) Broomstick Flying - we don't know the extent of 'Flying' classes
since we see and hear of one and only one. Were there more? Did it go
beyond the first year? 

Electives

9.)  Divination
10.) Ancient Runes
11.) Arithmacy
12.) Muggle Studies

Other than the books needing to include Hagrid in the story, I don't
see any reason why 'Care of Magical Creatures' is a manditory subject.
 Also, Astronomy, while I recognise is a lifelong scientific
occupation in the real world, for these students probably could have
been required the first three years and elective after that. That
would have given the students sufficient background to carry on with
Divinations/Astrology, or to continue with Astronomy if they had an
on-going interest.

Arithmacy is a branch of Numerology, so could we assume that
Numerology is a separate, yet unmentioned, subject? Perhaps General
Numberology is in included with Divination, whereas Arithmacy, which
is a particularly difficult branch of Numberology, is sufficiently
complex to stand on it's own as a subject.

Just out of curiousity, can we think of any other /magical/ subject
that would be likely to be available, but haven't actually been
mentioned yet? ...Magical First Aid and/or Medicine? ...various
magical trades like wand making, broom making, magical building
construction and maintenance? ...magical husbandry/farming? 

As many of the regulars here already know, it has been speculated that
perhaps, OWLs and NEWTs are broken down into sections as in one OWL
for Theoretical Charms and one OWL for Applied or Practical Charms. Of
course, that can't apply to subjects like History.

The problem I have with one OWL per class is that to get 12 OWLs you
have to get 'Acceptable' in every single classs subject available.
That means you have to take the test for and pass for classes you
never took. We see from Hermione's example that it is next to
impossible to be able to take every available class. Even if you tried
to learn the subject through independant study, you would be
overloaded with work. In addition, the /elective/ subjects are not
subjects that the average wizard could bluff their way through. 

Using my best guess for the system of one OWL for Theory and one OWL
for /Applied/, I come up with a total of 18 possible OWLs.

Two OWLs per - (theory & applied) [total = 12]
Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, DADA, Astronomy

One OWL per - (theory only) [Total = 4]
Ancient Runes, Arithmacy, Muggle Studies, History of Magic

One OWL per - (applied/pracitacal only) [Total = 2]
Divinations, Care of Magical Creatures

[TOTAL = 18 possible OWLs]

12 OWLs of 18 is 67%

Tangental note - I simply can NOT see Harry making the unrealistic
leap from average to outstanding in his Potion OWL. Easily, I can see
from average to better than expected, but to /outstanding/ would be
fantasy fiction in the extreme. So, either there is a new Potions
teacher, or Snape lowers his standard, or Harry simply doesn't take
potion. Personally, I'm betting on a new Potions teacher.

On a separate but related tangent, I am of the belief that McGonagall
list the most likely and best serving subjects to fulfill the 5 NEWTs
require to become an Auror. Note that the subject she did list are all
core required subjects. I think the aptitude and abilities of the
student are of greatest concern, and those aptitudes and abilities
must demonstrate good working knowledge of areas necessary to be an
effective Auror. Grades in specific subjects are a starting point for
this. 

So to the Auror Entrance Board, does an Outstanding in Herbology and
demonstrated ability in DADA carry more weight than an Exceeds
Expectations in Potions and no demonstarated ability? My point is that
an accumulation of grades, areas of study, general aptitude, and
demonstrated ability are the deciding factors and not just specific
subjects. Potions is an important area of knowledge for an Auror, but
a bank of sufficient working knowledge could be demonstrated in ways
other that a Potions NEWT, like an Exceeds Expectations is OWL Potions
combined with an Outstanding in NEWT Herbology factored into a
demonstrated ability.

It's just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn