Is the title a good one or a poor one and why?
I think that the title fits the text, and thus it is a good one. The main character is Antonio and thus the term, merchant of Venice, which is what Antonio does, is very suitable for the text as it clearly tell us who is the main focus of the story. Furthermore, it allows us to link the title to the story and know that there would be a very good or very bad ending in the end for the merchant of venice.
Did you like the way the story ended? Why or why not?
I do not like the way the story ended. This is because it sounded too like a dream, whereby the good wins everything. Furthermore, everything works out in the end and everyone lives happily ever after except for the bad guy. I think that this is not a good ending as it is a typical fairy tale ending and I do not think that the good always wins the bad, and everything suddenly falls in place for all the good guys. For example, the ships returned after Antonio left the court without giving a pound of flesh, and managing to convert Shylock into a Christian. Thus I do not like the story's ending.
Which character in the book would you choose for a friend? Why?
I would choose Antonio as a friend. Antonio was willing to sacrifice his own life for his friend's true love. To me that is the best quality a friend can ever have. Furthermore, Antonio is always willing to help despite all circumstances. This is something I admire about Antonio and I think that he would make a great friend if I was his friend. Thus I think I would choose Antonio as he is caring, kind and respects his friends as much as he respects his life.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Synthesis
What part would you change in the story, and why?
I would change the part where Shylock gets away with such a heavy punishment. I think that he should get a lighter punishment, still having the power as the evil character of the story. This story seems too much like a fairy tale. Thus I would change the story such that both Antonio and Shylock gets away scot-free, and thus both of them carry on living their separate lives through their different measures.
However, I think that Shylock should be more promoted in the story as he is to me, a main character in the story. Thus I think he should be more promoted and should be more evil in the story, so as to create the effect that there are both extremes of good and bad.
The climax of any book or story is the exciting or interesting part. Tell what you think is the climax of the book and why.
I think that the climax is the part where Bassonia picks which chest he wants. In the end after analysis he picked the correct one. I think this is the climax because it fills the reader with suspense. At the same time, Portia is also filled with suspense as she wants to know whether she gets the love of her life. Thus this makes the story more interesting from our point of view as it allows us to be filled with suspense and think ahead of the story to imagine the outcome.
Identify one problem in the book and give an alternate solution one not given by the author.
One problem in the book is that Shylock wanted to get a pound of flesh from Antonio. Another solution is that Antonio realises that he cannot get even a drop of blood, and he accepts three times the amount of money and both of them leave, happily.
I would change the part where Shylock gets away with such a heavy punishment. I think that he should get a lighter punishment, still having the power as the evil character of the story. This story seems too much like a fairy tale. Thus I would change the story such that both Antonio and Shylock gets away scot-free, and thus both of them carry on living their separate lives through their different measures.
However, I think that Shylock should be more promoted in the story as he is to me, a main character in the story. Thus I think he should be more promoted and should be more evil in the story, so as to create the effect that there are both extremes of good and bad.
The climax of any book or story is the exciting or interesting part. Tell what you think is the climax of the book and why.
I think that the climax is the part where Bassonia picks which chest he wants. In the end after analysis he picked the correct one. I think this is the climax because it fills the reader with suspense. At the same time, Portia is also filled with suspense as she wants to know whether she gets the love of her life. Thus this makes the story more interesting from our point of view as it allows us to be filled with suspense and think ahead of the story to imagine the outcome.
Identify one problem in the book and give an alternate solution one not given by the author.
One problem in the book is that Shylock wanted to get a pound of flesh from Antonio. Another solution is that Antonio realises that he cannot get even a drop of blood, and he accepts three times the amount of money and both of them leave, happily.
Analysis
If your story happened in a foreign land, compare that country to Singapore.
Singapore would be much cleaner. With much less risks of goods being destroyed as a result of air transport, there would be less lost of goods through ships and sea. There would be less loaning from each other with unreasonable demands as a result of not returning as there would be banks that could be easily accessed to retrieve or borrow money. Thus if the story was written in Singapore, it would be a completely different scenario and there would be no interesting parts in the new story.
Write a different ending to the book. Tell why you changed it.
In the end, Portia, although she loves Bassanio very much, decided to leave him as he did not keep his promise of forever keeping the ring in his hand as a symbol that they would always be together. I changed it this way because then it would have a tragic ending where it suits the middle part of the book where it states that the ring would be a symbol whereby he have to always keep on.
Tell five ways the main character is like you
To me, Antonio is the main character.
He is like me because:
1. He values friendship very much.
2. He sometimes take unnecessary risks.
3. He is Christian.
4. He is not very rich nor is he very poor.
5. He would do anything for someone who is very close to him.
Singapore would be much cleaner. With much less risks of goods being destroyed as a result of air transport, there would be less lost of goods through ships and sea. There would be less loaning from each other with unreasonable demands as a result of not returning as there would be banks that could be easily accessed to retrieve or borrow money. Thus if the story was written in Singapore, it would be a completely different scenario and there would be no interesting parts in the new story.
Write a different ending to the book. Tell why you changed it.
In the end, Portia, although she loves Bassanio very much, decided to leave him as he did not keep his promise of forever keeping the ring in his hand as a symbol that they would always be together. I changed it this way because then it would have a tragic ending where it suits the middle part of the book where it states that the ring would be a symbol whereby he have to always keep on.
Tell five ways the main character is like you
To me, Antonio is the main character.
He is like me because:
1. He values friendship very much.
2. He sometimes take unnecessary risks.
3. He is Christian.
4. He is not very rich nor is he very poor.
5. He would do anything for someone who is very close to him.
Application
Did this book remind you of anything that has happened to you? What? Why?
Yes. There was once I did not pay the money I borrowed in time and in the end my friend made me pay twice the original amount. This is the same as Antonio being unable to pay the debt in time, resulting in a heavy consequence. Thus I think that the book made me remember this happening of when I did not pay the money I owed my friend and it resulted in a consequence, paying double the amount.
What lesson did you learn from the story?
I learnt that friendship is more important than money. However, you should not put yourself on the line as it might result in yourself getting hurt. Furthermore, I learnt that sometimes in life you got to make tough decisions. However, if you make the wise decision, it will be the right one.
Pretend you are one of the characters in the book. Write a diary about the happenings in your life for two consecutive days.
Dear diary,
Today I found out that my ships have sank in the sea. How am I going to pay off the debt now? I should never had made that promise to give up a pound of my flesh! This would mean that I would probably die! I don't know if my ships really sank, but the deadline is tomorrow, how am I going to get the money before tomorrow? I think this is the end for me, I would not survive a pound of flesh missing from me! Just hope that a miracle would happen I would suddenly be able to pay off the debt, or I would be able to get off scot-free! God please help me!
Antonio.
Dear diary,
Today, Shylock came requesting for my payment. He would be taking it to the court. I know that the court wants me to not receive this punishment, but they have to abide by the laws! I wonder what is going to happen to me! I really hope that a miracle would happen! However, I know it is impossible. What could possibly help me overcome this ordeal? God please help me! Save me from that menacing, flesh-thirsty Shylock!
Antonio.
Yes. There was once I did not pay the money I borrowed in time and in the end my friend made me pay twice the original amount. This is the same as Antonio being unable to pay the debt in time, resulting in a heavy consequence. Thus I think that the book made me remember this happening of when I did not pay the money I owed my friend and it resulted in a consequence, paying double the amount.
What lesson did you learn from the story?
I learnt that friendship is more important than money. However, you should not put yourself on the line as it might result in yourself getting hurt. Furthermore, I learnt that sometimes in life you got to make tough decisions. However, if you make the wise decision, it will be the right one.
Pretend you are one of the characters in the book. Write a diary about the happenings in your life for two consecutive days.
Dear diary,
Today I found out that my ships have sank in the sea. How am I going to pay off the debt now? I should never had made that promise to give up a pound of my flesh! This would mean that I would probably die! I don't know if my ships really sank, but the deadline is tomorrow, how am I going to get the money before tomorrow? I think this is the end for me, I would not survive a pound of flesh missing from me! Just hope that a miracle would happen I would suddenly be able to pay off the debt, or I would be able to get off scot-free! God please help me!
Antonio.
Dear diary,
Today, Shylock came requesting for my payment. He would be taking it to the court. I know that the court wants me to not receive this punishment, but they have to abide by the laws! I wonder what is going to happen to me! I really hope that a miracle would happen! However, I know it is impossible. What could possibly help me overcome this ordeal? God please help me! Save me from that menacing, flesh-thirsty Shylock!
Antonio.
Comprehension
Did anyone in the book do something you did not like? Why?
Yes. The person is Shylock. Even though he is disrespected by a lot of Christians, the part where he tries to take a pound of flesh is not right. Furthermore, he is very cruel in the story and he paid the price for it.
Moreover, I think that revenge was all he had in mind, since he was rich. Thus making Shylock the evil person in the story. He is evil in a sense that he wants to kill Antonio by not allowing a doctor to come and heal his wound, to prevent Antonio from dying. Thus I do not like Shylock and his actions as his actions are cruel and he is evil.
If you could continue the story, what events would you include? Why?
I would include that Antonio becomes Bassanio's god-brother. This is because Antonio did so much for Bassanio which he treated as someone so close to him and he would sacrifice himself for Bassanio. Thus I think that there should be a happy ending, letting Antonio become Bassanio's god-brother and live together.
Tell in your own words the beginning of the book
The beginning of the book is Antonio being upset, but cannot explain why. His friends suggest that he is in love or is worried about his ships out in the ocean, but he ignores those thoughts as he thinks it is not true. Next, Bassanio comes and requests for a loan from Antonio to seek his love. However, Antonio's ships have not came back, thus he did not have the money to loan Bassanio. Thus, they go and get a loan from Shylock, who offers to give the loan in exchange that if the sum is not paid back in three months, he gets a pound of Antonio's flesh. They agree.
Yes. The person is Shylock. Even though he is disrespected by a lot of Christians, the part where he tries to take a pound of flesh is not right. Furthermore, he is very cruel in the story and he paid the price for it.
Moreover, I think that revenge was all he had in mind, since he was rich. Thus making Shylock the evil person in the story. He is evil in a sense that he wants to kill Antonio by not allowing a doctor to come and heal his wound, to prevent Antonio from dying. Thus I do not like Shylock and his actions as his actions are cruel and he is evil.
If you could continue the story, what events would you include? Why?
I would include that Antonio becomes Bassanio's god-brother. This is because Antonio did so much for Bassanio which he treated as someone so close to him and he would sacrifice himself for Bassanio. Thus I think that there should be a happy ending, letting Antonio become Bassanio's god-brother and live together.
Tell in your own words the beginning of the book
The beginning of the book is Antonio being upset, but cannot explain why. His friends suggest that he is in love or is worried about his ships out in the ocean, but he ignores those thoughts as he thinks it is not true. Next, Bassanio comes and requests for a loan from Antonio to seek his love. However, Antonio's ships have not came back, thus he did not have the money to loan Bassanio. Thus, they go and get a loan from Shylock, who offers to give the loan in exchange that if the sum is not paid back in three months, he gets a pound of Antonio's flesh. They agree.
Knowledge
List the characters and describe them:
1. The duke of venice
Strong upholder of venetian law.
2. The prince of Morocco
a suitor to Portia
3. The prince of Arragon
a suitor to Portia
4. Bassanio
an Italian lord, suitor to Portia
5. Antonio
a merchant of Venice
6. Solanio
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
7. Gratiano
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
8. Lorenzo
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
9. Shylock
the rich Jew, and father of Jessica
10. Tubal
a Jew, Shylock's friend
11. Portia
the rich Italian lady
12. Nerissa
Portia's waiting-gentlewoman
13. Jessica
daughter to Shylock
14. Gobbo
an old man, father to Lancelot
15. Lancelot Gobbo
the clown
16. Stephano
a messenger
17. Salerio
a messenger from Venice
18. Leonardo
one of Bassanio's servants
19. Balthazar
member of Portia's household
20. Servingman
member of Portia's household
21. Messenger
member of Portia's household
What other books has the author written?
Comedies
- All's Well That Ends Well ‡
- As You Like It
- The Comedy of Errors
- Love's Labour's Lost
- Measure for Measure ‡
- The Merchant of Venice
- The Merry Wives of Windsor
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre *†
- The Taming of the Shrew
- The Tempest *
- Twelfth Night
- The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- The Two Noble Kinsmen *†
- The Winter's Tale *
Poems
- Shakespeare's sonnets
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
- The Passionate Pilgrim[nb 5]
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- A Lover's Complaint
Histories
- King John
- Richard II
- Henry IV, Part 1
- Henry IV, Part 2
- Henry V
- Henry VI, Part 1 †
- Henry VI, Part 2
- Henry VI, Part 3
- Richard III
- Henry VIII †
Tragedies
- Romeo and Juliet
- Coriolanus
- Titus Andronicus †
- Timon of Athens †
- Julius Caesar
- Macbeth †
- Hamlet
- Troilus and Cressida ‡
- King Lear
- Othello
- Antony and Cleopatra
- Cymbeline *
- Poems
- Shakespeare's sonnets
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
- The Passionate Pilgrim[nb 5]
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- A Lover's Complaint
Lost plays
- Love's Labour's Won
- The History of Cardenio †
Apocrypha
- Arden of Faversham
- The Birth of Merlin
- Edward III
- Locrine
- The London Prodigal
- The Puritan
- The Second Maiden's Tragedy
- Sir John Oldcastle
- Thomas Lord Cromwell
- A Yorkshire Tragedy
- Sir Thomas More
What is the time period in which the books happens?
1596 - 1598
1. The duke of venice
Strong upholder of venetian law.
2. The prince of Morocco
a suitor to Portia
3. The prince of Arragon
a suitor to Portia
4. Bassanio
an Italian lord, suitor to Portia
5. Antonio
a merchant of Venice
6. Solanio
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
7. Gratiano
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
8. Lorenzo
gentlemen of Venice, and companions with Bassanio
9. Shylock
the rich Jew, and father of Jessica
10. Tubal
a Jew, Shylock's friend
11. Portia
the rich Italian lady
12. Nerissa
Portia's waiting-gentlewoman
13. Jessica
daughter to Shylock
14. Gobbo
an old man, father to Lancelot
15. Lancelot Gobbo
the clown
16. Stephano
a messenger
17. Salerio
a messenger from Venice
18. Leonardo
one of Bassanio's servants
19. Balthazar
member of Portia's household
20. Servingman
member of Portia's household
21. Messenger
member of Portia's household
What other books has the author written?
Comedies
- All's Well That Ends Well ‡
- As You Like It
- The Comedy of Errors
- Love's Labour's Lost
- Measure for Measure ‡
- The Merchant of Venice
- The Merry Wives of Windsor
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre *†
- The Taming of the Shrew
- The Tempest *
- Twelfth Night
- The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- The Two Noble Kinsmen *†
- The Winter's Tale *
Poems
- Shakespeare's sonnets
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
- The Passionate Pilgrim[nb 5]
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- A Lover's Complaint
Histories
- King John
- Richard II
- Henry IV, Part 1
- Henry IV, Part 2
- Henry V
- Henry VI, Part 1 †
- Henry VI, Part 2
- Henry VI, Part 3
- Richard III
- Henry VIII †
Tragedies
- Romeo and Juliet
- Coriolanus
- Titus Andronicus †
- Timon of Athens †
- Julius Caesar
- Macbeth †
- Hamlet
- Troilus and Cressida ‡
- King Lear
- Othello
- Antony and Cleopatra
- Cymbeline *
- Poems
- Shakespeare's sonnets
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
- The Passionate Pilgrim[nb 5]
- The Phoenix and the Turtle
- A Lover's Complaint
Lost plays
- Love's Labour's Won
- The History of Cardenio †
Apocrypha
- Arden of Faversham
- The Birth of Merlin
- Edward III
- Locrine
- The London Prodigal
- The Puritan
- The Second Maiden's Tragedy
- Sir John Oldcastle
- Thomas Lord Cromwell
- A Yorkshire Tragedy
- Sir Thomas More
What is the time period in which the books happens?
1596 - 1598
Monday, June 27, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Article 2
In my opinion, environmental studies should be made a mandatory part of the science curriculum. This would thus be an easy platform for students to learn about the importance of our environment, and prevent it from destruction. This subject will also raise awareness of the measures needed to prevent such destruction from happening. With more people knowing about solutions to save the earth, more people would thus act out these measures. This would thus increase our chance of global warming reducing and thus our world would not perish as fast as it would without this subject. I think that this subject would also bring about students that are interested in eco friendly Singapore and Eco Friendly schools
This subject is also applicable to the future, thus it is a subject that should be part of science, and they should make it compulsory as it would bring many benefits that would definitely help save the earth. This is also one platform for students to give new suggestions and feedback on how we should promote and continue saving the earth. Without this subject, it would reduce a platform to alert and inform the students of the dangers of global warming. Furthermore, it would also reduce the effort needed to publicize the need of saving the earth. This thus would also be beneficial towards the earth and thus should be included in our curriculum as a compulsory part of the subject, science.
This subject is also applicable to the future, thus it is a subject that should be part of science, and they should make it compulsory as it would bring many benefits that would definitely help save the earth. This is also one platform for students to give new suggestions and feedback on how we should promote and continue saving the earth. Without this subject, it would reduce a platform to alert and inform the students of the dangers of global warming. Furthermore, it would also reduce the effort needed to publicize the need of saving the earth. This thus would also be beneficial towards the earth and thus should be included in our curriculum as a compulsory part of the subject, science.
Article 2
Solutions to solve global warming:
1. Plant more trees. This would thus mean that more plants would go through photosynthesis in the day, whereby they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, reducing the amount of heat trapped.
2. Invest in clean jobs and clean energy. Jobs. Millions of jobs. Manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines and retrofitting homes will get American workers back on their feet and get our economy rolling again. Studies show that investing in clean energy technologies would produce more jobs than similar investments in oil and gas – and these jobs can be created without increasing the federal debt. Investments in clean energy will also help end America's oil addiction and usher in a new, secure energy future.
3. Drive smaller cars. Save on gas. High-mileage cars use less gas, helping keep American dollars at home and in our pockets. Retooling auto plants will help U.S. carmakers meet the demand for fuel-efficient cars, find profitability at home and compete once again in the global market. If we make our cars more efficient over the next ten years, we'll cut global warming pollution by more than 350 million metric tons and save 2 million barrels of oil a day.
4. Create green homes and buildings. Cost savings. Outside of your mortgage, the next biggest cost of homeownership is heating and cooling your home. An average retrofitted home can save $700 to $1150 a year in energy costs. On a national scale, the benefits are huge. Retrofitting just one out of every 5 American homes would avoid the need to build 13 mid-sized power plants every year. Retrofitting every house in the country would cut as much global warming pollution as taking a half a million cars off the road – and would save more oil and gas than we could extract from drilling in our coastal waters.
5. Build better communication and transportation networks. Shorter drive times, less pollution. Less time behind the wheel means less money spent on gas -- and more time for you. Plus, studies show that a neighborhood where people walk more is healthier, safer and friendlier. And when people can walk to the store, the office, or the movie theater instead of driving, we slow down global warming. Each "smart growth" community reduces global warming pollution by 20 to 40 percent compared to the norm.
6. Save electricity. Electricity is essential for research on global warming. It also can power cars which would thus reduce the amount of petrol needed. Thus this would reduce the pollution in the air.
7. Set limits on global warming pollution. More jobs. Less pollution. Fewer disasters. By charging polluters, Congress could raise $100 to $150 billion annually to invest in clean energy. These investments in turn would spur the growth of a clean energy economy and create 2 million new American jobs in two years. And by making significant reductions in global warming pollution by mid-century, scientists say, we can avoid some of the most disastrous consequences of global warming, such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and a dramatic rise in sea levels.
8. Save water. As the ice melt,countries would have no clean water to drink, thus they have to start saving water for the future. Though technology has it's way of solving it, it's better to be save than sorry. Thus we should not waste the water that is a necessity for us.
Singaporeans can play an active role in saving the planet by:
1. Switch off all electrical appliances when not in use. This will help reduce electricity wastage.
2. Do not leave the tap running while brushing your teeth. This would help save more water.
3. Do not spend too long in the shower. This would help save more water.
4. Switch to a hybrid car. This would allow less pollution from taking place.
5. Continue the earth day campaign. This would reduce electricity usage.
6. Plant more trees. This would thus mean that more plants would go through photosynthesis in the day.
What are some solutions to get HCI students to engage in protecting our planet:
We can start by giving talks so as to arouse the awareness of HCI students to let them understand the dangers and consequences that will happen if they fail to rescue the earth. Furthermore, we can give talks to suggest to them solutions and measures that we need to take. We can also put up posters so as to remind the students to continue on such measures. I think that students have to do these things with their own initiative to start doing things that will save the earth, thus there is not much HCI can do.
1. Plant more trees. This would thus mean that more plants would go through photosynthesis in the day, whereby they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, reducing the amount of heat trapped.
2. Invest in clean jobs and clean energy. Jobs. Millions of jobs. Manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines and retrofitting homes will get American workers back on their feet and get our economy rolling again. Studies show that investing in clean energy technologies would produce more jobs than similar investments in oil and gas – and these jobs can be created without increasing the federal debt. Investments in clean energy will also help end America's oil addiction and usher in a new, secure energy future.
3. Drive smaller cars. Save on gas. High-mileage cars use less gas, helping keep American dollars at home and in our pockets. Retooling auto plants will help U.S. carmakers meet the demand for fuel-efficient cars, find profitability at home and compete once again in the global market. If we make our cars more efficient over the next ten years, we'll cut global warming pollution by more than 350 million metric tons and save 2 million barrels of oil a day.
4. Create green homes and buildings. Cost savings. Outside of your mortgage, the next biggest cost of homeownership is heating and cooling your home. An average retrofitted home can save $700 to $1150 a year in energy costs. On a national scale, the benefits are huge. Retrofitting just one out of every 5 American homes would avoid the need to build 13 mid-sized power plants every year. Retrofitting every house in the country would cut as much global warming pollution as taking a half a million cars off the road – and would save more oil and gas than we could extract from drilling in our coastal waters.
5. Build better communication and transportation networks. Shorter drive times, less pollution. Less time behind the wheel means less money spent on gas -- and more time for you. Plus, studies show that a neighborhood where people walk more is healthier, safer and friendlier. And when people can walk to the store, the office, or the movie theater instead of driving, we slow down global warming. Each "smart growth" community reduces global warming pollution by 20 to 40 percent compared to the norm.
6. Save electricity. Electricity is essential for research on global warming. It also can power cars which would thus reduce the amount of petrol needed. Thus this would reduce the pollution in the air.
7. Set limits on global warming pollution. More jobs. Less pollution. Fewer disasters. By charging polluters, Congress could raise $100 to $150 billion annually to invest in clean energy. These investments in turn would spur the growth of a clean energy economy and create 2 million new American jobs in two years. And by making significant reductions in global warming pollution by mid-century, scientists say, we can avoid some of the most disastrous consequences of global warming, such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and a dramatic rise in sea levels.
8. Save water. As the ice melt,countries would have no clean water to drink, thus they have to start saving water for the future. Though technology has it's way of solving it, it's better to be save than sorry. Thus we should not waste the water that is a necessity for us.
Singaporeans can play an active role in saving the planet by:
1. Switch off all electrical appliances when not in use. This will help reduce electricity wastage.
2. Do not leave the tap running while brushing your teeth. This would help save more water.
3. Do not spend too long in the shower. This would help save more water.
4. Switch to a hybrid car. This would allow less pollution from taking place.
5. Continue the earth day campaign. This would reduce electricity usage.
6. Plant more trees. This would thus mean that more plants would go through photosynthesis in the day.
What are some solutions to get HCI students to engage in protecting our planet:
We can start by giving talks so as to arouse the awareness of HCI students to let them understand the dangers and consequences that will happen if they fail to rescue the earth. Furthermore, we can give talks to suggest to them solutions and measures that we need to take. We can also put up posters so as to remind the students to continue on such measures. I think that students have to do these things with their own initiative to start doing things that will save the earth, thus there is not much HCI can do.
Article 1
Dear diary,
Oh no! My parents are going to kill me! I should never have allowed sister to drive that car! How could we be so unlucky as to get caught! However, this is still the most stupid law I have ever heard of! How did situations become this bad? How is it that she might be put into prison just because she drove? This is outrages. Totally outrages! I am so outraged! Angry with myself for being so stupid as to let her drive and angry with this country for setting up such a stupid rule!
Even as a man, I think that woman should be allowed to drive a car. I mean, it's just driving, it isn't a big deal. How can they arrest my sister for something that so many woman worldwide are doing? How can they make something illegal when everywhere else it's legal? This is not allowing women to have rights. Women plays an important part in our society and they should have equal rights as men. My sister was accused of a law that should not have been put in place in the first place. This is utterly outrages! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. What my sister got what something no woman should deserve! Furthermore, they might put her in jail! This is insanity!
I just hope that the government would wake up and think about their actions! You can't just set a law like this and expect there to be peace in the country! I hope that the government would see the threat of not having national peace by putting such a stupid law like this! I hope that the government would come to their senses and let my sister go, furthermore, let women be able to drive! Women has their rights too! I hope that the government would start respecting that!
Oh no! My parents are going to kill me! I should never have allowed sister to drive that car! How could we be so unlucky as to get caught! However, this is still the most stupid law I have ever heard of! How did situations become this bad? How is it that she might be put into prison just because she drove? This is outrages. Totally outrages! I am so outraged! Angry with myself for being so stupid as to let her drive and angry with this country for setting up such a stupid rule!
Even as a man, I think that woman should be allowed to drive a car. I mean, it's just driving, it isn't a big deal. How can they arrest my sister for something that so many woman worldwide are doing? How can they make something illegal when everywhere else it's legal? This is not allowing women to have rights. Women plays an important part in our society and they should have equal rights as men. My sister was accused of a law that should not have been put in place in the first place. This is utterly outrages! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. What my sister got what something no woman should deserve! Furthermore, they might put her in jail! This is insanity!
I just hope that the government would wake up and think about their actions! You can't just set a law like this and expect there to be peace in the country! I hope that the government would see the threat of not having national peace by putting such a stupid law like this! I hope that the government would come to their senses and let my sister go, furthermore, let women be able to drive! Women has their rights too! I hope that the government would start respecting that!
Activity One
1. I think that the woman's rights in Saudi Arabia is very bad. Firstly, they do not listen to opinions of their public. This thus results in riots and strikes. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is the only country that do not allow women to drive. In my opinion, woman are just as capable as men and they should be able to do what men do. I mean, women driving cars are so commonly seen in other parts of the world, but in Saudi Arabia it's illegal. This will definitely spark a anger in a woman. Woman should be treated like men, men has their rights and women should have their own rights too. Thus I do not agree one bit with the woman rights in Saudi Arabia.
2. I think that social media is definitely a tool to help the women in Saudi Arabia. Thus making it an advantage for them. Social media has enabled women to speak what's really on their minds. Furthermore, it helped women gather support when it was needed. For example when a woman wants to go on strike, she can depend on the social media such as Facebook and Twitter to gather support on this area which she wants to strike on. Thus this also creates a platform for women to come together and voice their opinion in unity so as to voice their opinion to the public.
3. I think that women's rights are really bad in Saudi Arabia now. Thus definitely it has to improve. However, you can take in consideration to the religion. One must give in to both in order to have peace in both law and religion. Thus both the laws and religion should be taken in consideration and must be compromised so as to avoid a collision of either.
2. I think that social media is definitely a tool to help the women in Saudi Arabia. Thus making it an advantage for them. Social media has enabled women to speak what's really on their minds. Furthermore, it helped women gather support when it was needed. For example when a woman wants to go on strike, she can depend on the social media such as Facebook and Twitter to gather support on this area which she wants to strike on. Thus this also creates a platform for women to come together and voice their opinion in unity so as to voice their opinion to the public.
3. I think that women's rights are really bad in Saudi Arabia now. Thus definitely it has to improve. However, you can take in consideration to the religion. One must give in to both in order to have peace in both law and religion. Thus both the laws and religion should be taken in consideration and must be compromised so as to avoid a collision of either.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Reflection on research
1. My impressions of shakespeare work is that his work is very olden. Thus myself, as a youngster, can't understand nor comprehend this types of plays. Thus I do not enjoy shakespeare's works and art forms. However, I do agree that he is a great writer and makes fantastic plays. Plays that went famous and works of art that many appreciate now. His works are hard for me to understand as the language he uses is of a different time. Words like thee makes it hard to understand what he is writing. However, many of my friends feedback that his books are interesting after you get what they mean. However, I find his life very interesting. It is filled with trials and tribulations, like his son passing away. However, he still preserves to continue living and writing with the emotions needed. In my opinion, shakespeare paved the way for modern plays and movies. His work has been reproduced into movie forms and furthermore he created the passion for plays and movies. However, I think he made a big impact to his time and the modern times as he used so much imagination and creativity to create his plays, thus we can enjoy plays that are so different that what it used to be.
2. Though the era of Queen Elizabeth I is very different from our present day in terms of us having modern technology and cleanness and standard of living all becoming a part of our daily lives, I still think that the similarity between our era and that of Queen Elizabeth I is that our society is still split into social levels. Thus the rich has obviously the better lifestyle while the poor work hard to obtain a lifestyle good enough for them to carry on living. For example, the rich goes to those expensive clubs and parties while the poor has to beg or sell tissue paper to make a living for themselves.
3. Yes I think that Shakespeare's work can be applied to our modern day context. Now, so many movies, books and plays are about romance. Like what shakespeare did, he put in romance over all circumstances in his play, romeo and juliet. I'm pretty sure that it sparked a fire for creating love stories and romance genre in not just plays and books, but also songs and movies. This genre is very common in the today society, where so many movies are about how one guy falls in love with another girl. Despite all odds, they managed to get together in the end and live happily ever after. This is an example of what shakespeare created, undying love, love that surpasses all understanding. Thus I think that shakespeare's work can be applied to our modern day context and it influence our modern day society and entertainment.
2. Though the era of Queen Elizabeth I is very different from our present day in terms of us having modern technology and cleanness and standard of living all becoming a part of our daily lives, I still think that the similarity between our era and that of Queen Elizabeth I is that our society is still split into social levels. Thus the rich has obviously the better lifestyle while the poor work hard to obtain a lifestyle good enough for them to carry on living. For example, the rich goes to those expensive clubs and parties while the poor has to beg or sell tissue paper to make a living for themselves.
3. Yes I think that Shakespeare's work can be applied to our modern day context. Now, so many movies, books and plays are about romance. Like what shakespeare did, he put in romance over all circumstances in his play, romeo and juliet. I'm pretty sure that it sparked a fire for creating love stories and romance genre in not just plays and books, but also songs and movies. This genre is very common in the today society, where so many movies are about how one guy falls in love with another girl. Despite all odds, they managed to get together in the end and live happily ever after. This is an example of what shakespeare created, undying love, love that surpasses all understanding. Thus I think that shakespeare's work can be applied to our modern day context and it influence our modern day society and entertainment.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Term 2 HBL
Dulce et Decorum Est
1) it's literal meaning is that they were carrying bags that were very heavy. As their bags were very heavy, it made their posture bent and their backs bend. It's implied meaning is that the soldiers are having a hard time fighting the war. My impression is that they are suffering really hard during the war.
2) The author uses sound devices to make the reader involved in the poem. It allows the reader to imagine the scenario happening, thus making the reader feel the emotions. For example, 'Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!' makes the reader think that they are in a scene of panic and danger. Thus making the reader feel the anxiety. Furthermore, he uses similes to further allow the reader to picture the scene. 'floundering like a man in fire or lime' allows the readers to feel how difficult and hard this war is, and what the soldiers are going through.
3) The author is trying to say that dying for one's country is not as glorious as we all think. Dying for one's country not only makes one go through a lot of pain, but one's friends and war mates would never wash the memory off their head, of how painful the death was for that person. I agree with this view. Many people think that dying for one's country is an honour. However, they never felt how pain and torturous death is, whether or not the death is for the country. Furthermore, it would leave deep scars in the memories of your friends.
Flying the flag in Bosnia
1) The tone of the poem is one that is very depressed and devastated. The author makes it poignant to the readers by elaborating a lot on the woman's actions and emotions. Furthermore, he describes the grave in detail.
2) The poet states that there are already too many people who died. 'in a country which already has too many' which means that
many people had died, far too many. The shirt, which is put on the grave to represent that the person had died in war, as the shirt is like a flag.
1) it's literal meaning is that they were carrying bags that were very heavy. As their bags were very heavy, it made their posture bent and their backs bend. It's implied meaning is that the soldiers are having a hard time fighting the war. My impression is that they are suffering really hard during the war.
2) The author uses sound devices to make the reader involved in the poem. It allows the reader to imagine the scenario happening, thus making the reader feel the emotions. For example, 'Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!' makes the reader think that they are in a scene of panic and danger. Thus making the reader feel the anxiety. Furthermore, he uses similes to further allow the reader to picture the scene. 'floundering like a man in fire or lime' allows the readers to feel how difficult and hard this war is, and what the soldiers are going through.
3) The author is trying to say that dying for one's country is not as glorious as we all think. Dying for one's country not only makes one go through a lot of pain, but one's friends and war mates would never wash the memory off their head, of how painful the death was for that person. I agree with this view. Many people think that dying for one's country is an honour. However, they never felt how pain and torturous death is, whether or not the death is for the country. Furthermore, it would leave deep scars in the memories of your friends.
Flying the flag in Bosnia
1) The tone of the poem is one that is very depressed and devastated. The author makes it poignant to the readers by elaborating a lot on the woman's actions and emotions. Furthermore, he describes the grave in detail.
2) The poet states that there are already too many people who died. 'in a country which already has too many' which means that
many people had died, far too many. The shirt, which is put on the grave to represent that the person had died in war, as the shirt is like a flag.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
LA Feature Article
Topic :Gameaholics-- Students who spend all of their time and money on video games and board games. How does it affect them?
Gameaholics are people and students who spend a lot of their time and a lot of their money on video and board games. They usually spend so much time on these games that they have very little time to do other things or have other commitments. This might result in the lost of social life. Furthermore, excessive gaming can result in bad results and studies, facebook games can result in harm to some students, hacking of account, cause violence and may inflict viruses into the computers. Thus there are many bad points on being a gameaholic.
However, there are positive points to gaming too. Firstly, computer gaming can train reflexes. In first person shooter games, you have to have instinct and reflexes to excel in these games. Thus while playing these games you are training your personal reflexes. Secondly, it helps gamers to improve their reaction time. After playing games such as first person shooter games, the gamers realise that they will have a quicker reaction time. Thirdly, games helps gamers train their hand and eye coordination. After gaming, their hand and eye coordination works better than before. This is a result of moving the mouse and typing on the keypad while at the same time, thus resulting in a good hand and eye coordination. Lastly, long usage of computer for gaming will increase your finger speed. As a result of having to type on the computer to move your game figure around, your finger speed would naturally increase. Also, when you talk to other gamers in the game, you have to type to communicate, thus resulting in faster finger speed.
However, there are also many negative points in gaming. Firstly, it promotes many negative mindsets and things. It promotes violence, pornography, profanity and cyber bullying. This is a result of many fighting games, which cause the users to be so used to being violent in the game that they become violent outside of the virtual world too. Secondly, many games have advertisements that is not appropriate for the children. This include pornographic materials. Thirdly, many users use profanities when they are upset in the game, this results in influence of those who are innocent in profanities to use profanities to express their anger too. Finally, cyber bullying is very evident when a user gets upset with another player, thus this results in one player becoming very depressed. Gaming also results in more attention being put into gaming rather than into a student's studies. This results in poor grades and lousy studying attitude. As a result the student would rather game the whole day as compared to doing their homework or revision. Furthermore, gaming also result in the gamer becoming socially inadequate. This is a result of the gamer focusing too much on gaming as thus has no social life. Lastly, gaming results in addiction. Addiction is one of the most common problems around the world. It is the cause of all the negative aspects of gaming. Addiction also results in a gamer being unable to focus on anything else apart from gaming.
Gamers might also feel emotional and temperamental. They get easily angered as a result of the frustration in the games. They also tend to get very impatient at others as they have no tolerance for anything which is against them.
I think that gaming addiction and other negative points can be stopped by the following measures. A gamer's parents can confiscate the gamer's computer so as to let him focus on the gamer's studies. Furthermore, games can fix hacking by creating ban for hacks. A gamer's parents also can limit the time their child use on the computer to prevent over usage. Deleting of games is also a good way for a gamer to have self control.
Thus I conclude that gaming has many bad points and gamers should find ways to have self control and self discipline so as to not affect their other sectors of their lives. However, gaming too has it's good points and should not be entirely taken away from a child.
Gameaholics are people and students who spend a lot of their time and a lot of their money on video and board games. They usually spend so much time on these games that they have very little time to do other things or have other commitments. This might result in the lost of social life. Furthermore, excessive gaming can result in bad results and studies, facebook games can result in harm to some students, hacking of account, cause violence and may inflict viruses into the computers. Thus there are many bad points on being a gameaholic.
However, there are positive points to gaming too. Firstly, computer gaming can train reflexes. In first person shooter games, you have to have instinct and reflexes to excel in these games. Thus while playing these games you are training your personal reflexes. Secondly, it helps gamers to improve their reaction time. After playing games such as first person shooter games, the gamers realise that they will have a quicker reaction time. Thirdly, games helps gamers train their hand and eye coordination. After gaming, their hand and eye coordination works better than before. This is a result of moving the mouse and typing on the keypad while at the same time, thus resulting in a good hand and eye coordination. Lastly, long usage of computer for gaming will increase your finger speed. As a result of having to type on the computer to move your game figure around, your finger speed would naturally increase. Also, when you talk to other gamers in the game, you have to type to communicate, thus resulting in faster finger speed.
However, there are also many negative points in gaming. Firstly, it promotes many negative mindsets and things. It promotes violence, pornography, profanity and cyber bullying. This is a result of many fighting games, which cause the users to be so used to being violent in the game that they become violent outside of the virtual world too. Secondly, many games have advertisements that is not appropriate for the children. This include pornographic materials. Thirdly, many users use profanities when they are upset in the game, this results in influence of those who are innocent in profanities to use profanities to express their anger too. Finally, cyber bullying is very evident when a user gets upset with another player, thus this results in one player becoming very depressed. Gaming also results in more attention being put into gaming rather than into a student's studies. This results in poor grades and lousy studying attitude. As a result the student would rather game the whole day as compared to doing their homework or revision. Furthermore, gaming also result in the gamer becoming socially inadequate. This is a result of the gamer focusing too much on gaming as thus has no social life. Lastly, gaming results in addiction. Addiction is one of the most common problems around the world. It is the cause of all the negative aspects of gaming. Addiction also results in a gamer being unable to focus on anything else apart from gaming.
Gamers might also feel emotional and temperamental. They get easily angered as a result of the frustration in the games. They also tend to get very impatient at others as they have no tolerance for anything which is against them.
I think that gaming addiction and other negative points can be stopped by the following measures. A gamer's parents can confiscate the gamer's computer so as to let him focus on the gamer's studies. Furthermore, games can fix hacking by creating ban for hacks. A gamer's parents also can limit the time their child use on the computer to prevent over usage. Deleting of games is also a good way for a gamer to have self control.
Thus I conclude that gaming has many bad points and gamers should find ways to have self control and self discipline so as to not affect their other sectors of their lives. However, gaming too has it's good points and should not be entirely taken away from a child.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Letter of encouragement
Dear Akihito,
I may not understand the plight you are in now but I do know from the news that the situation in Japan has been really bad. Japan has experienced earthquakes, a massive tsunami and more scarily, a nuclear failure. The tsunami had cause the nuclear failure, as a result of the tsunami destroying the nuclear plant's cooling system. As a result, radiation has hit your city hard and I know that you are going through a very tough time. With fear of the radiation hitting a sky high, I hope that the cooling system would be restored as quickly as possible.
I know that the fear of death is very evident in your family and friends lives now, and I hope that Japan would recover through this ordeal as quickly as possible. I hope that the donations and help from all over the world has been aiding Japan through this tough time and I hope that the donations would continue to give you hope and know that there is people around the world who cares for you. I hope that the encouraging letters and notes from the rest of the world carry on and provide you with the support, encouragement and hope that you need.
I hope that you have been strong through this time of fear and destruction for you. I hope that you will not lose hope, and know that there are people all around the world who cares for you and want you to come out of this ordeal alive and stronger than you were before. I know that some of your family members have sadly, passed away through this natural disaster, but I hope that you’ll not be too devastated, and carry on living life with hope.
Lastly, I hope that you will not lose hope and treasure more the importance of life. You have my best wishes; please stay safe and hopeful in this tough time!
Yours sincerely,
Zac Lee
I may not understand the plight you are in now but I do know from the news that the situation in Japan has been really bad. Japan has experienced earthquakes, a massive tsunami and more scarily, a nuclear failure. The tsunami had cause the nuclear failure, as a result of the tsunami destroying the nuclear plant's cooling system. As a result, radiation has hit your city hard and I know that you are going through a very tough time. With fear of the radiation hitting a sky high, I hope that the cooling system would be restored as quickly as possible.
I know that the fear of death is very evident in your family and friends lives now, and I hope that Japan would recover through this ordeal as quickly as possible. I hope that the donations and help from all over the world has been aiding Japan through this tough time and I hope that the donations would continue to give you hope and know that there is people around the world who cares for you. I hope that the encouraging letters and notes from the rest of the world carry on and provide you with the support, encouragement and hope that you need.
I hope that you have been strong through this time of fear and destruction for you. I hope that you will not lose hope, and know that there are people all around the world who cares for you and want you to come out of this ordeal alive and stronger than you were before. I know that some of your family members have sadly, passed away through this natural disaster, but I hope that you’ll not be too devastated, and carry on living life with hope.
Lastly, I hope that you will not lose hope and treasure more the importance of life. You have my best wishes; please stay safe and hopeful in this tough time!
Yours sincerely,
Zac Lee
Monday, February 7, 2011
Dead Poets Society
Plot
Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles), Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen), Richard Cameron (Dylan Kussman), Steven Meeks (Allelon Ruggiero), and Gerard Pitts (James Waterston) are senior students of the Welton Academy prep school, whose ethos is defined by the headmaster Gale Nolan (Norman Lloyd) as "tradition, honour, discipline and excellence". Both Neil and Todd are under harsh parental pressure to become a doctor and a lawyer respectively, but Todd wants to be a writer.
The teaching methods of their new English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), are unorthodox by Welton standards, whistling the 1812 Overture and taking them out of the classroom to focus on the idea of carpe diem. He tells the students that they may call him "O Captain! My Captain!," in reference to a Walt Whitman poem, if they feel daring. In another class, Keating has Neil read the introduction to their poetry textbook, prescribing a mathematical formula to rate the quality of poetry which Keating finds ridiculous, and he instructs his pupils to rip the introduction out of their books, to the amazement of one of his colleagues. Later he has the students stand on his desk in order to look at the world in a different way. Inspired by Keating, the boys secretly revive a school literary club, the titular "Dead Poets Society," to which Keating had belonged, meeting in a cave in the school grounds.
Due to self-consciousness, Todd fails to complete a writing assignment and Keating takes him through an exercise in self-expression, realizing the potential he possesses. Charlie publishes an unauthorized article in the school newspaper, asserting that girls should be admitted to Welton. At the resulting school inquiry, he offers a phone call from God in support, incurring the headmaster's wrath. After being lectured by Headmaster Nolan about his teaching methods, Keating tells the boys to "be wise, not stupid" about protesting against the system.
Knox meets and falls in love with a girl named Chris, using his new-found love of poetry to woo her. He presents one of these poems in class, and is applauded by Keating for writing a heartfelt poem on love. Knox travels to Chris's public school and recites his poem to her, later convincing her to go to a play with him. Neil wants to be an actor but knows his father (Kurtwood Smith) will disapprove. Without his father's knowledge, he auditions for the role of Puck in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. His father finds out and orders Neil to withdraw. Neil asks Keating for advice and is advised to talk to his father and make him understand how he feels, but Neil cannot muster the courage to do so. Instead he goes against his father's wishes. His father shows up at the end of the play, furious. He takes Neil home and tells him that he intends to enroll him in a military school to prepare him for Harvard University and a career in medicine. Unable to cope with the future that awaits him or to make his father understand his feelings, Neil commits suicide.
At the request of Neil's parents, the headmaster launches an investigation. Richard meets the school governors and board of regents. Later, confronted by Charlie, Richard admits that he squealed on them and made Keating the scapegoat, and urges the rest of them to let Keating take the fall. Charlie punches Richard and is later expelled. Todd is called to Nolan's office, where his parents are waiting. Nolan forces Todd to admit to being a member of the Dead Poets Society, and makes him sign a document blaming Keating for abusing his authority, inciting the boys to restart the club, and encouraging Neil to flout his father's wishes. Todd sees the other boys' signatures already on the document, and is threatened by his father to sign it. Keating is subsequently fired.
The boys return to English class, now being taught by Nolan, who has the boys read the introductory essay only to find that they had all ripped it out. Keating enters the room to retrieve a few belongings. Todd reveals that the boys were intimidated into signing the denunciation. Nolan orders Todd to be quiet and demands that Keating leave. As Keating is about to exit, Todd for the first time breaks his reserve, calls out "O Captain! My Captain!" and stands on his desk. Nolan warns Todd to sit down or face expulsion. Much of the class, climb onto their desks and look to Keating, ignoring Nolan's orders until he gives up and slumps against his desk. Keating leaves happily with tears in his eyes.
Review
I think that this is an interesting movie. It shows how justice goes over control. It shows too that we should stand up for our rights and shows us the parental pressure of some families. I feel that the ending of the movie is very touching, where the students stand up for their teacher, going against the rules of the school. I think that the teacher had a unique and interesting teaching method and is definitely a great teacher. All in all, I feel that this was a touching, heart-warming and interesting classic movie suitable for all ages.
Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles), Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen), Richard Cameron (Dylan Kussman), Steven Meeks (Allelon Ruggiero), and Gerard Pitts (James Waterston) are senior students of the Welton Academy prep school, whose ethos is defined by the headmaster Gale Nolan (Norman Lloyd) as "tradition, honour, discipline and excellence". Both Neil and Todd are under harsh parental pressure to become a doctor and a lawyer respectively, but Todd wants to be a writer.
The teaching methods of their new English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), are unorthodox by Welton standards, whistling the 1812 Overture and taking them out of the classroom to focus on the idea of carpe diem. He tells the students that they may call him "O Captain! My Captain!," in reference to a Walt Whitman poem, if they feel daring. In another class, Keating has Neil read the introduction to their poetry textbook, prescribing a mathematical formula to rate the quality of poetry which Keating finds ridiculous, and he instructs his pupils to rip the introduction out of their books, to the amazement of one of his colleagues. Later he has the students stand on his desk in order to look at the world in a different way. Inspired by Keating, the boys secretly revive a school literary club, the titular "Dead Poets Society," to which Keating had belonged, meeting in a cave in the school grounds.
Due to self-consciousness, Todd fails to complete a writing assignment and Keating takes him through an exercise in self-expression, realizing the potential he possesses. Charlie publishes an unauthorized article in the school newspaper, asserting that girls should be admitted to Welton. At the resulting school inquiry, he offers a phone call from God in support, incurring the headmaster's wrath. After being lectured by Headmaster Nolan about his teaching methods, Keating tells the boys to "be wise, not stupid" about protesting against the system.
Knox meets and falls in love with a girl named Chris, using his new-found love of poetry to woo her. He presents one of these poems in class, and is applauded by Keating for writing a heartfelt poem on love. Knox travels to Chris's public school and recites his poem to her, later convincing her to go to a play with him. Neil wants to be an actor but knows his father (Kurtwood Smith) will disapprove. Without his father's knowledge, he auditions for the role of Puck in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. His father finds out and orders Neil to withdraw. Neil asks Keating for advice and is advised to talk to his father and make him understand how he feels, but Neil cannot muster the courage to do so. Instead he goes against his father's wishes. His father shows up at the end of the play, furious. He takes Neil home and tells him that he intends to enroll him in a military school to prepare him for Harvard University and a career in medicine. Unable to cope with the future that awaits him or to make his father understand his feelings, Neil commits suicide.
At the request of Neil's parents, the headmaster launches an investigation. Richard meets the school governors and board of regents. Later, confronted by Charlie, Richard admits that he squealed on them and made Keating the scapegoat, and urges the rest of them to let Keating take the fall. Charlie punches Richard and is later expelled. Todd is called to Nolan's office, where his parents are waiting. Nolan forces Todd to admit to being a member of the Dead Poets Society, and makes him sign a document blaming Keating for abusing his authority, inciting the boys to restart the club, and encouraging Neil to flout his father's wishes. Todd sees the other boys' signatures already on the document, and is threatened by his father to sign it. Keating is subsequently fired.
The boys return to English class, now being taught by Nolan, who has the boys read the introductory essay only to find that they had all ripped it out. Keating enters the room to retrieve a few belongings. Todd reveals that the boys were intimidated into signing the denunciation. Nolan orders Todd to be quiet and demands that Keating leave. As Keating is about to exit, Todd for the first time breaks his reserve, calls out "O Captain! My Captain!" and stands on his desk. Nolan warns Todd to sit down or face expulsion. Much of the class, climb onto their desks and look to Keating, ignoring Nolan's orders until he gives up and slumps against his desk. Keating leaves happily with tears in his eyes.
Review
I think that this is an interesting movie. It shows how justice goes over control. It shows too that we should stand up for our rights and shows us the parental pressure of some families. I feel that the ending of the movie is very touching, where the students stand up for their teacher, going against the rules of the school. I think that the teacher had a unique and interesting teaching method and is definitely a great teacher. All in all, I feel that this was a touching, heart-warming and interesting classic movie suitable for all ages.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Reflection on Article 1 - Blended Learning
Point of view: the writer is writing in the point of view of both the people receiving plastic surgery and the people doing the surgery. The writer wants to attract teenagers who are considering plastic surgery and want to go through plastic surgery, to discourage them from going through plastic surgery. The interest group the writer represents the people who have gone through plastic surgery or want to go through plastic surgery.
Consequences: the consequences of plastic surgery is that there is danger in going through plastic surgery; there is unnecessary medical risks. Furthermore, you might be taunted, judged or even gossiped by your friends in school. However, there also good points that come out of it: most of the time you would grow more attractive, manage to lose weight fast and even remove scars.
Purpose: the purpose of the article is to show that more and more people are trying to go through plastic surgery. The writer is trying to let the readers know about the positive and negative points in going through plastic surgery. The writer is trying to discourage the readers by showing more of the bad points rather than the good points. The writer states that more people, even though they do not regret going through plastic surgery, would not want to go through it again.
Assumptions: The writer assumes that most of the teenagers now a days want to follow the trend and go for plastic surgery. However, this might not be the case as many people do not want to take this as there is unnecessary risks and might lead you to have problems in school. The writer assumes that most people would regret after they go through it, however, the writer also does not show it clearly.
Consequences: the consequences of plastic surgery is that there is danger in going through plastic surgery; there is unnecessary medical risks. Furthermore, you might be taunted, judged or even gossiped by your friends in school. However, there also good points that come out of it: most of the time you would grow more attractive, manage to lose weight fast and even remove scars.
Purpose: the purpose of the article is to show that more and more people are trying to go through plastic surgery. The writer is trying to let the readers know about the positive and negative points in going through plastic surgery. The writer is trying to discourage the readers by showing more of the bad points rather than the good points. The writer states that more people, even though they do not regret going through plastic surgery, would not want to go through it again.
Assumptions: The writer assumes that most of the teenagers now a days want to follow the trend and go for plastic surgery. However, this might not be the case as many people do not want to take this as there is unnecessary risks and might lead you to have problems in school. The writer assumes that most people would regret after they go through it, however, the writer also does not show it clearly.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Describing a scene (a fight in public)
The sight of blood could be seen. Red drops of blood started to drop onto the floor. The smell of blood could be smelled from miles away. A crowd had started to gather around the fight. The two men were in their early 20s, with tan complexion and very broad shoulders. Both of them were struggling to continue to fight. Both men were trying to carry on, neither wanting to lose. Both of them had blood streaming out of their mouths. They looked badly wounded and needed a hospital. However, it looked as if their pride stopped them from doing so. As they say, pride comes before a floor. Both of them gave each other a final blow before landing on the floor, unconscious. The crowd cheered wildly, wanting to see more action. However, when it seemed that they were not going to continue fighting, the crowd started to clear, and no one helped the two men to ask for help on their wounds. As the evening started to take it’s place, these two men lay there, unconscious.
Describing a scene (an evening on a beach)
It was a sunny evening. I felt the heat of the sun burning on my skin. I could smell the smell of the smoke coming out of the barbecue pit. The rays of the sun made the sky go orange. The sea was blue-green. The soft waves could be heard as they crashed onto the shore. Screams of laughter could be heard as the children splashed in the water playfully. Many people could be seen sunbathing in the sun. Wanting to stay at the beach, many kids gave wails, trying to convince their parents to let them stay on the beach. The shore was starting to clear up, with many people packing up their things, ready to go home. The smell of the suntan lotion was so strong that you could smell it meters away from the shore. The sun was going down, and the sea turned orange, as darkness began to take it’s place.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Ace Submission, Character development Exercise 4
Dear diary,
Today is my 246th day in prison. The food so far has been HORRIBLE, the chicken has been boiled to whiteness. The vegetables has boiled to tastelessness. Don't get me started on the rice and noodles. The activities are so boring. They make us play basketball, and with my height, I can't even shoot and reach the basketball hoop. They make us clean the toilet. What to they take us for, cleaners? We are the world's deadliest people and they make us clean toilets? They should be fearing us, but with the attitude they give us, they are looking to meet their maker! However, most of us in the prison has realized the stupidity of what we've done and want to turn a new leaf. However, are we given the chance to show our regret? No! The prison guards treat us like we are rubbish. They joke and tease about us, spit in our face, and we can't do anything back! I hate life here. I can't wait to get out of the prison and live life like a normal person. I want to see my loved ones again, and this time not separated by the clear glass. However, i still have 369 more days more! Hope it'll go pass fast. I should find something I like doing, for as they say, time flies when we're having fun! Hope that time will fly from now on and not move like a snail running a 20km marathon. Perhaps I should never have joined that gang. Perhaps I should never have gone with the others on that outing, where they attacked a teenager. Perhaps the I had this coming, mixing with the bad company really did not do me good. I wished I had a time machine and could turn back time and did something smarter and more meaningful. However, it's too late to regret now. All I can do is to continue living a life that abides by the laws, and find better company. As they say, " crime never pays! " I finally realized what this meant. How foolish I was!
Signing off,
Bob Martin.
Today is my 246th day in prison. The food so far has been HORRIBLE, the chicken has been boiled to whiteness. The vegetables has boiled to tastelessness. Don't get me started on the rice and noodles. The activities are so boring. They make us play basketball, and with my height, I can't even shoot and reach the basketball hoop. They make us clean the toilet. What to they take us for, cleaners? We are the world's deadliest people and they make us clean toilets? They should be fearing us, but with the attitude they give us, they are looking to meet their maker! However, most of us in the prison has realized the stupidity of what we've done and want to turn a new leaf. However, are we given the chance to show our regret? No! The prison guards treat us like we are rubbish. They joke and tease about us, spit in our face, and we can't do anything back! I hate life here. I can't wait to get out of the prison and live life like a normal person. I want to see my loved ones again, and this time not separated by the clear glass. However, i still have 369 more days more! Hope it'll go pass fast. I should find something I like doing, for as they say, time flies when we're having fun! Hope that time will fly from now on and not move like a snail running a 20km marathon. Perhaps I should never have joined that gang. Perhaps I should never have gone with the others on that outing, where they attacked a teenager. Perhaps the I had this coming, mixing with the bad company really did not do me good. I wished I had a time machine and could turn back time and did something smarter and more meaningful. However, it's too late to regret now. All I can do is to continue living a life that abides by the laws, and find better company. As they say, " crime never pays! " I finally realized what this meant. How foolish I was!
Signing off,
Bob Martin.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Ace Submission, Character development Exercise 2
Why am I so fat? Why can't I just be slim like that other guy? Why can't I keep to my diet? Why did I have to be this size and weight?nI had problems with my self appearance. This greatly affected my self esteem.
As a result of my size, I often got teased in school. People who say, "have you heard of running?", "have you heard of a diet?" or "have you heard of diet coke?" and they would laugh at it. I always wanted to lose weight and go on a diet, but I could never keep to it. Every time I look in the mirror, I would dread my body. I regret growing up eating so much fastfood like 'McDonalds' and 'KFC' and 'Burger King'.
Everyday, I would try to run. However, it was to no avail. Every time I jogged a few steps, I would feel a sense of breathlessness and could not continue running. Many people teased me for being so fat and could not run. No one would team with me during physical education. To add on to my problems, I would always fail my Napha. This resulted in more teasing. During the cross country race, I would come in last. Some people even copied my way of running and laughed at it.
However, this all changed. One day, the track and field teacher asked me if I would like to join track at field, shot put. I gladly agreed as I wanted to slim down. Over the months, I began to grow slimmer and became more muscular.
" Bob Martin, 26.5m, the winner of this year's annual track and field competition!" The loud speaker boomed. My school roared cheers and I felt accomplished. I managed to earn the respect of others, and I no longer had problems with my looks.
As a result of my size, I often got teased in school. People who say, "have you heard of running?", "have you heard of a diet?" or "have you heard of diet coke?" and they would laugh at it. I always wanted to lose weight and go on a diet, but I could never keep to it. Every time I look in the mirror, I would dread my body. I regret growing up eating so much fastfood like 'McDonalds' and 'KFC' and 'Burger King'.
Everyday, I would try to run. However, it was to no avail. Every time I jogged a few steps, I would feel a sense of breathlessness and could not continue running. Many people teased me for being so fat and could not run. No one would team with me during physical education. To add on to my problems, I would always fail my Napha. This resulted in more teasing. During the cross country race, I would come in last. Some people even copied my way of running and laughed at it.
However, this all changed. One day, the track and field teacher asked me if I would like to join track at field, shot put. I gladly agreed as I wanted to slim down. Over the months, I began to grow slimmer and became more muscular.
" Bob Martin, 26.5m, the winner of this year's annual track and field competition!" The loud speaker boomed. My school roared cheers and I felt accomplished. I managed to earn the respect of others, and I no longer had problems with my looks.
To kill a mockingbird extract
Scout's promise to Atticus about fighting was tested constantly at school because of the case he had taken on, but she bit the bullet and kept her fists down. She and Jem began to notice that their father was older than most of their classmates' fathers. Scout viewed him as feeble and was disappointed that he couldn't do the things most fathers did like playing football in the Methodist versus Baptist fundraiser game. He didn't hunt or fish or play poker. All he really did was sit in their living room and read. And he didn't have an admirable job like a dump truck driver or a farmer or even a mechanic. He just sat in an office. And to top it all off, he wore glasses. He didn't even teach Jem and Scout to shoot when they got their air rifles, but he did ask that they shoot at tin cans or bluejays but not mockingbirds because it was a sin to kill mockingbirds. Scout had never heard her daddy say that something was a sin, so she was naturally curious as to why mockingbirds were so special. She went to Miss Maudie for answers, and Miss Maudie explained that, "'Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.'"
Explain why Atticus did not want his kids to shoot the mockingbirds.
Explain why Atticus didn't want his kids to be cruel to animals even though they have the power to.
Explain why Atticus did not want his kids to shoot the mockingbirds.
Explain why Atticus didn't want his kids to be cruel to animals even though they have the power to.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Reflection on 'Prejudice'
I think that I learnt quite a bit from today's lesson, which was on prejudice. It was fun and enjoyable with an activity. Through this, I learn the many categories of discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes. Example, 'dogs have bad breath' is categorized under animal and so on. I think that the main discrimination in our country is the one in my composition, which is discrimination against the black people, mostly of whom do not deserve how we treat them. It is very easy to find Singaporeans cracking racist jokes against black people, and show them disrespect. I think that this is not an appropriate behavior in a multi-racial country, and I think that this is a factor that our nation has to work on. Furthermore, many of us grow up in a mostly Chinese environment and have grown used to being around Chinese and not with other races. This has formed a disrespect and hate for other races. I think that this is not a good thing to have in a multi-racial country and I hope that we as a nation will try and improve it. To me, black people are just like you and me, normal human beings. We should treat them with respect as how we treat other people. Another main discrimination in our country is the industrial one. That is like, neighbourhood schools calling hwachong and raffles institution people nerds, while the elite school students calling neighbourhood schools lousy. This causes competition between schools. I think that we should all work together and make Singapore a better country.
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