Status Update - Programming

• So far, my group and I have completed several lessons via kahnacademy.org and it is going very well. I'm already starting to think more like a programmer on a daily basis.
• I feel that we need to cover a lot more material in the time remaining. We have only just scratched the surface, and I want to dive deeper into the wonders of the computer language.
• This work is primarily for myself. I signed up for this group to enhance my skills in programming for my college courses. However, I am going to begin talking to Ian and his group about helping with the production of their video game.

Plan to Program

• Goal: To become familiar with Python 3.2.3 before the beginning of my fall semester at UC Berkeley (CS 61A)
• I am currently using the "Khan Academy Tutorial" in Computer Science to help point me in the right direction. Additionally, my friend, Ian May, is guiding me along the fundamentals of programming simultaneously.
• So far, I have completed a couple lessons and plan to continue my progress until I have finished the entire tutorial. Once this is done, I will further my studies with my peers and continue to search for more databases to expand my knowledge. 
• My presentation will consist of basic processes in the Python language. This way, I can not only show that I can do fundamental actions, but I can also instruct my classmates.

AP Plan - As a whole

Preparing for the test has been beneficial for me in a lot of ways. Although I'm not taking the exam next week, I continue to take part in the practices held in class. I have learned how to study for exams with peers in the future, and I am touching up on my memory of the literary terms. Out of everything we have gone over in the past week or so, I feel that the literary terms will support my studies the greatest in my future college studies. Knowing the fundamental literary terms is absolutely necessary at the university level.

4/30 AP Exam Studying Progress

Today's discussion opened my eyes to a few techniques for taking the AP exam. Trevor and I read online that your time would be put to better use if you were to read the passage once, slowly. This way, the reader is capable of taking as much of the information from the passage as possible, and they won't have to reference the text as often to answer the questions. Also, in order to ensure getting to all the easy questions to maximize your point potential, it is important to take only one minute per question. Instead of being caught up on the difficult questions that you might miss, use your time wisely and attack the easier questions first.

A Reflection on Unstructured Learning

Simply by waiting, Nite Owl learned what to name himself. This passage taught me a prominent lesson in life; if you're ever in distress, wait it out. In referencing Stephen King's collection of short stories, Everything's Eventual, this message is universal. Nite Owl, the protagonist of the passage, clearly states that he has struggled to come up with ideas for his costume/name for a decent amount of time. Instead of searching frantically for an answer, he simply waited and the answer came to him. Every question you have will be answered in time, I believe. I think that this idea is the central theme of the passage.

AP Plan Experience

After analyzing the questions for the practice AP exam, I noticed a few things that I need to improve on. Typically when I take multiple choice tests, I choose to skim the passage and then answer the easier questions quickly to maximize my point potential. However, as I read more AP questions, I noticed that the exam is asking questions based on the passage as a whole. For example, "Taken as a whole, the poem is described as...," is a common question in the majority of the passages supplied. So, in order to perform well on the AP Exam, I think that I need to enhance my test taking habits.

Macbeth Essay Questions

1) Prose Essay Prompt - 1983 :   Thomas Carlyle’s “Work”:  Examine how he uses language to convince the reader of the rightness of his position.


 - This prompt could be shaped to fit Macbeth's character perfectly. Examine how Macbeth uses language to convince the reader of the rightness of his position on murdering.


2) Prose Essay Prompt - 2010 :   Maria Edgeworth’s Belinda (1801): The narrator provides a description of Clarence Harvey, one of the suitors of the novel’s protagonist, Belinda Portman. Read the passage carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze Clarence Hervey’s complex character as Edgeworth develops it through such literary techniques as tone, point of view, and language.


 - This prompt is ideal for analyzing Macbeth as a dynamic character. Throughout the play, there is no direct characterization of Macbeth, so literary techniques are absolutely vital in the characterization of this protagonist.


3) Open Essay Prompt - 1973  :   An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes.
In the view of some critics, a work that does not provide the pleasure of
significant closure has terminated with an artistic fault.  A
satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive in every sense;
significant closure may require to the reader to abide with or adjust to
ambiguity and uncertainty.  In an essay discuss the end of a novel or play
of acknowledged literary merit.  Explain precisely how and why the ending
appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work.  Do not merely
summarize the plot.

 - This prompt is, what I think to be, the most fitting to Macbeth as a play. Throughout the play, Macbeth is constructing his downfall, and this prompt gives the writer a perfect opportunity to analyze and interpret why Shakespeare ended the play in a tragic manner.

The Plan

Well, first off, I'm not taking the AP Exam for this class. However, that doesn't mean that I don't have a plan for the rest of the year regarding this course. Here's a few points that my plan consists of:

1) Stay on top of the required work - don't fall behind and find yourself scrambling at the end for late credit.
2) Go above and beyond the assigned work - don't limit yourself to only finishing the required assignments, search for interest in a plethora of topics to broaden your horizons.
3) Connect - Now is the time to begin exploring. Talk to your peers and find out what interests you may have in common. There is only so much time left in the year; one conversation can go a long way in terms of staying in contact post-graduation.

Chess Interest

I came across this video, and it gave me a huge urge to play chess. Let me know if you're interested - I'll always be up for a game. Sorry I cannot embed it into my blog, the video publisher disabled that option. To watch, copy and paste this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc_v9mTfhC8

Macbeth Test - Answers

Multiple Choice Answers:
1. A
2. B
3. C
4. A
5. A
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. C
10. A

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. A
5. A
6. A
7. A
8. C
9. B
10. B

Free Response Answers:
1. Macbeth is noble man when the play begins. When he returns home after his victory, people praise him and he is promoted to Thane of Cawdor. However, after he murders Duncan, he changes. He beings to only think about himself and his pursuit for power and satisfaction.
2. Macbeth is motivated purely by his ambition to be king and his inner evil.
3. He decides to believe the witches because their fortune is good, not bad.
4. At first, Macbeth is scared of his prophecy, and Banquo is skeptical. Macbeth lies by saying he doesn't want to listen to the witches, but he actually takes it to heart and follows through with their prediction.
5. In the beginning, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth show great affection towards one another. It is clear that they are in love. However, once Macbeth becomes King, she is no longer involved in his plans and she is further disregarded.

1. This statement tells us that the play will have a lot of twists and unexpected conclusions.
2. It is clear that this is a morality play because the central message is good vs. evil. Macbeth is clearly the villain in this play and the power of good is slowly eating away at him and his actions.
3. There is dramatic irony when Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle because we, the audience, know that Macbeth is going to murder him, while Duncan is completely oblivious.
4. She urges him to follow through with the murder by insulting him (calling him a chicken) and questioning his manhood.
5. Macbeth shows little to no emotion when he is informed of his wife's death (Shows his transformation), while Macduff grieves for his loss and wants revenge on Macbeth.

Top 3 Blogs

After analyzing a variety of different blogs over the span of this course, it was clear who had the top 3.

Katie Enstad - http://kerhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Cody Kiniry - http://ckrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/
Lizzie Level - http://erlrhsenglitcomp.blogspot.com/

Whenever I have a question about the course items or assignments, I always refer to one of these 3 blogs. Thanks, and keep it up!

Literary Analysis (#5 + #6)

Infinite Jest, written by David Foster Wallace, is a novel unlike anything I have read previously. Due to its length, it is both mind-numbing and grueling to read. Honestly, I have yet to finish the novel, but I feel that I have benefited from what little I have read. So, in honor of sharing its greatness with the public, I will attempt at summarizing what I have grasped from the novel thus far.

Background information:

Not only does this novel have outstanding themes and characters that anyone can relate to, it is recognized by Time as one of the greatest novels of all time. Additionally,  David Foster Wallace received the award for "Best Author of the Year" for writing this novel in 1994. It has more characters than you can probably keep track of, but there is bound to be someone in this novel that is similar to you either in terms of mindset or personality. Personally, I find myself closest to Hal and Ken - almost like a mix of the two. When you read this novel, which I recommend that you do, you may be surprised that I think I relate to them.

Characters:

As stated earlier, there is a large amount of characters embedded within this novel, and they are not all equally memorable. So, to keep things short, I will describe the characters that I feel are most important thus far.

Hal - A tennis prodigy and young genius, Hal often has mental breakdowns when confronted and stressed.

Ken - An addict with a paranoid characteristic in nearly everything he takes part in. His addiction includes, but is not limited to, marijuana and other substances induced for pleasures.

The Prince - The mysterious, wealthy young man watching over Hal's father's tapes. Not much is known of this character at this time.

Mario - Hal's mentally disabled younger brother. All that is known is that he has an unknown mental condition and he lives with Hal. He will constantly ask Hal personally questions.

Plot synopsis/novel overview:

The novel takes place over the course of different years (Year names are bought by corporations in this universe). Each chapter will jump from past to future, future to past, or be in the present for a few chapters consecutively. Additionally, the chapters also mark a point of character change. For example, one chapter you might be in Hal's head, and the next you'll be in the Prince's.

As of now, the plot revolves around the idea that there is a missing tape, created by Hal's father, titled Infinite Jest. Once the viewer finishes watching the majestic film, they lose all interest in doing anything productive. In other words, the viewer becomes lifeless. So, the novel follows multiple characters in pursuit for the master copy of Infinite Jest, due to its unknown powers.

Themes/ideas/messages:

The central message/idea is based around addiction. As stated above (The Infinite Jest cartridge), addiction plays a major role in a person's life and can affect how the act entirely. So, due to this idea, the theme that I predict is the central point of the novel is: Addiction is all around us. The only way to prevent oneself from being affected be their interests is to always be aware of its addictive qualities. One's awareness will prevent them from losing their minds/themselves.

Notes on Macbeth

Summary: The rise and fall of a heroic figure (aka Tragedy)

Indirect Characterization of Macbeth (Absolutely no direct throughout the entire play)
 - Esteem of the nobles in the beginning

Series of events throughout the play is entirely Macbeth's doing; Macbeth is the architect of his own destruction.

Tragic Flaw (connected with the summary) is the human nature of greed, at a fundamental level, that is.

Animus - Masculinity (i.e. Roosevelt's "Rough Riders") (Lady Macbeth)
Anima - Femininity (i.e. Bill Clinton's appeal to emotion) (Macbeth)

Note: The bloody dagger is a symbol leading Macbeth to his decision (Killing Duncan); connect to Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking dilemma.

Note: As the play progresses, Macbeth's intentions change from becoming king to pursuing a peace of mind through murdering numerous people.
 - The thought of losing meaning/purpose, or having nothing left to accomplish/strive    for.

Note: The Macbeth soliloquy sums up who Macbeth has become over the course of the play (i.e. The lack of care for his wife's death after a short time)

Note: The witches are manifestations of evil in the world.
 - Outside the boundary of traditional community.

Notes on Remixing

Definition: To continue or edit existing material to create something new (The arrangement and transformation of samples).

Question:
How do we create?
Answers:
1) Domain Knowledge: Learning through copying (Emulation)
2) Transformation: Taking existing things and prodcuing variations
3) Combinations: Merging existing things.

Loss Aversion: The difference between taking and being stolen from (Possessive when it's your own).
Note: Ideas are property (Cannot steal an idea; only copy)

Socratic Seminar Discussion (3/21)

In short, play is absolutely necessary in the progression and development of the human brain. In fact, scientists have proven that BDNF (A chemical released that promotes growth in the brain) is released as a result of play fighting. Furthermore, play is much more important than extracurricular activities because it allows children to expand beyond the typical boundaries. Without rules, there are no limitations, therefore more opportunities for creativity.

After discussing these topics with my peers, I realized that learning takes place in life every day. We don't have to attend a structured classroom to learn how to write an essay or solve for a partial derivative; we can use our environment as the classroom. By simply taking part in games or activities with peers to "let loose" or relax, people can benefit in a variety of ways. For example, I enjoy playing chess with my brother when I have free time. Sure, chess is a game of rules and regulations, but it further expands my logical/deductive reasoning. As a potential engineer in the future, I feel that this activity, or playing time, will allow me to succeed.

By treating everyday activities as a learning experience, people would be able to accomplish difficult feats. For example, it is rumored that Matt performed the Shakespeare soliloquy enthusiastically and flawlessly today during second period. I believe he was able to do this because he enjoys performing and entertaining people is a hobby for him. He simply made the assignment a game, or an opportunity in a sense. By simply expanding his reasons for fulfilling his task, Matt was able to not only ace the assignment, but also sharpen his performing skills.

As stated above, I think that by making everything into a game, with specific payouts or rewards with each accomplishment, people will put more effort into everything they do. Humans naturally want something in return for their work, but payouts don't exist for specific tasks. Thus for these tasks, people should imagine, or create, a way to reward themselves for what they've done.

Infant Sorrow by William Blake - Analyzation

Speaker: First person point of view (Newborn child).
Structure: 2 stanzas with AA BB rhyming scheme.
Grammar/Meaning: Leapt used to depict an entrance to, or a new beginning, not to jump or leap.
Figure of Speech: "Like a fiend hid in a cloud"
Important Words: The words in lines 7 and 8 ("Bound and weary, I thought best to sulk upon my mother's breast." clearly state the speaker and moment of realization of life for the speaker.
Tone: Reflective Optimism
Theme: The confusion and sadness of a newborn soon turns to happiness as the realization of life overcomes their senses.
Literary Techniques: Simile

Analyzing "The Wise"

1. Gender is unknown (Most likely male) with a first person point of view (Found by line 11). Setting/Circumstances unidentifiable.
2. Structured by three stanzas with rhyming in the last word of some lines. Total of 3 rhymes. A break in stanza two represented by a (;).
3. The theme of the poem is that wisdom is attained through age and sorrow. In order to be considered wise, one must live.
4. His grammar is characterized by commas, semicolons, and concrete ideas as lines. Typically completes a clause in one or two lines.
5. Figurative language example - "They sleep and dream and have no weight." "How long a seed must rot to grow." Literal language example - "On throbless heart and heatless brain, and feel no stir of joy or pain."
6. Important words include: "Grow" (Line 3), "Satiate" (Line 7), "Immunity" (Line 12)
7. The author's tone is informative in and optimistic sense.
8. Literary techniques include rhyme schemes, metaphors (i.e. line 3), a form of anaphora or repetition (Dead men... in lines 1, 4, and 7).
9. As stated above, the flow resembles several clauses/examples typically sorted by one to two lines.

Lecture Notes on A Tale of Two Cities

The following notes will probably be difficult to understand, as they will reflect my train of thought, not legibility.

Manchester (Third city (pun?) ) - Also involved within the novel.

"I have suffered in these pages" Dickens wrote in discussing A Tale of Two Cities.
- Why? Was it emotional for the author to write about the conflict?

Ellen Turnin (Fell in love and separated from his wife)
- Gives Lucie the final "e" in resembling Ellen, I believe.
- Sacrifices his self-being in order to allow others to live happily.

C.D. and D.C. (Characters) - Names reversed in order to symbolize their differences.

"Dickens' experiences gave him an extensive and peculiar sense of the city."
- His "Lantern"
- His genius was due to London being like a newspaper (Disconnected with all the information there)
- "Paris is the most extraordinary place in the world. It is perfectly distinct and my head/eyes ached from the novelty repeatedly being shoved down my throat."

1844-1868: 15 visits to Paris (Absolutely obsessed with the city)
- Vibrant, modernizing city. The light was exaggerated.
- Fascinated by the darker side of the city as well. Wicked and uncomfortably attractive.

London and Paris are similar (As says the famous opening to the novel)
- It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...
- It was the year of our lord, 1775.
- "It is so far like the present time."

The Victorians were haunted by the memory of the French Revolution.
- Horror of riot, or mob violence.
- Faces the fear of the Victorians in the novel (revolution).

The "Best story I have written."
- The French dramatization never happened, supposedly.
- 35 performances
- Popular image was the man stepping towards the guillotine.
- 1948 was the first television showing.

"A just and loving man." (Written about Dickens)

His words are extremely powerful and meaningful. (Refer to quotations within the novel, or lecture 42:00 - 45:00)

"I will carry my individuality to my life's end." (Possibly reflecting Pip in Great Expectations)
- Connections between the novels?
- They were written fairly close together in time.

"The answer was always the same - Almost 18 years."
- "I can't say I want to live."

45 when he met Ellen. Lucie was 17.

Feel free to comment and ask any questions if you are curious about my notes.

Literature Analysis #4

Slaughterhouse-Five Literary Analysis

Big Question Introduction

An Exploration of Black Holes

Great Expectations Title

Charles Dickens' novel is titled Great Expectations because the protagonist of the story, Pip, has great expectations for the future. After a lifestyle of poverty his entire life, an unknown man sends him a large sum of money because he has faith that the child will amount to something great. Also, the novel is titled Great Expectations because Pip himself has high hopes for what is bound to come for him in the future.

The Wise

Dead men are wisest, for they know How far the roots of flowers go, How long a seed must rot to grow. Dead men alone bear frost and rain On throbless heart and heatless brain, And feel no stir of joy or pain. Dead men alone are satiate; They sleep and dream and have no weight, To curb their rest, of love or hate. Strange, men should flee their company, Or think me strange who long to be Wrapped in their cool immunity. Countee Cullen