I have read the Merchant of Venice and created a mind map on its plot using bubbl.us. It is embedded below. Unfortunately, I did not really take the layout into consideration, so the mind map is quite hard to read. Thus, I have made a smaller mind map which summarises each scene instead of containing everything in the book.
The full (and illegible) mind map
The abridged mind map
(Under Construction)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
:: Modern Warfare 2 ::
Recently, I *acquired* the popular game Modern Warfare 2. It's the 5th game in the Call of Duty series. Like its predecessor, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2 has a, well, modern setting, making it different from the previous 3 Call of Duty games, which are set in World War 2. Modern Warfare 2 tells the story of a war in the near future between the USA and an extremist Russian state, through the eyes of four people who are a part of that war and are all on the American side.
At the start, a Marine, Private Joseph Allen, captures a city in Afghanistan and attracts the attention of General Shepherd, who recruits Allen into Task Force 141, an elite special operations unit. Then, Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson and Captain "Soap" MacTavish raid an airbase in Kazakhstan to retrieve an ACS Module from a crashed satellite. Then, Allen is sent as an undercover agent into the organisation of a man known only as "Makarov", a killer. They attack a Russian airport, slaughtering civilians and police, then Makarov kills Allen, saying that he had known his true identity all along. When the Russian police find Allen's body, they naturally assume America had been responsible for the attack and war breaks out.
Russia unleashes a massive surprise attack on America, causing widespread chaos. Amidst the action, a Ranger, Private James Ramirez, fights his way to Washington D.C., where American forces fight desperately to defend the country's capital. While this goes on, the remaining members of Task Force 141 heads to Brazil to try and prove that Makarov was responsible for the massacre at the airport. They rescue a veteran of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Captain Price, and help him launch a nuclear missile from a submarine at Washington D.C.. The missile cripples all the electronic equipment in the area, allowing Ramirez and other American forces to fight back the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, Task Force 141 continues to chase down Makarov. "Roach" and another operative, "Ghost" find vital intelligence but are betrayed by General Shepherd, who takes the credit of the discovery. Angered, MacTavish and Price hunt down and kill Shepherd, but MacTavish is gravely wounded in the process.
Enough of the plot, now onto what I think of this game. I feel that Modern Warfare 2 is an accurate representation of warfare, as far as a game involving keyboards and mice can go. Unlike many other games, the player in Modern Warfare 2 is encouraged to be accurate and use a weapon's sights whenever possible, instead of firing from the hip, which "sprays bullets all over the place" and "makes you look like an *ss", as an instructor says. The aim in the missions range from evading enemies in an area to acquire some items, to simply killing them. "Rushing" is not recommended, as the player will be killed very quickly if he just runs into a place and fires randomly. Skill is highly important. Also, Modern Warfare 2 involves the completion of specific tasks, unlike some other games which just require people to kill everyone else.
Games like Modern Warfare 2 can be beneficial, as they can improve reflexes (to a certain degree) and help a person's ability to think on his feet, so to speak. In addition, they can make a person more careful, as they often have to check every alley and corner in the game to prevent being ambushed. However, as with all things, moderation must be practiced. Spending too much time on a game can cause regress in one's studies and may lead to addiction. Thus, Modern Warfare 2 is a good game, which can improve your speed in many things. While it may be good for us in a way, we must be careful not to waste too much time on it, as too much of something can still, regardless of how good it is, be bad for us.
At the start, a Marine, Private Joseph Allen, captures a city in Afghanistan and attracts the attention of General Shepherd, who recruits Allen into Task Force 141, an elite special operations unit. Then, Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson and Captain "Soap" MacTavish raid an airbase in Kazakhstan to retrieve an ACS Module from a crashed satellite. Then, Allen is sent as an undercover agent into the organisation of a man known only as "Makarov", a killer. They attack a Russian airport, slaughtering civilians and police, then Makarov kills Allen, saying that he had known his true identity all along. When the Russian police find Allen's body, they naturally assume America had been responsible for the attack and war breaks out.
Russia unleashes a massive surprise attack on America, causing widespread chaos. Amidst the action, a Ranger, Private James Ramirez, fights his way to Washington D.C., where American forces fight desperately to defend the country's capital. While this goes on, the remaining members of Task Force 141 heads to Brazil to try and prove that Makarov was responsible for the massacre at the airport. They rescue a veteran of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Captain Price, and help him launch a nuclear missile from a submarine at Washington D.C.. The missile cripples all the electronic equipment in the area, allowing Ramirez and other American forces to fight back the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, Task Force 141 continues to chase down Makarov. "Roach" and another operative, "Ghost" find vital intelligence but are betrayed by General Shepherd, who takes the credit of the discovery. Angered, MacTavish and Price hunt down and kill Shepherd, but MacTavish is gravely wounded in the process.
Enough of the plot, now onto what I think of this game. I feel that Modern Warfare 2 is an accurate representation of warfare, as far as a game involving keyboards and mice can go. Unlike many other games, the player in Modern Warfare 2 is encouraged to be accurate and use a weapon's sights whenever possible, instead of firing from the hip, which "sprays bullets all over the place" and "makes you look like an *ss", as an instructor says. The aim in the missions range from evading enemies in an area to acquire some items, to simply killing them. "Rushing" is not recommended, as the player will be killed very quickly if he just runs into a place and fires randomly. Skill is highly important. Also, Modern Warfare 2 involves the completion of specific tasks, unlike some other games which just require people to kill everyone else.
Games like Modern Warfare 2 can be beneficial, as they can improve reflexes (to a certain degree) and help a person's ability to think on his feet, so to speak. In addition, they can make a person more careful, as they often have to check every alley and corner in the game to prevent being ambushed. However, as with all things, moderation must be practiced. Spending too much time on a game can cause regress in one's studies and may lead to addiction. Thus, Modern Warfare 2 is a good game, which can improve your speed in many things. While it may be good for us in a way, we must be careful not to waste too much time on it, as too much of something can still, regardless of how good it is, be bad for us.
:: Changes to the blog ::
I had a LA blog for ACE last year too, so here is a table of some of the changes that I made.
So, do you like the new blog? Comment to tell me how you feel!
| 1. | I removed most of the widgets from my blog, apart from the mandatory Hit Counter and the Followers area. This reduces distractions, allowing readers to focus on the content. |
| 2. | I've also changed the blogskin. This one is simpler, yet more elegant than the previous one, which had a navy blue background and a near-psychedelic array of coloured circles. The new colour scheme is easier on the eyes, as it makes use of lighter colours. Like the previous change, it also enables readers to focus on my posts. |
| 3. | In addition, I took away the mini message board. This was because some inconsiderate individuals were posting pointless and/or defamatory messages (otherwise known as spam or flaming) on it. While this removes a medium of communication between readers and I, it is better for them to post feedback through commenting on my posts. The process of posting a comment is more complicated than posting on the mini message board, discouraging spammers. Also, I can delete any unsuitable comments. |
So, do you like the new blog? Comment to tell me how you feel!
Monday, March 1, 2010
:: Home Learning ::
Intrapersonal:
c. Write a diary entry for a major character of the novel.
Jem's Diary
Dear Diary,
Today, I watched Tom Robinson's trial. It was horrible. Atticus was a great lawyer. He made Tom's innocence so obvious that anyone could see that he had been framed. So why, why in the name of God did the jury convict him? I don't understand. Maybe it's because everyone in this town hates Negroes. But why do they? I've seen Tom Robinson, I've seen Calpurnia, and both are respectable and fine people. They're more hardworking than most white people I've seen, such as the Ewells. Atticus said the Ewells were absolute trash. Bob Ewell doesn't even care about his own children. So why would the jury believe him instead of Atticus, when it was clear as day that Bob had made the entire thing up? Bob Ewell can't have bribed them, he has barely enough to survive. So what is wrong with the people of this town? Why are they so blinded by their Prejudice, why don't they have the Courage to stand up for a righteous cause? I'm starting to think that I may not be as lucky as I thought to be living in Maycomb County. When I was younger, I believed that everyone was good and that there was no evil. Even though I'm older, I still believe that there is good in the world. Now, after this trial, I'm not that sure any more. What is wrong with this town?
Linguistic:
1. You have conducted an interview with one of the characters in TKAM. Write out the interview transcript, taking note to demonstrate the essence of the character and his/her point of view.
An Interview with Mr Heck Tate
Me("M" from here on): So, what do you think of the results of Tom Robinson's trial?
Mr Tate("T" from here on): The result was no surprise to me. Poor Tom Robinson never really had a chance, despite Atticus's efforts. A sad case, but it happens all the time here.
M: Why did he never have a chance in the trial?
T: You would know if you've lived a single day in this town. As Atticus said during the trial, they believe that "All Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around our women." This jury was a dozen respectable, rational men, but when Negroes were involved, every single one of them suddenly went blind.
M: Do you think that you are racist?
T: As much as I would like to deny it, I have to say that I am. Not to the extent where it affects my judgement on things, but I must admit that when I look upon a black man, there is a brief moment of disgust, when I am temporarily overwhelmed by the "ideals" of this society.
M: What do you think of Maycomb County? Is it a good place to live in?
T: I've been here for a long while, and I believe it is, on the surface, a wonderful place to be. However, when you look deeper, you will realise that everyone in this town has secrets. They hide their fears and jealousy behind a facade of prejudice. Hence, I do not think Maycomb County is a very good place to live.
M: Is there anyone you admire in Maycomb County?
T: First and foremost, I believe that the black people in this county are the bravest people of all. Being able to live with all this abuse and discrimination is difficult for anybody. Most folks I know here would just run away, but the blacks did not do so. They stayed, and they are still thriving. Just look at First Purchase Church. I believe that they are a true triumph of humanity. Of course, I have to mention Atticus Finch. He is the single greatest man in this town. While there was never any doubt about what was going to happen to Tom Robinson, Atticus still tried as hard as he could. At the end of his speech, I admit that it awoke a tiny sliver of hope within me. His courage to stand up against unfairness in the face of impossible odds is unparalleled in this county.
M: Thank you for your time, Mr Tate. It's been a pleasure to speak to you.
-End of Interview-
c. Write a diary entry for a major character of the novel.
Jem's Diary
Dear Diary,
Today, I watched Tom Robinson's trial. It was horrible. Atticus was a great lawyer. He made Tom's innocence so obvious that anyone could see that he had been framed. So why, why in the name of God did the jury convict him? I don't understand. Maybe it's because everyone in this town hates Negroes. But why do they? I've seen Tom Robinson, I've seen Calpurnia, and both are respectable and fine people. They're more hardworking than most white people I've seen, such as the Ewells. Atticus said the Ewells were absolute trash. Bob Ewell doesn't even care about his own children. So why would the jury believe him instead of Atticus, when it was clear as day that Bob had made the entire thing up? Bob Ewell can't have bribed them, he has barely enough to survive. So what is wrong with the people of this town? Why are they so blinded by their Prejudice, why don't they have the Courage to stand up for a righteous cause? I'm starting to think that I may not be as lucky as I thought to be living in Maycomb County. When I was younger, I believed that everyone was good and that there was no evil. Even though I'm older, I still believe that there is good in the world. Now, after this trial, I'm not that sure any more. What is wrong with this town?
Linguistic:
1. You have conducted an interview with one of the characters in TKAM. Write out the interview transcript, taking note to demonstrate the essence of the character and his/her point of view.
An Interview with Mr Heck Tate
Me("M" from here on): So, what do you think of the results of Tom Robinson's trial?
Mr Tate("T" from here on): The result was no surprise to me. Poor Tom Robinson never really had a chance, despite Atticus's efforts. A sad case, but it happens all the time here.
M: Why did he never have a chance in the trial?
T: You would know if you've lived a single day in this town. As Atticus said during the trial, they believe that "All Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around our women." This jury was a dozen respectable, rational men, but when Negroes were involved, every single one of them suddenly went blind.
M: Do you think that you are racist?
T: As much as I would like to deny it, I have to say that I am. Not to the extent where it affects my judgement on things, but I must admit that when I look upon a black man, there is a brief moment of disgust, when I am temporarily overwhelmed by the "ideals" of this society.
M: What do you think of Maycomb County? Is it a good place to live in?
T: I've been here for a long while, and I believe it is, on the surface, a wonderful place to be. However, when you look deeper, you will realise that everyone in this town has secrets. They hide their fears and jealousy behind a facade of prejudice. Hence, I do not think Maycomb County is a very good place to live.
M: Is there anyone you admire in Maycomb County?
T: First and foremost, I believe that the black people in this county are the bravest people of all. Being able to live with all this abuse and discrimination is difficult for anybody. Most folks I know here would just run away, but the blacks did not do so. They stayed, and they are still thriving. Just look at First Purchase Church. I believe that they are a true triumph of humanity. Of course, I have to mention Atticus Finch. He is the single greatest man in this town. While there was never any doubt about what was going to happen to Tom Robinson, Atticus still tried as hard as he could. At the end of his speech, I admit that it awoke a tiny sliver of hope within me. His courage to stand up against unfairness in the face of impossible odds is unparalleled in this county.
M: Thank you for your time, Mr Tate. It's been a pleasure to speak to you.
-End of Interview-
:: My Learning Profile ::
This is my Learning Profile. Personally, I don't think much of it, having already many inaccurate quizzes on Facebook. I do not think that 30 questions can provide sufficient insight into a person's learning style. To get an accurate description of someone's learning style, one would have to know the person. Preset questions, in my opinion, just aren't general enough to cover all the people in the world. As Atticus once said, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." A quiz consisting of 30 questions cannot allow someone to do that. Thus, if you want a more accurate version, a psychologist would probably be your best bet.
Friday, February 12, 2010
:: Blogging ::
Personally, I don't blog. I find it hard to maintain a blog regularly and make posts, as I generally do not consider most things to be "special" enough to warrant a blog post. Thus, most of my posts, like this one, are about concepts, not events. Maintaining a blog requires one to have patience, eloquence and an interesting life, none of which I possess in quantity. It also requires devotion and time, which I usually reserve for other activities.
Blogging as an assignment is not very good either. Most daily events would be classified as "trivial" and notable events usually occur outside the period of time during which your blog is evaluated. The problem is that blogs are meant to be long-term, a collection of your life over time. In contrast, assignments are usually supposed to be completed quickly. A month simply isn't enough time for enough interesting events to occur to have multiple entertaining posts. Instead, it would be better for us to maintain a blog from Sec 1 to Sec 2. This gives enough time for the blogger to have interesting things to post and develop a unique style of writing. Furthermore, the blogger can see how his thoughts have matured from the large array of posts over time, tying in with the text to be studied in Sec 2 - To Kill a Mockingbird, a Bildungsroman or "Coming of age" novel.
Blogging as an assignment is not very good either. Most daily events would be classified as "trivial" and notable events usually occur outside the period of time during which your blog is evaluated. The problem is that blogs are meant to be long-term, a collection of your life over time. In contrast, assignments are usually supposed to be completed quickly. A month simply isn't enough time for enough interesting events to occur to have multiple entertaining posts. Instead, it would be better for us to maintain a blog from Sec 1 to Sec 2. This gives enough time for the blogger to have interesting things to post and develop a unique style of writing. Furthermore, the blogger can see how his thoughts have matured from the large array of posts over time, tying in with the text to be studied in Sec 2 - To Kill a Mockingbird, a Bildungsroman or "Coming of age" novel.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
:: Holiday Homework ::
As the Chinese New Year 4-day weekend approaches, I'm sure everyone will enjoy the festive season, the angpaos and the food. Unfortunately, what we will not enjoy is the homework given. I understand the point of giving homework. However, the amount and the timing of the homework given is sometimes incomprehensible.
The classic situation: a student is told to celebrate a holiday and is given a 3-day weekend to do so. In addition, he is also given two essays and several worksheets, which have to be completed and submitted on the next day of school. So, instead of having fun with friends, the unlucky student has to toil away at his work while juggling it with social functions that he "must" attend. The result? One very stressed out student who did not enjoy his "holiday". It happens all the time.
I really don't understand the point of holiday homework. I do not think that we will lose all of our hard-earned knowledge if we do not do work for half a week. Even if we would, I believe that full essays are unnecessary. Surely a couple of worksheets per subject would be enough. Of course, I know that there is not enough time to finish the syllabus, as Miss Soh has told us, but surely it is possible to let us off for a holiday?
The classic situation: a student is told to celebrate a holiday and is given a 3-day weekend to do so. In addition, he is also given two essays and several worksheets, which have to be completed and submitted on the next day of school. So, instead of having fun with friends, the unlucky student has to toil away at his work while juggling it with social functions that he "must" attend. The result? One very stressed out student who did not enjoy his "holiday". It happens all the time.
I really don't understand the point of holiday homework. I do not think that we will lose all of our hard-earned knowledge if we do not do work for half a week. Even if we would, I believe that full essays are unnecessary. Surely a couple of worksheets per subject would be enough. Of course, I know that there is not enough time to finish the syllabus, as Miss Soh has told us, but surely it is possible to let us off for a holiday?
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