Sunday, September 29, 2013
TO ACT OR NOT TOACT
While "Steve Jobs' speech" and "Hamlet's soliloquy" share similar themes, the two pieces are very different in most other respects. Chiefly, their tones are polar opposites. Jobs used a very positive, upbeat tone to convey the theme of his commencement speech. He portrayed life as an exciting pool of possibilities, with death being nothing more than a tool used to reset the cycle and make room for future generations once their predecessors have had their time. Shakespeare, on the other hand, took a very different approach. As he is known for, he used a dismal and melancholy tone in " Hamlet's soliloquy". I am no expert on Shakespearean literature (nor do I want to be), but it certainly doesn't take one to sense the tone/mood of his works.
DEAR STEVE
Between Jobs' upbeat tone and the valuable lessons that he presented, I truly enjoyed his speech. Beyond that, because much of the information/advice that he offered is particularly applicable to me in my current circumstances, I intend to legitimately take it to heart. I am at the point where I am going to be graduating from high school in relatively no time at all, and I have no idea what I want to do. Everyone is pushing me to go to college but, while I agree that pursuing a higher education is almost always in one's best interest, I feel that making such an enormous financial commitment without a clear objective would be counterproductive at best. Unless there is some sort of unexpected development that leads to me finding my true passion in life (if it even exists) within the next few months, then I will be left with very few reasonable options. My plan as of now, in relative correspondence to the theme of the speech, is to attend a less-expensive community college and simply feel things out. After all, there is really no way to know for sure which subjects/fields are or are not for me until I've dabbled in all of them. Like Steve said, all I can do is follow my heart and hope that everything works out in my favor.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
THE VALUE OF CHOICE
(a): I read through the unit on "The Value of Life" and, to be honest, none of the topics really jumped out at me. I had hoped to find one that that I significantly lack experience/comfort with, but I feel fairly confident with all of the topics that were addressed. I am choosing "Thinking Critically" simply because I believe that it is the most important skill/concept in the given curriculum and, therefore, the most generally beneficial.
(b): Currently, the only skill that I seek to learn/improve is public speaking. As is the case with most people, public speaking does not come naturally to me, nor do I enjoy it. This was made especially evident during today's "Socratic Seminar". I understood the text that we discussed perfectly and could've easily written an elegant response/analysis on it. As soon as I started talking, however, something happened. Every point that I was about to make completely escaped me, I began stuttering, and everything from vocabulary to basic sentence structure was lost. This verbal holocaust served as a brutal, yet valuable lesson. I now know that, while it has nothing to do with the unit, this is what I need to focus on.
(b): Currently, the only skill that I seek to learn/improve is public speaking. As is the case with most people, public speaking does not come naturally to me, nor do I enjoy it. This was made especially evident during today's "Socratic Seminar". I understood the text that we discussed perfectly and could've easily written an elegant response/analysis on it. As soon as I started talking, however, something happened. Every point that I was about to make completely escaped me, I began stuttering, and everything from vocabulary to basic sentence structure was lost. This verbal holocaust served as a brutal, yet valuable lesson. I now know that, while it has nothing to do with the unit, this is what I need to focus on.
Monday, September 23, 2013
VOCABULARY #6 (#4 + #5)
1) adroit (adjective) - quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
Example: The performer was so adroit that he was able to juggle four chainsaws simultaneously without injuring himself.
2) amicable (adjective) - characterized by friendship and good will
Example: It is important for people to treat each other amicably in order to maintain a healthy society.
3) averse (adjective) - strongly opposed
Example: Far too many people are averse to doing what is right instead of what is easy.
4) belligerent (adjective) - characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
Example: Some people become belligerent after consuming large quantities of alcohol.
5) benevolent (adjective) - showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
Example: Some benevolent individuals are willing to donate money from their own pocket to causes that they feel are worthwhile.
6) cursory (adjective) - hasty and without attention to detail
Example: Giving a source of information nothing more than a cursory glance makes it easy to overlook some details.
7) duplicity (noun) - deceitful/fraudulent, as by speaking or acting differently to different people regarding the same matter
Example: The salesman displayed duplicity when he convinced his customer that the lower quality product was the "real thing".
8) extol (verb) - to praise, glorify, or honor
Example: Many people extol "celebrities" profusely, even though most "famous people" have contributed nothing of any real substance to this world.
9) feasible (adjective) - capable of being done under ordinary circumstances and by ordinary means
Example: Timely interstellar travel is simply not a feasible endeavor for human kind at this point.
10) grimace (noun) - a contorted facial expression indicating something unpleasant
Example: The detective's face displayed a grimace when he arrived at a grizzly crime scene.
11) holocaust (noun) - an act of mass destruction and loss of life
Example: The atrocities committed by hitler (I purposely didn't capitalize his name out of disrespect) during WWII are perhaps the most well-known example of a holocaust.
12) impervious (adjective) - incapable of being affected
Example: Sadly, the general public seems to be impervious to logic/reason.
13) impetus (noun) - a force or stimulus that moves something along
Example: Fear of public judgement serves as an impetus against people acting out of their own will.
14) jeopardy (noun) - peril or danger
Example: By forgetting to enable the alarm before returning home for the night, the store owner put his entire stock in jeopardy.
15) meticulous (adjective) - marked by extreme care for minute details
Example: The meticulous craftsman refused to settle for anything less than perfection.
16) nostalgia (noun) - longing for something past
Example: A great sense of nostalgia came over the man whilst reflecting upon his childhood.
17) quintessence (noun) - the purest and most concentrated essence of something; representing the perfect quality or class of something
Example: Conformity is the quintessence of cowardice.
18) retrogress (verb) - to fall back into a (usually worse) previous condition
Example: Just as the sick man's condition seemed to be improving, he retrogressed and is now worse than ever before.
19) scrutinize (verb) - to examine critically with minute detail
Example: Although the judges scrutinized the product with the utmost intent, they found no apparent flaws.
20) tepid (adjective) - feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
Example: The tepid reviews of the product were concurrent with the lack of public interest.
21) accede (verb) - to agree or express agreement
Example: After receiving several complaints, the storeowner finally acceded to firing the cashier for making snide remarks towards patrons.
22) brandish (verb) - to exhibit aggressively
Example: The foolish man was brandishing a toy gun as if it were a real firearm, and was fired on by the police as a result.
23) comprise (verb) - to form or compose, or to be composed of
Example: Solid matter (as we interpret it) is actually comprised primarily of empty space.
24) deft (adjective) - skillful in physical movements
Example: Gymnasts are held to the highest standard when it comes to being deft/dexterous.
25) destitute (adjective) - completely wanting or lacking something desirable
Example: "Food drives" and other campaigns are aimed to aid destitute families that cannot afford basic necessities.
26) explicit (adjective) - precisely and clearly expressed; can also be used to describe something vulgar or inappropriate
Example: Despite the multitude of explicit warning signs, the naive man decided that it was in his best interest to pet the killer whale anyways. He is no longer with us : (
27) extirpate (verb) - to pull up by or as if by the roots; to remove surgically; to destroy completely
Example: Luckily, the surgeons were able to extirpate the cancerous mass from the woman's lung before it spread.
28) inopportune (adjective)- conditions that deviate from what is favorable
Example: The power went out during the climax of a television show; the most inopportune moment possible.
29) ironic (adjective) - an almost comical deviation from what is expected
Example: Ironically, the man who was pulled over for speeding through a school crosswalk was a full-time driving instructor.
30) musty (adjective) - stale and unclean smelling
Example: The damp towel grew musty after being wadded-up and not allowed to dry properly.
31) officious (adjective) - intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
Example: The police had no right to search the man's house in such an officious manner.
32) ominous (adjective) - threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Example: There was an ominous feeling about the abandoned prison.
33) pinnacle (noun) - the highest level or degree attainable
Example: Blindly following a religion out of fear of celestial persecution is the pinnacle of ignorance.
34) premeditated (adjective) - characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning (usually refers to an illegal act/crime)
Example: The woman received an especially harsh sentence for murdering her husband, as it was clearly premeditated.
35) rampant (adjective) - unrestrained and violent
Example: The enraged child ran rampant through the toy store, destroying everything in his path.
36) solace (noun) - some sort of comfort in a time of disappointment or misery
Example: Although he was distraught that he missed his flight, he found some temporary solace in the hamburger that he purchased from the vendor.
37) stately (adjective) - refined or imposing in manner or appearance
Example: The stately statue made everything around it appear insignificant.
38) supple (adjective) - capable of moving or bending with ease
Example: Cats are such supple creatures that they are able to orient themselves in mid air while falling, enabling them to land on their feet nearly every time.
39) suppress (verb) - to control and/or prevent from showing
Example: The media suppressed the incident in which an armed civilian saved potentially hundreds lives by stopping a hostile gunman because the story would have been bad for their anti-gun lobbying, had it been broadcasted on any major "news" networks.
40) venal (adjective) - capable of being corrupted
Example: Venal individuals should be kept away from positions of power at all costs.
Example: The performer was so adroit that he was able to juggle four chainsaws simultaneously without injuring himself.
2) amicable (adjective) - characterized by friendship and good will
Example: It is important for people to treat each other amicably in order to maintain a healthy society.
3) averse (adjective) - strongly opposed
Example: Far too many people are averse to doing what is right instead of what is easy.
4) belligerent (adjective) - characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
Example: Some people become belligerent after consuming large quantities of alcohol.
5) benevolent (adjective) - showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
Example: Some benevolent individuals are willing to donate money from their own pocket to causes that they feel are worthwhile.
6) cursory (adjective) - hasty and without attention to detail
Example: Giving a source of information nothing more than a cursory glance makes it easy to overlook some details.
7) duplicity (noun) - deceitful/fraudulent, as by speaking or acting differently to different people regarding the same matter
Example: The salesman displayed duplicity when he convinced his customer that the lower quality product was the "real thing".
8) extol (verb) - to praise, glorify, or honor
Example: Many people extol "celebrities" profusely, even though most "famous people" have contributed nothing of any real substance to this world.
9) feasible (adjective) - capable of being done under ordinary circumstances and by ordinary means
Example: Timely interstellar travel is simply not a feasible endeavor for human kind at this point.
10) grimace (noun) - a contorted facial expression indicating something unpleasant
Example: The detective's face displayed a grimace when he arrived at a grizzly crime scene.
11) holocaust (noun) - an act of mass destruction and loss of life
Example: The atrocities committed by hitler (I purposely didn't capitalize his name out of disrespect) during WWII are perhaps the most well-known example of a holocaust.
12) impervious (adjective) - incapable of being affected
Example: Sadly, the general public seems to be impervious to logic/reason.
13) impetus (noun) - a force or stimulus that moves something along
Example: Fear of public judgement serves as an impetus against people acting out of their own will.
14) jeopardy (noun) - peril or danger
Example: By forgetting to enable the alarm before returning home for the night, the store owner put his entire stock in jeopardy.
15) meticulous (adjective) - marked by extreme care for minute details
Example: The meticulous craftsman refused to settle for anything less than perfection.
16) nostalgia (noun) - longing for something past
Example: A great sense of nostalgia came over the man whilst reflecting upon his childhood.
17) quintessence (noun) - the purest and most concentrated essence of something; representing the perfect quality or class of something
Example: Conformity is the quintessence of cowardice.
18) retrogress (verb) - to fall back into a (usually worse) previous condition
Example: Just as the sick man's condition seemed to be improving, he retrogressed and is now worse than ever before.
19) scrutinize (verb) - to examine critically with minute detail
Example: Although the judges scrutinized the product with the utmost intent, they found no apparent flaws.
20) tepid (adjective) - feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
Example: The tepid reviews of the product were concurrent with the lack of public interest.
21) accede (verb) - to agree or express agreement
Example: After receiving several complaints, the storeowner finally acceded to firing the cashier for making snide remarks towards patrons.
22) brandish (verb) - to exhibit aggressively
Example: The foolish man was brandishing a toy gun as if it were a real firearm, and was fired on by the police as a result.
23) comprise (verb) - to form or compose, or to be composed of
Example: Solid matter (as we interpret it) is actually comprised primarily of empty space.
24) deft (adjective) - skillful in physical movements
Example: Gymnasts are held to the highest standard when it comes to being deft/dexterous.
25) destitute (adjective) - completely wanting or lacking something desirable
Example: "Food drives" and other campaigns are aimed to aid destitute families that cannot afford basic necessities.
26) explicit (adjective) - precisely and clearly expressed; can also be used to describe something vulgar or inappropriate
Example: Despite the multitude of explicit warning signs, the naive man decided that it was in his best interest to pet the killer whale anyways. He is no longer with us : (
27) extirpate (verb) - to pull up by or as if by the roots; to remove surgically; to destroy completely
Example: Luckily, the surgeons were able to extirpate the cancerous mass from the woman's lung before it spread.
28) inopportune (adjective)- conditions that deviate from what is favorable
Example: The power went out during the climax of a television show; the most inopportune moment possible.
29) ironic (adjective) - an almost comical deviation from what is expected
Example: Ironically, the man who was pulled over for speeding through a school crosswalk was a full-time driving instructor.
30) musty (adjective) - stale and unclean smelling
Example: The damp towel grew musty after being wadded-up and not allowed to dry properly.
31) officious (adjective) - intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
Example: The police had no right to search the man's house in such an officious manner.
32) ominous (adjective) - threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Example: There was an ominous feeling about the abandoned prison.
33) pinnacle (noun) - the highest level or degree attainable
Example: Blindly following a religion out of fear of celestial persecution is the pinnacle of ignorance.
34) premeditated (adjective) - characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning (usually refers to an illegal act/crime)
Example: The woman received an especially harsh sentence for murdering her husband, as it was clearly premeditated.
35) rampant (adjective) - unrestrained and violent
Example: The enraged child ran rampant through the toy store, destroying everything in his path.
36) solace (noun) - some sort of comfort in a time of disappointment or misery
Example: Although he was distraught that he missed his flight, he found some temporary solace in the hamburger that he purchased from the vendor.
37) stately (adjective) - refined or imposing in manner or appearance
Example: The stately statue made everything around it appear insignificant.
38) supple (adjective) - capable of moving or bending with ease
Example: Cats are such supple creatures that they are able to orient themselves in mid air while falling, enabling them to land on their feet nearly every time.
39) suppress (verb) - to control and/or prevent from showing
Example: The media suppressed the incident in which an armed civilian saved potentially hundreds lives by stopping a hostile gunman because the story would have been bad for their anti-gun lobbying, had it been broadcasted on any major "news" networks.
40) venal (adjective) - capable of being corrupted
Example: Venal individuals should be kept away from positions of power at all costs.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
FREEDOM OF CHOICE
I value freedom of thought and freedom of choice more than any other fundamental "rights", save for the right to life. Aside from some sort of Jamie Whyte example*, such as having the freedom to drive your car through a crowd of people, I do consider the aforementioned freedoms to be natural rights that any/all intelligent species should be entitled to. That being said, there are pros and cons with "freedom of choice", just as there are with virtually everything in this life. For example, it is an amazing thing for one to be able to make the decisions that will shape their future. Unless, of course, they make poor choices and create an undesirable future. Making the wrong decision is an inherent risk of making decisions, after all. That shouldn't by any means deter anyone from acting/thinking independently; what is the point of living as a vessel for some other entity's thoughts/actions? Despite any possible cons that do or might exist, I will ALWAYS chose to think and decide for myself. Life is far too precious of an experience to waste by following others. I will take any/all information at my disposal into account but, ultimately, make my own decisions and follow them wherever they may lead me.
*This refers to an excerpt from Jamie Whyte's book, Crimes Against Logic, in which he dismantles many false "rights" on the basis that one person's entitlement creates an obligation for all other parties involved. A social variant Newton's third law, if you will.
*This refers to an excerpt from Jamie Whyte's book, Crimes Against Logic, in which he dismantles many false "rights" on the basis that one person's entitlement creates an obligation for all other parties involved. A social variant Newton's third law, if you will.
Monday, September 16, 2013
NO CHILD LEFT UNTABLETED
A few months ago, I would have been 100% opposed to the idea of tablets in school. Because of this class, however, I am now aware of the learning power that personalization brings to the table. This factor alone gives the "tablet program" some merit in my eyes. Not to mention that I will instantly gravitate towards any system that manages to break away from its more "standardized" or "generally accepted" counterparts. With this, I do remain skeptical of some aspects of implementing tablets in school. My chief concern is the monetary cost, and whether or not that cost is worth it. Especially considering that, as you (Dr. Preston) have proven, internet access is the only true required basis for setting up a highly interactive, highly personalized learning system. Personally, I CANNOT be okay with hundreds of thousands of dollars from an already tight school budget being unnecessarily spent. Furthermore, as addressed in the article, there is a margin for failure. If teachers do not embrace the change and properly tailor their lesson plans to this new system, it will be redundant at best, and a complete and total disaster at worst. All of this is of little relevance to the true matter at hand anyways. Let's face it, truly helping individual students learn (learn, as in accumulate useful knowledge) isn't the primary concern for most school officials. All they really want is to increase our stats to make the U.S. look more imposing. They're after superficial test-score "learning", not learning in the true sense of the word. In either case, a radical reinvention of the schooling system would be required to yield any real results. Shoving the same bland, generic busy work down student's throats year after year and expecting positive results is nothing short of lunacy. Not only do these current methods create a complete lack of interest/motivation amongst students, but they also create legitimate problems for those students who do apply themselves, but simply do not operate well under the tyranny of whatever "learning" system they're stuck with. Not to sound like a fanboy, but open source learning is BY FAR the most viable solution I have encountered in my limited experience. I predict that the results will speak for themselves, and that such teaching philosophies will spread like wildfire and blitzkrieg the school system.
All in all, I believe that tablets in school could work but aren't necessary/worthwhile, and, more importantly, that the focus should be on the bigger picture of learning in general versus gimmicky "quick-fixes".
All in all, I believe that tablets in school could work but aren't necessary/worthwhile, and, more importantly, that the focus should be on the bigger picture of learning in general versus gimmicky "quick-fixes".
VOCABULARY #5
1) adroit (adjective) - quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
Example: The performer was so adroit that he was able to juggle four chainsaws simultaneously without injuring himself.
2) amicable (adjective) - characterized by friendship and good will
Example: It is important for people to treat each other amicably in order to maintain a healthy society.
3) averse (adjective) - strongly opposed
Example: Far too many people are averse to doing what is right instead of what is easy.
4) belligerent (adjective) - characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
Example: Some people become belligerent after consuming large quantities of alcohol.
5) benevolent (adjective) - showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
Example: Some benevolent individuals are willing to donate money from their own pocket to causes that they feel are worthwhile.
6) cursory (adjective) - hasty and without attention to detail
Example: Giving a source of information nothing more than a cursory glance makes it easy to overlook some details.
7) duplicity (noun) - deceitful/fraudulent, as by speaking or acting differently to different people regarding the same matter
Example: The salesman displayed duplicity when he convinced his customer that the lower quality product was the "real thing".
8) extol (verb) - to praise, glorify, or honor
Example: Many people extol "celebrities" profusely, even though most "famous people" have contributed nothing of any real substance to this world.
9) feasible (adjective) - capable of being done under ordinary circumstances and by ordinary means
Example: Timely interstellar travel is simply not a feasible endeavor for human kind at this point.
10) grimace (noun) - a contorted facial expression indicating something unpleasant
Example: The detective's face displayed a grimace when he arrived at a grizzly crime scene.
11) holocaust (noun) - an act of mass destruction and loss of life
Example: The atrocities committed by hitler (I purposely didn't capitalize his name out of disrespect) during WWII are perhaps the most well-known example of a holocaust.
12) impervious (adjective) - incapable of being affected
Example: Sadly, the general public seems to be impervious to logic/reason.
13) impetus (noun) - a force or stimulus that moves something along
Example: Fear of public judgement serves as an impetus against people acting out of their own will.
14) jeopardy (noun) - peril or danger
Example: By forgetting to enable the alarm before returning home for the night, the store owner put his entire stock in jeopardy.
15) meticulous (adjective) - marked by extreme care for minute details
Example: The meticulous craftsman refused to settle for anything less than perfection.
16) nostalgia (noun) - longing for something past
Example: A great sense of nostalgia came over the man whilst reflecting upon his childhood.
17) quintessence (noun) - the purest and most concentrated essence of something; representing the perfect quality or class of something
Example: Conformity is the quintessence of cowardice.
18) retrogress (verb) - to fall back into a (usually worse) previous condition
Example: Just as the sick man's condition seemed to be improving, he retrogressed and is now worse than ever before.
19) scrutinize (verb) - to examine critically with minute detail
Example: Although the judges scrutinized the product with the utmost intent, they found no apparent flaws.
20) tepid (adjective) - feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
Example: The tepid reviews of the product were concurrent with the lack of public interest.
Example: The performer was so adroit that he was able to juggle four chainsaws simultaneously without injuring himself.
2) amicable (adjective) - characterized by friendship and good will
Example: It is important for people to treat each other amicably in order to maintain a healthy society.
3) averse (adjective) - strongly opposed
Example: Far too many people are averse to doing what is right instead of what is easy.
4) belligerent (adjective) - characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
Example: Some people become belligerent after consuming large quantities of alcohol.
5) benevolent (adjective) - showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
Example: Some benevolent individuals are willing to donate money from their own pocket to causes that they feel are worthwhile.
6) cursory (adjective) - hasty and without attention to detail
Example: Giving a source of information nothing more than a cursory glance makes it easy to overlook some details.
7) duplicity (noun) - deceitful/fraudulent, as by speaking or acting differently to different people regarding the same matter
Example: The salesman displayed duplicity when he convinced his customer that the lower quality product was the "real thing".
8) extol (verb) - to praise, glorify, or honor
Example: Many people extol "celebrities" profusely, even though most "famous people" have contributed nothing of any real substance to this world.
9) feasible (adjective) - capable of being done under ordinary circumstances and by ordinary means
Example: Timely interstellar travel is simply not a feasible endeavor for human kind at this point.
10) grimace (noun) - a contorted facial expression indicating something unpleasant
Example: The detective's face displayed a grimace when he arrived at a grizzly crime scene.
11) holocaust (noun) - an act of mass destruction and loss of life
Example: The atrocities committed by hitler (I purposely didn't capitalize his name out of disrespect) during WWII are perhaps the most well-known example of a holocaust.
12) impervious (adjective) - incapable of being affected
Example: Sadly, the general public seems to be impervious to logic/reason.
13) impetus (noun) - a force or stimulus that moves something along
Example: Fear of public judgement serves as an impetus against people acting out of their own will.
14) jeopardy (noun) - peril or danger
Example: By forgetting to enable the alarm before returning home for the night, the store owner put his entire stock in jeopardy.
15) meticulous (adjective) - marked by extreme care for minute details
Example: The meticulous craftsman refused to settle for anything less than perfection.
16) nostalgia (noun) - longing for something past
Example: A great sense of nostalgia came over the man whilst reflecting upon his childhood.
17) quintessence (noun) - the purest and most concentrated essence of something; representing the perfect quality or class of something
Example: Conformity is the quintessence of cowardice.
18) retrogress (verb) - to fall back into a (usually worse) previous condition
Example: Just as the sick man's condition seemed to be improving, he retrogressed and is now worse than ever before.
19) scrutinize (verb) - to examine critically with minute detail
Example: Although the judges scrutinized the product with the utmost intent, they found no apparent flaws.
20) tepid (adjective) - feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm
Example: The tepid reviews of the product were concurrent with the lack of public interest.
Friday, September 13, 2013
LITERATURE ANALYSIS #1 (Cosmos by Carl Sagan)
*I accidentally deleted this assignment today while transferring it to my blog from a word document and was unable to recover it. I redid the assignment (most of it) but, despite putting even more time into it, it didn't come together as well as the first run did :( .
TOPIC(S) and/or EVENT(S)
2) As stated in the introduction, Cosmos began as a
thirteen-part television series aimed at presenting science to the general
public in a concise and captivating way. After receiving an overwhelmingly
positive response from the viewers, Sagan decided that a second installment of Cosmos
was to be published in the form of a book. With a slightly different target
audience and no time constraints, he would be able to further elaborate on
topics that had already been covered and include certain topics that were less
suitable for the TV show. Thus, arguably the most renowned scientific
non-fiction piece of the modern era was born.
3) I chose Cosmos for my literature analysis for a
few reasons. Primarily, I had already had my sights set on this book for a
while before this assignment was even announced so, naturally, when we were
asked to pick up a non-fiction book, this one came to mind. Also, I like to
“stand out” whenever possible and I didn’t think many of my peers would be
choosing books too similar to this one (I was actually quite impressed with the
diversity of the choices). Finally, I truly enjoy a challenge and wanted to
choose a book on the more “complex” end of the spectrum. Ironically, Cosmos
was first brought to my attention by a comment on a YouTube video. The high praise
that the commenter had for the book, combined with the title/subject matter
that I gathered from his brief synopsis of it, created an instant appeal to me. While this book doesn't have the same "hook" that, for example, a suspense novel might have, it holds a different type of allure. It serves as a platform for learning, while still being well-written enough to avoid growing monotonous at any time. Carl Sagan's eloquent writing abilities, paired with my interest in science, made the book difficult to put down once I was immersed in it.
4) I absolutely found Cosmos to be "realistic". The book can't really be viewed as unrealistic, considering that it is almost entirely composed of proven scientific facts and historical data. I felt a great connection with nearly all of the subject matters addressed in Cosmos. From the growth of the human species, to the formation and development of our solar system, to the anatomy of the universe itself; it would be nearly impossible for anyone who has read and understood the book to not feel a deep connection. That was one of Carl Sagan's main objectives, after all-- to describe the connection between the human species and the cosmos, and how that connection has helped shape us by fueling our most untamed curiosities.
STYLE
1) Stylistically, Cosmos is a bit of a hybrid. It is journalistic in nature due to the fact that Carl Sagan is primarily presenting factual information, but he also manages to tell an elegant story simultaneously. This is part of what makes the book so special; I found myself reading about all of these interesting, yet seemingly unrelated topics when, all of the sudden, everything would fall into place revealing what Sagan had been setting up for last hundred pages. It is truly remarkable how well he was able to organize the copious amount of included in the book into such a clear and harmonious thematic arrangement. As far as literary devices, they were definitely in there. The book wasn't a giant mess of them like most fiction novels; but I did identify a few during my initial reading. Similes, metaphors, imagery, symbolism, foreshadowing, personification, allegory, flashback, and irony all managed to find their respective places within the text.
2) Sagan definitely opted for lengthy, didactic descriptions rather than actions/dialog. Cosmos is a book of science after all. While this may make the book seem more "dry" to some, it increases the text's effectiveness and, to me, its appeal. There would be no place and/or reason for dialog in a book of this sort anyways so, for those who have a problem with that, I would recommend a different sub-genre.
3) To instill the intended mood into the text, Sagan makes excellent use of descriptive language. His vivid imagery (combined with the various pictures/paintings that each page is layered with) truly takes the reader on a proverbial voyage. This further adds to Cosmos' effectiveness; there is no better way of getting the audience to appreciate the grandeur of the universe than making them feel as if they are at the place in question, presently witnessing an awe-inspiring cosmic event.
4) Carl Sagan's attitude throughout Cosmos was clear, he was nothing short of ecstatic. I could feel through the text that science and learning were his true passions in life, and that in its self really amplified the overall effect of the book. The positivity and excitement that he allowed to radiate through the pages with his word choice and writing tone made it difficult not share his splendor for the cosmos.
5) Carl Sagan's use of external resources was very limited. His only real installments of them (besides an occasional quote here and there) were the several quotes/excerpts that he included at the beginning of every chapter to set the stage for each topic. Personally, I really appreciate this touch. These usually obscure, deep, and highly symbolic passages serve as some food for though while progressing through the chapter. Also, they are all highly relevant to both the subject of the chapter, and the theme of the book.
Monday, September 9, 2013
VOCABULARY #4
1) accede (verb) - to agree or express agreement
Example: After receiving several complaints, the storeowner finally acceded to firing the cashier for making snide remarks towards patrons.
2) brandish (verb) - to exhibit aggressively
Example: The foolish man was brandishing a toy gun as if it were a real firearm, and was fired on by the police as a result.
3) comprise (verb) - to form or compose, or to be composed of
Example: Solid matter (as we interpret it) is actually comprised primarily of empty space.
4) deft (adjective) - skillful in physical movements
Example: Gymnasts are held to the highest standard when it comes to being deft/dexterous.
5) destitute (adjective) - completely wanting or lacking something desirable
Example: "Food drives" and other campaigns are aimed to aid destitute families that cannot afford basic necessities.
6) explicit (adjective) - precisely and clearly expressed; can also be used to describe something vulgar or inappropriate
Example: Despite the multitude of explicit warning signs, the naive man decided that it was in his best interest to pet the killer whale anyways. He is no longer with us : (
7) extirpate (verb) - to pull up by or as if by the roots; to remove surgically; to destroy completely
Example: Luckily, the surgeons were able to extirpate the cancerous mass from the woman's lung before it spread.
8) inopportune (adjective)- conditions that deviate from what is favorable
Example: The power went out during the climax of a television show; the most inopportune moment possible.
9) ironic (adjective) - an almost comical deviation from what is expected
Example: Ironically, the man who was pulled over for speeding through a school crosswalk was a full-time driving instructor.
10) musty (adjective) - stale and unclean smelling
Example: The damp towel grew musty after being wadded-up and not allowed to dry properly.
11) officious (adjective) - intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
Example: The police had no right to search the man's house in such an officious manner.
12) ominous (adjective) - threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Example: There was an ominous feeling about the abandoned prison.
13) pinnacle (noun) - the highest level or degree attainable
Example: Blindly following a religion out of fear of celestial persecution is the pinnacle of ignorance.
14) premeditated (adjective) - characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning (usually refers to an illegal act/crime)
Example: The woman received an especially harsh sentence for murdering her husband, as it was clearly premeditated.
15) rampant (adjective) - unrestrained and violent
Example: The enraged child ran rampant through the toy store, destroying everything in his path.
16) solace (noun) - some sort of comfort in a time of disappointment or misery
Example: Although he was distraught that he missed his flight, he found some temporary solace in the hamburger that he purchased from the vendor.
17) stately (adjective) - refined or imposing in manner or appearance
Example: The stately statue made everything around it appear insignificant.
18) supple (adjective) - capable of moving or bending with ease
Example: Cats are such supple creatures that they are able to orient themselves in mid air while falling, enabling them to land on their feet nearly every time.
19) suppress (verb) - to control and/or prevent from showing
Example: The media suppressed the incident in which an armed civilian saved potentially hundreds lives by stopping a hostile gunman because the story would have been bad for their anti-gun lobbying, had it been broadcasted on any major "news" networks.
20) venal (adjective) - capable of being corrupted
Example: Venal individuals should be kept away from positions of power at all costs.
Example: After receiving several complaints, the storeowner finally acceded to firing the cashier for making snide remarks towards patrons.
2) brandish (verb) - to exhibit aggressively
Example: The foolish man was brandishing a toy gun as if it were a real firearm, and was fired on by the police as a result.
3) comprise (verb) - to form or compose, or to be composed of
Example: Solid matter (as we interpret it) is actually comprised primarily of empty space.
4) deft (adjective) - skillful in physical movements
Example: Gymnasts are held to the highest standard when it comes to being deft/dexterous.
5) destitute (adjective) - completely wanting or lacking something desirable
Example: "Food drives" and other campaigns are aimed to aid destitute families that cannot afford basic necessities.
6) explicit (adjective) - precisely and clearly expressed; can also be used to describe something vulgar or inappropriate
Example: Despite the multitude of explicit warning signs, the naive man decided that it was in his best interest to pet the killer whale anyways. He is no longer with us : (
7) extirpate (verb) - to pull up by or as if by the roots; to remove surgically; to destroy completely
Example: Luckily, the surgeons were able to extirpate the cancerous mass from the woman's lung before it spread.
8) inopportune (adjective)- conditions that deviate from what is favorable
Example: The power went out during the climax of a television show; the most inopportune moment possible.
9) ironic (adjective) - an almost comical deviation from what is expected
Example: Ironically, the man who was pulled over for speeding through a school crosswalk was a full-time driving instructor.
10) musty (adjective) - stale and unclean smelling
Example: The damp towel grew musty after being wadded-up and not allowed to dry properly.
11) officious (adjective) - intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
Example: The police had no right to search the man's house in such an officious manner.
12) ominous (adjective) - threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Example: There was an ominous feeling about the abandoned prison.
13) pinnacle (noun) - the highest level or degree attainable
Example: Blindly following a religion out of fear of celestial persecution is the pinnacle of ignorance.
14) premeditated (adjective) - characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning (usually refers to an illegal act/crime)
Example: The woman received an especially harsh sentence for murdering her husband, as it was clearly premeditated.
15) rampant (adjective) - unrestrained and violent
Example: The enraged child ran rampant through the toy store, destroying everything in his path.
16) solace (noun) - some sort of comfort in a time of disappointment or misery
Example: Although he was distraught that he missed his flight, he found some temporary solace in the hamburger that he purchased from the vendor.
17) stately (adjective) - refined or imposing in manner or appearance
Example: The stately statue made everything around it appear insignificant.
18) supple (adjective) - capable of moving or bending with ease
Example: Cats are such supple creatures that they are able to orient themselves in mid air while falling, enabling them to land on their feet nearly every time.
19) suppress (verb) - to control and/or prevent from showing
Example: The media suppressed the incident in which an armed civilian saved potentially hundreds lives by stopping a hostile gunman because the story would have been bad for their anti-gun lobbying, had it been broadcasted on any major "news" networks.
20) venal (adjective) - capable of being corrupted
Example: Venal individuals should be kept away from positions of power at all costs.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
VOCABULARY #3
1) accomplice (noun) - a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan (especially an unethical or illegal plan)
Example: The bank robber had an accomplice who worked at the bank disable the security cameras before he went in.
2) annihilate (verb) - to violently cause to cease to exist; to destroy completely
Example: Despite our meager attempts, an advanced interstellar race would annihilate human kind with little effort if they so desired.
3) arbitrary (adjective) - based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice
Example: Debating which is "better", tater tots or french fries, is an arbitrary matter since it is simply a matter of opinion (yes Jamie Whyte, it is).
4) brazen (adjective) - unrestrained by convention or propriety
Example: The perpetrator was punished further after exhibiting a brazen disregard for the officer's authority by ripping up the speeding ticket.
5) catalyst (noun) - any factor that influences the likely-hood and/or intensity of an event.
Example: Some substances can work as catalysts, speeding-up/easing a chemical reaction without being directly involved in the reaction itself.
6) exodus (noun) - a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
Example: An old adage tells of slaves using constellations ("the big dipper" in particular) to guide their exodus to freedom.
7) facilitate (verb) - to make easier through guidance or direction
Example: The helicopter pilot helped facilitate the police chase by calling out the target's position.
8) incorrigible (adjective) - impervious to correction by punishment
Example: Some children are incorrigible and, therefore, require positive reinforcement as opposed to pure discipline.
9) latent (adjective) - potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
Example: The idea of a multiverse is latent; it is entirely possible, but not evident.
10) militant (adjective) - showing a fighting disposition
Example: A group of militants fought to overthrow their corrupt government.
11) morose (adjective) - having a sullen and gloomy disposition
Example: It is common to become morose and reclusive after suffering a great tragedy.
12) opaque (adjective) - cloudy and difficult to clearly interpret
Example: The word "opaque" can be used as a physical characteristic (i.e. "frosted" sea glass), or to describe a lack of clear expression exuded by a person or idea.
13) paramount (adjective) - having superior power and influence
Example: Thin blade grinds are paramount to receiving optimal cutting performance from a bladed tool.
14) prattle (verb) - to speak rapidly and incessantly about unimportant matters.
Example: People who prattle about idle/uninteresting matters aren't very pleasant to speak with.
15) rebut (verb) - prove to be false or incorrect
Example: The law-abiding man was able to easily rebut the hollow accusations that were cast against him.
16) reprimand (noun) - an act or expression of criticism and censure
Example: The employee received swift reprimand from his boss for missing the deadline.
17) servitude (noun) - a state of subjection to forced labor (usually imposed as a punishment)
Example: Slaves were condemned to a torturous life of servitude due to the greed and evil that consumed their oppressors.
18) slapdash (adjective) - marked by great carelessness
Example: In an act of slapdash, the young child toppled over a display case that was filled with priceless artifacts.
19) stagnant (adjective) - not circulating or flowing or growing or changing
Example: Stagnant water is unsafe to drink because it has a higher chance of carrying harmful contaminants.
20) succumb (verb) - be fatally overwhelmed
Example: After a long fight, the patient eventually succumbed to his ailment.
Example: The bank robber had an accomplice who worked at the bank disable the security cameras before he went in.
2) annihilate (verb) - to violently cause to cease to exist; to destroy completely
Example: Despite our meager attempts, an advanced interstellar race would annihilate human kind with little effort if they so desired.
3) arbitrary (adjective) - based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice
Example: Debating which is "better", tater tots or french fries, is an arbitrary matter since it is simply a matter of opinion (yes Jamie Whyte, it is).
4) brazen (adjective) - unrestrained by convention or propriety
Example: The perpetrator was punished further after exhibiting a brazen disregard for the officer's authority by ripping up the speeding ticket.
5) catalyst (noun) - any factor that influences the likely-hood and/or intensity of an event.
Example: Some substances can work as catalysts, speeding-up/easing a chemical reaction without being directly involved in the reaction itself.
6) exodus (noun) - a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
Example: An old adage tells of slaves using constellations ("the big dipper" in particular) to guide their exodus to freedom.
7) facilitate (verb) - to make easier through guidance or direction
Example: The helicopter pilot helped facilitate the police chase by calling out the target's position.
8) incorrigible (adjective) - impervious to correction by punishment
Example: Some children are incorrigible and, therefore, require positive reinforcement as opposed to pure discipline.
9) latent (adjective) - potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
Example: The idea of a multiverse is latent; it is entirely possible, but not evident.
10) militant (adjective) - showing a fighting disposition
Example: A group of militants fought to overthrow their corrupt government.
11) morose (adjective) - having a sullen and gloomy disposition
Example: It is common to become morose and reclusive after suffering a great tragedy.
12) opaque (adjective) - cloudy and difficult to clearly interpret
Example: The word "opaque" can be used as a physical characteristic (i.e. "frosted" sea glass), or to describe a lack of clear expression exuded by a person or idea.
13) paramount (adjective) - having superior power and influence
Example: Thin blade grinds are paramount to receiving optimal cutting performance from a bladed tool.
14) prattle (verb) - to speak rapidly and incessantly about unimportant matters.
Example: People who prattle about idle/uninteresting matters aren't very pleasant to speak with.
15) rebut (verb) - prove to be false or incorrect
Example: The law-abiding man was able to easily rebut the hollow accusations that were cast against him.
16) reprimand (noun) - an act or expression of criticism and censure
Example: The employee received swift reprimand from his boss for missing the deadline.
17) servitude (noun) - a state of subjection to forced labor (usually imposed as a punishment)
Example: Slaves were condemned to a torturous life of servitude due to the greed and evil that consumed their oppressors.
18) slapdash (adjective) - marked by great carelessness
Example: In an act of slapdash, the young child toppled over a display case that was filled with priceless artifacts.
19) stagnant (adjective) - not circulating or flowing or growing or changing
Example: Stagnant water is unsafe to drink because it has a higher chance of carrying harmful contaminants.
20) succumb (verb) - be fatally overwhelmed
Example: After a long fight, the patient eventually succumbed to his ailment.
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