資訊與科技

第一堂課

GOOD DAY

HELLO,
MY NAME IS TIM

The journey of my education or how I got involved with computers

One of my main hobbies while growing up was drawing. I have been drawing ever since I can remember; all I needed was pen and paper. That hobby continued as I was going through my life: watching cartoons, playing with the other kids, going to school, or just being home. I remember inventing, drawing or copying a cartoon or an animation character that I have seen from a scene. I was drawing wherever I was, in school and at home. Most of them were drawn in pencil because I wasn’t good at coloring them; they end up looking like colored by a bunch of infants, who got bored and played with the colors, when I actually put colors in it. I have entered contest, poster making for example, and have won and lost. This was until the 3^rd grade and the 4^th grade started computers, in which I am particularly a beginner.

Upon entering the fifth grade, a class called “Arts” became one of our subjects for the year. This subject involved anything that has to do with colors. I guess this was the time I had the chance to practice my coloring skills. This class also included painting. Some of my coloring and painting exercises were exhibited; they were considered some of the best in the entire 5^th and 6^th grade level. At the same time developing my coloring skills, we also did have exercises with computers, but mostly on typing notes and pages of stories only to improve our typing skills and make us comfortable with it. Since I didn’t have my own personal computer at home, I never had the chance to improve it.

High school was a different level; the subjects “Drafting” and “Computers” are now some of our main classes. We would have both of these subjects throughout high school. Since drafting was about using pencil and paper, I was having fun and making the best out of it, from “ISO” lettering to “3-point view” design of a certain object. And again, not to brag about it, some of my work was exhibited as some of the best and neatest among the level. I guess I have the passion of doing it. The term computer was not really that common to me. All I new about them back at high school years was to play online games and barely done research on the computer. I used books instead. Computer programming was one of the main topics in this subject; I didn’t much attention to it. I remember paying the smartest kid in class to do my assignment or project. I never realized this was where I will end up. I still remember the programming language that we used back and every time I look it up, I always tell myself how advance I am when it comes to computer programming. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish high school for it was time to move out of the country.

People said that: “There’s no place like Montreal”, which actually convinced me. Only, this statement is true if it’s not the winter season; the upcoming season when I arrived in Canada. My family and I arrived in mid September and the weather back then was pretty fine. Around this time, I haven’t drawn anything neither touched a pencil and paper. We were busy with all the family reunions and outings since almost all of my relatives are here. Then, winter season arrived. It was boring and I had nothing else to do. I started school two weeks after our arrival and I received my first personal computer in mid October, and acquired internet in mid December. In the span of three years of school, I only draw in class whenever I get bored. I used the computer from home and mostly tried to discover it. I learned how to and also learned how to download different sorts of things through the use of internet as well.

To be an architect was actually my one and only choice as a program in college. Ever since I was a kid, I have always dreamed of being an architect, just drawing and sketching for the rest of my life. But everything changed when I realized that I have to take Physics, which would take me another two months in adult school, and submit a portfolio prior entering the mentioned program. And so I made a quick decision; take “Computer Science”. I took this program although I knew my knowledge about it is really weak. Well, I learned most of the things I know today: for example, building a computer, reading their specifications, programming, and learning commands. And ever since I entered this program, I have been involved with computers so much that it also became a hobby and passion.

Miranda July Assignment # 11 - Photograph a Scar and Write About it

When seeing a scar on a person; particularly a noticeable one in an odd place, I can’t help but wonder about the story behind it. Whether its extremely deep, or just the faintest dot, the impact of the scar is the same. It is always a reminder of some event which either traumatizing, life changing or perhaps just a clumsy moment that would one day make a funny story. Most scars initially involve a trip to the emergency room, a couple of stitches or at least a very serious “I promise to never do it again” talk with one’s parents. My scar however, does not come with such an exciting tale. It didn’t come from a major fall or a pumpkin-carving incident gone wrong. The thin faint scar down the middle of my forehead was simply caused by my infant sister, Gillian. Ironically, though neither of us could have known at the time, we would both grow older to become those sisters whom would under no circumstance be able to get along. At the time, she was my cute baby sister, and being the seven year old tomboy that I was, I thought that the scratch down my forehead was pretty cool. Gillian and I had grown farther apart as we each got older. My mother always liked to peg our indifferences on the fact that we are so alike; stubborn and sarcastic among other traits. I don’t really know why we’ve never seen eye to eye, and in the past couple of years I’ve begun to regret the gap between the two of us, and the idea that she would feel some what left out from the extremely close relationship between my other sister and I. Although we still are not the closest of sisters, things have definitely gotten better as we’ve each grown more mature and begun to grasp the importance of family. Whenever I see that barely there line on my forehead, I am always reminded of my relationship with my sister, and though the mark is still there, it is slowly healing as time passes.

Completing the task set out by Miranda July was unlike any assignment that I have written during my English courses at Dawson. The idea that the writing for this assignment was so personal was the aspect which made it most and appealing to write. It is very rare to come across an assignment in Cegep where one gets to truly express themselves through their school work, as opposed to writing using only fact and analysis. I personally chose to write about a scar on my body. The process of writing this piece was pretty cool, because as opposed to analyzing literature or film, I was actually analyzing a piece of myself. Before reading the proposal of this assignment on Miranda July’s website, I had never spent much time thinking about my scar which I see in the mirror everyday. I had begun to think not only about the physical mark on my forehead, but also about the mark left on me from the cause of that scar. This scar is not only a part of my physical characteristics, but it plays a small role in me as a person. Through expressing the story behind my scar, I gained an understanding about how much of an effect the small things have on a person, and how each tiny event or trait is significant in the entire being of that person. This assignment was extremely thought provoking, as it signifies not only the importance of communicating and sharing a part of you with others, but it also teaches significance of sharing with yourself in order to be true to yourself and see the relevance of your own events and emotions.

Each of the assignments on Miranda July’s website involves a personal journey in order of completing it. Whether it be something simple such as recreating a childhood poster, or something courageous such as taking a picture of a complete stranger, each one requires the person to explore a part of themselves which they may normally not turn to. In order to complete one of Miranda July’s assignments, one must analyze themselves, either through returning to a moment in their past, or even just by thinking about an idea or activity in a different way that they normally may do so. Each one of these assignments also contains a requirement of creativity in order to be completed. I think that one of her main goals through creating her website was to challenge people to think differently about themselves and about others. Each one of these creative tasks ends with a new outlook on others by the person who had completed it. I believe that she wanted people to begin to realize how much each one of us is effected by little acts within our lives, and in turn be challenged to put more effort into simply caring about people outside of our inner circles of family and friends. By communicating with others, we are able to express these ideas as a global message, and perhaps each one would make a difference to another person; even a simple account of a personal event has the power to touch another person. Miranda July’s assignments involve all different art forms such as writing, drawing, music and photography. I think that the tasks which she proposes through different artistic movements stress the importance of communication which she is trying to spread. The major method of communicating to the public is through art, whether is be through a novel or a controversial painting or film. Miranda July is trying to reconceptualize what is counted as art through these assignments as a result of the importance of communication, and wants people to feel free to express themselves through there creativity. It has been said that art imitates life, and one of the most crucial aspects of human life is communication, which Miranda July is challenging humanity to spread through their individual thoughts and experiences.

A final hint for the final exam ....

One of the questions on the final exam will ask you to read this article by Jonathan Safran Foer.

You will have the article with your exam, but you may want to get a head start and read it ahead of time. Also, the font in the handout of this article is quite small, so you may want to spare your eyes.

Final exam structure and hints

Final Exam: Dec 3^rd and 5^th

On Dec 3, you will write an in-class exam. This will be a closed-book exam. There will be 8 short answer questions worth 5 marks each, which means that each answer needs to be fairly substantial to earn a potential five marks. The exam questions will mostly be focused on the material since the mid-term (Breakfast of Champions, Adaptation, Everything is Illuminated), but some questions will ask you to make connections to previous work.

Hints for exam questions:

• One question will be from the handout of questions on Breakfast of Champions that we did in groups
• There will one question that asks you to compare the novel Everything is Illuminated with its film adaptation
• Review the major themes we have been discussing in Everything is Illuminated, as well as in the course at large. Consider also our discussion about the postmodern deflation of the status of the author

On Dec 5, you will write an in-class essay. You will see the essay topics on your exam sheet on Dec 3, but you cannot bring in outside notes. You will be permitted to use your novel only. There will be a choice of three essay questions on the novel.

Reminder for Writing a Literary Analysis Essay:

A) Introduction

1. Topic Sentence

The first sentence of your introduction should provide the name of the author, the name of the text, and the main subject of your essay. Do not write in general terms about the subject as it relates to real life.

Which one of these topic sentences is more effective? Why?

1. “In our days, it is rare that we know only one version of a certain subject.”

2. “Ann Sexton and Angela Carter’s versions of “Little Red Riding Hood” differ greatly from each other.”

Rewrite the following topic sentence to make them more effective:

1. “The two rewritings of the Little Red Riding Hood story are “Red Riding Hood” by Anne Sexton and “The Company of Wolves” by Angela Carter.”

B. Thesis statement

Your thesis statement should be as specific as possible. Do not make reference to what you will write about later; this style of “announcing” your plan will give you a statement of intention, but will not give you a thesis statement.

Which of the following statements is more effective? Why?

1. “In both stories, the authors ridicule the main character and make the story ironic.”
2. “In this essay I will begin by briefly discussing the author’s representation of the main character in each story and then I will compare and contrast the two.”

Rewrite the following thesis statements to make them more effective:

1. “The central character of story can be related to postmodern concepts.”
2. “This essay will examine how the two tales are considered as postmodern literary works, and also why Sexton rewrites these two characters into her own versions of fairy tales.”
3. “In this short essay I will analyze two of Anne Sexton’s remakes: Cinderella and Rumpelstilskin. I will elaborate on what makes these fictitious stories postmodern and what the author’s goals are for rewriting these characters.

C. Sentence Structure

Comma splices

A comma splice occurs when you join two separate sentences with a comma, which is not sufficient punctuation to join two separate sentences. Join them with a connecting word or separate into two sentences.

1. Fairy tales are cautionary takes, they teach morals and a clear sense of good and evil is shown.

Review Questions for Everything is Illuminated

Review questions: Everything is Illuminated

1. How would you describe the two voices that tell the story (Alex and Jonathan's)? How is their language different? In what ways do the narratives intersect or move away from one another? Why do you think the author chose to write the novel in this way?

2. Why does Jonathan travel to Ukraine? What is he searching for? What are Alex and his grandfather searching for on the journey? What does each character find?
3. In an interview, Jonathan Safran Foer said that “Everything is Illuminated is, above all things, about love – between parent and child, between lovers, friends, and generations, between what happened and what will happen.” Where do you see examples of each of these types of love in the novel? How does the theme of love influence the course of the novel?
4. On page 265-6, Jonathan writes, “Every widow wakes one morning, perhaps after the years of pure and unwavering grief, to realize she has slept a good night's sleep, and will able to eat breakfast, and doesn't hear her husband's ghost all the time, but only some of the time.” How do the characters in the novel live their lives in wake of tragic events? How do we both move on and still remember these events? What roles do stories play in reconciling ourselves with the past?
5. Describe the blending of elements that are tragic and that are comedic in the novel. Why do you think the book does this? What does the book seem to think that the role of humor is in life and in the face of tragic events?