To me, I have learnt more about ecological relationships, such as predation, mutualism, commensalism. I learnt a lot on the different relationships. The ecology life relies heavily on relationships, and I enjoyed the HBL over the weekend. I feel that lessons through online lessons are very autonomous and flexible, as it allows room for extra enrichment and other lessons.
We can wake up at any time we want and learnt the same things! It is appreciative to know that there is flexibility and freedom to learn topics at different timings too. I hope there will be more HBL for us !
Particularly, although it is tough, the LA online lesson was very essential in our learning, and is beneficial. Even if it is not interesting, I love this HBL, and thank Mr Lundberg for his time put into creating the HBL for us.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Online lesson Home Learning.
ANNEX A
1. Whose Point of View
Statement: It comes from a war veteran point of view, as he probably had suffered such war like experiences, and now conflicting the lives of war-children, and normal children.
Evidence: "Could we just give them a candle? Could we teach them how to read?"
Elaboration: This sentence evokes sympathy, that he is sympathetic with the children, and feels for them. As such, he tries his means to help them. The sympathy he feels might be rooted to the fact that he was one war-child as well. Having a more experiential feel of the lives of the children suffering in war, it supposes that Henry might have been a war-child as well, and now feels the need to shift them back to a normal lifestyle - in this case, literacy and light.
2. Situation and Setting
Statement: It seems to be just before a war is about to begin, maybe a after a declaration of war. The setting is difficult to tell, but I will go with America.
Evidence: "Or will a war consume them?"
Elaboration: Notice the term " will " here? It definitely suggests, either that a war is imminent, but cannot be in the midst of a war, nor after the war. Therefore a declaration of war is very likely to be the timing and situation of the poem. I think it is in Vietnam, as Henry was a war veteran in the Vietnam war, and talks from an American's point of view, to try to encourage world-peace and kindness, instead of war. He knows exactly how it feels, and tries to discourage war, by writing this poem. America is rather dominant in war-times, and have superiority, so it means they do not need children in the war.
3. Language/Diction
Statement:Writer has a persuasive tone, trying to use the extremes of a situation to convince the masses on a particular topic.
Evidence: "Down some endless dirty hole"
Elaboration: Definitely, there will not be any dirty hole whatsoever, it is rather used to exaggerate the extremes of what war can bring about, and trying, on the other hand, to stop war. This is the use of extreme situations to convince the masses to your liking.
4. Personal Response
Statement: I think the writer has done a great job in this poem, it has the feel and sympathy in it.
Evidence:"Back into the darkness, from which has no flight"
Elaboration: This is part of the conclusion, which shows how much the war-children cannot revert back to the lives of normal children, as such, it may indicate about himself, and a personal experience of his. It may be trying to assume that he was one of those.
Online lesson Home Learning.
"Children in the Darkness" by Henry M Bechtold was written in 2010. He probably was a war soldier in the Vietnam war, as he stated that " My soul lies with Vietnam", which implies that he has, maybe gone through the suffering, and find it difficult to adapt back to his homeland.
This poem shows very conflicting images of the mindset of Henry, of what should actually be the life of a normal child, and what is the life of a suffering child in war. The first stanza displays complete ignorance, and that the children, are so innocuous, that they evoke a sense of sympathy and feel, from the audience. Soldiers, in war, fight out of loyalty, nationalism, and patriotism, like the Japanese soldiers in the World War 2. ( not saying that their doings were correct). However, the first stanza seems to implicate that the children, the young innocent children, are being taught to fight, and is the sole thing their learning, their light.
The second stanza is rather expressing more of the first, that children are taught to fight. In "chalk and blackboards will not be" , it seems to say that children now will not be taught literacy in schools, but will be war-driven, and brought up to fight. It more or less talks about the constraint, and lack of liberty to to what they want, and are only restricted to war.
The next stanza implies that, whether the children suffering in war, they have no rights to do what normal children do, like " give them a candle" or "teach them how to read". It asks, if suffering children, can or cannot be taught what normal children can do. Obviously, "No".
The next stanza, is rather a more descriptive stanza, that shows them what they have to go through, and conflicts it with what normal children have to go through. Though exaggerated and emphasised, it becomes logical, that the war will consume them, and that more and more children will grow up, fighting- then dying.
The last stanza, gives a concluding point of view, that children once in war, will never be the same as normal children, and are destroyed by the devastating experiences and circumstances of war.
This poem shows very conflicting images of the mindset of Henry, of what should actually be the life of a normal child, and what is the life of a suffering child in war. The first stanza displays complete ignorance, and that the children, are so innocuous, that they evoke a sense of sympathy and feel, from the audience. Soldiers, in war, fight out of loyalty, nationalism, and patriotism, like the Japanese soldiers in the World War 2. ( not saying that their doings were correct). However, the first stanza seems to implicate that the children, the young innocent children, are being taught to fight, and is the sole thing their learning, their light.
The second stanza is rather expressing more of the first, that children are taught to fight. In "chalk and blackboards will not be" , it seems to say that children now will not be taught literacy in schools, but will be war-driven, and brought up to fight. It more or less talks about the constraint, and lack of liberty to to what they want, and are only restricted to war.
The next stanza implies that, whether the children suffering in war, they have no rights to do what normal children do, like " give them a candle" or "teach them how to read". It asks, if suffering children, can or cannot be taught what normal children can do. Obviously, "No".
The next stanza, is rather a more descriptive stanza, that shows them what they have to go through, and conflicts it with what normal children have to go through. Though exaggerated and emphasised, it becomes logical, that the war will consume them, and that more and more children will grow up, fighting- then dying.
The last stanza, gives a concluding point of view, that children once in war, will never be the same as normal children, and are destroyed by the devastating experiences and circumstances of war.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Journal entry
Imagine you are a character (soldier or civilian) living during a time of war. Write a journal/diary
entry of a day lived in that war (you must pick a specific war).
I cannot do anything but pray for them now; any more I worry will not change the situation. I insist in the faith we should have, and trust that it will eventuate into salvation. Singapore, my beloved homeland must not be taken over this easily. If Singapore is standing still, we, as one nation, can also stand still and brave through all storms. This is my evolutionary homeland, and I must stay strong. If life throws lemons at me, I shall make lemonade out of it. Simply, I shall be happy and stay firm , with unwavering confidence that faith upholds.
I have to brave up to the harsh and inimical future that lies ahead, fogged by a gloom of the forlornness that keeps me in nothing but melancholy day by day. I feel, with an innocuous purpose of writing, that we citizens are innocent, and it is reprehensible for those Japanese to harm and torture us. This occupation has to end. What will happen next? I really do not know, but rest assured my prayers are well kept.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Blog Writing Prompt 17
Was the decision to assassinate Osama Bin Laden rather than bring him to trial justifiable?
Being greatly notorious and placed unsurprisingly in the American's top wanted list, there should be no hesitations to bring his head back to American ground in celebration. It is justifiable considering the emerged 9/11 and Al-Qaeda plots to come.
Yes , some might argue that we should actually trial him to get information. Take Mas Selamat for example. He is a fugitive who attempted to terrorise Singapore, and got caught, put in Whitely Detention Centre. Not long after, he managed to climb over the window sill and escape; fleeing to Malaysia.
I am not drawing links with the degree of notoriousness, but instead the risk of one's escape. The clear ability for Mas Selmat's escape would definitely understate what Osama can do, being an experienced terrorist. Bringing him to trial has risks, but it is justifiable to kill him. Furthermore, it has been America's long wish that Osama is killed.
Therefore, the law should justify such an act.
Benedict (:
Being greatly notorious and placed unsurprisingly in the American's top wanted list, there should be no hesitations to bring his head back to American ground in celebration. It is justifiable considering the emerged 9/11 and Al-Qaeda plots to come.
Yes , some might argue that we should actually trial him to get information. Take Mas Selamat for example. He is a fugitive who attempted to terrorise Singapore, and got caught, put in Whitely Detention Centre. Not long after, he managed to climb over the window sill and escape; fleeing to Malaysia.
I am not drawing links with the degree of notoriousness, but instead the risk of one's escape. The clear ability for Mas Selmat's escape would definitely understate what Osama can do, being an experienced terrorist. Bringing him to trial has risks, but it is justifiable to kill him. Furthermore, it has been America's long wish that Osama is killed.
Therefore, the law should justify such an act.
Benedict (:
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
15 minute writing
Making NS mandatory develops Singaporean boys into men.
Bravery and guts, as one would imagine, is arguably the factor differentiating boys from men- or at least in my opinion- that one would come to the conclusion that having no guts equates no manhood. Yes, in fact, national service makes Singaporean boys into men, and it should be mandatory.
When one steps into national service, the surrounding, the environment, the social groups, will change; and it does takes a lot to swallow all that up.
For example, in national service, one gets physical 'torture' , pushing our limits to the depths, testing our endurance levels. He has to undergo tough arduous trainings and physical activities to pass. With that, he has to stabalise his mentality , to get accustomed to all the trainings, that at times he might fail. And when he fails, he has to bring himself up to his feet, and again start off the training well; and endure all the new problems- social bonding, physical endurance.
To be able to pick yourself up, and handle all the toughness of the world yourself, brings out independence and individualizes one to 'adapt' well- parallel, bravery will be very essential, as it underlies them all.
Bravery and guts, as one would imagine, is arguably the factor differentiating boys from men- or at least in my opinion- that one would come to the conclusion that having no guts equates no manhood. Yes, in fact, national service makes Singaporean boys into men, and it should be mandatory.
When one steps into national service, the surrounding, the environment, the social groups, will change; and it does takes a lot to swallow all that up.
For example, in national service, one gets physical 'torture' , pushing our limits to the depths, testing our endurance levels. He has to undergo tough arduous trainings and physical activities to pass. With that, he has to stabalise his mentality , to get accustomed to all the trainings, that at times he might fail. And when he fails, he has to bring himself up to his feet, and again start off the training well; and endure all the new problems- social bonding, physical endurance.
To be able to pick yourself up, and handle all the toughness of the world yourself, brings out independence and individualizes one to 'adapt' well- parallel, bravery will be very essential, as it underlies them all.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Logical fallacies
1) My mother is rich
Therefore
2) I am rich.
This appeals to relation fallacy, where there is the assumption based on the connection or relativity between two parties. These arguments take association with the fact that one's shine will be another's if they are related. Therefore they commit to relation fallacy.
Benedict (:
Therefore
2) I am rich.
This appeals to relation fallacy, where there is the assumption based on the connection or relativity between two parties. These arguments take association with the fact that one's shine will be another's if they are related. Therefore they commit to relation fallacy.
Benedict (:
15 minute writing
Social media has made us less social.
There is little expression of irony in the term social media, for the word social might be doubted for its true meaning, that it is contrasted to the society's perceptions. I think social media has made us less social.
Yes, there is no doubt, social media is spelt with a " social ", but in true aspects, social media is not very socializing at all. People on the internet socialise through platforms- a two way communication and interaction based field-, and assume that they are socialising with friends or family. In actual fact, these subtle words and alphabets entered into the computer cannot express one's feelings or expressions through it. There is not feel. There is no sense of care and concern. It is just plain descriptions. Socialising needs these factors, but social media inevitably lacks.
For example, people nowadays use facebook to talk to their families or friends, and when it is school time, they rather be alone, or emotional. They rather be lonely, and then socialise in the platforms. As such, they are constricted to the platforms to communicate, and if this drags on, gradually, they might be depressed. Their life would have no colour; no spark- the fact that social media is robbing us of it. Ironically, social media would love to help us socialise, but it lacks the originality of social bonds, through expressions and further body ethics.
Hence, Social Media is ironically not very socialising, and the ones who often "socialise" in the platforms would be the ones unsociable in our present lives.
Benedict (:
There is little expression of irony in the term social media, for the word social might be doubted for its true meaning, that it is contrasted to the society's perceptions. I think social media has made us less social.
Yes, there is no doubt, social media is spelt with a " social ", but in true aspects, social media is not very socializing at all. People on the internet socialise through platforms- a two way communication and interaction based field-, and assume that they are socialising with friends or family. In actual fact, these subtle words and alphabets entered into the computer cannot express one's feelings or expressions through it. There is not feel. There is no sense of care and concern. It is just plain descriptions. Socialising needs these factors, but social media inevitably lacks.
For example, people nowadays use facebook to talk to their families or friends, and when it is school time, they rather be alone, or emotional. They rather be lonely, and then socialise in the platforms. As such, they are constricted to the platforms to communicate, and if this drags on, gradually, they might be depressed. Their life would have no colour; no spark- the fact that social media is robbing us of it. Ironically, social media would love to help us socialise, but it lacks the originality of social bonds, through expressions and further body ethics.
Hence, Social Media is ironically not very socialising, and the ones who often "socialise" in the platforms would be the ones unsociable in our present lives.
Benedict (:
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
15 minute writing
The NSP poster displays more teamwork as they portray a " one for all, and all for one" spirit, illustrated where they stand together, in unison, faces of the same size, and no one getting more attention.
For the PAP, Mr Goh Chok Tong is the main emphasis, and the poster relies on him to win the votes, and the GRC.
As such, it is clear that the NSP works in a team to gather the votes, but PAP's reliance on a sole person, does not express teamwork.
Furthermore, the NSP poster has the political people arranged in a circle, expressing purity and equality. Therefore, it is there shown that no one is above another, and they work as a TEAM.
Benedict (:
For the PAP, Mr Goh Chok Tong is the main emphasis, and the poster relies on him to win the votes, and the GRC.
As such, it is clear that the NSP works in a team to gather the votes, but PAP's reliance on a sole person, does not express teamwork.
Furthermore, the NSP poster has the political people arranged in a circle, expressing purity and equality. Therefore, it is there shown that no one is above another, and they work as a TEAM.
Benedict (:
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