Language Arts (Ren Kai)

In-Class Online Lesson 12

2011-08-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

1) In all 3 casket scenes, the common theme is not to judge a book by its cover. In all 3 occasions, the caskets were contrary to what was inside the casket. In the first case, when the Prince of Morocco chose his casket, he looked highly upon himself. He saw himself as a very handsome person, and thus chose the casket that was the most expensive. This was the gold casket. However, he failed to win Portia.
In the second case, the Prince of Arragon saw himself as a middle-classed person. He believed that he was a very well-liked person, while at the same time very humble. Thus, he picked the silver casket, which he considered to be the best of both world. However, he also did not win Portia.
In the last case, Bassanio, considered the gold and silver caskets and thought them to be just pretty on the outside. In the end, he chose the lead, as he believed that beauty is in the inside, and people are often fooled by the looks. In the end, he won Portia.

2) Water... I cannot breathe... These were my last few thoughts I remembered before my mind went blank.
I had been on a boat trip with a close friend. The weather was fine and we had a whale of time. But it was different hours later. Dark clouds swarmed the sky, and a storm broke out. In a matter of seconds, my boat capsized and water started gushing in. Instinctively, both of us rushed for the life jacket. Unfortunately, only one was working.
Who should take it? My friend had a family of four to support. Should I give in the life jacket? It was the toughest dilemma I ever faced in my life. As I faced this dilemma, I realised how redundant my so called dilemmas in the past were. A Honda or a Toyota? An iPhone or an Android? Those were nothing; but this was something. It was about life and death. I only had a few seconds to decide. His family needs him. He is the sole breadwinner. I relented and lost grip of the life jacket, and sank into the sea.
My vision went black, and I slowly surrendered to death. Suddenly, I felt a strong grip on my shoulder, and before long, I was hauled to surface. I had been rescued!

In-class Online Lesson 10

2011-08-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

Introduction
In this post, I would be revolving around two themes from The Merchant of Venice. They are "The Law" and the "Greed of Money".

Themes

The Law
The Merchant of Venice depends heavily upon laws and rules—the laws of the state of Venice and the rules stipulated in contracts and wills. Laws and rules can be manipulated for cruel or wanton purposes, but they are also capable of producing good when executed by the right people. Portia’s virtual imprisonment by the game of caskets seems, at first, like a questionable rule at best, but her likening of the game to a lottery system is belied by the fact that, in the end, it works perfectly. The game keeps a host of suitors at bay, and of the three who try to choose the correct casket to win Portia’s hand, only the man of Portia’s desires succeeds. By the time Bassanio picks the correct chest, the choice seems like a more efficient indicator of human nature than any person could ever provide. A similar phenomenon occurs with Venetian law. Until Portia’s arrival, Shylock is the law’s strictest adherent, and it seems as if the city’s adherence to contracts will result in tragedy. However, when Portia arrives and manipulates the law most skillfully of all, the outcome is the happiest ending of all, at least to an Elizabethan audience: Antonio is rescued and Shylock forced to abandon his religion. The fact that the trial is such a close call does, however, raise the fearful specter of how the law can be misused. Without the proper guidance, the law can be wielded to do horrible things.

Greed of Money
The greed of money is an important theme in The Merchant of Venice. In most cases, characters value money more than anything else and are strongly driven by it. In Shylock's case, he valued his money more than his daughter. This is from “O, my ducats! O, my daughter!” (Act 2, Scene 8, Line 15). Here, it is evident that Shylock cares about his money more then his daughter, much less relationships. Another example from The Merchant of Venice is Bassanio. When Bassanio went to marry Portia, he cared more about how rich she was then his love for her. He had also stated that he was more concerned on the debts that he can settle when marrying then his love for her. From this, it can be seen that Bassanio's greed of money is very strong, such that he neglects his relationship. From these examples, it is clear that characters in The Merchant of Venice are very greedy over money.

Narrative Conflict
Mr Lim was extremely anxious and his heart pounded heavily. Having recently heard of friends who made big bucks in a short period of time, Mr Lim, an enthusiastic investor, wanted to followed suit. He considered embarking on stock manipulation, which was illegal in Singapore. He definitely knew that stock manipulation was against that law in Singapore, but he could not resist his greed of money. In his mind, he thought about the luxury he could enjoy if he succeeded. On the other hand, he was afraid of being caught. He had seen it in the news; it was a heavy sentence and a big fine for offenders of stock manipulation. Mr Lim was in a big dilemma. Eventually, he succumbed to his greed for money, embarked on illegal activites. For the first few days, he saw a sharp increase in his profits and was elated for making the right decision. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side and the law eventually caught up on him. Mr Lim was charge with three counts of stocks manipulating and was tried his caught. As he awaits the judge to read his sentence, he feels a deep sense of regret for his actions. All these would not have happened, if his greed of money had not gotten the better of him.

Resources
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/merchant/themes.html
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/manipulation.asp#axzz1UXY7VZR8
http://bml.uoregon.edu/moonphase/book/book-money.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_manipulation
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/merchant/tg_race.html

Dialogue

2011-08-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

A: 15 seconds!
B: What? 15 seconds to New Year? Hey, its only June!
A: No! 15 seconds... no 13 seconds to impact.
B: You mean the spaceships crashing?
A: YEA! Quick, think of something!!
B: I cannot do anything!
A: What? 6000 hours of flight experience and this is all you can say!?
B: Sorry brother, but...
A: Do something! Just do something!!!
B: I am sorry. But I have some last words. All these while, it has been...
A: 8 seconds to impact...
B: It has been nice working with you, brother.
A: 5 seconds to impact...
B: You know, you are the best partner I have ever worked with.
A: Please, Please, make this work!!
B: You are the best person on Earth. My last moments on Earth... Bless my family.
A: 1 second.. NO!!! Please work!!
B: ...
A: OH YEA! It's working. My rescue pack is working!!
B: ...
A: You know, I modified this spaceship with this mini spaceship, that breaks away when deployed.
B: ...
A: Can you say something?
B: ...
A: Are you... dead?
B: ...
A: Gosh, you're breathing. Alright, I'm bringing you back to Earth immediately. Please Pull Through!
B: ...

Speech (ONLINE LESSON #11)

2011-07-31T05:06:00.000-07:00

My Thesis: Racial Harmony Day does not do enough to sensitize students to racial issues

Good Afternoon Mr Lundberg and fellow classmates. I am Chng Ren Kai and today I am going to discuss about Racial Harmony Day's effectiveness in sensitizing students to racial issues.
Racial Harmony Day is celebrated once annually, on the 21st July. It introduces us to other races', and supposedly allows us to understand them better. This is done so as to prevent conflicts between races, in conjunction with the racial riots on this same day, in 1964. However, I feel that Racial Harmony Day does not do enough to sensitise students to racial issues.
Racial Harmony Day is frequently celebrated in the form of concerts. These concerts are usually a dance or a musical from another race. Although these concerts allow students to be introduced to other races, ultimately, it does not aid in teaching racial issues to students. Personally, I feel that such dances may even have an adverse effect. There were a few times where I saw students mocking another races' dance, after watching the performance. This totally defeats the purpose of having concerts as the actual meaning behind the dance is not to taught to students. This is a huge factor behind why I feel Racial Harmony Day is ineffective in sensitizing students to racial issues.
Another common event which I have encountered in my Primary School and Secondary School is the presence of a multi-cultural bazaar. I do acknowledge that this bazaars allow one to understand another race, through the food or games prepared. However, I believe that this may be ineffective. This is because most students merely prepare this food and games, for the sake of doing it. They do not understand what they were preparing and the meaning behind it. A recent example was during the Racial Harmony Day 2011 bazaar. I encountered a game booth with a very interesting gameplay. When I asked how this exciting game originated, the game vendors were confused. The only thing they could tell me was that this game originated from India. This once again shows that merely doing but not understanding does not help students in being sensitive to racial issues.
From my previous two experiences, it should be evident that the current structure of Racial Harmony Day does not do much in educating students on racial issues. Now, you will ask, then what is a good Racial Harmony Day. In my opinion, a good Racial Harmony Day has to engage the student, such that they get interested. Examples are entertaining video games, quizzes with attractive prizes, activities with friends etc. This mediums would definitely attract students, and in my opinion, would sensitize students to racial issues.
Once again, I would like to reinstate my point, that the current Racial Harmony Day does not do enough in sensitizing students to racial issues. Thank You.

T3 Blog Prompt #7

2011-07-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

If I were Antonio, I would have loaned Bassanio the money just like Antonio did. This is because Bassanio was a young man and a loyal friend. However, i might not loan him the money as Bassanio was a spendthrift and squanders away money.

Firstly, I would lend Bassanio the money as he was a young man and wanting to go to Belmont to woo Portia is not wrong. Since Bassanio needed money and I had it, I would not mind loaning him the money if it gives him a better future. Hence, I would loan Bassanio the money just like Antonio did.

Secondly, I would loan Bassanio the money as he was a very close and loyal friend. Since I had known him for years, loaning him money for a good cause is something that I should do. Furthermore, in past experiences when I loaned him money, he had never failed to pay me back, once again given me more reason to loan him the money. As such, I would loan Bassanio the money.

Lastly, on the other hand, I may not loan Bassanio the money. This was because Bassanio was a spendthrift and squander money away quickly. Even if he had returned the money to me, it would still have a detrimental effect on Bassanio as he would think that money would come easily for him and not work hard for it. As a very good friend of him, I would want the best for him and inculcate the habit of reaping what you sow into Bassanio. As such, I may not loan Bassanio the money.

In conclusion, I would loan Bassanio the money as he was a young man with a promising future and a very close and loyal friend.

What are the negative consequences of Apple's decision

2011-07-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

Apple has refused to introduce the iTunes Music Store in Singapore, despite several requests by Singaporeans. Their main concern is the rampant piracy in Asia. Although this might have a short-term benefit in Singapore, I believe that there would be a long term detrimental effect on Apple,

Firstly, Apple would suffer a great profit loss because of not introducing the iTunes Music Store in Singapore. This because Asia, being the most densely populated continent, would have a great number of potential customers. Although there are a number of pirater, there would be an overall profit for Apple. This would be a great and significant loss of profit for Apple.

Secondly, Apple would lose trust from Singaporeans. By stating that Asia has rampant piracy, it is accusing Singaporeans of engaging in piracy. This is a very critical accusation as Singapore is known for its low crime rate and low piracy-engagement rate. By accusing Singapore, Singaporeans would be bound to develop hatred towards Apple, and strain their customer relationship.

However, Apple would also stand to gain from this decision. This decision shows that Apple are strict towards piracy and do not condone any form of it. This gives customers assurance that the company they are clients of have high standards and their credentials would not be compromised.

In conclusion, I believe that Apple refusing to introduce the iTunes Music Store in Singapore has more cons than pros.

Narrative prose, without adjectives.

2011-07-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

"Hey you!" I heard a yell towards my direction. I turned around and saw a youngster glaring at me. I was frightened while he menaced at me. He stepped towards me, and I broke out in sweat.
"Give me your phone!" He blurted at me. I was stunned for a moment. I shook my head and refused to oblige. The youngster glared at me for a second, and then lost his cool. He charged at me swiftly, and delivered a punch into my cheek. I fell backwards, dazed by the impact. My cheek was engulfed in pain. I felt like I was about to die... Then all became dark.
Where was I? I thought to myself. I woke up on a bed, in a place familiar to me. I could hear birds chirping and trees rustling. Suddenly, I heard footsteps. It was coming closer towards me. I panicked, a my memory of my previous experience flashed through my mind. I saw the silhouette of a person. I screamed out loud in terror. Then, I realised it was my mother.
She then told me what had happened. It turned out that it was a just a dream. However, my phone was nowhere to be found. Till this day, I am still unable to explain this circumstance...

In-class Online Lesson 9 (R&R War Poetry)

2011-07-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

Passage A:

1. They are describing Cannons.

2. These "jackies" are common sailers, who served during the war-time. The sailors are singing war chanties because they came out victorious in a war.

3. “The shovel is brother to the gun” means to say that war and death are connected inevitably. The "shovel" represents Death, while the "gun" represents War. Sandburg wants to tell, through the poem, that war will inevitably lead to deaths.

Passage B:
4. It is to show how easily the soldiers and the citizens obey each other in the midst of war. As stanza 1 shows war in destruction and seriousness, shows how the soldiers destroy the citizen’s living area. While in stanza 2, it shows the hopeful side, as the soldiers sees the citizens having to rebuild the city they have lost in the midst of war.

5. The contrasting actions make the poem have 2 different sides, tones and point of view. The first stanza shows seriousness, while the second shows hope. The author’s attitude towards the soldiers are that they are only made for war, which he does not approve of, which also shows a negative attitude towards them. But the author’s attitude towards the citizens is mainly positive, showing how they rebuilding what seems not to be the first time.

6. I think its harder to build everything up again. This is because to destroy, not much effort is needed to destroy, but to build back up something is very difficult because no matter how hard someone tries to put back everything together, it will never be the same again. An example is the recent japan earthquakes. The tallest and strongest buildings all came down within a few minutes, and this shows how easily things are destroyed, and how hard it is to build everything up again.

Passage C:

7. The onomatopoeia represents new machines that no longer use motors anymore, yet to be invented by scientist, deadlier, stronger, better, faster.

8. Gaddafi is a good example. Previously he used to rule a lot of people and everyone had to follow his orders. But recently after a few days of rioting, he has fallen and now is wanted by the police. This is because the people had enough of him and does not approve of his style of ruling.

In-class Online Lesson 9

2011-06-30T01:24:00.000-07:00

Fighting wars, killing enemies,
I see many dead bodies.
So many soldier are all dead,
So much sacrifices have been made,

War is challenging, war is tough,
It is not something for us to laugh.
As we sadly mourn the dead,
We wonder who would be next.

Everyday we fight in fear,
Treasuring our lives, so dear.
We yearn the end of this meaningless war,
when we can end all this bloody gore.

One-Sentence Narrative Scene

2011-06-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

I was standing in a garden surrounded with trees and flower in the north eastern part of the Republic of Singapore on a very tranquil and calm beautiful Sunday afternoon and enjoying the beautiful scenery when a fat and short blur-looking boy entered the garden with big foot steps and loud stomps till he reached the sturdy wooden benches in the middle of the garden and let out a long and loud fart and after which he calmly sat down on of the wooden benches and took out three burgers and gobbled them down in a matter of seconds with a big smile on his face.

Will same-sex marriage ever become legal in Singapore?

2011-06-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Singapore Government is bound to legalize same-sex in Singapore in the future. This can be seen from past statements by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, stating that gay is alright. From this, Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew, shows that Singaporeans accept how others are and not ostracize them because they are different in the way they dress, behave and beliefs. As such, the law of Singapore is bound to evolve and allow same-sex marriage in the future. Thus, the Singapore Government would one day legalise same-sex marriage.

Secondly, the Singapore Government is also bound to legalize same-sex marriage in Singapore as there is a rising pressure on Singapore to do so. Around the world, 11 countries and several states legalize same-sex marriage, with the latest addition being New York. This shows that more places around the world are recognising same-sex marriage and if Singapore does not follow suit, this may be seen by others as a form of discrimination and unfairness. Thus, the Singapore Government would one day legalise same-sex marriage.

Most Interesting thing during Home-Based Learning

2011-05-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

From the 24th to 25th of May, there was a Home-Based Learning activity. The most interesting thing, in my opinion was the Mathematics Lesson. The Mathematics lesson was different from ordinary lessons, and something I had not done before. During the lesson, I was introduced to a fantastic program, known as GeoGebra. As the name suggests, it combines Geographical lines and shapes, bundled with algebra. In the program, you could use the various shapes and lines to form up a lot of different objects, from houses, to trucks. For the Home-Based Learning, my assignment was to draw up a meaningful image in an A4 size. For me, I designed a bus in an A4 size. Overall, I felt this activity very engaging and meaningful as Maths may not be all about numbers, but can also be the the surrounding around us.

"Rainbow Death" by Hubert Wilson

2011-05-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

1. Whose Point of View
Statement: The poem is from the point of view of an American fighting in the Vietnam War
Evidence: He wrote "America did not foresee"
Elaboration: He is writing from the side of an American, suggesting he was an American soldier.

2. Situation and Setting
Statement: It was depicted in a war-torn place, where people are suffering from the aftershocks of war.
Evidence: "Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!" and"Generations untold will pay"
Elaboration: It shows how terribly people would suffer from the aftershocks of the Vietnam War.

3. Language/Diction
Statement: It uses a calm and respectful tone but its argument is strong and clear
Evidence: The poet's words are polite and not impulsive but his points are crystal clear and to the point.
Elaboration: Through this, the poet wants to express his anger and rage against the American Government for waging the Vietnam War but does not want to offend anyone.

4. Personal Response
Statement: The poet believes that the Vietnam War has strong detrimental effects on both the Americans and the Vietnamese.
Evidence: This is supported by "... pay a high price" and "Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn"
Elaboration: The poet shows how the Vietnam War results in tragic days for the people.

"Rainbow Death" by Hubert Wilson

2011-05-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

Rainbow Death is a poem about how destructive the Vietnam War was, both for the Americans and the Vietnamese. The poet wanted to show our the America did not consider carefully the pros and the cons of starting a war with Vietnam. He expresses his disappointment by saying 'America did not foresee'. He also describes how much hardship the people will suffer, both the current generation and future generation. Last but not least, the poet wanted to show how the damage of the war can be long-lasting. He cites the examples of the Agent Orange spray, a widely used herb in during the war. The herb was harmful to humans millions of people suffered from severe health problems. In conclusion, this poem describes how detrimental the Vietnam War was for the people and future generations.

Osama's Capture

2011-05-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

Osama bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda leader being assassinated was a good option in my opinion. By killing him, the US Navy can successfully complete their mission without having to have any fear of him causing any more terror. This is because if Osama was captured, and brought back to the United States to undergo a trial, there would be a huge possibility of him escaping during the journey. With his large network of allies, it is likely for him to be rescued by his acquaintances. If that happens, Osama would be plotting a revenge attack, that would cause widespread harm to people. Thus, in my opinion, the assassination of Osama bin Laden by the US Navy SEALs in Pakistan was a justified one.

LA ACE

2011-05-16T04:06:00.000-07:00

Making NS mandatory develops Singaporean boys into men

2011-05-10T21:20:00.000-07:00

Every Singaporean boy is required to enlist for National Service (NS) for 2 years when they reach 18. This turns boys into men, through hardship and perseverance. It is very beneficial as boys will grow into tougher people, who do not give up easily when they grow up. Thus, making National Service mandatory to all Singaporean boys would be very useful in nurturing boys.

Teamwork in GE 2011 Parties Posters

2011-05-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, I feel that the People Action Party's (PAP) poster shows more teamwork. This is because the PAP's poster has one clear leader, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and 4 other members behind him, listening to him. I think this team exhibits more teamwork as the five candidates are all listening from one leader and work orderly.

ICT platforms in Future School

2011-04-29T05:17:00.000-07:00

Hwa Chong Institution, being a Future School, has several online platforms to aid learning. Examples are the Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (iVLE) and the Electronic Message Board (EMB). These platforms are very useful as students can access learning materials from virtually anywhere, and can revise notes without carrying books and worksheets around. This has greatly affect our way of learning, making it more convenient and easy to study.

In Class Online Lesson 7

2011-04-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

Photo chosen :
Courtesy of http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8492000/8492777.stm

I chose this photo as it had a very strong depiction of how the consequences of war were like. The photo depicted two soldiers, helping out one of their fellow soldier, who was injured. This was a good way to show how terrible the consequences can be. The photographer also took the photograph such that the injured soldier can be seen clutching a rifle. This added to the atmosphere that the injured soldier was determined to pull through his injury and continues to fight for victory. Also, the three soldiers were crouching behind a pile of scrap metals, suggesting that the soldiers had escaped from their enemies sight, and are hiding while aiding an injured person. This adds to the suspense of the photo, showing that the enemies could appear and ambush them anytime. The photographer made the photograph in colours black and white, which shows that the mood of the soldiers are sombre, as they look on at a injured soldier in agony. The soldier on the far right was also closing his eyes, showing that he was likely to have been praying for his companion, praying that he pull through this trauma alive.

Does caffeine have beneficial or harmful effects on the body?

2011-04-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Drinking caffeine would cause the body to have harmful effects in the long run. Caffeine, is a type of substance that is known to known to stimulate the brain and make us more alert, that can be found in beverages such as coffee, tea, root beer and many more. Caffeine is harmful as it affects as our mind by making us extremely alert, giving us problems after the caffeine wears out or when we would like to rest. In conclusion, the consumption of caffeine is harmful to our body.

Do we still need heroes (Essay)

2011-04-22T00:13:00.000-07:00

Heroes are important to the society and are needed today and possibly in the future. There are different types of heroes. The first type of heroes are those people who are courageous to stand up for their own rights. The second type of heroes are people who are brave to take a bold move and accomplish a significant milestone. The last type of heroes are those who are creative enough to invent appliances to help man live better.

Firstly, heroes are people who are courageous enough to stand up for what they believe is right. One example is Atticus in the novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. In the novel, he had the courage to defend Tom Robinson, who was a black man, although it was considered wrong for a white man to do so. Atticus had done so as he believed that it was morally correct to defend someone who had not done anything wrong. He had demonstrated courage an stood up for what is right and is a hero. Without these type of people, the world would be full of unscrupulous people, who would anything to benefit themselves.

Secondly, heroes are people who take bold actions to achieve significant milestones. One example is Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. These two heroes had taken bold actions and were the first people in the world to ever conquer Mount Everest. Despite many people having failed in their attempts to conquer Mt Everest, these two heroes had persevered through their climb and accomplish a great achievement.

Last but not least, heroes are people who are creative and invent useful appliances to help man live better. One example is the great inventor, Thomas Edison. He had spent a lot of effort and persevered a lot to invent light, which is very useful to mankind. Thomas Edison had demonstrated bold courage to persevere and is a hero. Without these type of people, all mankind would be leading miserable tough lives, without any products to help us in our daily lives.

In conclusion, heroes are needed in society today and in the future. This is because heroes are the ones who make the world a better place to be in and accomplish milestones for the world.

Do we still need heroes?

2011-04-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Heroes exist in every society, big or small. They are the brave people, who are willing to sacrifice themselves for others. In my opinion, we still need heroes today, and very likely, in the future too. Without heroes, our society would be very timid, and no willing to try out new endeavors. However, heroes need not be brave people. They are just ordinary people, who what the courage and will to do something not tried before by others. They can be scientists, doctors, engineers or inventors. In conclusion, I believe that we still need heroes as they are the ones that allow our society to have major breakthroughs and complete great milestones.

Most important thing from Reading and Reasoning Exercise

2011-04-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Reading and Reasoning Exercises helps me to understand and comprehend things better. It helped me to understand essays and articles better by finding the reasons being the author saying a certain phrase. The exercises required me to put on thinking caps and think creatively to be able to understand the true meaning of the story. In conclusion, the Reading and Reasoning exercises were detrimental in improving my inference skills.

Prejudice leading to war

2011-04-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Prejudice is the act of a certain group of people, discriminating another group of people. It can result of skin colour, religion, beliefs etc. The consequences of prejudice are severe and can eventually result in violence and riots. At times, when prejudice get more serious, riots can escalate in to civil wars. One example is the World War II, when the Nazis, led by the dictator, Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler had been strongly against the Jews, blaming them for much of the failure in his life. In the war, Hitler tortured the Jews cruelly. This is an example of prejudice that escalates and lead to a serious war.