Sunday, April 18, 2010

Adventure 905 (A905)

My competencies that I have in reading and writing in English are Reading Comprehension and Analysis, and the usage of subject-verb agreements, tenses, and punctuations. I developed these skills because of my interest in reading novelty books that are interesting and eye-catching, and to know how the story goes, what are the happenings and the moral of the story if there are any. Even though I have the interest in reading means that I will read in my entire life. I also love to write poems and letters because of an inspiration in life or to simply show what do I feel or want on the time that I am writing. I know how to read and write in English but I do not have certain skills yet to guide me in order to be a good reader and writer. For me, because of having poor communication skills especially in English, it really affects my reading and writing abilities. There are several areas that I wish to improve on like producing ideas for essays, the correct usage of words in a sentence or paragraph, reading with speed, critical thinking and many more aspects.


I enrolled in ENGLCOM not only to pass this course and take its requisites, but also to learn several ideas and techniques on how to read efficiently and write effectively. I have expectations in my ENGLCOM course like teaching many techniques, steps on how to write and ways on how to read, and sharing of thoughts about certain topics that could help me somehow. Because I am enrolled in ENGLCOM, I surely believe that this course will help me in achieving goals to be a better reader and writer someday. Of course, I also need to study on my own so I can practice myself, having ENGLCOM as my guide. I hope that this course will really guide mo so I will be more satisfied with my interests in my life as I grow up until I can still read and write.

"I made it; Yes I did."

Throughout the whole ENGLCOM course, there are more competencies that I have acquired in reading and writing in English. Some of them are checking the correct usage of words and punctuations, developing the knowledge span of vocabularies, adding APA’s to my literary outputs and putting consistency of the essay; that the point must be clear and interesting. Along with my other competencies I had before, I have developed and improved these skills because of my interest in listening on discussions, brainstorming with other peers and practicing on drafts.


I have improved my communication skills by talking with my seatmates in English like Mohnish and Justin, and it really affected my writing ability in a good and positive way. Also, I have an improvement on my critical thinking skills; like what are the possible ideas to be produced and added to make my work more interesting, and the correct usage of words, as mentioned above. Because of checking many essays from my classmates, I also improved my reading ability such that I am now reading some literary papers, line per line, in less time possible. Even though there are more aspects to be developed, frequent reading and writing practices would do the trick.


My ENGLCOM class gave me not just only the time to write what I know and what I want to share or a passing grade on my performance and outputs, but it also gave me the opportunity to meet new friends through peer evaluations, new skills through basic lessons and handouts, and improved abilities through class exercises and groupings. I met my expectations in my ENGLCOM course like teaching ideas, correct procedures of reading and writing, and sharing of knowledge to one another. ENGLCOM really helped me reach my accomplishments as a student that loves to read and write and I truly believe that this course can help many more to become better readers and writers. I hope that ENGLCOM will continue to guide others so they will be more satisfied with their interests not only in literary aspects but in all the aspects a person possess. I enjoyed ENGLCOM and I wish I could have another class like this.

Pro-"Progress Is Always Good"

From the cavemen to modern-day programmers, wood and stones to machines and gadgets, and traveling by foot to airplanes, ships, trains and automobiles, progress is always present. As generations go by, many of us can see improvements, new ideas and inventions, and things that some thought they would never discover. Because of the changes from time to time, living became less complex and everything around us became more useful for some applications. Progress in the world today makes life easier, and it continues to improve the quality of life and the environment around everyone.


As of now, everyone has already contributed for a specific change, and it resulted in industrialization and globalization. Because of these phenomena caused by mankind, humans have moved on in life(“Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good?”, 2009). We would still be cooking with firewood, hunting for food and walking to reach places. But the world today has now shrunk and ideas have broadened because of the step-by-step movements man has made. Schools today use the latest method of educating the students. Research projects are now shared by methodologists all around the world. Man is more fast-paced today because of fast actions brought by machines, automobiles and advanced mental abilities. Progress can bring man to a positive direction and it will make man less problematic and more idealistic.


Progress also gives many benefits in many fields like in technology and medicine. There are already better ways to communicate, new and interesting electronics, advances in medicines, more different kinds of food to choose to choose from, and home living can be more comfortable and convenient than it was decades ago(“Is Progress always good?”, 2009). The medical field has been greatly affected by the progress of man. As a result, man is healthier today and lives longer than before. Politics are also affected by the progress man has made. One example is the automated election where votes are automatically counted and the summations will be sent to a main server together with votes from other places. This type of election is more efficient than the manual counting of votes because it is less prone to cheating. Life of man today has less work and more rest because of the machines and gadgets created by technology. All outcomes man desires are produced or done easily and instantly. Even though progress returns positive outputs for man, it also has negative factors that can affect man and his living process.


There are people who may think that industrialization and globalization bring unwanted circumstances like Global Warming(“Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good?”, 2009). Progress is really not the problem itself for these effects. It is the people who abuse and control progress for their desires and possessions. If man contributed for change in a good way, there would be no lethal weapons, mass destruction, or climate change. Some people cannot cope with the advancements in the society yet, but they should have responsibility and initiative enough to know what are the updates in the environment. Also, they should make the move, not the progress itself, in order for them not to be left behind living in a past-generation pace. Another effect of progress is the illegal hacking and stealing of properties that take away the security and privacy of men. It could be lessened or, at least, tolerated if people are vigilant and tactful enough to create and manipulate changes to protect such personal or private information and possessions. Progress, aside from having unwanted circumstances and products, can also provide us ideas and new materials to counteract these problems.


All in all, progress really provides us with life-changing improvements and materials that guarantee us less work and effort, and help us to move on one step at a time. It is a change mankind needs in order to adapt in the changing world. Progress is really important in the society and environment because if its presence is not seen as time goes, negativity will rise and all of us will have the tendency to challenge one another just to survive. People must think not only for themselves but also for everyone. Progress is the best invention of man. It always brings good to man even if it is used in many different ways. In addition it is a life-saver because life will be stagnant without progress.


List of References:
1. “Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good?”, http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic48393.html, 2009
2. “Progress being a good thing”, http://www.testmagic.com/Knowledge_Base/TOEFL/Writing/samples/039_progress_always_good/3.75_01.htm
3. “Is Progress always good?”, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081203082956AAKd2ij, 2009

Computer Programming

Computer Programming, also known as coding, is the process of writing codes, testing and debugging the program and maintaining the source code of computer softwares which are written in a programming language. (“Computer Programs”) Logic, algorithms and the application domain are the some of the expertise in programming. Computer programming is a craft of transforming requirements into something a machine can operate to produce a desirable output one would like to attain. Within the development of software systems, computer programming is considered as one step in a production by the use of software development. The behavior of programming depends on programmers and their methods of coding, and the different language patterns that yields patterns of thought.


There are early signs of programming way back Hephaestus of the Greek mythology. There are evidences that Automata, the earliest known machine, was made as early of 1206. Another notable machine was the castle clock by Al-Jazari, which has the concept of variables that the operator can manipulate. In 1801, Joseph Marie Jacquard developed the Jacquard Loom using pasteboards with holes that create a pattern for the system. Charles Babbage, one of the premier discoverers of computer programming, used punched cards to operate his Analytical Engine.(“Computer Programming”) The innovation of computer programming pushed through during the Industrial Revolution. In the 1800s, Herman Hollerith created a database that is machine-readable. To process his “Hollerith cards”, he developed a tabulator and key punch machines. These new materials became the “building blocks” of the modern information processing industry.


In the modern world, computer programming requires quality requirements for the program to operate effectively and accurately. The fundamental properties of a final program are efficiency, where it returns the amount of systems resources consumed; reliability that checks the correctness of a program; robustness that anticipates bugs or computer errors; usability or the purpose of the program; portability or the accessibility of hardwares; and the maintainability that makes the programmer fix, edit or improve the source code. Algorithms or step-by-step procedures are classified into orders using Big-Oh notation that expresses the execution time and memory use.(“Computer Programming”) There are different modeling techniques when it comes to programming. One of which is the Unified Modeling Language or UML. It is divided into parts namely classes and inheritance arrows, and each class is divided into subparts: the name, the attributes or characteristics, and the methods or what the class can do. The UML shows an illustration of the relationship among classes in a program. Another modeling technique is the Object-Oriented Analysis and Design or OOAD that uses images and designs to make the program function.


Programmers are people who deal with the creation and maintenance of computer programs and their job usually involves coding, compilation, documentation, integration, testing and specification of softwares. They should acquire logical and analytical abilities and knowledge about the computer world for them to get the job done. Programmers really need to prioritize the needs of people who acquired their service to produce an expected output; all procedures must be followed and bugs or errors must be cleaned out. Programming languages are man-made readable programs that can create new programs depending on what the programmer writes. C is one of the programming languages and the oldest well-known of all programming languages that are mostly found on computers and laptops. Java is another example of a programming language found in all applications like games, systems and internet. Without the programming languages, there will be no technology today and life would be in manual ways.


There are many applications of computer programming depending on the demand and the type of output; can be hardware or software. The most common application of computer programming is in all outputs of technology: cell phones, computers, appliances, automobiles and other modes of transportation, some AI-applied robots, operating systems, and others. Simple calculations can also be applied by programming syntax like computing weight given the inputs, or converting outputs given the formulas. Almost all of the things seen everywhere that are non-living have programs in it and it is made by computer programming. From the discovery of simple manipulation to the innovations of technology today, computer programming is getting wider and wider everyday, and in the near future, all things have the possibilities of being man-made already.


The usage of computer programming is one step in the process of software development.(“Computer Programming”) Debates are conducted on the extent to which syntax coding and maintaining is an art, craft or an engineering discipline. In most ideas, good and usable program techniques are accepted as product of the three fields of knowledge with the objective of producing effective and efficient software and a solution that can improve itself for generations. The concepts of programming are self- governed by the entries which require the processes, and is sometimes defined by very strict environments. Programming languages affect the form of the final program receives, and this idea challenges the probability of defining the world perfectly with these languages. It is because of the commonality that the mechanisms of any language set the thoughts of its speaker community.


Being a computer programmer, it is difficult to remember all the codes, algorithms and structures of program syntax but it really pays off when it is taken seriously and studying about it becomes a daily habit. Many always give up on the programming phase because of the lack of self-initiative, time management, discipline and responsibility which are great factors of being a software analyst. Programming is a fun and admiring hobby to do provided that he will benefit and learn from it, and he can accept failures and successes in a right way. Just enjoy Computer Programming!


List of References:
1. “Computer Programming”, http://en/wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Programming
2. “Computer Programs”, http://www.answers.com/topic/computer-program

The Effects of Basketball

Basketball is a sport everyone can enjoy playing with others and learn new things from athletes, coaches or others who has the interest in the said sport. Basketball is not only a game to play or a subject to learn. It can also be a form of exercise or physical training that enhances the physicality or a get-together where experiences, teachings and values are shared by one another in a group. Overall, playing basketball is one of the many good ways to improve the development of the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual aspects of a person, and the said development is based on the determination of the person to attain what he or she needs to learn.


In basketball, one needs skills and discipline to achieve his goals. Frequent practices, whether solo or in a group, develop the precision of abilities and accuracy of shots of a person. These developments are one of the many effects when playing the said sport. Many moves and tactics are formed when there are improvements in the techniques, which are useful for competitions and leagues. Also, there the ability to pass and shoot is the most important moves to learn for it can make a team win by points. Because of these powerful, tactical and amazing moves, one also tends to perspire and exercise his muscles, bones and reflexes.


The process of perspiration during the game is a form of exercise and it reduces unwanted weight in the body. In other words, another effect on playing basketball is the contribution to physical fitness. Like other sports, basketball burns many calories to get the stored energy in the body, and at the same time, it exercises the heart and lungs for faster blood circulation and better oxygen supply. Many body parts, like the limbs and trunk, are needed to function very well in basketball, and as they function, muscles and bones are in the move; making the muscles relax and contract in cycles, and the joints rotate and bend. These voluntary and involuntary movements in the body really contribute to one’s fitness, and in basketball, one often meets other players who are potential team mates and can be also potential friends.


Playing basketball also creates good and healthy relationships with other players, trainers, or people who believe in the player’s ability to play. Socializing is a good way to exercise friendship and it contributes to good teamwork and positive relationships inside and outside the court. Many players in the NBA and PBA have respect and trust for each other even if they are playing from opposing teams. One good example of this friendship is between Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, where they became a great tandem for Dallas Mavericks, and Dirk’s a godfather to Steve’s son while Steve’s a godfather to Dirk’s daughter. There are many good outcomes of friendship and respect among others, and the active bonding in playing the game promotes values and lessons which can be applied for the future; with relation to basketball or in real-life situations.


The last among the primary effects of playing basketball is to provide positive values towards oneself and everyone. Basketball teaches us not only the techniques of dribbling and shooting or the complexity of plays offensively and defensively, but it also gives us the visualization of what we are and what we could be. Perseverance, dedication, teamwork and optimism are some of the values that we can achieve not only in basketball but also in any other games, and it can be also applied in real-life scenarios like in studies, relationships and in other interests. There are many more values to learn and effects to adapt in basketball and each one of them are a critical point for a person to develop in a positive and desirable way.


Life is like a basketball game; one needs to go one side of the court to make a goal, and then return to the other side to secure those goals from unwanted circumstances. One also needs to share what he has to others so they can get the job done together as one team. Playing basketball or any other sport is one way of creating a foundation of one’s character. Basketball has many effects that definitely affect us and we need to value those because once they are seen and felt, it will really change a person, depending on what he wants to be in any aspect. Life is a sport. It is amazing and everyone must value it for it will be the first and last for all of us.