Question of the Week #2 - Due Tuesday, 9/8/09

Greetings!

The dues dates for Question of the Week responses are switching to Mondays (or Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday). Please remember your response must be at least 250 words in length (longer is OK). To explain concepts, you must use SEXI.

Background for this week's Question of the Week:
I said that I would post a SEXI definition of the term, algorithm, in the ica-cp.blogspot.com class blog. Instead, I am going to post the best of your postings. Here is the wikipedia definition of an algorithm: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm. Here is another definition from the Encyclopedia for Kids: http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/al/Algorithm.

Here's a quick refresher on SEXI, using SEXI to explain SEXI:

State: SEXI is a method for explaining concepts to others in four steps: State, Elaborate, eXemplify, and Illustrate. State is the first step, and is a short definition of the concept you are explaining. It is similar to a quick dictionary definition.

Elaborate: The second step is Elaborate. In the Elaborate section, one gives more details about the concept. It is similar to an encyclopedia entry about the concept to be explained. SEXI is a method for explaining ideas invented by the Foundation for Critical Thinking. By elaborating on a topic in our own words, we demonstrate that we understand the concept well enough to explain it to others.

eXemplify: The third step is to eXemplify, or to give examples. If I were trying to explain chocolate to someone, I might write:
State: Chocolate is a sweet and creamy confection.
Elaborate: Chocolate is made from the cocoa bean. Cocoa beans are shelled, roasted, and then ground into a paste in preparation for making chocolate. Once the paste is prepared, different amounts of cream are added to create different intensities of chocolate flavor. Cocoa beans contain fat. If the fat is removed from the paste, the result is cocoa powder. There are human rights issues associated with growing and harvesting cocoa beans. The Global Exchange has educational material to raise awareness about childhood slavery used in harvesting and growing cocoa beans. Chocolate is used for cooking sauces, cakes, candies, pies, pasteries, and main entrees. Chocolate bars are often rated by the percent of chocolate paste, also known as chocolate liquor, contained in them. 80% chocolate bars are an example of dark chocolate, and have a very intense and less sweet chocolate flavor. Milk chocolate has the least amount of chocolate liquor and a lighter, sweeter chocolate taste. There are as many kinds of chocolate as there are chocolate lovers. Chocolate has also been used to represent love at Valentine's Day celebrations and to celebrate Spring at Easter.
eXemplify: Examples of food items made with chocolate include mole sauce for chicken, candy bars, and chocolate cakes. Here is a recipe for chocolate chip cookies: http://www.popularcookierecipes.com/Chocolatechip.html
Illustrate: Chocolate has been celebrated in food, poetry, and song. Perhaps one of the greatest similes about life and chocolate was uttered by the fictional character, Forest gump: "Life is like a box of chocolates."

Illustrate: The fourth and last step is to give illustrations of the concept. An illustration is not another example. Rather, it is a comparison to something else that is similar. It may use simile and/or metaphor. SEXI is like a recipe for success! You follow the steps, and something sweet and wonderful is the result!!!

Question of the Week:
You are visiting your great-great grandparents again. They ask what you are doing in school. You answer that you are studying algorithms! Use SEXI to explain the concept of algorithms to your great-great grandparents. Remember that your great-great grandmother is an excellent baker and that your great great grandfather is a master gardener. You may wish to use examples and illustrations familiar to them from activities which they understand. Big hint: Make sure you understand the concept of an algorithm first before you try to explain it to someone else.