DOCSLIB.ORG

Relational Learning of Pattern-Match Rules for Information Extraction

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Relational Learning of Pattern-Match Rules for Information Extraction Relational Learning of Pattern-Match Rules for Information Extraction Mary Elaine Califf and Raymond J. Mooney Department of Computer Sciences University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78712 {mecaliff ,mooney}@cs. utexas, edu Abstract Recently, several researchers have begun to ap- ply learning methods to the construction of IE sys- Information extraction systems process tems (McCarthy and Lehnert, 1995, Soderland et natural language documents and locate ah, 1995, Soderland et al., 1996, Riloff, 1993, Riloff, a specific set of relevant items. Given 1996, Kim and Moldovan, 1995, Huffman, 1996). the recent success of empirical or corpus- Several symbolic and statistical methods have been based approaches in other areas of natu- employed, but learning is generally used to construct ral language processing, machine learning only part of a larger IE system. Our system, RAPIER has the potential to significantly aid the (Robust Automated Production of Information Ex- development of these knowledge-intensive traction Rules), learns rules for the complete IE systems. This paper presents a system, task. The resulting rules extract the desired items RAPmrt, that takes pairs of documents and directly from documents without prior parsing or filled templates and induces pattern-match subsequent processing. Using only a corpus of doc- rules that directly extract fillers for the uments paired with filled templates, RAPIER learns slots in the template. The learning al- unbounded Eliza-like patterns (Weizenbaum, 1966) gorithm incorporates techniques from sev- that utilize limited syntactic information, such as eral inductive logic programming systems the output of a part-of-speech tagger. Induced pat- and learns unbounded patterns that in- terns can also easily incorporate semantic class infor- clude constraints on the words and part- mation, such as that provided by WordNet (Miller of-speech tags surrounding the filler. En- et al., 1993). The learning algorithm was inspired couraging results are presented on learn- by several Inductive Logic Programming (ILP) sys- ing to extract information from com- tems and primarily consists of a specific-to-general puter job postings from the newsgroup (bottom-up) search for patterns that characterize misc. jobs. offered. slot-fillers and their surrounding context. The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. Section 2 presents background material on IE and re- 1 Introduction lational learning. Section 3 describes RAPIEK's rule representation and learning algorithm. Section 4 An increasing amount of information is available in presents and analyzes results obtained on extracting the form of electronic documents. The need to in- information from messages posted to the newsgroup telligently process such texts makes information ex- mist.jobs.offered. Section 5 discusses related traction (IE), the task of locating specific pieces of work in applying learning to IE, Section 6 suggests data from a natural language document, a particu- areas for future research, and Section 7 presents our larly useful sub-area of natural language processing conclusions. (NLP). In recognition of their significance, IE sys- tems have been the focus of DARPA's MUC program 2 Background (Lehnert and Sundheim, 1991). Unfortunately, IE systems are difficult and time-consuming to build 2.1 Information Extraction and the resulting systems generally contain highly In information extraction, the data to be extracted domain-specific components, making them difficult from a natural language text is given by a template to port to new domains. specifying a list of slots to be filled. The slot fillers Califf 8J Mooney 9 Relational Learning Mary Elaine Califf and Raymond J. Mooney (1997) Relational Learning of Pattern-Match Rules for Infor- mation Extraction. In T.M. Ellison (ed.) CoNLLPT: Computational Natural Language Learning, ACL pp 9-15. @ 1997 Association for Computational Linguistics Posting from Newsgroup Collins, 1991) allow induction over structured exam- Telecommunications. SOLARIS Systems ples that can include first-order logical predicates Administrator. 38-44K. Immediate need and functions and unbounded data structures such Leading telecommunications firm in need as lists, strings, and trees. Detailed experimen- of an energetic individual to fill the tal comparisons of ILP and feature-based induction following position in the Atlanta have demonstrated the advantages of relational rep- office: resentations in two language related tasks, text cat- egorization (Cohen, 1995) and generating the past SOLARIS SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR tense of an English verb (Mooney and Califf, 1995). Salary: 38-44K with full benefits Location: Atlanta Georgia, no While RAPIEa is not strictly an ILP system, its rela- relocation assistance provided tional learning algorithm was inspired by ideas from Filled Template the following ILP systems. computer_science_job GOLEM (Muggleton and Feng, 1992) is a bottom- title: SOLARIS Systems Administrator up (specific to general) ILP algorithm based on the salary: 38-44K construction of relative least-general generalizations, state: Georgia rlggs (Plotkin, 1970). The idea of least-general gen- city: Atlanta eralizations (LGGs) is, given two items (in ILP, two platform: SOLARIS clauses), finding the least general item that covers area: telecommunications the original pair. This is usually a fairly simple com- putation. Rlggs are the LGGs relative to a set of Figure 1: Sample Message and Filled Template background relations. Because of the difficulties in- troduced by non-finite rlggs, background predicates may be either one of a set of specified values or must be defined extensionally. The algorithm op- strings taken directly from the document. For ex- erates by randomly selecting several pairs of posi- ample, Figure 1 shows part of a job posting, and the tive examples and computing the determinate rlggs corresponding slots of the filled computer-science job of each pair. Determinacy constrains the clause to template. have for each example no more than one possible IE can be useful in a variety of domains. The var- valid substitution for each variable in the body of the ious MUC's have focused on domains such as Latin clause. The resulting clause with the greatest cover- American terrorism, joint ventures, rnicroelectron- age of positive examples is selected, and that clause ics, and company management changes. Others have is further generalized by computing the rlggs of the used IE to track medical patient records (Soderland selected clause with new randomly chosen positive et al., 1995) or company mergers (Huffman, 1996). examples. The generalization process stops when A general task considered in this paper is extracting the coverage of the best clause no longer increases. information from postings to USENET newsgroups, The CHILLIN (Zelle and Mooney, 1994) system such as job announcements. Our overall goal is to combines top-down (general to specific) and bottom- extract a database from all the messages in a news- up ILP techniques. The algorithm starts with a most group and then use learned query parsers (Zelle and specific definition (the set of positive examples) and Mooney, 1996) to answer natural language questions introduces generalizations which make the definition such as "What jobs are available in Austin for C++ more compact. Generalizations are created by se- programmers with only one year of experience?". lecting pairs of clauses in the definition and com- Numerous other Internet applications are possible, puting LGGs. If the resulting clause covers negative such as extracting information from product web examples, it is specialized by adding antecedent lit- pages for a shopping agent (Doorenbos, Etzioni, and erals in a top-down fashion. The search for new liter- Weld, 1997). als is carried out in a hill-climbing fashion, using an information gain metric for evaluating literals. This 2.2 Relational Learning is similar to the search employed by FOIL (Quin- Most empirical natural-language research has em- lan, 1990). In cases where a correct clause cannot ployed statistical techniques that base decisions on be learned with the existing background relations, very limited contexts, or symbolic techniques such CHILLIN attempts to construct new predicates which as decision trees that require the developer to spec- will distinguish the covered negative examples from ify a manageable, finite set of features for use in the covered positives. At each step, a number of making decisions. Inductive logic programming and possible generalizations are considered; the one pro- other relational learning methods (Birnbaum and ducing the greatest compaction of the theory is im- Califf 8J Mooney 10 Relational Learning plemented, and the process repeats. CHILLIN uses Pre-filler Pattern: Filler Pattern: Post-filler Pattern: 1) word: leading 1) list: len: 2 1) word: [firm, company] the notion of empirical subsumption, which means tags: Inn, nns] that as new, more general clauses are added, all of the clauses which are not needed to prove positive examples are removed from the definition. Figure 2: A Rule Extracting an Area Filler from the Example Document PROGOL (Muggleton, 1995) also combines bottom-up and top-down search. Using mode decla- rations provided for both the background predicates tern list specifies a maximum length N and matches and the predicate being learned, it constructs a 0 to N words or symbols from the document that most specific clause for a random seed example. The each must match the list's
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Classic Model of Perception Pattern Recognition Challenge Robust
    Classic Model of Perception Perception & Pattern Recognition Pattern Recognition Why is pattern recognition difficult? • Process of connecting perceptual • Accomplished with incomplete or information w/info in LTM ambiguous information – Visual Pattern Recognition – Auditory Pattern Recognition (Speech) – Importance of Context Challenge Robust • Many different exemplars are recognized • Used by on-line vendors to test for as being the same presence of a human (Turing Test) 1 Models of Pattern Recognition Template Matching • Template Models • Retinal image matched to pre- • Feature Models existing patterns • Neural Network Models • Recognition – when retinal image matches • Prototype Models pattern • Examples – Check Reading – Zip Code Sorting Problems • Image falls on wrong part of retina • Image different size than template • Orientation • Templates, templates, templates • New objects? Models of Pattern Recognition Feature Theory • Template Models • Stimuli broken down into features • Feature Models • Features combine and recombine • Prototype Models • Objects defined by • Neural Network Models – Constituent features – Relationships between features 2 Letter Recognition Pandemonium W A depiction of Selfridge’s (1959) Pandemonium model Supporting Evidence Hubel & Wiesel • Edge detection cells in cats (Hubel & • Different cells like different features Wiesel, 1962) Gibson, Shapiro, & Yonas (1968) Groupings by RT • Analyze letters in terms of features • Ask people to determine if 2 letters are the same vs. different • Compare the clustering of letters in the reaction time task to the similarities of the features 3 Find the ‘Z’ vs ‘Q’ Object Perception EIMVWX CDG9RU XMZWVI RDQOCG VIEXWM GRDCOU WVXQIE DCURZG Faster to find ‘Z’ on the right, Faster to find ‘Q’ on the left (due to letters w/similar features in the surround) Geons Degraded Objects • Can help explain recognition of degraded • Disrupt Geon • Deletion Control – (midsegment) objects – (concavity) Limitations of geons Features vs.
    [Show full text]
  • History and Idealism: the Theory of R. G. Collingwood
    History and Idealism: The Theory of R. G. Collingwood Saul A. Kripke This is the final submitted version of the following article: Kripke, S. A. (2017), History and Idealism: The Theory of R. G. Collingwood. Collingwood and British Idealism Studies, 23: 9-29, which has been published in final form by Imprint Academic at https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/imp/col/2017/00000023/00 000001/art00002. 1 History and Idealism: The Theory of R. G. Collingwood1 Saul A. Kripke In this essay, the phrase, “the idealist theory of history,” will denote the idealist cultural philosophy of history, as proposed by Collingwood and others, not the idealist speculative philosophy, as adumbrated by Hegel and various kindred spirits. The distinction between a speculative and cultural philosophy of history, as formulated by Walsh (1951: 13-15), contrasts the philosopher’s “speculative” task (or alleged task) of formulating the teleology or ultimate meaning of history with the “cultural” task of investigating the epistemological foundations of historical research.2 A speculative idealist theory of history will attempt to show, as Hegel has done, that history progresses according to dialectical laws of “thought” or “world spirit,”3 but a critical (or cultural) idealist view of history need make no such commitment.4 1 This paper was written for an undergraduate history course at Harvard, in my third (junior) year of college (1960-1; second term). My teacher, Richard T. Vann, urged me to publish it even then. Since a couple of Collingwood scholars expressed interest in this paper, I have finally followed Vann’s advice. I have kept the paper pretty much as it was, with very minor stylistic revisions (such as replacing the then conventional use of ‘he’ by an alternation of ‘he’ and ‘she’).
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Friedrich Nietzsche in Richard Rorty's Political Thought
    Claremont Colleges Scholarship @ Claremont CMC Senior Theses CMC Student Scholarship 2008 Good Nietzsche, Bad Nietzsche: The Role of Friedrich Nietzsche in Richard Rorty’s Political Thought. Paul A. Snell Jr. Claremont McKenna College Recommended Citation Snell, Paul A. Jr., "Good Nietzsche, Bad Nietzsche: The Role of Friedrich Nietzsche in Richard Rorty’s Political Thought." (2008). CMC Senior Theses. Paper 223. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/223 This Open Access Senior Thesis is brought to you by Scholarship@Claremont. It has been accepted for inclusion in this collection by an authorized administrator. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CLAREMONT McKENNA COLLEGE GOOD NIETZSCHE, BAD NIETZSCHE: THE ROLE OF FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE IN RICHARD RORTY’S POLITICAL THOUGHT SUBMITTED TO CHARLES R. KESLER AND DEAN GREGORY HESS BY PAUL ALAN SNELL JR. FOR SENIOR THESIS SPRING 2008 APRIL 28, 2008 What a grueling project this has been! If I had not had the support of so many people I would not have completed the capstone of my academic career. First, I need to thank Professor Audrey Bilger for providing me with resources to help me narrow down my topic—and her wonderful Yoga instruction, which helped me maintain my sanity. Professor Charles Kesler, my reader, has been quite patient and helpful with me throughout this process and I appreciate all of his guidance in keeping this thesis manageable. Professor Kenneth Miller’s Honors Seminar kept me from turning into a procrastinating mess, and his guidance, generally, has been quite helpful. Weston LeMay, my neighbor and thesis partner, read through several drafts of the chapter on epistemology and his comments were insightful and helped me clarify my own ideas on that complicated chapter.
    [Show full text]
  • Aristotle on the Principles of Perceptible Body (Gen
    Binghamton University The Open Repository @ Binghamton (The ORB) The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter 4-1993 Aristotle on the Principles of Perceptible Body (Gen. Corr. 2.1-3) David E. Hahm The Ohio State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://orb.binghamton.edu/sagp Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, Ancient Philosophy Commons, and the History of Philosophy Commons Recommended Citation Hahm, David E., "Aristotle on the Principles of Perceptible Body (Gen. Corr. 2.1-3)" (1993). The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter. 242. https://orb.binghamton.edu/sagp/242 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Open Repository @ Binghamton (The ORB). It has been accepted for inclusion in The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter by an authorized administrator of The Open Repository @ Binghamton (The ORB). For more information, please contact [email protected]. H-&hm \ 9 Aristotle on the Principles of Perceptible Body (Gen. Corr. 2.1-3) By David E. Hahm (The Ohio State University) SAGP, April, 1993 Aristotle’s explanation of all physical change presupposes the existence of some perceptible body in which the change may occur.1 Even the most fundamental change, genesis and destruction, cannot occur, Aristotle claims, apart from perceptible body (Gen. Corr. 2.1.328b32-34). A knowledge of the principles (άρχαί) and elements (στοιχείο) is therefore fundamental to understanding all physical changes.2 In the first three chapters
    [Show full text]
  • Pattern Layout, Pinning and Cutting
    Lesson Pattern Layout, Pinning 8 and Cutting Objectives This lesson will help you to • identify the various ways fabric may be folded in preparation for layout, pinning, and cutting. • correctly lay out a pattern. • give reasons for various layout, pinning, and cutting procedures. • interpret layout, pinning, and cutting information found on the pattern instruction sheet. Words to Know lengthwise fold double fold even plaid partial fold repeat uneven plaid crosswise fold Gathering Information Following the correct pattern layout will help ensure that your garment is cut out on- grain. Pinning and cutting your garment carefully will avoid wasting fabric. This lesson will provide the information you need to lay out, pin, and cut out your pattern pieces. You will first need to make sure the cut ends of your fabric are on-grain. If they are off- grain, follow the directions in Lesson 4, “Fabric Preparation,” to straighten the grain before preparing the fabric for pattern layout. Folding Fabric can be folded in a variety of ways the Fabric before pattern pieces are positioned for cutting. The type of fold used depends on • the number of pattern pieces that must be placed on a folded edge • the fold that results in the most economic use of the fabric • the width of the fabric • the pattern size Pattern companies have already taken these factors into consideration for you. Therefore, you should fold your fabric as shown in the diagram found on your pattern instruction sheet. (Continued) 101 L5-8.indd 101 8/8/2012 8:59:57 AM 102 Successful Sewing Lengthwise fold.
    [Show full text]
  • A Kernel of Truth: Determining Rumor Veracity on Twitter by Diffusion Pattern Alone
    A Kernel of Truth: Determining Rumor Veracity on Twitter by Diffusion Pattern Alone Nir Rosenfeld∗ Aron Szanto∗†‡ David C. Parkes§ Harvard University Harvard University Harvard University School of Engineering School of Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Applied Sciences and Applied Sciences [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT 1 INTRODUCTION Recent work in the domain of misinformation detection has lever- Social media has become the world’s dominant vector for infor- aged rich signals in the text and user identities associated with mation propagation. Over three billion people use social media content on social media. But text can be strategically manipulated platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, and more than two thirds and accounts reopened under different aliases, suggesting that these of Americans consume their news primarily through social media approaches are inherently brittle. In this work, we investigate an [10, 25]. As social discourse, business, and even government are alternative modality that is naturally robust: the pattern in which increasingly conducted on social media platforms, understanding information propagates. Can the veracity of an unverified rumor how information travels through online networks is key to the spreading online be discerned solely on the basis of its pattern of study of the future of the Web. diffusion through the social network? When considering the dynamics of information propagation on Using graph kernels to extract complex topological informa- social media, two factors are most salient: what is being shared and tion from Twitter cascade structures, we train accurate predictive how. The former relates to content – What is being discussed? By models that are blind to language, user identities, and time, demon- whom, and in association with which emotions? Is the information strating for the first time that such “sanitized” diffusion patterns reliable? – while the latter refers to the spatiotemporal patterns that are highly informative of veracity.
    [Show full text]
  • Collingwood's Idea of History : the Development and Form of Historical Inquiry Timothy A
    University of Richmond UR Scholarship Repository Honors Theses Student Research Spring 1984 Collingwood's idea of history : the development and form of historical inquiry Timothy A. Hartin Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses Recommended Citation Hartin, Timothy A., "Collingwood's idea of history : the development and form of historical inquiry" (1984). Honors Theses. Paper 562. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at UR Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of UR Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND LIBRARIES llll IIll IIll Ill II lllll lllll IIll llll Ill II IIll Ill IIll II Ill Ill Illll 3 3082 01028 5160 Collingwood's Idea of History: The Development and Form of Historical Timothy A. Gartin History Honors Thesis Spring 198L~ Collingwood 1 s Idea of History: The Development and Form of Historical Inquiry Introduction History was long considered a somehow second-rate discipline, incapable of producing true knowledge like math or the hard sciences. Whether viewed as ~he handmaiden of theology in the Middle Ages or simply denied a place among the sciences by the latter-day positivists, history 1 s independence and value as a study in its own right have been denied from many points of view at different ~imes. R. G. Collingwood takes issue with this attitude towards history by l'~s~tonomy both in subject and method in his ihe Idea of History. His !inquiry into the nature of history is divided into two parts.
    [Show full text]
  • Causal Explanation and the Periodic Table
    Synthese https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-018-01982-0 Causal explanation and the periodic table Lauren N. Ross1 Received: 3 December 2017 / Accepted: 8 October 2018 © Springer Nature B.V. 2018 Abstract The periodic table represents and organizes all known chemical elements on the basis of their properties. While the importance of this table in chemistry is uncontroversial, the role that it plays in scientific reasoning remains heavily disputed. Many philosophers deny the explanatory role of the table and insist that it is “merely” classificatory (Shapere, in F. Suppe (Ed.) The structure of scientific theories, University of Illinois Press, Illinois, 1977; Scerri in Erkenntnis 47:229–243, 1997). In particular, it has been claimed that the table does not figure in causal explanation because it “does not reveal causal structure” (Woody in Science after the practice turn in the philosophy, history, and social studies of science, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, New York, 2014). This paper provides an analysis of what it means to say that a scientific figure reveals causal structure and it argues that the modern periodic table does just this. It also clarifies why these “merely” classificatory claims have seemed so compelling–this is because these claims often focus on the earliest periodic tables, which lack the causal structure present in modern versions. Keywords Causation · Explanation · Philosophy of chemistry · Classification · Causal reasoning 1 Introduction To the extent that there is a trademark figure for the field of chemistry it is surely the periodic table. Considered by many to capture the “essence” of this scientific domain, the periodic table represents and organizes all known chemical elements on the basis of their properties (Scerri 2007, p.
    [Show full text]
  • Aristotle's Patterns of Logic and Ontology
    Aristotle’s Patterns Of Logic and Ontology John F. Sowa 20 March 2016 Foundations of Ontology Hypotheses proposed by the pre-Socratic philosophers: ● Pythagoras: Mathematical forms govern everything. ● Heraclitus: An eternal flux (panta rhei) governed by laws (logos). ● Empedocles: Four elements (fire, air, water, earth) and two principles of change: love (eros) and strife (eris). ● Leucippus and Democritus: Tiny atoms in constant motion. Disciplined methods for analyzing hypotheses: ● Socrates: Conceptual analysis by systematic questioning. ● Plato: Theories presented in dialogs led by Socrates. ● Aristotle: Systematic treatises instead of free-flowing dialogs. Aristotle’s theories set the standard for logic and ontology: ● Stable objects as composites of form and matter. ● Ten categories for analyzing, describing, and classifying anything. ● Logic for specifying patterns and reasoning about them. 2 Differences Between Plato and Aristotle Paul Spade drew “pincushion diagrams” to illustrate ontologies. For Plato, each object is represented as a bundle of properties (pins) contained in a receptacle (the pincushion). The pins for optional properties can be removed or replaced. But the pins for essential (necessary) properties have a barbed hook that cannot be removed without destroying the pincushion. 3 See http://pvspade.com/Logic/docs/WarpWoo1.pdf Aristotle’s Ontology The pincushions for Aristotle’s ontology contain an unchangeable substantial form (SF) and changeable prime matter (PM). All pins represent accidents that may be removed or replaced. For relations, the pins resemble needles with threads linked to the needles of other objects. Although all accidents are changeable, some kinds of accidents are necessarily present. For example, all physical objects must have weight, but the weight can change as the amount of matter changes.
    [Show full text]
  • Plato and Aristotle on the Family and the Polis
    Plato and Aristotle on the Family and the Polis John Hittinger The University of St. Thomas, Houston The question of the family is at the heart of many important political issues. Platonism poses a special challenge to Christianity because the individual is lost in the abstract universal and the historical event is of no consequence. Christianity affirms the goodness of marriage and the importance of the complementary differences between male and female. Christianity is a creed based upon the recognition of the unique event of the Incarnation and measures history by that event. Aristotle sees the importance of family as the basis for community, but he does not adequately establish the significance of the individual and the intrinsic goodness of marriage and family. The superiority and sovereignty of the political regime overshadow the family. Although Aristotle makes important strides beyond Plato, his philosophy still bears the mark of a rationalist and monistic metaphysics that is an unwarranted imposition upon Christian theology. The true humanism will take nothing less than the restoration through the new Adam, an embrace of the true religion, and a metaphysics of esse, or metaphysics of the gift. Blessed John Paul II made some important contributions to this deepening of the integral humanism through his work on the phenomenology of love, through his work on Gaudium et spes, and through his work on the theology of the body and family which he developed during his papacy. Introduction I am delighted to accept this invitation to speak
    [Show full text]
  • Myth and Symbol in the Pattern of Truth / 123
    MYfH AND SYMBOL IN THE PATfERN OF TRUTH Frederick Edwords The same myths, the same symbols, can have vastly different meanings at different times and places. Myths and symbols need not be viewed as unchanging. They might better be seen as vehicles for helping people un- derstand and communicate new ideas. Now, when I use the word "myth," I don't intend the technical meaning employed by anthropologists but rather the more general usage as shown in the second definition in the American Heritage Dictionary:l Any real or fictional story, recurring theme, or character type that appeals to the con- sciousness of a people by embodying its cul- tural ideals or by giving expression to deep, commonly felt emotions. And by "symbol," I mean: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention; which is the American Heritage Dictionary's first defi- nition. 1 The American Heritage Dictionary, second college edition (Bos- ton: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982). -- --- -- -....-..-.--.- - 122 / Humanism Today 1993 Thus defined, myths and symbols are to be found everywhere. And some of the most powerful and influ- ential occur in popular culture, since these are often the ones that have the greatest immediate social im- pact. One current and recurring myth-loaded with spe- cial symbols and amply demonstrating how myth and symbol can play an active role in the pattern of that thing we call truth-is the myth about vampires. The first weekend after its release, the Francis Ford Coppola film, Bram Stoker's Dracula, raked in thirty- two million dollars at the box office and continued to draw sizeable audiences for months afterwards.
    [Show full text]
  • Teaching Philosophy Scott A
    Statement of Teaching Philosophy Scott A. Snyder “This is really hard.” – Minnie Driver commenting on organic chemistry in Good Will Hunting Having focused the majority of the past fifteen years in the study of organic chemistry, I would have a hard time disagreeing with Minnie Driver’s analysis of the discipline. Nevertheless, such difficulty need not be a source of frustration or a general deterrent from its scientific study. In fact, when guided by dedicated and effective mentors, navigating its murky waters and overcoming some of its challenges can lead not only to personal growth, but also to a lifelong love of the field and a passion to explore new territory through independent scholarship. I have been incredibly fortunate to have had my scientific travels in chemical synthesis chartered by several such individuals; it is my goal as a teacher–scholar to similarly captain voyages of discovery for members of the next generation. In the classroom, I hope to accomplish this end by tailoring my teaching specifically to the needs of my students at their particular level of study. For example, in an elective course designed for non-majors (such as a course on medicines and disease), my efforts are directed primarily towards chemical education in the broadest sense, with special emphasis on transmitting the enabling skills and knowledge that would permit each student to enter the larger world equipped with an informed view of the role of chemistry/science in modern life and the means to evaluate scientific and ethical issues as voting members of a democratic society. In core and upper level courses that contain a high proportion of science majors, I strive to establish frameworks that tap into existing knowledge and build upon that base rather than emphasize rote memorization or pattern recognition of fundamental concepts.
    [Show full text]