Gentner thinks about analogy

Paper

Structure Mapping in Analogy and Similarity, by Dedre Gentner and Arthur B. Markman

WRT: 40 min

Assignment

If you discuss the paper or the assignment with another student—which we encourage—indicate whom you have talked with in your submitted composition. Of course your submitted composition must be written entirely by you.

On a total of one side of one sheet of paper, using 10 pt type or larger, with standard interline spacing and margins, respond to all the following:

You have decided you are so thrilled by 6.xxx, you will write a textbook covering the material. You arrange an appointment with Professor Winston, during which you go into such matters as dealing with publishers, handling reviewers, structuring royalty rates, and handling international sales. Winston mutters something about maybe talking about the same sort of stuff in class at some point.

Then, you turn to the writing of the book itself and Winston explains that it is extremely important to do a good job on the chapter openings. Unfortunately, your time is up just when he is about to explain the standard components in his chapter-opening template.

  • Reverse engineer the sample chapter openings and exhibit the slots that seem to constitutes Winston's chapter-opening frame, where "slot" and "frame" are used in the 6.034 sense, whatever that means. Consult with a colleague who has taken the right version of 6.034 if you are clueless. Add any other slots that seem especially important to you.
  • Write an introduction to a chapter on the work of Gentner et al., as reported in their paper, demonstrating use of whatever frame slots seem appropriate for the material.