0.2 Parcheesi Text Model Lab

Overview

Before a computer can represent a real-world situation, someone has to decide what the situation contains and which details matter. In this lab, you will take one particular Parcheesi game state and describe a useful computer model of it in text.

Your model should be structured enough that another person could use it as the starting point for a sketch, but there is room for reasonable choices. You are not trying to describe every rule, color, shape, or physical detail in Parcheesi.

Worked Example — Library Checkout

This unrelated example shows the thinking process. Do not copy its objects into your Parcheesi model.

  1. 1. Define the modeling purpose.

    Start by deciding what your model needs to represent. This keeps the rest of your decisions focused.

    Step 1 — Write one purpose sentence

    You may use this sentence starter:

    This model needs to represent ______________________________.

    Check Your Work

    • Your purpose describes one modeling goal, not every rule in Parcheesi.
    • You can use the purpose to decide whether a later detail belongs in the model.
    Go to top

  2. 2. Break the real-world situation into candidate parts.

    Now brainstorm before filtering. At this stage, it is fine to write down more than you will eventually keep.

    Step 1 — Make three rough lists

    Bulleted lists work well. Try these headings:

    • Things: specific people, pieces, spaces, or other things you notice.
    • Characteristics: information that describes those things.
    • Connections: ways one thing is associated with another.

    Check Your Work

    You are ready to move on when you have enough raw material to make choices. Your list should contain both useful-looking details and some details you are unsure about.

    Go to top

  3. 3. Decide what belongs in the computer model.

    This is the abstraction step. A useful model is selective. It keeps information that supports the purpose and intentionally leaves out information that does not.

    Step 1 — Classify each candidate detail

    Mark each item from your brainstorm as:

    • Keep — the model needs it.
    • Leave Out — it does not help the stated purpose.
    • Maybe — you are not sure yet.

    Step 2 — Use the purpose test

    For each detail, ask:

    Would the computer need this information to represent the situation I care about?

    Check Your Work

    Your filtered model should normally contain fewer details than your brainstorm. If you kept almost everything, check whether every detail really supports the purpose.

    Go to top

  4. 4. Organize the selected information as a text model.

    Turn the details you kept into a readable model. The goal is clarity, not a particular writing style.

    Step 1 — Choose a simple structure

    You may use bullets, short labeled sections, or a small table. One useful bullet structure is:

    • Purpose
    • Things
      • Thing name
        • selected characteristic: value
        • selected characteristic: value
    • Relationships
      • Thing A is connected to Thing B in this way.

    Check Your Work

    Another person should be able to read your text model and identify the major things, the information that belongs with each thing, and the important relationships.

    Go to top

  5. 5. Review and justify the model.

    Finish by checking whether your text model is useful enough to become the starting point for a visual sketch.

    Step 1 — Explain one modeling decision

    Choose one characteristic you included or intentionally left out. Explain how that choice supports your purpose.

    Step 2 — Check readiness for the sketch

    Ready to Move On?

    You are ready for the Sketch Model Lab when another person could use your text model to begin deciding what should become object blocks, what information belongs inside them, and what connections need to be shown.

    Checkpoint Completion State

    You have produced a clear text model of a selected Parcheesi game state that identifies the modeling purpose, relevant things, selected characteristics or values, and meaningful relationships; intentionally omits unnecessary detail; and explains at least one modeling choice.

    Go to top

  6. 6. Submit the Text Model.

    Submit your completed text model using the text-entry submission provided for this assignment.

    • Include the modeling purpose.
    • Include the selected things and the information that belongs with them.
    • Include the meaningful relationships.
    • Include the required explanation of at least one modeling choice.
    Go to top