Since the programs in this module attempt to simulate two particularly human tasks (creating poetry, and making logical decisions), we begin these exercises by asking you to do some things on your own - without the aid of a computer. Essentially, we are asking you to collect some data that will allow us to apply the Turing test¹ to our artificially endowed programs in subsequent exercises.

1. Classically, a haiku verse consists of three lines of five, seven, and five syllables, respectively. Modern haiku poets (particularly those not writing in Japanese) rarely restrict themselves to the classic pattern, since the Japanese concept of syllable is not equivalent to that in many other languages, including English. Still, this relatively rigid form, coupled with a tendency to use natural images as the bases for metaphor, makes haiku amenable to computer simulation.
   
   For now, record on a sheet of paper three haiku verses that you find interesting. You can select poems from any available source (there are plenty available on the Web²), or you can try writing your own.

2. Many expert systems³ are described as a set of "if-then" rules that can be used to make a decision. For example, a "rule base" that could help you to predict the weather might look, in part, like:
   • If granny's bunions ache, then predict rain.
   • If barometer rising, then predict clearing.
   • If it's raining AND barometer is steady, then predict rain.
   • If it's sunny AND barometer rising, then predict sun.
   • If local forecaster predicts rains, then predict sun.

On a sheet of paper, record a few rules of your own that could be added to this rule base to make it more complete (if not more accurate).