Confidence Interval: an Epic Poem

By Daan van Schalkwijk

A squire teaches the High King statistics to overcome a crisis of confidence, at risk to his own life.

Just when the High King is at loss in whom to confide, a squire offers to solve his problems by teaching him about confidence intervals; but when the King's senior sage protests, he must learn to see what statistics can and cannot do, or the sage will have him on the gallows.

This ebook is part of the Harambee Crowdfunding drive: the author proceeds will be transferred directly to the Harambee USA Foundation. Harambee supports sustainable educational initiatives that help Africans help themselves.

This poem was written for Basic Research Methods and Statistics students at Amsterdam University College. For students of statistics, it's a fun way of seeing whether you have understood the concept of confidence intervals, its advantages and limitations. For Policy makers and managers, it's a timely reflection on the use of quantitative data in policy and management. For everyone, it's an epic poem with a short enjoyable adventure that will take you back to heraldic times, and help you polish your command of the English language!

Student Quotes
"The poem is just great. What a good initiative to describe something which students usually find not so interesting in a fun way."
Jovana Karanovic, student at Amsterdam University College, at her request this poem was written.

"I'm glad I returned to read the poem more carefully. I like how it speaks to the limits of quantitative reasoning at its conclusion."
Megan Myles, exchange student at Amsterdam University College from Quest University, Canada.

"I believe the poem is great, and it is quite impressive the fact that it took you so little to write it! The language is really convincing, and I love the last paragraph, it is really a nice conclusion!"
Kalliopi Theocharidou, student at AUC.

"For the High King the courageous squire turns on the lights,
For students, statistics is elevated to epic heights"
Job Zegers, student at AUC.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daan van Schalkwijk
• Release date: Dec 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301891832

Daan van Schalkwijk

Daan van Schalkwijk studied theoretical biology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; this is a combination of biology, mathematics and statistics. He completed his PhD in medical biology and systems biology at the research institute TNO and the University of Leiden, on the topic of mathematical modeling of cholesterol metabolism. Currently he teaches and advises academically at Amsterdam University College. The courses he teaches include "Big Questions in Science", "Introduction to Health and Wellbeing", and "Basic Research Methods and Statistics". He is also the director of Leidenhoven College, a small-scale collegiate hall of residence in Amsterdam. He regularly writes poetry for Omega magazine, as well as occasionally writing non-fiction with a fictional slant for popular websites like Mercatornet.

Book preview

Confidence Interval - an Epic Poem

by Daan van Schalkwijk

A squire teaches the High King statistics to overcome a crisis of confidence, at risk to his own life.

Just when the High King is at loss in whom to confide, a squire offers to solve his problems by teaching him about confidence intervals; but when the King's senior sage protests, he must learn to see what statistics can and cannot do, or the sage will have him on the gallows.

Student Quotes

The poem is just great. What a good initiative to describe something which students usually find not so interesting in a fun way.

Jovana Karanovic, student at Amsterdam University College, at her request this poem was written.

I'm glad I returned to read the poem more carefully. I like how it speaks to the limits of quantitative reasoning at its conclusion.

Megan Myles, exchange student at Amsterdam University College from Quest University, Canada.

I believe the poem is great, and it is quite impressive the fact that it took you so little to write it! The language is really convincing, and I love the last paragraph, it is really a nice conclusion!

Kalliopi Theocharidou, student at AUC.

"For the High King the courageous squire turns on the lights,

For students, statistics is elevated to epic heights"

Job Zegers, student at AUC.

What's in it for... students of statistics?

A fun way of