Fall 2020

 Long ago in a quaint Alaskan village lived a little boy named Saysa. Saysa was the youngest of five boys and just wanted to grow up and be like them. Unfortunately, he was looked at as the runt of the group and much smaller than all his siblings. That never slowed him down much though, and he tried to do everything they did.  Now in the same village lived a little girl named Mira who also was the youngest with three older brothers. Her brothers were extremely protective of her and were always looking out for her. They already knew that no one would be good enough for their little sister. One day Saysa was out exploring and met Mira out in the woods. The two automatically became best friends. The two met up to play everyday for weeks and went on many adventures. While playing one day, Mira's brothers came back from hunting early and spotted the pair running through a field. They immediately went over to the pair and began scolding Saysa. "Who do you think you are playing with ...

 For the second half of the Alaskan Legends unit, I found a few stories that I thoroughly enjoyed. These stories reminded me of the trip I took to Alaska as a child and the new culture I was able to experience there. I found the story of The First Woman to be a cool way in which the different regions and groups of people from one side of Alaska differed from the other side. Alaska is such a large place it is unique to see the division of people due to the distances they are set apart. Yet, at the same time these different groups were seen to be united with their similarities. This second part also continued on in using animal characters which I really like. However, I think my favorite story would have to be The Boy in the Moon. This story was quite interesting because it was a somewhat forbidden love. The little girl floated away into the sky and the boy followed her there. Now being that the two were siblings, the story would be slightly off but it is a legend. The girl then beca...

 Raven's Marriage All the stories contained in this unit carry with them animal characters with funny little personalities. My favorite story from Part A would have to be the Raven's Marriage. I am always drawn to the happy little love stories I find hidden in the different units. I really focused on the way that this unit used the animal characters. I want to incorporate that in one way or another into one of my storytelling blogs or even into one of the stories I can use for my portfolio project. I think that using animals as the characters helps to add an element to the stories in a way that human characters cannot. The way these stories used a raven as the main character and followed him from one event into the next was curious. Raven was a happy go lucky guy but at the same time is seen as a cry baby when he does not get his way. The other animals throughout the story like the geese and marmont are seen at times praising the raven for the things he does. Creating character...

     Hundreds of years ago in Japan, a young Prince was wed an intelligent, beautiful and kind Princess. The couple lived a perfect life ruling their country together. Well, almost perfect. For the Princess was unable to bear a child to carry on their legacy.       The couple decided that the best thing they could do was take a trip to the temple of the Goddess Hase. Hase was known for her mercy and grace given to children. While the Prince and Princess were at the temple, they prayed ceaselessly for five days. The Goddess looked favorable upon this couple and granted them a child. To honor the Goddess and never forget what she had done for them, the couple named their baby girl Hase.      Soon after the birth of Hase, the Princess fell ill. Despite all the efforts from the kingdom’s physicians, the Princess passed away. But before she did she called Hase in and told her, “Do not be sad for my passing, for I will always be watching over ...

  The Story of the Princess Hase is one that I plan to use in my Portfolio project. Due to this story being a fairy tale and including a princess, I feel like it will fit into my theme of beauty perfectly. The background story that is given here is really good and in only a few paragraphs sets up the scene for the entirety of it. When Princess Hase mother dies there is great sadness that enters the story. Not only does the Princess's mother die, but her new step mother is cruel and treats the Princess badly. This use of an antagonist helps to bring the reader to a place of empathy for the Princess. In terms of beauty, the Princess learned to play the harp and became so well versed in this practice.  There is a great twist in the story that gives the reader shock. For the evil stepmother tries to poison Princess Hase but mistakenly poisons her own son. The stepmother was then even more enraged with Hase and blamed her for her sons death. She went so far as to enlist a servant ...

For this weeks reading I chose the Ozaki, also known as the Japanese Fairy Tales. Fairy Tales are my favorite types of stories that I have come upon so far in this course and also a big part of my Portfolio project. Therefore, I knew that this unit would help to give some ideas that I can use in my own project.  My favorite story in Part A was The Adventures of Kintaro, The Golden Boy . This tale was quite sweet and one that really had no prominent antagonist that needed to be overcome making it a happy-go-lucky easy read. I like how the story is told by an unknown narrator yet incorporates dialogue throughout.  This dialogue is definitely something that I need to refer back to and use in my own retelling of stories. The dialogue helps to give the story more depth and substance, as opposed to a singular voice in the narrator. The flow throughout the Adventures of Kintaro was also smooth and easy to read. It was a somewhat longer story but did not feel like it due to the way in...

 I watched the video Life From Above, and Beyond with words from Alan Watts  . This video was very interesting and eye opening. This video was a compilation of narration and video that was calming and insightful. The images shown were beautiful and make me crave the abilty to get back to traveling.  (Traveling People from Pixist )

 Half way through the fall semester.  That sounds absoloutely crazy. I personally feel like the semester just began yesterday. Most people tend to thing that due to the circumstances of this year, that it is creeping along at a snails pace and has been the longest year ever. However, I feel as if this has been the quickest year of my life. I feel as though yesterday it was the first of the year and we had no idea what was about to hit us.  This fall semester has been pretty average compared to past semesters but that does not mean it has not been fun or carried with it some great memories. Things have sure been different this year, but thankful my friends and I have made the most of it all.  We have been able to take things slow and enjoy this time of year in a different way than ever before. We have enjoyed lots of walks, outdoor study dates and picnics.  Of course my favorite aspect of the semester is welcoming home my new bestfriend Luka. In any other "normal...

 So far I am happy with my progress and am aiming to finish in Week 13. After this week I will have approximately 100 points to go. At this point in the semester I am proud of the way everything is coming together and that I have a blog up and running. My weekly routine is still a little hit or miss just due to my work schedule constantly changing along with taking care of a puppy. Every week is something different for me. My favorite assignments each week would have to be the readings just because I enjoy reading new stories each week. I try to do as many extra credit options as I can each week to help pad my grade a little and help me reach the 380 mark by week 13.  As we enter into the second half of the semester, which sounds crazy it has gone way too fast, I think that my main goal is to just keep pushing along and developing my Portfolio website more. I am super excited to see how it all comes together and get to show it off to people.  (Motivation from Flicr )

(Feedback is helpful don't fear it from Growth Mindset Cats )  I think that the set up we are using to give and recieve feedback in this class has been very useful. The comments I have recieved have all been kind and constructive, not all fluff like most classes. I think that the strategies we use really push everyone to remain kind and uplifting while at the same time offering suggestions to the writer of the stories. My favorite feedback strategy is the WWW one, I enjoy recieving these types of comments as well as giving them. I have found that many students stories are really good and this strategy allows me to praise their good work and then give some additional ideas. On the other end, blog comments have been a fun way to get to know everyone in the class and find people with similar intrests. I think moving forward I can just work to continue giving solid feedback to my classmates that will give them praise, constructive critisism and suggestions to make their blogs great.

 So far I am really enjoying my time spent in this course. I am still working on getting a schedule down to help with time management but all the readings and writing projects have been fun! I am happy with the way my blog is looking and enjoy pulling up the reader view to see what everyone else sees when they come to my page. My portfolio is also coming together just as I had imagined and I cannot wait to see how it looks in the end. I think most of the stories I have done so far have been challenging to come up with a new twist or way to put a spin on it. However, as soon as I get a little idea, I have found it to be quite easy to let the story just flow and mesh along with the original one. I think my reading notes have been quite helpful in giving me ideas to use in my own stories as well as helping me to brainstorm different writing elements and techniques to try in my writing. I have found it helpful to use my writing assignments to give me a headstart at stories that relate ...

Centures ago, in China, lived a vain Emperor named Chiuai. Emperor Chiuai was conceited and stagnant thinking that he deserved to rule forever without lifting a finger. The Emperor also was not greatful for the beautiful Empress he was given. For this woman was like none other in all the land. She was beautiful, a warrior, fearless, and reveered by all the people in the land. However, the Emperor could never see this and treated her like she was nothing.  Suddenly, one day, the Sun Goddess appeared to the couple and instucted them to travel to the Land of Morning Calm to retrieve the Crystal of Heart's Desire. The twist was that the Empress was to lead the expidition which made the Emperor very angry. He could not understand why the Goddess would command this and threw a fit as if he was a child. This enraged the Sun Goddess and she executed him immediately. This somewhat frightened the Empress when she saw the anger the Goddess possesed. However, she knew that this was her chance ...

West African Folktales I chose to read these stories because I had the opportunity to travel to Ghana, Africa last summer and therefore thought that these would be super interesting. This region of Africa is full of so many different cultures that it contains a plethora of different literature to be explored.  In these short tales, I enjoyed the way they all contained a deeper meaning. When looking at deeper meanings it forces the reader to actually read and comprehend as opposed to just skimming or they risk missing the main point of the story. These tales also contain imagry that I would not typically think of on my own. Such as using a pot to contain all of the knowledge in the world. Clearly this is not actually a possibility yet the writer makes you feel like it is. The tales were also clever naming the wealthy man 'Nothing', it is quite ironic because those who are extremely wealthy often have anything they want and not nothing. The tales also carry a common character fro...

 This picture is so me, I am always running on to the next thing. Possibly not so terribly running to the next person but maybe the next thing to do. (Its Heart and Brain Again from Awkward Yeti ) I also really enjoyed the Can You Speak Emoji? video. In some cases, I think emojis are overused today; however, in many ways they help us to communicate more feeling and emotion through instamessaging than ever before. I only think that emojis have become slightly innapropriate in the formal world.

Some weeks I choose to pick a different story to write about on the second reading assignment  in order to be exposed to more authors and writing styles. As well as, I am so indecisive and want to be able to read all the stories. However, this week in reading the Twenty-Two Gobblins Unit I was very intrigued and really enjoyed what I read and the different aspects the unit included. One of the most prominent things that really stuck out to me was the way in which each different story contained a separate story or riddle within it. The other thing that really stuck out to me was the conclusion of the unit’s Part B. I really enjoy stories where the real antagonist is unknown until the very end of the story. For the Twenty-Two Gobblins unit, you are left thinking that the Gobblin is the bad guy throughout the story, until you reach the end and learn that the real bad guy was the monk. He was plotting to take over the King’s throne but his cooniving ways were exposed. (Gobblin from Wik...

  (Green Goblin from Flickr ) For the Twenty-Two Gobblins Unit , there were so many different aspects of the story that were captivating and gave me different ideas to incorporate into my own stories and writing. This unit had a good introduction that sets up the whole unit and gives the background information to understand why the king was in the cemetery looking for the goblin. I then really enjoyed the way in which the goblin began to tell riddles to the king. These seperate stories in the unit all went together but each had very different aspects. The way in which this was done kept me wanting to continue reading and see what the next riddle would be and if the king would answer correctly. I also found it funny that the goblin character was not compliant with the king and even would run back to where he was found. I think the character set up was strong in that the king was a protagonist to an extent and the goblin the antogonist, yet they did not seem to be completely fighting...

  (Stressed Cat from Pixaby) Hitting the first set of midterms this semester was super stressful but we have now made it. Hopefully this coming week will be one that is a little more laid back and easy. I feel like now at five weeks into the semester I think everything is finally starting to get into a groove and settle in. This time of year I think it is super exciting to be starting to feel like fall and get into the mood. I love the fall leaves that begin to cover the ground and being able to drink hot coffee at all times of the day. In terms of this class, I am enjoying getting to be doing my storybook and growing it. I think that it is going to be really unique and I cannot wait to find more stories that go along with my theme of beauty to add to my collection. I also cannot do a famous last words without talking about my Luka girl. I am excited at the end of this year to go back at the end of the semester and see how much she has changed. In the past two weeks, she has grown ...

 I enjoyed checking this site out. My father is a programmer/web designer and he always has been about using alternative sites to Google. This site is one that I have never seen though. I really liked it and will definitely use it again.

(Genie's Lamp from Wannapik ) A long, long time ago there lived a poor boy named Aladdin. Devestatingly, Aladdin's father passed away tragicly leaving his mother and him to fend for themselves. Aladdin, however, was a lazy boy that would not get his act together and fend for his mother no matter how much she begged him too.  One day as he was running the streets with his friends, a strange man appeared out of nowhere and began questioning him. The man happened to be a famous magician travelling all the way from Africa to meet with Aladdin and his mother. The magician said he was Aladdin's uncle and had come to meet them and bring them many gifts. After showing the mother and Aladdin with gifts, buying Aladdin a place to conduct work and even new wardrobes.  The next day, the magician and Aladdin set out beyind the city walls on a journey into valley and up toward the mountains. It was long and trying and Aladdin was not happy with it and wanted to return home. As the pair r...

 Aladdin One of my all time favorite stories as a kid, and even know, was Aladdin. I have watched this movie more times than I can count, seen the play and even been in a musical production of Aladdin. Interestingly enough, I had never even read the actual thing. I have read the Disney account of course, but never this version.  I enjoyed reading the original version and making note of the differences between the two to see ways in which one could alter a story: Aladdin still had a mother Aladdin wasn't a homeless thief but an idle boy A magacian posing as his uncle came to make him retrieve the lamp There was not Abu, the monkey Aladdin walked down into a corrider with three doors and not into a sand enclosure shaped as a lion Aladdin had a second genie from the ring Aladdin saw the princess's face as she was going to bathe instead of saving her on the streets when she was dressed as a commoner Aladdin went to the Sultan for permission to marry his daughter and did not act li...