Google Timer Tech Tip

For this tech tip I chose to do the Google Timer. I have never even known that this was a function I was able to use until this class. It is actually extremely helpful! I have used this to manage my study break times, to study for an exam, and to set aside different times to study for different classes. This is easily one of the best functions Google has if you are in need of some time management!

I realized I use this more for when I am studying so I am not constantly checking my phone, where I have another timer. The one Google offers is easier for me to stay on track and not get distracted from something else. 

Reading Notes: Eskimo Folk Tales Part B

For my second part of this week’s stories, I decided to stay on the same animal approach as my first reading notes. I want to use parts of my story from The Eagle and the Whale story where two sisters are taken from their home, and are to marry an eagle, and the other sister would marry a whale. Both animals were mighty hunters who would hunt for their wives, keep them safe, and not let them go. But this did not stop the women from trying to escape (because they did not want to marry); so they did. The women’s tribe would come to try and save them from both mighty hunters, and shoot them down to take the sisters back home. I would change this to where each woman would still marry one of these animals, but instead of the tribe coming to save them by themselves, they would go to the Giant Dog for assistance. This piece of land would be where the couple went when they left their old land because of the giant dog. The tribe would go to the couple for advice on how to get the women back, and would gift the couple items in return. The couple allowed their giant dog to go and try to save these woman, and would succeed. The dog would fight both animals until he was able to retrieve both women safe and sound. By the end, each sister would be so thankful for the help from the dog that they would stay and cook for the couple, and the dog, for the rest of their days in return for their gratitude.

Eagle and Whale

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Bibliography:

This story is part of the Eskimo Folk Tales Unit. Story source: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).

Reading Notes: Eskimo Folk Tales Part A

For this week’s story posts I decided to choose a story from the Eskimo Folk Tales Unit. As I was reading through the stories, I came across The Giant Dog. This is a short story about a man who has never had a son before, but had a dog that helped him and his wife through their days. He had an amulet that would go to his son, if he were to ever have one, but gave it to the dog instead. This dog was very large, and very fierce. It ate people and destroyed people that tried to attack it. So I think I would change this story to have more of a “Clifford” theme. The dog would be huge, and everyone would still be terrified, but it would be friendly. No one would know how friendly this dog would be until they spent time with the owner and the dog itself. Everyone would stay far away and hate the man who owned such a large dog, but little did they know this dog could be used for many things to help further the people’s way of lives. This giant dog would want so badly to play with all the other animals around the tribe, and only eat vegetables. So no one should be worried about the dog eating them or their livestock, but would not know any better because of the massive size. In the end, the owner and his wife would take their dog to another piece of land where they could be loved by all, and enjoy the company of people who were sincerely interested by this large, peaceful animal.

Inuit Unit The Giant Dog

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Bibliography:

This story is part of the Eskimo Folk Tales Unit. Story source: Eskimo Folk Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).

Week 8 Growth Mindset

I think my strengths with writing is that my grammar and punctuation is typically pretty good. Because my father in an English teacher, I grew up learning how to write and speak properly. Granted it is not perfect, but I try! To build up this strength definitely comes from the feedback comments; those help me more than anyone will know. It's great that everyone in the class is so respectful towards people's stories and always give positive feedback comments; even if they aren't positive comments, I have noticed that everyone will write them in the most respectful way they can.
My weaknesses are that I usually try and find the easy stories when I should be broadening my outlook on stories like the ones we are given. I really want to try reading stories that are a lot more complex than the ones I have been, so I will start to change all of this in the second half of the semester. I will need to learn to take more risks when it comes to writing, especially because there is so much time to learn how to do that.

Go For It Meme

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Week 8 Reflections

I think overall my choices for my readings have been good ones. I think I prefer to do most of my stories in the classical sections, to me, those are the easiest for me to read and think of new ways to re write stories. I also really enjoyed the Persian Fairy Tales unit I did a few weeks back. I usually have Mondays and Wednesdays to do most of my assignments, so on those days I will work at home and try to knock out most of the week in one sitting if I have the time! My notes have definitely helped when it comes to the Wednesday story assignments- it is much easier to look back on my notes and get ideas on how to expand my full story. I think for the upcoming stories it will be really cool to use a Native American story. I am currently enrolled in a Native American Studies course, so it will be really interesting to see how I can connect the two classes assignments and make a story out of it!

Overall I am happy with the stories I write, although I could change them up a bit. Most of my stories are all done in a certain style, and I would like to broaden out and try different perspectives, or styles. When I have questions about my writing, I usually call my dad. My dad is actually an English teacher and has helped me with my writing as long as I can remember- so it's extremely helpful. As for my Storybook, I am overall content with it. I think I was confused on how to do my intro, but after the helpful emails, and feedback comments I now have a better grasp on what to do. I think I definitely want to master writing in second or third person rather than strictly first; I think I'll give that a try with my upcoming stories.

I love reading other people's stories! It is really cool to me to see how other people have different writing styles and different content. I think I could be a little more in depth with my comments instead of giving simple feedback comments. But other than that, I am having a really good time in this course and have learned so many things- considering how not tech-savvy I am!

Fry Writing Meme

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Story: Adventures of Rich and Mike

One day a man named Mike was wandering around his neighborhood trying to decide what he wanted to do for the day. While he was quite bored and was not sure what his day would consist of, he decided to call his friend Rich and see if he wanted to hang out.

Rich and Mike were great friends, even though they would get on each other’s nerves from time to time. Rich was actually the smartest person in the world who so happened to live in Mike’s neighborhood. They began hanging out when they were very young and grew up to be very close. Rich was always into making weird toys and futuristic type objects; sometimes they would work, and sometimes they wouldn’t. But as they got older, Rich’s experiments actually began to work and do things no one had ever seen before… so this is where their story begins.

Mike and Rich decided to go on an adventure and see what they could get into. As they were walking through town on their way to a nearby abandoned park, they saw a man standing in their path who seemed to want something from them. Rich, who did not want to stop and help this man decided to keep walking past the man. Mike, on the other hand, was the type of person to help anyone who was in need.

Mike stopped to ask this man what was wrong and made Rich stop with him so they could continue their adventure together. The man asked if the two boys would help get him to the top of the mountain so he could collect food for his family, and while both boys knew they could easily help him up there by sending him in one of Rich’s transportation devices, they decided to do it the hard way.

Both boys walked all the way to the top of the mountain while the man followed behind them. Half way up the mountain, the boys saw what looked like a blizzard forming coming for them. The boys turned around to look for the man they were helping, and he was gone. The boys were very confused and had no idea where the man went. They called for him, searched for him, and went back down the mountain as far as they could without meeting the blizzard. They never found the man, and decided to keep walking forward in hopes of beating the blizzard to the top of the mountain.

While Mike knew that Rich had an item that could transport them back to their home safe and sound, Mike wanted to see how far they could make it without “cheating”.

Rich, on the other hand, was ready to go home and not risk being caught in the blizzard. So he convinced Mike to follow him home and get home as soon as possible.

Once the boys got back home, they realized the blizzard had followed them back home and was about to cover their neighborhood in complete ice. So the boys worked together to find the perfect weapons, tools, and objects to save the town from complete destruction…

Rich fought hard and used everything he had to save the town, yet nothing was working. The one item he did not use was his transporter…

Shortly after Mike realized nothing was working, he grabbed Rich’s transporter, formed a portal, and made everyone in the town go through it to get to a safe, warm place that would keep the town from losing their population.

When everyone was safe and counted for, they threw a celebration and thank you party for the boys who helped save their people. While everyone was enjoying the festivities, Mike turned around to notice the old man standing there giving his thanks as well. Little did Mike, or Rich, know that the old man had fallen on the way up to the mountain, which is why they could not find him. When Rich had opened his portal, it happened to be right on top of the old man which had caused the man to fall in as well.

In the end, both boys were seen as heroes and were praised for the rest of their lives for saving hundreds of people from the massive blizzard.

Rick and Morty

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Author's Note:

I came up with this story using an old Japanese Fairy Tale story of how a warrior goes on an adventure to help a man kill his enemy. I also used the theme of the story from a T.V show called Rick and Morty. If anyone has seen this show, then you will know how some of this (hopefully) fits in. 

Bibliography:

This story is part of the Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki) unit. Story source: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908).

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales Part A

This week’s story that I chose was from the Japanese Fairy Tales. I read the story from Yei Ozaki- the part of her story that stuck out to me the most was the first three chapters called “My Lord Bag of Rice”. These first few chapters are about this warrior named Hidesato. These chapters are about how he goes on an adventure to help someone kill this man’s enemy. The story ends with Hidesato helping this man and receiving many presents, and respect in return. I would change how the adventure would be a lot more intense. Except he would have a friend that joined him- who also happened to be a genius and knew how to make things no one else knew how to. He would have futuristic weapons that could help them change dimensions, time periods, or other planets. They would get into trouble on every trip they would take, and somehow fix it all in the end. Although, it does end with these two earning their countries respect and acceptance.

Rick and Morty Weapons

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Bibliography:

This story is part of the Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki) unit. Story source: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908).