Reading, The Coffin-Lid, Part B

For part B of this last week I stuck with the Russian unit stories. My favorite story from this second part was titled The Coffin-Lid from Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).

In this story, I wondered why the dead man decided to come out of his grave to kill some young boys. If I were telling this story, I would at least give an explanation as to why he wanted to kill them. I think he should rise from his coffin and kill the bad people of the world. No one ever knows who is doing the killing, but people are thankful for this "hero" for protecting their community.

Graveyard
Source: Public Domain Pictures

People try to stay out of trouble and do the right thing because they know this man will come kill them if they do anything harmful in the community.

One night, when the corpse is coming out of his grave, a man from out of town will decide to follow him and he witnesses him killing two boys. He asks the corpse why he does this and the corpse says that he is making society better by killing all of the bad people. The man goes to the police to report the problem and soon the whole town knows what's going on.

Out of fear, no one does anything about it. The community just decides for each and every person to live a good and honest life or they will pay the ultimate price of death.

Reading: The Dead Mother, Part A

For this last week of reading, I chose to read the Russian story titled The Dead Mother. This story comes from Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).

I enjoyed this story up until the end. The baby dies, but it doesn't give an explanation why and it seems to throw the whole story off. I think it's a cool concept that the baby is soothed at night because the dead mother comes back to nurture and take care of her baby, but still I find no reason to have the baby die at the end. The husband already lost his wife, it would be even worse to lose his child.

So, I think in my version of the story I would not have the baby die. I would have the dead mother come back to take care of her baby, and when the husband finds a new wife, she will stop coming around. The husband will bring many different woman home, but the dead wife will not stop coming back until he finds the perfect woman to care for their child. As soon as he finds the perfect woman, the dead wife will say her goodbyes to her family once and for all, and wish the new mother luck.

Mother and Child
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Another concept I could use would be to make this story would be to make the dead woman kidnap her baby because her husband is trying to have bad woman be the new mother of her child. After losing his child, the husband searches everywhere for a new fitting mother to care for his child and finally finds one. I want the ending to be happy, as I do with most of my stories.

Tech Tip: Touch Typing Games

I decided to try the Ninja Cat Touch Typing Game. It was fun and definitely kept me entertained for awhile. I'm better at typing long words and I realized I don't have an exact reaction to where a letter is on the keyboard when it's just one letter. I don't type formally, like they teach you when you're younger. I was taught in a computer class where to place my fingers specifically, but I thought it was easier my way. I still believe that, and I'm pretty fast the way that I do it.

I did better on the game when it was a longer word. I also found it hard to focus with the moving targets, because I don't place my fingers correctly on the keys. My computer would not load the other typing games for some reason, so I only played the Ninja Cat one. I did play different levels though, and I enjoyed the more difficult ones the most.

Reading: The Ingrates, Part A

For extra credit reading, I wanted to read the Italian stories. I selected the story titled The Ingrates from Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885). I enjoyed this story because it had a simple lesson to it. It states that, "For who does good is ill rewarded, and who does evil is well rewarded."

If I were to change this story and create my own version I think I would want to make it a more modern version. I would change the characters to humans. A rich man who lived and worked in a rich community would become lost and find himself in a poor community. A sketchy, mean gang member  will mug him and tell him that he may just kill him. The rich man will plead or his life and reason with the gang member. He will ask him to ask other people around if he should be able to live.

They come across many individuals who reply with, "You're rich and don't face problems we do" or "You think you're better than us because you are rich". Finally the rich man pleads with a man to agree to let him live by bribing him with money. The man agrees and tells the gang member to let him live. When the man goes to get his promised money, he grabs it and is on his way home when he is robbed and killed in a drive by shooting.

City Streets
Source: Flickr

This story doesn't have a happy ending just like the original that I derived my ideas from. It's basically a simple story of not getting involved with the wrong people because you never know how it could turn out.

Week 14 Story Planning: Little Red Cap

Next week I want to create my own version of the story Little Red Cap from The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales translated by D.L. Ashliman (1998-2013). While taking notes over this story I had a few ideas to change it and make it my own story.

My first idea was to change the point-of-view from which the story is told. The Wolf would be telling the story, so the reader would see a more sympathetic side of the Wolf and maybe see his reasoning for his actions. He is a Wolf, so it's natural for him to behave the way he does in the story. He must do certain things to survive and to take care of his family. For all we know, he could have baby wolves back home.

My second idea was to flip the role of the villain and the victim. The Wolf would be going to visit his family, but on the way there he encounters some hunters who are trying to kill him. The hunters know how clever the Wolf is, and they try to outsmart him.

After researching this story, I found that the origin is in fact European. The specific country of origin of this story is Germany. I found the story along with other details at the website Lit2Go.

I found out an abundance of information about the original and early forms of the tale from Wikipedia. The earliest form of this story actually comes from French folklore. The story then was known as Le Petit Chaperon Rouge by Charles Perrault. This version, as well as some early versions, were more sinister than the newer versions. I find that very interesting, and I could possibly make my story more sinister to have more of a resemblance to the original tale.

Little Red Riding Hood
Source: Wikipedia

Reading Notes: The Headless Princess, Part B

For the reading this week for Part B, I read the Russian Unit. My favorite story was titled The Headless Princess from Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887). I liked this story because it was something unlike I'd ever heard before. It definitely wasn't what I had expected at first glance.

I don't particularly like the ending of the story, so for my version I would make it a more happy story. I think that even though the Princess is a witch, she still has some good in her. Rather than dying, I think the boy should seek out to help her. I also think the character of the little boy should be a bit older, close to the age of the Princess. He wants to help her because he falls in love with her. He only tells her secret to his teacher, and his teacher helps him get closer to the Princess and gives advice on how to win her over.

Instead of making the story about defeating a witch, I want to make it about a boy who is trying to win over a Princess. He knows she is a witch, but he sees past that flaw. In the end the Princess will fall for the boy, and she gives up her witch ways in order to be with him. Her secret will be revealed at the end to all the other characters, and they praise the boy for saving her.

Princess Witch
Source: Pixabay

Reading Notes: Little Red Cap, Part A

For this week of reading, we read stories from the European Unit. I decided to read the Ashliman stories, and my favorite story from Part A was Little Red Cap. This story came from The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales translated by D.L. Ashliman (1998-2013) It's the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood that I was already familiar with that I first heard when I was a child. It had some minor differences than what I had heard because it is the story told from a European view, but most everything stayed the same.

If I were to retell this story I have two ideas in which I'd like to change it. My first idea would to be to tell the story from the Wolf's point-of-view and show the more sympathetic side of his character. He's the villain in the original story, so I would tell the new version in a way that they see that he is an animal who relies on eating others for the survival of him as well as his family.

My other idea would be to flip the roles of the victim and villain. The wolf would be traveling to help his sick grandmother. Before he leaves, his mother tells him to beware of the hunters who are out hunting for wolves. It would be a similar story, but the roles will be reversed. I will change a few details of course, to make it better fit the new version.

Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
Source: Wikimedia Commons 

Famous Last Words: Thanksgiving Break

This week the reading was done a bit early because we got a week off for Thanksgiving break. I was happy to get a small break for a whole week and it was definitely exciting to not do homework for awhile. I probably should've used my time to get ahead in my classes, but now it's time to finish the semester strong!

My best writing this week was probably from my revision of my story in my project. We're nearing the end of the semester so I was on my second to last story in my project. I was running out of ideas for this particular story, so I didn't include a lot of details in my first version. After reading the revisions, I think I added quite a few good details and my story really benefitted from it. I have one more story to finish the project, so I'm already thinking of new ideas to make it special.

My other classes are starting to wind down along with this one. I don't have any final exams this semester which seems crazy to me, but instead I have projects and final papers. In my introduction to advertising class we have been working on an advertising campaign all semester and this next week it will finally be presented to the class. My group did a campaign for Whole Foods Market, and I'm excited to present the final product.

I got to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family a couple days ago and it was really nice. I'm glad I got to see my parents, siblings, and everyone else. We had lots of food (of course) played some games, and shot guns at some targets. I'm officially counting down the days until Christmas now because it's the most wonderful time of the year!

This next week is going to be hard to transition back into the school and work life after a small break, but I also have more motivation because there are only a couple weeks left.

Happy Late Thanksgiving and an early Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

Source: Pixabay

Tech Tip: Blog Profile

I decided to keep my profile visible on my blogger profile. In my major and future career it's important to have an online presence, so I want this blog to be a part of that. I have a separate blog that is more centered around my interests and I have included a link to this blog on that site. I have thought about my online identity a lot, and I think connecting a class blog with my professional blog will be beneficial. A key ingredient for my online identity for the years to come would be to keep my blog as updated as possible. In today's world your online identity is very important and that's sometimes the first thing that people research about you, especially when applying for a job. Another key factor for my online identity is to always keep it professional. Social media is closely related to blogging, and I think it's important to keep both of them professional at all times.

Week 13 Story: Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time, there were three bears who lived in a mansion deep in the forest. The family included Father Bear, Momma Bear, and Baby Bear. The year is 2017 and the family adored all of their technology. Father Bear worked hard for his family so that they could have the newest and most popular items in their mansion.

One day, the family left their home to go visit their relatives in the next town over. While they were out, a little girl named Goldilocks stumbled upon their mansion. "Wow, this is the most magnificent home I've ever seen! I want to see inside!" she said. Being the curious girl that she was, she creeped inside the home and realized that nobody was home. She was immediately entranced by the new, shiny devices all around the home. They had everything she had ever imagined and dreamed of!

I'm very hungry she thought. So she entered the kitchen and saw three different bowls of soup. She tried the first large bowl, and said "This soup is too cold!" She tried the second middle-sized bowl and said, "This soup is too bland." She tried the smaller bowl and said, "Ah, finally. This soup is perfect." She finished her soup and started to get very sleep.

I want to watch TV to relax before a nap she thought. She went into the living room first and settled on the couch. "This TV is too high for me to see," she said. She went into the biggest bedroom and said, "This TV is too small." She went into the smaller room and said, "This TV is perfect for me."

She watched her favorite shows and set her favorite channels on the remote. She was getting very sleepy and began to drift off...

Father Bear, Mother Bear, and Baby Bear arrived back at home later that night.

"Someone ate our soup!" said Baby Bear.

"Well, that's what you get for leaving it out and not putting it away," said Mother Bear.

"Someone left the TV on wasting electricity all day!" said Father Bear.

"It was probably you, dear." said Mother Bear.

"SOMEONE is in my bed!" shrieked Baby Bear. Goldilocks was awakened abruptly. The family entered the room.

"What are you doing in our home?" asked an angry Mother Bear.

"Well, I was out in the woods and I came across your home. It's very lovely I just wanted to see inside. It was getting dark out, so I decided it was too late to go home alone. I got hungry and ate some soup then I watched TV before falling asleep. I'm deeply sorry." said Goldilocks.

"Well, if you put it that way I guess we can understand. You're too young to be traveling alone after dark. You can stay here for the night. But please, get permission next time before entering someone's home. It may not turn out so well some places." said Mother Bear.

Story Source: Scrapefoot from More English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs

Author's Note: In the original story, there is a fox named Scrapefoot who enters the castle of three bears while they are away. He found a hall with three chairs in it--one small, one medium, one large. He tried them all out and the smaller one was the best fit for him. When he was hungry, he went to the kitchen and found three saucers--one small, one medium, one large. The smaller bowl tasted the best, and he finished all the milk in it. He was getting sleepy, so he decided to take a nap. He again found different sized beds and selected the smallest one. When the bears arrived back at home they noticed someone has been in there home. When they found Scrapefoot, they threw him out of their castle. In my story, I changed the main character to Goldilocks because that's the original story that I know. I changed the setting to a more modern version with technology. I also changed the ending. Instead of the bears throwing them out, they decide to show sympathy and understanding.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Scrapefoot, Part A

For this week's reading I looked into the second unit of English Fairy Tales. My favorite story from part A was Scrapefoot. I liked this story because it's the familiar story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Except, instead of Goldilocks, the character is a fox named Scrapefoot. The story comes from More English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

If I were to choose to rewrite this story this week, I would make the main character Goldilocks instead of the fox because I like the original story that I've always known. I would also like to change the different things that she does while she is in the house. I would like to make the story more modern, so when Goldilocks enters the bears' home she will tamper with other things. For example, I had an idea that she would mess with different TVs in the home. The dad has the biggest TV in the living room, the mom has a middle-sized TV, and then the baby bear has the smallest TV. Goldilocks will alter all of their preset favorite channels. She will also tamper with some of their foods. Finally, she will break the baby bear's bed.

When the bear family arrives back home, instead of throwing Goldilocks out, the family will welcome her and accept her apology. They will be understanding and decide to be friends and welcome her as a visitor anytime she wants to come back.

I only wanted to change the ending to a more happy ending because I don't like how they throw her out. Even though it's reasonable to throw an intruder out. It's hard to change such a well-known story too much.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Tech Tip: Twitter Follow

I chose to follow a few accounts, most of which were accounts associated with the university. I followed the Oklahoma Football account because they give updates on the team and they post promotional pictures and videos to hype up the fans. I also followed the OU Athletics account that gives updates on all the teams including basketball, volleyball, golf, baseball, and more. 

The most useful account that I followed was the OU Parking account. One of the worst things about OU is the lack of parking spots. This account tweets everyday, usually in the morning, to let students know about available parking spots. They notify where and how many spots are available. 

My major is public relations. I am involved in PRSSA which is the Public Relations Student Society of America. I followed this account on Twitter because I want to be involved in this organization. I'm hoping to keep up with them this way. 

Week 12 Story: The Three Little Pigs

This week on Top Homes we'll be checking out three new modern homes of the forest! I'm your host The Big Bad Wolf and we sure do have a good one this week, folks! We have three brothers who each went different ways when building their homes. Which one will have the best home? Let's find out.

The first home we will look at is made of the lightweight and easy to use straw. This has been used for many years, but the trend has started to fade due to the lack of security and durability. This is home to the youngest pig brother. So sir, what made you choose this type of home?

House of Straw
Source: Pixabay

Youngest pig: "Well, Big Bad Wolf, I chose this type of home because I was looking for something fast and easy to build. It only took half a day to build my home and I cold build another just as easy! If I ever want to move it's easy to disassemble and start again."

Big Bad Wolf: "Have you thought about bad weather? What happens with heavy rains? What about intruders? How durable is your house and what can it withstand?"

Youngest Pig: "Um. Well. You know we don't usually have bad weather.. but I bet it would be alright. I hope. I never considered that..."

Big Bad Wolf: "Well, on that note let's make our way to the next home! This home is owned by the middle brother. It's made out of sticks from the surrounding forest. This home is a bit bigger and has a more private feel to it. The straw was almost see-through in some places, and I'm not sure people would like that. These sticks however, provide a more solid foundation for a home. How is this home treating you?

House of Sticks
Source: Wikipedia

Middle Pig: I love my new home! This home took me a full day to complete building, so not too little or too much time. I have privacy from my neighbors. I've always wanted a cabin-like home and now I have just that. Unlike my younger brother's home, this one can withstand the rain!"

Big Bad Wolf: "What about heavy winds? Is that going to be a problem? It doesn't seem to be a very sturdy structure. And what about intruders?"

Middle Pig:"Well... It may not be very sturdy, but it's not ALWAYS windy here. Maybe I can build a surrounding barrier to prevent the winds from harming my home."

Big Bad Wolf: So there's that. I don't know about you viewers watching at home, but I'm ready to see the final home. This home is made out of bricks. The oldest brother built and owns this home. Mr. Pig, what do you have to say about your home? 

House of Bricks
Source: Pxhere

Oldest Pig: "It took me a full week to build my home, but it was well worth the wait and work. My home has many different rooms including three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room.  My home is strong enough to withstand heavy rains and winds. AND, I also just installed an alarm system in case any intruders try to break in. I think we all know who takes the cake on this one, Mr. Wolf. 

Big Bad Wolf: "Hmmm... I now know whose house I won't be huffing and puffing down and breaking into."

Story Source: The Three Little Pigs from English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs

Author's Note: In the original story of The Three Little Pigs each of the pigs builds a home. One out of straw, one out of sticks, and one out of bricks. The Big Bad Wolf visits each home and huffs and puffs to blow their houses down. The first two homes get destroyed and the wold eats the pigs. The third pig, with the house of bricks, is safe from the wolf. The wolf realizes that he can't blow this house down, so he tries to outsmart the pig in numerous ways by convincing him to leave his home. Every time, the pig leaves earlier than expected and outsmarts the wolf. Finally, the wolf gives up and  decides to climb down the chimney to get to the pig. The pig again outsmarts him by placing a pot of boiling water at the bottom of the chimney. He boils the wolf and eats him for dinner. In my version of the story, I change the whole idea to a more modern version of a TV show about homes. The Big Bad Wolf is the host and uses this to his advantage to learn about the pigs weaknesses of their home. Towards the end, I foreshadow and leave the readers with the idea that the wolf is going to eat the first two pigs, but not the third after realizing how advanced his home is. 

Reading Notes: Mr. Fox, Part B

For part B this week I chose to stick with the English fairy tales unit. The story that I found to be the most interesting was titled Mr. Fox which is from English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs. I enjoyed this story because it involved love and murder, which is not something you typically think of when you read fairy tales. I love a good murder mystery. I do wonder why Mr. Fox had killed so many women previously? Perhaps it was because he enjoyed it because he was a serial killer.

Some ideas I have for this story are to give an answer as to why Mr. Fox has killed so many women. I could change the story into a sort of murder-mystery. When Lady Mary goes to visit Mr. Fox she will uncover many of the clues that lead to many unsolved cases about missing woman and their murders.
She will also narrowly escape death because Mr. Fox will find her hiding. When he is about to kill her, her brothers enter the home and come to her rescue. They will then kill Mr. Fox for revenge against him from all the women who have died because of him.

Another idea I have is instead of killing Mr. Fox, the story will begin with Mr. Fox on trial for murder and the story centers around this. He will be questioned as to why he did this, and many questions will be answered. The reader will find out how many women he has killed and why he did it. Lady Mary will testify against him and be the voice for all the dead women because she almost faced the same fate. Lady Mary's brothers will be there as well because they saved her from the killer and also solved the mystery of who was responsible for missing and murdered women.

Scary Castle

Source: Pixabay

           

Reading Notes: The Three Little Pigs, Part A

For Part A this week I explored the British fairy tales unit. I focused on the story of The Three Little Pigs because it's a story that most everyone knows. I think it would be an interesting story idea to change such a well-known story.  This story came from English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

When I was little I always enjoyed this story. I think a good idea in changing the story would be to make a more modern version. Now on tv they have a lot of home improvement or renovation shows. I would like to make a special version of three different houses, and the wolf will be the host of the show. They will start with the house made out of straw and he will point out all the flaws with that. Next, they will move on to the house made out of sticks, and the wolf will again point out flaws. Finally, they will visit the house made out of bricks and the wolf will praise this home.

In this version, it gives a whole new plot to the original story. I don't like how the pigs die in the original story, so I wanted to change the ending where they all live. Also in this version the wolf isn't the villain. Perhaps at the ending I will create a twist. I was also thinking if the wolf is not the host of the show I could introduce a new character, like a rabbit. The wolf could still be the villain by destroying the first two homes, thus proving that the third house is the best choice for homeowners. I think a modern twist on a classic story is a perfect idea, and I hope I can create a great story about it this week.

The Three Little Pigs

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Famous Last Words: Happy November!

This week was definitely a busy one, but lately I've felt that way about every week. I have been extremely busy in all of my classes! We're nearing the end of the semester already, which sounds crazy but it's also exciting.

My writing this week was below average. I had a chance to complete both of my reading notes, but failed to complete my story for the week. I hate when I don't complete an assignment, so I was a bit mad at myself for not finishing my story. This was a revision week for my project, and after doing that I'm very happy with the result, making it my best writing for the week,, My story was 1,200 words after revising it, which I never thought would happen. I had to delete parts of my story to get the word count down. I also read some interesting stories this week on other people's blogs and sites.

My other classes are starting to get more difficult. Everything seems to be due around the same time, and professors are cramming assignments into the last two months. This is why I dread this time in the semester, but that means it's almost over. Halloween relieved some stress this week for everyone. I had class and then work all day, but everyone was in the spirit making the day a lot more enjoyable.

This week I hope to stay on top of all my homework and do as much extra credit as possible. I want to finish my homework early in the week so I can have a relaxing homework-free weekend. I am about 20 points behind from having an A, so I need to do quite a bit of extra credit this week and the next few. I just have to push through for a month and a half longer!

Hello November

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Typing Test Tech Tip

I wanted to do a typing test for my tech tip this week because I wanted to see how fast and accurate my typing is. I feel that I type rather quickly without many errors and my test results reflected that. I type 78.2 words per minute and have an accuracy of 98.1%. I would like to type a bit faster, but I think if I did I would surely be less accurate.

I used the key hero.com website to test my typing. I did the test three times and my results were mostly consistent. I chose my best trial numbers to be the ones listed above. I sometimes still look at the keys when I type, so I hope to improve enough that I rarely have to. I notice that I mess up frequently when typing, but usually the autocorrect fixes it for me. The only time I've specifically worked on my typing skills was when I was in high school and one of my teachers had us practice typing in one of our computer classes. Autocorrect makes it harder to improve typing because the computer fixes the mistakes for you. I think typing is important because you use it daily when in school. Most people will use it after school also for a job at one point or another.

Reading Notes: The Wanderer's Song, Part A

This week I wanted to do some extra reading and did some exploring in the Un-Textbook. I found some interesting stories but focused on the Beowulf Unit. The story that I chose to take notes over was titled The Wanderer's Song. This story came from The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs.

If I were to rewrite this story I would change a few things. First, I would change the wanderer to a beautiful young woman instead of a wise old man. They still believe that the woman has seen many things and been on various adventures. When the woman would sing, everyone would be mesmerized by her voice. They were all entranced by her voice so much that they would believe everything that she said.

She will speak of all the things she has seen throughout her life. I want to change the ending though. Towards the end she uses her hypnotizing voice to take over the minds of all the men. She tricks them into obeying her. By doing this, she convinces them to allow her to be the new queen. No one stops her because they are all amazed and entranced.

She is now the new queen, and anytime someone questions her judgement or decisions she knows that all she must do is start singing.

Female Wanderer

Source: Pixabay 

Reading Notes: How the Rabbit Killed the Giant, Part B

For Part B this week I finished reading the Great Plains unit stories and focused on the story titled How the Rabbit Killed the Giant. This story is from Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson. I enjoyed this story because the rabbit kills the giant and basically saves the whole town. A creature so small takes initiative to save everyone else.

The thing that I did not like about this story was the way that the rabbit killed the giant. The rabbit had an insect bite the giant, making him sick and he later died. Technically, the insect saved the town but they recognized the rabbit. If I were to change the story I would have the rabbit stab the giant when the giant attempts to steal the deer, and that way it seems more heroic and dramatic than a simple insect bite.

Another thing I could do, is have the rabbit kill the giant when he goes to have a feast with him in the beginning. I would change the plot to where that happens last though. The other animals are tired of sharing their food and going hungry so when the rabbit arrives he is the only one who is strong enough to defeat the giant. They ask him to do it, and he is more than willing.

I may also change the character of the rabbit. I could stick with the insect being the main character and killing the giant by biting him. Or, I could use an entirely new character. The way that the character kills the giant, somewhat reminds me of the biblical story of David and Goliath. I could try to incorporate that into the story also.

One last idea I had was telling the story from the Giant's perspective. Maybe making it easier to see why the giant does the things he does, whether it is wrong or right.

The Giant

Source: Wikipedia

Reading Notes: The Creation, Part A

For this week's reading I read the stories from the Great Plains Unit. My favorite story was The Creation from Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson. This story contains two different stories from different groups. They are a little bit similar but if I choose to rewrite this story I will focus more on the first story by the Wazhá zhe group.

I've been wanting to change the setting of a story to outer space. So in my version of the creation of the world I will focus on life being created for all of the creatures on the moon. Some story elements will be the same, but I want to create new ideas that I think would be important for a story set in outer space.

Rather than having animals from earth, I think I will have the characters be aliens. There will be different types of aliens, like those that are suited for water and those that are suited for land. The aliens will all have different abilities like creatures of earth do. In the beginning, they will be floating in space and go to the sun to ask where they come from. The sun will say, "I am your mother, and the moon is your father." They are from outer space, but when they are tired of floating they must settle on the moon and create a home. So they will rely on both their mother and father.

When the aliens get to the moon they have a problem. They won't stop floating because there is no gravity yet, so they aren't able to land on their home. When they ask the sun and moon for help, they hear nothing. As a lesson, they are supposed to figure out what to do themselves.

Outer Space: Source: Wikimedia Commons

Week 5 Story: The Fable of the Animals

Long ago, when the world was created, the water was filled with creatures, then the land. Lastly, Man was created. At this time, every animal was created equal. They needed a system to decide who was the most and least powerful and everything else in between. Man was chosen to be the one to assign the levels of power to all of the animals.

Man told all the creatures to gather round to hear the news. He told them that the next day, they would be competing in an obstacle course for the different power ranks. The course would test strength, agility, and endurance. He would create the course the previous night, and it would be a surprise for each competitor so that no one would have an advantage.

Coyote has been know as being sly and cunning even since the beginning of creation. That night, while all of the other animals were resting, he chose to stay up all night spying on Man so that he could see the obstacle course. He was determined to get the most power, and he knew that would be possible if he had the advantage of seeing the course. Otherwise, he knew he would lose to stronger animals like Cougar and Bear.

As he waited and spied he took mental notes over the course. This is taking longer than I expected, I'm ready to rest, he thought. But, he continued spying. When the sun began to rise all of the other animals started to wake up and prepare for the course. Coyote had stayed awake the whole night. The course would start in about an hour, so he decided to take a small nap. He asked Man, "Can you wake me before we begin the course?" Shorty after, he fell asleep.

Little did Coyote know, Man saw him spying that night. He was disappointed in Coyote for cheating. Instead of waking him, he called for the race to start immediately. And so the race began without Coyote. Cougar and Bear received the most power. Frog received the least amount of power, but even below him was Coyote. For cheating, Coyote was rewarded the smallest amount of power. All of the animals laughed at and ridiculed him, but Man felt a bit sorry for him.

Even though Coyote was quite powerless, Man decided to reward him with even more cunning abilities. He was created to be cunning, but after this event he was six times more cunning than before.

Coyote

Source: Pixabay

Story Source: The Fable of the Animals from Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson

Author's Note:
In the original story, power is to be assigned by man. Rather than the animals competing, man simply assigns power by giving different bows of different lengths to the animals. The longest bows have the most power and the shortest bows have the least power. Coyote decides to stay up to be the first one to meet Man in the morning, so that Man will give him the longest bow. When he stays up all night, he gets too tired by the morning and falls asleep. After man has given out all the bows, he realized he's missing one creature. He finds out that it's Coyote, so Coyote is left with the shortest bow. Man feels bad for him, and decides to still reward him with more cunning. I changed a few plot details in my story. First, I changed how the animals receive power because I felt that they should compete for it. Next, I changed that Man knew Coyote was cheating, so he paid the consequences.

Reading Notes: How the Rattlesnake Learned to Bite, Part B

For Part B I chose to stick with the Southwestern and California Legends Unit. I liked part A, so I decided to continue reading part B. The stories of why things came to be spark my interest greatly because the stories that people create are well thought out. My favorite story was titled How the Rattlesnake Learned to Bite from Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson (1912)

According to this story, the rattlesnake was once a gentle friendly creature. He started to become known as a mean creature only when he was bothered continuously by the other animals. I like that the storyteller started out by believing in the good of all creatures.

Retelling this story from my perspective, I would keep the general storyline, but change a few details.  First, I would keep the idea of the rattlesnake being a gentle creature. He only began to bite when he was bothered over and over. I would have the rattlesnake warn all of the others first though. He would explain that they were disturbing him at all hours and he wasn't getting any rest. He would continue saying if it didn't stop soon, something bad would happen. The other creatures didn't take him seriously and laughed at his statement.

Later on, when Rabbit decided to bother him, he bit him. The ridicule continued, and he bit two others. The result of the bites will eventually kill the animals. These three animals will be the first to die in the new world. From then on, no animals mess with the rattlesnake because they fear him. He spends the rest of his days nestled between rocks or in dark caves because he no longer has any companions.

Rattlesnake

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: The Fable of the Animals, Part A

This week I focused on the Southwestern and California Legends unit. My favorite story was titled The Fable of the Animals from Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson (1912). I enjoyed this story because it has a reasoning behind why the coyote is the most cunning animal.

I like the idea of giving reasoning to why the coyote is the way that he is. I would like to change the way that they decide what animal gets the most power. Instead of man simply giving the the bows to animals, I think they should compete for the power. Basically, the animals would all compete in a challenge course that tests agility, strength, endurance, etc. Man will make the course as it will be a surprise to the animals. But coyote will stay up all night spying on the course instead of resting. He thinks that he will have the advantage over other animals because he knows what the course will include. However, he will be extremely tired, and by the time the course is ready, he will be fast asleep.

At the end, he will be rewarded with the lowest amount of power. While the other animals competed for power, he missed out because he was sleeping. Man will feel sorry for him, and award him with cunning, ten times more than he had before. And that is why the coyote is the most cunning of all the other animals.

Basically, the only aspect I'd like to change is part of the plot. The story still gives reasoning for the coyote, but I think the way that it is achieved needs to be more elaborate.

Cunning Coyote

Source: Pixabay

Famous Last Words: Second Wind

This week has been a very busy one. I've had midterms, big papers and big assignments all due. I also started a new online class that's only half of the semester. It's going to be pretty fast-paced, so I have to start being more organized and being on top of all my schoolwork.

I've been slacking off the last couple of weeks in a couple classes because I have a big project coming up that I've been putting all of my time and effort into. This week though, I've started doing more in all my classes to make sure my grades will be good.

For my Myth-Folklore class this week I read some really interesting stories. My favorite story, and the one that I retold this week, was titled Uraschimataro and the Turtle. From when I first read it, I knew it was going to be a favorite and possibly the one I wanted to focus on. I think my writing for this story was one of my better ones. I like the way that it turned out, and I also enjoyed writing it. I've done a lot of reading of other peoples' projects and stories this week. I did extra credit commenting and came across some wonderful stories. I think it's beneficial for me because other students give me ideas for my future writing. There are endless possibilities to the different techniques that other students use.

Outside of class, I've been working a lot this week. I was also sick this past weekend and the beginning of the week, so it has been a bit of a struggle to be motivated and get my work done. I'm excited that we're on the last half of the semester, all I need now is the motivation from my second wind to complete it!

Personal photo of where I'd rather be instead of worrying about midterms.

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

 I like the fact that unlike D2L, Canvas has a mobile app. I've had the canvas app installed on my phone for most of the semester. I get notifications for messages, grades, announcements and more all throughout the day. I have an iPhone, and I constantly have it on me so I'm always up to date with my class feed. I receive instant notifications in class, at work and even just at home.

I have no complaints about the app. It's easy to install, and I haven't had any problems with it this whole semester using it. I use the app daily and it's very convenient, especially for times when I don't have my laptop and I just need a quick glance at a due date, message, etc.

Reading Notes: The Pretty Stranger Who Killed the King, Part A

This story came from the Nigeria Unit. I chose this for extra credit reading because I've liked the different stories in week 7 and 9 and this unit didn't disappoint. I liked this story specifically because it had a dark twist. The awful king got what he deserved and it was his fault for being deceived by a beautiful woman, who was actually a witch. 

The story had an interesting plot and I would keep that the same. A new writing style I want to try is the OU style. Changing the setting to a location on campus. If this were the case, I would fast forward to next year. President Boren is retiring, and the new president is highly disliked because he is rude, mean and inconsiderate. This character would replace the king. I would also change the ending because I think cutting off a president's head is a little too violent. A beautiful new assistant to the president would become close to him, and later she would learn the awful truth behind him. She learns enough to get him fired and she later saves the university.

My version would be a new and modern version. I would simply use a similar plot, but change a few key details and characters. 

Bibliography: The Pretty Stranger Who Killed the King from Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by  Elphinstone Dayrell.

The Witch

Source: Pixabay

Week 9 Story: Uraschimataro's Diary

Page 1

Dear Diary,

I've been with the princess down under the sea for a few years now. The turtle saved me when I was swallowed by the sea. He owed me a favor because I saved him when he was a young, small turtle. Anyway, time has been going by very fast. The princess is lovely, and the palace is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Every day is an adventure and I love my new life. My parents are probably worried about me, as I am there only child. Although I miss my parents, I don't know how to tell the princess that I want to leave the palace to go visit them.

-Uraschimataro

Page 2

Dear Diary, 

Life has continued to be wonderful down here. I can barely remember my old life. I still miss my parents and I hope they're doing well without me. I worry because I was the focus of their whole lives. I've been rather sad lately, and the princess has noticed. I think she realizes I miss my family, but she doesn't want me to leave her. I guess I will just have to confront her and tell her my concerns. After all, I plan to visit my parents but I will return to her shortly after.

-Uraschimataro

Page 3

Dear Diary,

I'm finally going to visit my parents! I leave in a few days. How did the conversation go with the princess? Rather well, actually. She was very reluctant, but finally encouraged me to go. She also gave me a box to take with me, but her she told me to never open it. I'm not sure why, but I will obey her wishes. The turtle is taking me on the three day journey back home, and I'm very excited. He will wait for me at the shore until I'm ready to return to the princess under the sea. I will update next when I make it back to my home.

-Urachimataro

Page 4

Dear Diary,

This whole trip has been a disaster. I arrived back home, but everything has changed tremendously. My old home has a new family in it. I couldn't find my parents and I didn't recognize a single neighbor or person in town. I finally went to the cemetery and sadly, I found my parents headstones. They had died shortly after I disappeared. I'm devastated and distraught. I found out that 300 years have passed since I have left, but I haven't aged a bit. I think I am going to open the box. I have a feeling it has to do with my parents. For now though, I'm going to get some sleep.

-Uraschimataro

Page 5

Dear Diary,

I opened the box and a purple vapor poured around me, preventing me from seeing anything. It took me back 300 years to the very day that I disappeared! I'm back home and my parents are alive and well. I don't go out to see fishing anymore, and I never saw the turtle or princess again. I guess that's why she asked me not to open the box, because when I did, it was a choice for my old life over the new one. This is my home and where I belong. I miss the princess and the palace, but I'm happy being back where I'm supposed to be. Maybe one day I'll see them again.

-Uraschimataro

Bibliography: Uraschimataro and the Turtle from The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Author's Note: In the original story, Uraschimataro is an only child who goes further out to see than anyone else dares. He is warned by many that the ocean may swallow him, but he continues doing it. One day he finds a small turtle among the fish he caught. He wants to keep it, but the turtle begs to be set free and he will return the favor some day. He sets the turtle free and goes about his day. Years later, when he is out at sea his boat is destroyed and he is almost out of luck, until the turtle, now much bigger, saves him. He takes him deep down into the ocean to a palace where he meets a princess. He's very happy here, but eventually longs to see his family. The princess notices and wishes for him not to leave her. He promises he will visit his parents and return to her after. She gives him a box, but warns him not to open it. When he makes it home, he realizes his parents have died and 300 years have passed. He thinks the box will make everything right, but when he opens it, he turns into a very old man. He tries to call the turtle at the sea, but nothing happens. Shortly after, he dies and is set free. For my story, I wrote a diary from Uraschimataro's perspective. I told the same tale, but changed the ending. He opens the box, and time is reversed. He never sees the turtle or princess again, but he has his old life and parents back.

Uraschimataro and the Turtle

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Uraschimataro and the Turtle, Part B

For Part B this week I stuck with the Japanese Fairy Tales (Lang) Unit. My favorite story from this unit was Uraschimataro and the Turtle. It was one of the longer stories, but I enjoyed all of it. I didn't see any of it coming, and it kept me interested the whole time I read it. 

First, I like how his good deed of saving the small, young turtle paid off for him later in life. He was warned by the elders to be careful of the sea swallowing him, but he paid no attention. When that very thing happened, he was rescued by the same, now older turtle. The turtle does not take him home, like I thought he would do. Instead, he takes him deep, down into the sea where he meets the princess and stays there forever.

When I retell this story, there is one key thing I want to change. The princess told him not to open the box, or he would never see her again. When he goes back to visit his parents and 300 years have passed, I thought that was very sad. So, when he opens the box, it will reverse time back to when he left. He will not be able to see the princess again, but he made that decision because he knew that this is the life he is meant to live. He will reunite with his family, and he never sees the turtle or princess again. 

Story Source: Uraschimataro and the Turtle from The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang 

Sea Turtle

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: The Stonecutter, Part A

This week I chose to read the stories from the Japanese Fairytales Unit (Lang). The story that I focused on was titled The Stonecutter. I liked this story because it incorporated a a valuable lesson in the end. I did not think that the man should be turned back into a human after making all of the different wishes and being ungrateful. If I were to rewrite the story I would have the man be forced into staying a rock, because he ran out of wishes. He wished 5 times total because he was never satisfied, so I think the spirit should use his wish of being a cloud as punishment for being ungrateful. He will be forced to be a cloud, all droopy and gloomy, with only the purpose of showering the lands. He is still taught a valuable lesson, but all actions have consequences.

I'm trying to find new ways to tell stories so I may experiment with a different technique this week, but I will for sure change the outcome of the story. I want to try changing the setting of a story, but I don't know how I could do that with this story, without changing some of the important elements.

I would also like to make the spirit a more prominent figure. It is never seen throughout the story, only heard. The man will meet the spirit one day when he is working, and he will be in disbelief as he thought that the mountain spirit was a hoax. The spirit will find him each time he wishes for something and try to grant it.

Story Source: The Stonecutter, from The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

Stonecutter

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Week 8 Progress

I have been pretty happy with my progress in the semester so far. Up until the last couple weeks, anyway. I am still at a B in the class, but it dropped from an A due to an extremely busy schedule. I am still happy with a B, but I definitely want to bring it up by the end of the semester. I've used the extra credit options on some weeks when I have extra time. 

For the next half of the semester, I think I may try to change my schedule so that I get things turned in earlier and have more time to work on extra credit at least until I bring my grade up. I'm also trying to finish early, so I would like to do that if it is still possible. One thing I want to avoid is procrastinating. I've had this problem here lately and it has resulted in missed assignments. 

MLK Jr. Quote

Source: Flickr

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

Overall, my feedback from classmates has been very positive. Some give encouragement and reassurance, and others are very helpful for improvements. The most useful comments are the ones who give suggestions, rather than just praising my work. I think my feedback to other students has been helpful and encouraging. Most of the time, I'm able to give ideas for what they could do to improve. Very rarely do I not have some kind of an idea for them. I enjoy reading other stories because it also gives me ideas for the future. I feel like I have gotten to know quite a few people just by reading their introduction posts, and we have a variety of different people with different backgrounds. For the future, I think I need to come up with better suggestions for students. I get into the habit of only having a select few ideas and reusing those, when I should come up with new ideas instead. I also think it's hard to point out the flaws, so I would rather praise the good aspects.

You can learn from criticism

Source: Chzburger

I chose this meme for this blog post because I, like many others, tend to stay away from giving or receiving criticism. It's hard to keep in mind that criticism has a good side and it's essential to improving sometimes. 

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Overall, both the reading and writing for this class have been going well. The biggest problem I have had is having a different schedule every week, which occasionally makes it hard to keep up with each assignment. However, I have enjoyed the way that the class is arranged with the reading, storytelling, and especially the project. I'm excited to see my finished project as well as the others in the class. I'm happy with my topic choice, and I still have quite a few ideas that I'm playing around with. My story could go in a variety of different directions, so my hardest choice will be deciding which one.

The reading notes have helped me tremendously almost every week. They allow me to focus on what I want to do for my weekly story. Sometimes I go in a different direction, but only because I thought about it more between the time I wrote my notes and the time I wrote my story. My favorite writing so far has been my version, which comes from the beginning, of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp. I turned the story into a news broadcast, which I thought was interesting and fun to write.

Breaking News 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

I chose this image because it came from my story post from my favorite writing this far. I liked this story most because it reminded me of the type of writing I've had to do in my major class for PR. It's not exactly the same type of writing of course, but I enjoyed it more because it had a small sense of it. 

Something that I need to do more for the future is to look at different storytelling ideas. I didn't start doing that until recently and so far I have liked the ideas. 

Reading Notes: How the Turtle Saved His Own Life, Part A

For extra credit reading, I chose to read some stories from the Jataka Tales Unit. The story that I enjoyed the most was titled How the Turtle Saved His Own Life. I like stories that either have a lesson in them, or have a character outsmarting someone. In this book, the turtle is the genius and outsmarts all of the other characters. He saves his own life by convincing the others to throw him back into the water, which they think will kill him.

They think the turtle is a demon, simply because they have never seen a turtle before. If I were to rewrite this story, I would give them a better reason for wanting to kill the turtle. Maybe the turtle would make the princes angry in a way. They loved to play in the lake with the fish, so maybe the turtle could scare away some fish. The boys would not like that.

When the men suggest a way to kill the turtle, and they decide to throw him into the water, a different man will object to the idea. He will state that he might not die because water was the place that they found him in the first place. No one will listen to him, and they want to go through with this plan because it is by far the easiest of them all.

Another way I would change the story, is to add on to the ending. The turtle lives, but I would like him to come back to the lake to let the princes know that he lived. He wants to rub it in their faces that they were ignorant and let him live, and then he leaves the area forever so that he will not be captured again. He knows that if they were to ever capture him again, they would kill him immediately. All of the men are embarrassed because the man who objected was right.

Bibliography: How the Turtle Saved His Own Life from Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt

Western Pond Turtle

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Week 7 Story: Bedtime Story About the Hunting Dog

"Joseph! Emily! It's time to get ready for bed! Meet me in your bedroom in five minutes, and I'll tell you a short bedtime story."

---

Long ago, there was a man by the name of Thomas who lived by himself in the city. He was a writer who needed quiet and privacy. Every day he would complain to himself about being around many loud, annoying people. He desperately wanted to live somewhere away from people, so finally he decided to move. He found a home out in the country where the closest person was miles away. "This is the perfect home for me! I can now write in peace!" he exclaimed.

Everything seemed to be going great, except he had a huge flea and gnat problem. They were everywhere, making noise and making him itch throughout the days and nights. He tried different types of insect spray to rid his home of the pests, but nothing seemed to be working.

---

"So, wait. This was a bad idea. He traded one problem with annoying people, for the same problem with loud bugs? I would choose people any day." Joseph said. "Well, yes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side, right?" said Mother.

---

One night after dinner, Thomas tried to continue his writing, but he was constantly distracted by the gnats and fleas. He was out of ideas for the problem, and he wondered if he should move back to the city. Suddenly, an army flooded into his house! Not the typical type of army you're imagining. The knights were two inches tall. They had horses the size of grasshoppers and falcons the size of flies. The little army destroyed the fleas and gnats, and they had tiny hunting dogs that would kill and then eat their remains. Thomas was amazed at what he was seeing! He wanted to keep the hunting dogs for the future when more bugs would enter his home. He wondered how reasonable they would be with him about keeping the dogs.

---

"I want a tiny hunting dog, Mom! We need one. Or maybe just any dog. Can we get one?" asked Emily. "No, dear. It's just a story. We will talk about it another time. Now listen to the rest," said Mother.

---

"Um, Mr. King, your majesty. I want to thank you and your army! You have saved me a lot of trouble by ridding me of the nasty vermin taking over my home. May I have a hunting dog? I will certainly pay you for it." said Thomas. The King acted as if he didn't hear a word he had said. The army began to leave the house. Thomas was upset that he wouldn't be able to own one of the hunting dogs.

---

"He's upset just like me. Everyone needs a dog. It's not fair." cried Emily.

---

He sat on his bed for a moment, when a tiny dog jumped into his hand. "Oh my! You stayed here little guy?" he said.
And his little dog stayed with him from then on. He took care of all the fleas and gnats and kept him good company. They were the best of friends.

---

"The end, and goodnight kids." said mother, as she turned out the lights.

Man's Best Friend

Source: Pixabay

Bibliography: The Little Hunting Dog from The Chinese Fairy Book by R.Wilhelm and translated by  Frederick H.  Martens

Author's Note: I kept this story relatively similar to the original, but in my version the storyteller was a mother who was telling a bedtime story to her two kids. In the original, a scholar moves away from people for a more quiet lifestyle. He had trouble sleeping because of fleas and gnats. One day some very small knights, horses, falcons, and hunting dogs come into his home to take care of his insect problem. When they leave, a small hunting dog gets left behind. He takes the dog and places it in a small box to examine it. Every time the scholar goes to bed, the dog follows to take care of any bugs. One day, when he takes a nap, he accidentally crushes the dog and finds it as flat as a piece of paper.  I changed the ending in my story to the man keeping the dog and them becoming lifelong companions. I also changed minor details about what happens when the small army enters his home.

Reading Notes: The Little Hunting Dog, Part B

For Part B on this seventh week, I looked at the same stories from Part A, Chinese Fairy Tales. The book I liked the most was titled The Little Hunting Dog. I liked this book for many reasons. I paid close attention to this story because I love dogs. I also found that the dog was very tiny and that was quite different and interesting. People are infatuated with tiny things, and if I were to see a tiny dog I would be really intrigued.

The tiny dog has a purpose in the scholar's life and I like that about the story. I find it relatable today because there are people who would rather be around dogs for company. The scholar wants to be in a secluded place, but with that come other troubles, such as the fleas and gnats.

If I were to change this story I would not make the poor dog die. I would make it so that the scholar found the solution to his problem with the dog, and also found a lifelong companion. I like happy endings for the most part, especially when it comes to dogs.

I would also change the story so that the scholar tried to steal the dog. He saw how much good the dog was doing by getting rid of the vermin and he wants it for himself. He doesn't know if the dog will disappear or leave, so without taking any chances, he will capture it. First, he will try to talk to the tiny king, but the king acts as if he cannot hear him. He gets very frustrated and just decides to take matters into his own hands.

Story Source: The Little Hunting Dog from The Chinese Fairy Book by R. Wilhelm

Hunting Dog

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: The Cave of the Beasts, Part A

This week I chose to read some stories from China. The one that I focused on is called The Cave of the Beasts. I was interested by the name first, and was surprised throughout the story. First, the plot is crazy to me! A dad abandons his children because they eat some wild duck eggs that he found. Sure, maybe he wanted them for himself, but would you really drop off your kids in the middle of nowhere because they ate your food? It was also bizarre because the daughters went home to their father after he had abandoned them. As if nothing had ever happened. I thought surely there would be a catch. I don't see why the daughters were so forgiving to him, but it is just a story.

I would definitely change some things in my version of the story. I could have the father abandon the girls for doing something much worse, not simply eating wild duck eggs. I could also have the girls get revenge on their father for leaving them in the woods. Or, I could even make the daughters get eaten by the wolf and fox who lived in the cave. This way, when the father decides to come back for them, they are gone. He will feel terrible because he ultimately left them alone to die.

The story is more focused on the girls, but I think the wolf and fox should have more of a focus. Even the title suggests it is about them. I could tell the story from one of their perspectives to put a new twist on the story.

Although I thought this story was a bit crazy, I really enjoyed it because it was unexpected. I thought 

I could predict what was going to happen next, but every time I was wrong. 

Story source: The Cave of the Beasts from The Chinese Fairy Book by R. Wilhelm

Cave in the woods

Source: Pixabay