Week 8 Progress

Almost Done!

I think I have found a pretty good weekly routine. Since this is my second time going through this course style I know what needs to be done to get the grade I want. I do my reading during the day and then take notes for what I want to write in my notebook. I think this makes it pretty easy for me to type up my actual blog post when I get home to my computer. I like that in this class we have gotten to read thorough entire stories. I am sure it has been the same amount of reading but I feel as if I have read less in this class then Mythology and Folklore class. The Mythology and Folklore class we had to read a bunch of smaller stories which seemed to be more reading through a book. When I went to look to see how my progress was in the class I was happy to see that I am on the A track. I am hoping to keep up the momentum and work so that I can finish the class a little early with an A. Last time I had to go until the last week of classes because I had fell behind. But if I can add in some extra reading and extra credit things I could possibly get the class done sooner. I am taking a math class this semester and I will need as much time as possible to be prepared for the that final exam. Also this is my last semester of classes so my "senioritis" has kicked in and I am ready to be done with class work and assignments. The image I chose is actually about being focused for working out and fitness but I thought the quote also worked for my class as well. 

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Image: Fitness Inspiration. Source: flickr by Arya Ziai

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

Being Effective. 

        

         So far, I have felt that the feedback I have been given by the other students has been very helpful. Each comment usually offers a suggestion to something I could change or add to my story. I also like when students will specifically tell me when there is typo error, like when the professor emails us for our projects. It makes it easier to find where I have made a mistake and can easily find it in the text to fix it. I feel like I do a pretty thorough read through but always seem to find mistakes later on. I have only had a couple of students do this for me but when I give feedback and I noticed I try to be specific if there is anything wrong with grammar or spelling. I know that they might not want to rework their entire story based off of one suggestion so I at least try to offer something simple to help them along.

Since this is my second time around in a course framed like this one, I thin

k it is safe to say I enjoy connecting with classmates through the blog. I also have realized that this class is also helpful in a world where technology is taking over. My cousin is starting a mommy blog and I told her about the Mythology and Folklore class that I had taken last semester. I was able to give her some helpful advice on how to make her site more user friendly so that other people would want to come and read the site. Having fun picture and with caption brings people in but the content of what you put on the Introduction is your first impression. Giving information about your likes and dislikes helps people feel a part of your world for a couple of minutes which I think helps bring them back to read more. It makes the author seem more relatable and human.

For my image I choose from the “Feedback Infographics”.  I really liked this picture of, components of effective feedback because it reminds me of teachers. Teachers have to work together to help create better lessons for their students and usually turn to other teachers and friends for feedback on lessons. I cannot count how many times I have been asked to read through and assignment or to check over a worksheet to make sure the student would be able to grasp a concept. Teachers are always working to find something that keeps students engaged and challenged so that they can continue to learn.  

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Image: 21 Components of Effective Feedback. Source: GrowthMindsetMemes

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Looking Back. 

     
       Last semester I really enjoyed the Review Week and getting to go back to look at the different stories I had created. From week to week I start to only focus on what I am doing in the moment and never look back at what I have accomplished. Now getting to look back at my reading notes, I noticed I was able to come up with more story ideas for the book, The Mahabharata. I am not sure if the book actually gave me more ideas or if it is because I have had one particular idea for The Ramayana. I had not realized that my idea of turning The Ramayana into a high school drama started in week three, or as soon as we began reading the book. I have actually gotten really into The Ramayana story as a whole and started watching the Netflix series Ramayan. The series is very long with a total of fifty-six episodes and I am only on eighteen. I like how the series spreads out and explains in more details the different storylines. I think the series helps me see the significance of Rama and how Indian cultures views him. Other than having to read the subtitles to understand what everyone is saying I have really enjoyed watching the series and might (big might) get done with it before the end of the semester.

        When I went back to look at the different stories I have created I felt I have attempted many different styles I am not use to, like writing a letter and doing a monologue. However, I have not changed the characters into different ones. I noticed in my readings of other people’s stories they will recreate a story using similar elements to the plot line but with different character names in a different era. Even though I have used different styles I still think there are many styles I have yet to attempt. So, looking forward I want to attempt to make unique stories told in the “not so typical” way. The favorite image that I picked below I actually created on a meme generator. I think the saying has perfectly summoned up the drama of the storylines in the Indian epics we have been reading.  

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Image: Indian Soap Opera Meme. Source: quick meme