Famous Last Words: Cruising and Final Post

This is actually my last Famous Last words because this is my final post. I have finally reached 410 points!

In this course I actually really enjoyed reading the Myths and Legends of Sioux Indians. This is a culture that I feel I do not know a ton about so it was nice to finally get some tales from them. My favorite tall was of the Rabbit and the Bear. I felt that it had a great moral that some people missed in that sometimes it is not good to destroy something that so many people need. My favorite writing of this week had to be my story planning for next week. I feel that combining the stories form this week along with my reading notes from Beowulf will make for a very interesting story.

In my other courses, I have actually been doing pretty well. I just received one of my grades back for a very difficult exam. I actually did really well a received an A. I was so pumped that I treated myself with the best fast food out there: Taco Bell. My other courses have picked up too but since I am done with this course, I will have a lot more free time to study for those courses. I am just really excited to finally be graduating!

Outside of class has been great too. I had my interview before Spring Break and I felt that I did a great job on it. I should hear back soon so I am super anxious. Also, I was able to go on a trip with my friends over Spring Break. We ended up going on a 7 day cruise to Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. All were great places to visit and I highly recommend going. It was a blast but quite exhausting. Overall, it has been a great last few weeks!

Roatan, Honduras

Week 9 Review

This week has been very good and successful. I am actually two points away so I am excited. This is a really fun game if you are familiar with Game of Thrones. A common theme is that a lot of the characters (not all of course) die throughout the show. Enjoy!

Daily Announcements

Extra Reading Notes: Sioux

Below is a continuation of my reading notes from the Myths and Legends of the Sioux Indians:

• I like how the first story had a moral theme. I felt that the Unktomi was a very greedy individual that was never satisfied. He ultimately faced his fate my wanting more and sinking to the bottom of the lake.

• These stories are somewhat grim. I usually try and write happy stories so it may be a nice change-up to write a negative story.

• I feel that Unktomi is extremely vicious for killing the widows. He seems like a great villain to include in one of my stories.

• I thought the story where the arrowheads caused the boy to try and kill the Unktomi was unique. It shows that sometimes being nice will work out in your favor. I wonder just how scared they are of the Unktomi Tanka though.

Arrowhead

• I do find it cool how they animals and insects act like humans. I think it would be interesting to write a story where an insect is tricking the entire town because he/she is doing human-like things.

• I really like the stories that have the moral teachings of people being greedy or selfish. I think it is a theme that would make for a great story.

• Overall, I felt that these stories were great indications of the Sioux culture. 

Myths and Legends of the Sioux. Written by Marie McLaughlin. 1916.

Wikipedia Trail: From Sioux to Lake-Effect-Snow

Fort Chipewyan

I started the Wikipedia Trail on the Sioux Indians since that is what I read this week. I learned that the Sioux were divided into three language divisions: Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota. The Dakota division were actually involved with the French in the North American fur trade in the late 17^th century.  The fur trade had a fierce competition between the British and the French. The Iroquois were caught in the middle of this fierce battle and ended up migrating to the GreatLakes. The Great Lakes consist of multiple bodies of water that actually possesses close to 20% of the world’s fresh water. Since they are so large, they have impacts on the regional weather in this area. The phenomena is called the Lake-Effect snow. This is where cold air masses move across the warm bodies of water, causing a snow storm. 

Learning Challenge: Reading

Reading is one of the strongest tools a person can have in order to gain knowledge. I think this meme is a great indication of just how important reading is to a person's intelligence. It really does damage ignorance because it is a gift that keeps on giving. There are so many books out there that you will never read. Therefore, it is important to start reading now and "damage" your ignorance.  

H.E.A.R.T. Blog

Growth Mindset

I chose this meme because first off, the rubber ball looks like a sea urchin. I just snorkeled in Roatan Honduras so it brought back memories. In terms of growth mindset, I find it extremely accurate. I find that in order to truly learn something you need 100% focus on that topic. If not, you will never gain knowledge that is necessary to be successful in life.

 

Growth Mindset Blog

Week 9 Tech Tip: Cheezburger Memes

This week I made a meme on cheezburger. My Spring Break consisted of sitting at the beach so I thought this fit!

Week 9 Story Planning

Reading Notes

In the story I read this week, The Myths and Legends of the Sioux, a rabbit tricks some grouse into a bag to take to his grandmother. Furthermore, the Sioux stories always possessed an interaction between an animal and a human. I would like to include this into my story. Additionally, I read the past week Beowulf where Grendel, the villain, kills the villagers. A major theme I want to play off of is the trickery and the villain preying on villagers.

My Story/Plot

In my story, I would to have a group of bears be the villains in my story. They will have the power to transform their bodies into anyone they see. Therefore, they will trick a group of villagers into following them back into the lair where they reside. There, they will kidnap the villagers and hold them hostage to be fattened to be feasted on. Since they do not want to cause any panic in the town, the bears will transform themselves into the villagers and go about the normal days of the cities. One of the bears will get greedy though, and compromise all of the bears hiding in the village. There will be a falling out with all of the villagers and the bears. I have not yet decided which perspective I would like to write in. I actually plan on making the bears the main characters and from their perspective.

Characters

 Blackfoot: This will be the main bear of the group. He will be very strong and wise. He will be the one who designs the entire process of kidnapping and posing as the villagers.

Nokosi: This will be the youngest bear of the group of three. She is extremely intelligent and respects Blackfoot significantly. She will be the one who resolves the conflict between the bears and the villagers: either by fighting or by compromise.

Hopi: He will be the strongest bear of the group. He thinks he should be in charge despite his lack of intelligence. He will be the one who will try and take more villagers than there are bears. This will cause the town to figure everything out and will cause the main conflict.

Awan: The leader of the village. He will be in charge of creating a plan to defeat the bears that are tormenting the village.

The Kidnapped Villagers: These people will play small roles for they will only be included when they are tricked into going into the lair. There will also be random villagers in the end of the story during the conflict. 

MotherJones

Myths andLegends of the Sioux by Marie McLaughlin (1916).

Reading Notes Part A: Sioux Stories

This week I chose to read the Sioux stories. Below are my reading notes:

• I like the introduction of a rabbit communicating with a group of girls. I think having an interaction between animals and humans creates a great story. Additionally, I could include a story where the rabbit, or some other creature, tricks a group of humans into following. They would then be hurt or kidnapped.

• I thought the story of the rabbit and the bear was very unique since half of the bear was made of flint. I could make it to where a powerful being is king/queen because they are made of a specific resource and a group of people try and overthrow them.

• I think writing a story where an animal escapes and becomes a part of a human clan would be interesting. It would take a different approach than the original story.

• My favorite story was A Little Brave and the Medicine Woman. I felt that it involved a lot of humor because of Brave dressing up in mud like a dead person. I definitely can see a little boy doing this.

• I like reading these stories because they include dialogue from the native tongue and not just English. It makes the stories more unique and fun.

• I find it awesome how a lot of these stories have morals that are similar to the other cultures we have read in this class.

Indian Woman and the Wolves

Myths and Legends of The Sioux. Marie McLaughlin. 1916.