Extra Credit Reading Notes: Why Dogs Growl

(An Agressive Wolf Puppy by Creative Commons)

Hi there! 

So I highly suggest looking through the home page of UN-Textbook to find some awesome extra credit readings. The stories are all so great and so hard to choose between! So why did I pick Why Dogs Growl? Well I am getting a puppy in a few months and I would love to know exactly why it will growl;) Haha just kidding. I love stories on why things are the way they are. It will be a great story to share with my friends and family too (all dog lovers)!

Lets jump it!

First off, the word helpmeet is used a lot. I had no idea what this meant so I used trusty google to save the day. Helpmeet means a helpful companion. Typically a husband or wife. I believe it is supposed to actually refer to Eve though. Correct me if I am wrong. 

But back to the story, Adam was essentially surrounded by a bunch of animals with partners. God decided to give him a partner. So, God cut out a rib from Adam and set it on the ground. The dog at cat were growling and the dog snatched the rib. God took the rib back and cut off the dog's tail. The dog has been growling ever sense. 

So time for a little creativity. I would change a lot about this story. First off, you could make this story longer and more detailed. Here are some questions I have that need answers

• Why do some dogs have tails now?
• What was the first dog?
• Why did God set the rib down?
• Why did the cat not grab it?
• Why cut the tail off the dog?
• What happened to Eve?

There are too many questions that need answers. If I retold the story I think I would ditch most of it. Maybe keep the part about Adam. Overall, not a great story, but it could be fun to change it up!

Bibliography:
Why Dogs Growl from African American Folktales by Richard Dorson. Found on Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook. 

Week 10 Lab

Hey there! 

So this week I went ahead and explored writers write. I love exploring that website and finding awesome and beneficial readings. Since I am writing a storybook for children I really try to focus my attention on article centered around how to write for kids. 

Lets start with the 

Do Your Characters Have SMART Story Goals?

This one was great to check Vela in my storybook. She kinda acts as my main character/ narrator. It is also good to check each main character in each sub story. Here is the condensed checklist!

My Main Character Has A....

• Specific Goal: define the goal using these 5 Ws...
• Who?
• What?
• Where?
• When ?
• Why?

• Measurable Plan: we can measure their success or failure if we know... 
• How they will achieve goal/ execute the plan?

• Attainable Goal: its gotta be realistic...
• Does your character have the resources?
• Does your character have the ability?

• Relevant Goal: does the goal make sense...
• Will my character grow/benefit ?
• Is my character motivated?

• Time-bound: create tension and urgency 
• Will my reader feel a need to keep reading?

The other article I really want to save and utilize is the 

140 Words To Describe Mood In Fiction

I'm not going to write all 140 words out, but please use the link to explore some great descriptive words for mood! Mood is what the reader FEELS. 

If you have any suggestions for articles to read, please leave them in the comments. There are some pretty great articles on the writers write website!

(Mindset Cat from Feedback Cats)

Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends, Part B

Hey there! 

So I am going to focus these notes on a specific story from Alaskan Legends, Part B. This story is called Tricks of the Fox. After reading all of the stories in part B (which I HIGHLY recommend because they are short, sweet, and super good) I found I enjoyed this one the most. All of the stories had a very historical mood about them. The were written in third person, but they were told as if they actually happened. It was like a direct retelling from someone who watched it. It is kinda difficult to explain, but if you read the stories it may make more sense. 

Anyways, I picked this story because it was a trickster story! It also had fox as the main character and if you know anything about me, you should know I am a sucker for stories about cute furry animals. Here is actually a link for 14 cool fox facts! One of the facts is that arctic foxes don't shiver until it is -94 degrees F! Also look how dang cute they are.

(Arctic Fox Pup by Wiki Commons)

They also change color with the season!

(Another Arctic Fox Pup by Wiki Commons)

Lets start with a brief run down and my thoughts while reading the story:

In the beginning there is a male fox with his pups. He leaves to go get Eagle eggs.

• Pups are also called kits or cubs. Male foxes are also called tons. 
• What kind of foxes is the story talking about? I think it is arctic foxes since the story is from the Koryak (Siberia). Here is a list of mammals in Alaska though. There are red foxes and arctic foxes. 

The first trick is done by the fox to get the eagle eggs down. Essentially he put grass stalks on his ears and pretended like he was going to knock the tree down where the eagle and her eggs were. He said he would knock it down if she did not throw an egg down. The eagle through an egg down to the fox. He then demanded another, she was frightened to lose all her eggs so she threw another. The fox laughed and insulted the eagle. The eagle picked him up and flew the fox to a deserted island. 

The second trick is done by the fox to get off the island. He sings a song to get the attention of the animals in the water. They ask what the song is about and the fox ask if they think there are more animals in the water or on land. They say the water. The fox ask them to prove it by making a bridge from the island to the land so he can count. They do as the fox says. The fox uses this bridge to escape this island and return home. 

• I wonder what song he sang?
• Why did the sea animals not eat the fox?
• Do you think the fox learned his lesson to not ask of too much?

Bibliography:
Alaska Legends Part B edited by Katharine Berry Judson. Website: Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook

Learning Challenge: Read an Article, Attention

Top 10 Ways to Be More Productive When Working from Home: link here

(Working From Home by Clip Art)

Hey guys! This article was really beneficial for me since I do most of my work at home and I am planning on completing a masters online in a few months. 

Something I already knew was the importance of getting dressed. That makes the biggest difference in my productivity during the day. I wake up, wash my face, brush my teeth, get some coffee, eat a bite, and then put on real clothes. This separates my home life from my work life pretty well. 

One thing I did not know was the "commuting to your office" point. I may try this, but honestly I am not a huge fan of it. If it works that is awesome. Apparently if you take a walk around the block like you are commuting to your office, it helps you get in the right mindset. 

I am curious to explore the impacts of creating a focused work environment. I will be moving into a house in a couple months and I am currently picking out my office furniture. It is so important to have enough desk space for me, but other aspects I have no idea. I really want a standing desk. I have always had a desk in a bedroom and now I finally have a legit office. I am hoping that may help focus me by itself, but who knows. I may try to google some ways to create a focused office environment before I buy anything!

Reading Notes: Alaska Legends, Part A

(Blue Jay by Wiki Commons)

Hey there!

So, to be completely honest my mind is going a million different directions, so trying to focus on this reading was extremely difficult.

Overall, this reading was about the Raven who created the world as we know it. It was very similar to the first part of the bible (genesis) in style and content. It is written in third person and moves quickly from one subject to the next. In the reading the Raven is the creator.  The Raven creates people, birds, tides, and everything in between.

My favorite part was The Naming of the Birds. I thought it was awesome. My favorite bird is probably either a blue-jay or a humming bird, so it was cool to read about a culture's idea of them and their purpose. If I do a story this week of this reading, I may want to just focus on the hummingbird or blue-jay. In case I do, here are the links I may find useful:

• The Jays
• Characteristics of Blue Jay story
• "Bluejay is the trickster hero of the Chinook, Chehalis, and other Northwest Coast tribes. Bluejay is generally a benevolent being who is helpful to humankind, but he is also extremely foolish and careless, and stories about him are often humorous or even slapstick in nature"
• Blue Jay: how the Sun was stolen story 
• Native American Myths of the Blue Jay

• Humming Bird
• "In legends, Hummingbird is often portrayed as a healer or as a spirit being who helps people in need, and sometimes plays the important mythological role of fire-bringer. Seeing a hummingbird is a sign of good luck in many Native American tribes, especially Northwest Coast tribes. 
• Legend of the Humming Bird

I have visited Alaska pretty recently so I appreciated this reading a lot. I am hoping to be able to focus a little better on part B and take it in more.

Bibliography:
Alaska Legends Part A edited by Katharine Berry Judson. Website: Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook