Story Lab: Writers Write

I used this assignment to explore the Writers Write website, and I found many helpful articles. The most helpful, however, was the article titled 10 Good Reasons to Read More Books. The first tip I found for writing is to read more fiction. This article said that it is important to read fiction in order to learn how to craft good stories. This is a key for me. I know that I need to read more fiction. As a science major, I often get stuck in the rut of reading nothing but dense, non-fiction science textbooks. This makes storytelling seem almost foreign to me as I am not used to creatively writing.

I also enjoyed reading the article titled 3 Simple Ways to Kick-Start Your Writing.  The first tip, Suess it up, sounds fun and engaging to warm up before creatively writing. Overall, the takeaway from this article is to find a way to get the creative juices warmed up before writing. I think this will prove to be helpful for me, and I look forward trying it out.

Writing 

Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana Part D

        This section begins with Hanuman mistaking Mandodari, Ravana’s wife, for Sita. He later finds Sita being guarded by demons. She is depressed and suicidal. However, Hanuman presents her with Rama’s ring. Hanuman is later captured and brought to Ravana. He advises Ramana to surrender to Rama. Hanuman’s tail is lit on fire by Ravana and Lanka is burnt completely. Ravana is outraged and must be reminded that he is mortal to humans such as Rama. He is advised to release Sita back to Rama. Ravana believes that he is not cursed and rejects the advice. Vibhishana is forced to leave Ravana, and Rama takes him in as his ancestor gave a pideon asylum from a falcon. Rama then receives how to attack Lanka. Rama has the sea gods help him cross the water by building a bridge with the help of a variety of animals. Ravana tries to trick Sita by showing her a decapitated head that looks like Rama, but she does not believe him. Angada destroys the tower and Rama orders the attack on Lanka. Rama faints and Sita must be told that they have only passed out and not died. Rama injures Ravana and his crown is broken. Later, Rama kills Kumbakarna. Indrajit is later killed and Ravana becomes furious with Rama. Later, Rama does not have a good feeling about fighting Rama but still views him as a lesser mortal. Ravana’s heads are repeatedly chopped off and they keep re-growing. Ravana faints, and, although he could finish the fight, Rama refuses to attack an opponent who is fainted. Rama eventually defeats Ravana and orders him a big funeral. Rama makes Sita jump in fire to prove her purity. The story ends with Rama returning from exile.

            Like always, I enjoy looking for themes and morals that are applicable to a wide variety of life stories. I found a good one in this section of reading. This comes when Rama refuses to take an opponent who is not at full strength. I viewed this as refusing to take the easy way out and conquering tests when they are at full strength in order to receive a greater reward at the end. This could craft a story with different characters who choose to overcome an obstacle at full strength rather than taking a lighter path, only to see that pay off in the end.

Bibliography: Narayan's Ramayana Part D 

Rama battling Ravana 

Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana Section C

Ravana approaches Sita as an old hermit and she is receptive at first. She later tells him to go away, and he lifts the ground Sita is standing on and flies away with her. Ravana kills Jatayu who tried to save Sita. Rama finds him dying, but he cannot tell which way Ravana went. Rama then decides to head south to the monkey kingdom. Hanuman sees them and tries to go undercover as a scholar, but Rama is not fooled. The story of Vali is then told. Vali churned nectar from the ocean and the gods gave him fighting powers as a result. A demon challenged Vali, and Vali chased him off. Vali did not come out of the cave, so Sugriva decided to block the cave off to trap the demon. When Vali emerged, he was extremely angry and beat Sugriva and took his wife. Rama had sympathy for Sugriva, and Hanuman thinks he could destroy Vali. Later, Sita’s jewelry is found by one of the monkeys and Sugriva decides to help Rama find her. Sugriva fights Vali and Rama helps by killing him with an arrow. Vali later dies and Sugriva becomes king. Rama is in the forest for the rainy season. Later, Rama has to remind Sugriva of his promise to help them in the forest. Sugriva later gathers a big army to help Rama. Towards the end of this section, Sampathi. Sampathi tells them that Ravana was seen taking Sita to Lanka. Hunuman grows enormous to step across the ocean to Lanka.

            One area of this story that I found interesting, and that would create a good story opportunity, is the story of Vali. I could change the storyline and characters of Vali being mistakenly trapped in the cave by Sugriva. I like to take themes and morals and craft a separate story. To me, the moral seems to be do not be angry when people try to help and they actually end up doing the opposite.

Bibliography: Narayan's Ramayana Section C 

Sugriva challenging Vali 

Learning Challenge: Sleep

I read the article titled An Underappreciated Key to College Success: Sleep. One thing I learned is that there is a correlation between sleep quantity/quality and success in schools. I have known that sleep is important, but I was unaware of this fact. For a student, I have fairly decent sleeping habits. I am usually in bed at a respectable time, and I wake up fairly early as I am a morning person. I have noticed that being well rested helps me perform better in my academics and workouts. One thing that I do is go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time every day, as discussed in this article. One thing that I need to work on is not using electronics directly before bedtime.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation 

Tech Tip: Canvas Notifications

I have actually already configured my canvas notifications. I have it set up to where I get notifications through my email, my text messages, and pop up notifications from the canvas mobile app on my iPhone. Most of my notifications are about updated grades and upcoming assignment due dates. I have found these to be very helpful reminders and useful for quick checks on grades.

Growth Mindset: Sports

I read the article Learning and Performance Zones in Sports by Jeremy Frith. This article confirmed that growth mindset is a great attribute to have in sports and athletics. One thing that I had not previously considered was using practice as a learning zone and games as a performance zone. I found this to be very insightful. It is important to make sure that you are growing and addressing flaws in practice, while focusing on what you do best in games. The goal is not to be flawless in practice. The goal is to learn as much as possible and grow in weak areas. I am going to try to use this approach more in studying by focusing on skills that I have not yet mastered rather than trying to be flawless in practice.

Advice in Sports 

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

I actually just installed the canvas mobile app on my iPhone earlier this week. I find it very helpful for organizing my school work on the go. I am able to pull up documents for readings and homework right there on my phone at anytime. This makes access to studying much easier. It also allows me to check my grades at any time. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy the canvas mobile app.

Feedback Strategies

The first article that I found helpful for giving good feedback is the 7 Key Characteristics of Better Learning Feedback. I found the tips very concrete and easy to remember. The main points i found useful were to have an end goal in mind, be actionable, and transparent. The most important sentence I read was to provide helpful facts. No praise or blame is needed. Instead, point out facts that can be improved upon and try to provide a helpful path forward.

The second article that I found useful was the Seven Characteristics of Effective Feedback. An important part in reading this was to focus more on providing solutions rather than simply pointing out flaws or problems. This is something concrete that I can incorporate into my own feedback. It is also important to point out strengths and avoid being overly negative. This article was very helpful to me in finding appropriate ways to give helpful feedback.

After reading these articles, I feel confident in giving people feedback. I have had some experience in this, mostly doing peer reviews in writing intensive college courses, so this is not completely new to me. Some things that are very helpful to me are being specific and providing possible solutions.

Feedback

Topic Research: Creation Stories

The first possible topic that I found interesting is the "evolution" of Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu. As a biology major, I am interested in stories revolving around evolution. This is clear in the evolution of the avatars of Vishnu. The avatars go from a fish to a tortoise to a boar to a man/lion to a dwarf to warriors and kings. It would be cool to research how these characters progress and change through different incarnations of Vishnu.

The first story that caught my eye was the story of Matsya. This is the avatar of a fish.The story is interesting because the fish grows and saves earthly life in a Noah's-ark-like event. Matsya even carried Manu to safety according to some stories.  This would be another interesting story topic as Manu is often described as the first man. Perhaps there would be some stories on how modern life descended from this first man? This could provide some cool opportunities for stories that match my interests. The third story that seems interesting is the story of Narasimha. This is interesting because the avatar is half man and half mammal. Although this is a deviation from how evolution is truly understood to unfold, it is a good symbol for the transition to full man. I am also interested in this story because its purpose was to destroy religious persecution, so I think there would be some interesting stories that could be taken from this character.

Matsya

Week 3 Story: A Curse from the Past

         John Abraham was a high school AP Biology teacher. He had been teaching this subject material for thirty two years, and he loved every minute of it. He was a man that put everything he had into the learning of his students. He was a single man. He earned a decent living on his teacher’s salary and had relatively few obligations outside of his teaching subject. As an avid lifelong learner, he was constantly looking for the next challenge in his life to continue his mastery of the subject. One particular interest he had taken was in the medicinal side of biology. So, as a sixty two year old man, he made the decision to give up teaching and pursue medical school and a career in medicine. He wanted to spend the later years of his life learning about his lifelong passion.

            Mr. Abraham started on his quest by completing the few missing pre-requisite courses at the local university. He then went on to study for the MCAT and prepare his application. As a teacher with subject mastery, he was able to score exceptionally well. In fact, he was almost a sure-fire medical school candidate. He submitted his application and promptly received an interview for the medical school at his local university.

            Everything appeared to be going well for Mr. Abraham until the day of his interview. When he walked in, he greeted everyone with a smile and a handshake. But there was one person, the dean of admissions, whose face popped out from the crowd and haunted Mr. Abraham for the duration of the interview. The dean of admissions was none other than Carl Johnson, one of Mr. Abraham’s students from years ago.

            That year was a particularly trying time for Mr. Abraham. A severe teacher shortage forced him to take on multiple classes. On top of that, his personal life took a hit as he was going through a divorce. This was the one year that Mr. Abraham was not devoted to teaching. One student, Carl Johnson, was constantly wearing thin on Mr. Abraham’s nerves. Although he had technically done enough to pass his course, Mr. Abraham decided to give him a failing grade on a technicality due to a late assignment. As far as Mr. Abraham knew at the time, this would be his last encounter with Carl Johnson.

            At the conclusion of the medical school interview, Carl Johnson pulled Mr. Abraham aside.

“Do not think I forgot how poorly you treated me,” said Carl. “You will never gain admission to any medical school around here if I have any say in the matter.”

            Mr. Abraham is devastated. His worst nightmares have come true. He knows that his predicament is the result of a curse placed on him many years ago, when he did not teach to the best of his abilities.

Author’s Notes: This story is very loosely based on an excerpt from Narayan’s Ramayana Part A. When Rama is forced into exile, Dasharatha knows that this terrible situation is the result of a curse placed on him long ago, when he killed a man. I took the theme that sins from your past can and will haunt you in the future, and I wrote a story with completely different characters and plot. However, I held constant the theme that your past can haunt you. This is true in the story of Mr. Abraham, who finds his dreams to attend medical school crushed due to treating a student poorly long ago in his past.

Bibliography: Narayan's Ramayana Part A 

Dasharatha