Online Education Review

I am definitely a fan of being able to take online courses. They are really helpful for me to have to find a perfect course load balance every semester. I love being able to do the work for online course at my own pace since I know I will have busier weeks filled with work and group projects. Being able to take online courses helps to alleviate some of the stress I would have with classes that only meet in a classroom. Those classes are usually much more rigid and do not allow for working ahead as easy in a class like this. The only negative I have found with most online courses is that I have to be more structured to remember exactly when things are due since I do not go to class to hear from the professor when things are due. I loved that you sent out email reminders in this class! This helped me to make sure that I knew when things were due.

(B.B. King quote)

Gen. Ed. Review

I have had a great experience with my general education courses. I think it is imperative to have these courses to make sure that all students have a well-rounded education. Taking these types of courses has exposed me to subjects that I had never learned much about before. It also gave me a deeper sense of appreciation for those courses since I was able to learn about them and actually understand them better. The things I learn from all of these courses help me to be that much more viable when I have to get into the professional world. This class has exposed me to a trove of rich stories from culture spanning across the globe that I might have never read if it were not for me taking this course. I can now contribute to conversations when people talk about Aesop fables.

 

(John Dewey on education)

College Writing Review

Since I am an advertising major, I definitely think that writing is a crucial trait to have to do well. To write copy you have to be comfortable with writing and aware of grammar rules. There is actually a required course for all JMC majors to take that is solely based around writing. I learned a tremendous amount about writing rules from that class. By no means do I think I have all of the rules mastered; I still have a lot to learn to perfect my craft. I have noticed that there are different rules for media writing compared to traditional writing that is taught in the English Composition classes at OU. The number one thing that comes to mind is the use of the Oxford comma. I have always tried to catch myself when I omit it in my non-JMC classes. It is really interesting to read back on some of my high school papers now and see how atrocious my writing was compared to what I know now. 

(Nick from New Girl trying to become a writer)

Extra Reading Diary: Aesop: La Fontaine

I chose to ready Aesop: La Fontaine for my extra reading diary this week since I have immensely enjoyed all of the Aesop fables up until this point. Each Aesop unit is so rich and diverse with all of the elements that are used in the stories; this unit was able to live up to the standard and then some. I was really glad that I chose to read this unit!

Foxes: One story from the Fox unit that I really liked was The Fox and the Grapes. I loved the range of emotions that were shown by the fox during the trials of trying to acquire the grapes. At one point he was enamored by the sight of them and he had to have them above all else. I just loved how quickly his thoughts about the grapes shifted once he realized that it was a task that he could not accomplish. My favorite thing was when he even called the grapes sour since he had such a sour attitude from failing.

(fox)

Insects: I chose the insect unit since they are not commonly used protagonists in most stories. I have never really know what attitudes to associate with insects since they are so rarely used. One story that really stood out from the others was The Grasshopper and the Ant. The Grasshopper was such a perfect character since you never really do hear them in the winter, but you will definitely hear them all winter long. I loved that the grasshopper was put into a perspective of not having a job in the winter since it never chirps then. I also liked how shrewd the ant was by not wanting to give him any bread since she had no compassion for that since ants are always moving and working. The story was brilliant.

Reading Diary B: Italian Fairy Tales

I am really glad that I chose to read Italian Fairy Tales for my reading diary this week. It was a trove of great stories to choose from. I am glad that I can say I know some actual Italian fairy tales now.

An Incident in Rome: I did not see this story being a religious themed one. Master Francis really stood out in this story. I loved his eagerness to jump into the depths of the hole that they had just recently discovered. He went into the hole without a care or concern. I loved that he took that autograph on his back no questions asked, granted, he was not going to get any answers regardless of how many questions he asked the old man, whom would later be revealed as Pilate. His fate in the end was something that I did not see coming. I was a little sad to see that his bravery would end up being his downfall.

(Pilate inscription)

A Feast Day: I chose this story since I still do not know how I feel about it. This was a story where I could not guess what the moral would be while I was reading it. I was a fan of the dynamic between the cat and the dog. I loved how they schemed together to steal the fowl from the cauldron and even to hide after. The biggest question I have is what caused everyone to get stuck together? None of the characters really had enough time to develop and give more information about themselves. I did think that it had a poetic ending by insulting the listeners.

Reading Diary A: Italian Fairy Tales

I decided to go with Italian Fairy Tales for my reading diary this week. I chose this unit since I have never knowingly read an Italian fairy tale before this week. That is really odd the more I think about it since Italy is such a culturally rich country. I am glad that I am able to amend that problem this week!

How the Devil Married Three Sisters: This was a rather interesting story to read. I always find it interesting to read about different cultural depictions of the Devil and how they make him act in stories. I found the Devil in this story to be very interesting in the way he acted with his wives. The most intriguing part was that he actually fell in love with the third wife only because she did not open the forbidden door to Hell. I also did not expect him to be so compliant with her demands of carrying the chests either; I would have assumed that he would have refused since he is such an evil character in nature.

Water and Salt: The title for this story is originally what caught my attention. I originally thought it would be a story about the creation of water and salt or something along those lines. The daughter character in this story was fascinating. I am still surprised that she was able to forgive her father after he ordered her to be executed. She has to be one of the most forgiving characters that I have read about. I think this story is a candidate for my storytelling post this week. 

(salt)

Extra Reading Diary: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman)

I was excited to see that there were some Brothers Grimm stories to read for this week. I have only read a few of their stories and I have unfortunately watched the blunder that was the movie. I was eager to read Brothers Grimm (Ashliman) so I could get more acquainted with these famous tales.

Little Red Cap: I wanted to read Little Red Cap since it has been such a long time since I read it, and I know I enjoyed it when I was younger. I realized after reading this now that there were a lot of elements that I did not pick-up on when I read this as a kid. Little Red Cap perfectly represents the innocent character; one of my favorite examples was when she did not even fret when she saw the Wolf. She just wanted to make a new friend. Her eagerness to get her sick grandmother the prettiest bouquet possible was another great example. I do remember that the Wolf's snoring alarming the Hunter always made me laugh as a kid. I still think that was a great way to balance the dark tone of what happened, and it served as a great transition since the story resolves after that.

(Little Red Cap and the Wolf)

Rumpelstiltskin: I chose to read Rumplestiltskin since I have actually never read the story before. I have only been told about his ability to spin things into gold and nothing else. I never knew how twisted of a character he actually was. I was beginning to wonder what she would have to wager when she ran out of jewelry to give him, but I did not see a baby coming in the demand. I was glad to see that his braggadocios ways would be his downfall. I also did not expect him to rip himself in half in the end; I am still trying to wrap my head around that sequence.