Google Docs Dictionary Tech Tip

Technology Tip: Google Docs Dictionary

For me, I ALWAYS get affect and effect mixed up. So I picked effect because I pretty much always using that at all times which is not good. I made sure to read the definitions of both because I just cannot get it right.

Week 2: Famous Last Words

Week 2: Famous Last Words

This week was the first week that we actually did readings and got to get a feel for what this class will be like for the rest of the semester. I am realizing that I am definitely going to need to manage my time well to do well in all of my classes. Every one of my classes is very demanding of my time this semester! I have fun with this class, though, because we really get to put a lot of our personalities into everything we do. We really get to control what we do for this class and that is nice. We get to pick which stories to read and which of those to retell. I really liked how some of the stories we got to choose from this week had an audio we could listen to. I do so much reading as it is that it was nice to have someone else read to me. The good thing about this class is that you have to be involved every day and that keeps you in touch of what needs to be done. Some online classes only make you do work once or twice a week, and it is really easy to get behind or to forget to do things. 

OU FOOTBALL

I am really excited for this weekend because it is the first OU football game of the season! Norman has a really fun vibe when there is a game going on. All of us Normanites love us some OU football so it should be a great weekend! I do not ever go to the games because I am usually working on Saturdays which is really unfortunate. I have probably only ever been to five OU games in my whole life. On top of football starting up, it is also a holiday weekend which I think most of us students are very ready for. We have had a long two weeks of classes and it will be nice to have a tiny break. 

Week 2: Essay

Essay Option 3: First Memories of Writing

I remember when I was going into third grade and I was so excited because we were going to learn how to write in cursive that year. I was so excited because I felt like knowing cursive made me a grown up or something. We would learn one letter at a time, and we had little workbooks to write everything in. Cursive was definitely more difficult than I had thought initially, but it was really fun. I always thought as a little girl that I could not read cursive until I could write cursive! So once I learned I thought I was so cool and of course wanted to use cursive all the tine! I still love to write in cursive today because it is fun to play with, and I can always get creative with it. 

Cursive Alphabet

I also remember learning how to type in school. I already had developed my own typing style at home, but we had to take classes in elementary school. I liked typing so I did not think it would be that bad. Little did I know, typing class was so much different and more difficult. We had to use certain fingers for certain buttons. I was not used to this so it was good to take a class to learn a more proper way of typing. 

Keyboard

I remember when I was in grade school, middle school, and sometimes high school when we wrote poems or short stories. I always thought it would be really hard, but I always usually ended up with something pretty good. We almost always had to share our stories in front of the class. I am very shy with my writing so I always was so terrified to do this. It was very, very hard for me. We had to write an "About Me" paper for our senior year of high school and it was not only something I had written, but something that was extremely personal. I was so scared to read it out loud at the podium, but I faced my fears and did it. Surprisingly enough, it up being a really fun experience. Throughout middle and high school I realized I liked English class the best, and it was also my best subject!

Week 2: Storytelling: How the War with Troy Began

Storytelling for Week 2: How the War with Troy Began

Long, long ago there once was a beautiful young woman named Helen. Helen was the daughter of the mighty King of Sparta. She had long blonde hair and bright green eyes. All of the Princes in the land of Greece wanted to marry Helen because of her beauty. The King of Sparta had all of the Princes in the land promise to always be friends no matter who his daughter would choose to marry, and also to help get Helen back if she were ever to be taken by some other wicked man. 

Beautiful Helen

Helen had a very large group of men to choose from. There was ugly men and handsome men, short men and tall men, powerful men and less powerful men, young men and older men, and muscular men and plump men. Helen, of course, wanted someone who was handsome, tall, powerful, young, and muscular. She believed she deserved the most handsome of all the men in Greece because she was the most beautiful woman in all of Greece.

Helen went on many, many dates throughout the spring, but did not find anyone worthy of her. Finally, the last date she went on was with Prince Menelaus. Menelaus was chief of all of the Kings of Greece, and was also very good looking. Helen decided Menelaus was worthy of her love so they got married that summer. They lived very happily together until a man named Paris made his way to Sparta. 

Prince Paris was son of the King of Troy. Helen had never seen such a beautiful man in her life. She could not keep her eyes off of him. He was taller, more handsome, and more muscular than Menelaus.  Paris was also very funny, smart, and extremely charming. He was everything Helen had ever wanted in a man. Helen captured him with her sparkling green eyes, and they instantly fell in love. 

Helen and Paris

That night, Helen convinced Paris to leave with her. She did not want to be with Menelaus anymore because she realized she had never known what love was until she met Paris. She wanted to be with Paris forever and forget her life back in Sparta. They were going to run away together to Italy so that no one would ever be able to find them. Since they were running away, they needed money. Helen robbed her palace of all of its gold and precious jewels. Helen and Paris then left the lives they had known in Sparta and Troy behind forever. 

When Menelaus woke up to find Paris, Helen, and all of his riches gone, he gathered up his army of men who had previously promised to help fight to get Helen back from any man who would steal her away. They would soon be on their way to Troy to fight the Trojans. He hoped to find his love Helen and bring her back home safely. 

Author's Note: In the original story of How the War with Troy Began, Helen is beautiful, but is not conceited. She chooses Menelaus as her husband and loves him. She does not instantly fall in love with Paris, he takes her away along with the jewels and gold. They do not go to Italy, they go back to Troy. The fact that she left with Paris is what causes the war in both stories. I decided to change it up because in the original story it did not elaborate on what happened when they left. It just said that Paris carried Helen away. So I thought it might be fun to add some details, and to make it all be Helen's idea. 

Bibliography:

Book: Homer's Iliad

Author: A.J. Church

Year Published: 1907

Web Source: Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook

Week 2: Homer's Iliad

Week 2 Reading Diary: Homer's Iliad

Reading A
The King of Sparta's daughter, Helen, chooses to marry Menelaus who then becomes King of Sparta when Helen's father dies. When Helen is carried off by Paris, the King of Troy's son, the men of Sparta are supposed to help her husband get her back.

The men cannot seem to get through the walls of Troy and they spend nine years trying. Agamemnon, Menelaus' brother, takes the daughter of the priest of Apollo and he refuses to give her back. This causes Apollo to be angry and to kill dogs, beasts, and men.

Achilles draws his sword at Agamemnon telling him that since Apollo is angry they will now have to give back the daughter, and without any money or anything in return. Athena appears to Achilles and says that if he puts his sword down, Agamemnon will ultimately end up paying Achilles back three or four times.

Now, angry, Agamemnon wants to steal the woman Briseis from Achilles. Briseis was a gift to Achilles from the Greeks, and he is not happy. He thinks that Agamemnon is very greedy. He allows her to be taken by the heralds in order to let them know that Agamemnon is evil, and to have a reason not to help him when he may need it.

Achilles then asks his mother Thetis to go talk to Zeus about helping the Trojans. He wants him to cause a war to start and to let the Trojans win. Zeus agrees even thought he knows it will cause a wife between him and his wife Hera. She asks him to prove to the Greeks that they cannot win a battle without Achilles, and this will be to prove his honor.

Thetis and Zeus by Ingres

Zeus then sends a false dream to Agamemnon to show him a battle in which he can win so that he believes the dream to be true and go and fight the Trojans.

Hector, Prince of Troy, goes to his brother Paris to ask him to help in battle, but Paris refuses.

The Greeks come to Achilles and talk to him about being scared of Hector, and tell him it is as if the gods are on the Trojans side. He will still not help them because of what Agamemnon had done. He would not take the money from the wealthiest city, or the daughter of Agamemnon even if she was as beautiful as Aphrodite.

Sarpedon was killed by Petroclus after Petroclus kept the ships from being destroyed by the Trojans.

Apollo tells Petroclus that it is not his or Achilles' job to take Troy. Apollo and Hector attacked Patroclus. Hector talks of slaying him, but Petroclus does not give him the glory and says that Apollo is the one who truly brought him to his death.

Reading B
There was a fight for Petroclus' body once he was dead. Menelaus wanted it, but was not going to go against Hector because he knew he would not win in a fighting match against him. Hector took the armor that Achilles had given Patroclus.

When Hector was dragging away the body to the Trojans, Ajax came to defend the body from the Trojans.  Hector drew back when he saw Ajax. Hector's men started to shame him for not standing up against Ajax. He told them he was not scared, and went to get the armor of Achilles from the men who were taking it back to the city. He put on Achilles armor and made Zeus angry.

The battle continues and is getting more brutal. They are fighting for the body of Patroclus.

Menelaus orders Antilochus to go tell Achilles that Patroclus is dead, that the Trojans prevail in battle, and that Hector has the arms. They hope that Achilles will come to battle and that they will be able to still save the body.

Achilles decides to go to the battle only when he has arms. Zeus sends Iris with a message to AChilles. If he just shows himself, the Trojans will back off, giving the Greeks some breathing room.

So Achilles ran to the trench and Athena put a shield about his shoulders and it shone like a flame of fire. Achilles shouted across the trench three times causing the Trojans to fall back three times. This allowed the Greeks to be able to take the body of Patroclus.

Agenor tried to stab Achilles below the knee, but the greave turned the spear because it was made by a god so it was very strong. Achilles tried to slay him, but Apollo lifted him away to a safe place. Apollo then took the shape of Agenor. Achilles then pursued him.

Apollo tells Achilles that he has been chasing one who cannot die while all the Trojans become safe in the city.

Hector's mother and father beg him to come inside the gates so that he is not killed by Achilles. Hector does not listen and wants to see who Zeus will give the victory to.

When Hector saw Achilles he got scared and started to run away with Achilles running after him.

Athena tells Achilles that it is Hectors fate to die, and that is he supposed to kill him. She tells him to rest and she will make Hector meet him.

When they meet, Hector tells Achilles that if Achilles dies he will give his body back to the Greeks, but he will keep his arms. He wishes Achilles will do the same. When they started to fight, Athena helps Achilles to kill Hector. Achilles drove his spear into Hectors collar bone where the armor did not cover.
Achilles tied Hector to his chariot by his ankles and went back to the Greeks. He did not take the body to Troy.

Hector's Body Dragged by Achilles 

Zeus makes Achilles give up Hector's body for ransom. Hector's father goes to Achilles to beg for his body. He asks for nine days of peace for a proper burial for Hector. Achilles leaves in the night so no one sees him there. On the ninth day there was a burial so grand that Troy had never seen one like it before.

Week 1: Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words

  This week I feel like I have learned a lot from this class. I have really learned a lot of useful tips for the internet. I made a blog! I never thought I would do that, or even know how to do that! Along with learning how to create a blog, I am learning how to use it and how to make changes based on what I like and dislike. For example, I know how to change the layout, background, font and colors of my blog. At first, I did not really like posting pictures with my blog posts because I thought it was complicated, but now I cannot imagine posting one without an image. It really adds something to the post. I have done four technology tips so far and those are really teaching me a lot because I am purposely picking ones that are going to teach me something new. I think that along with learning a lot about Mythology and Folklore, I will also learn a lot technology wise from this class. My other classes are going pretty well so far, but I know it is going to be a tough semester. I am in Spanish 2113 which is my third Spanish class at OU. I am nervous because I am not the best at Spanish and I know it is a lot of work since it is online. We have homework and quizzes due almost every day much like this class. I am also in Methods of Social Research which may be a difficult class too. We have lots of long papers to write in that class, and my teacher is VERY loud and intimidating. 

In honor of my grandparent's 51st anniversary coming up at the end of the month, the picture I have posted is of my sisters, my mom, my grandparents, and I at their 50th anniversary bash last year (I am the one in pink, this was before I chopped off my hair)!  It was such a great party, and they are still so sweet and in love after all these years!

(Grandmother & Grandfather's 50th anniversary party taken by my dad)

Week 1: Storybook Favorites

Storybook Favorites

The first storybook that I have picked is the Italian Love Story. What drew my attention to this story was the introduction. When I saw the introduction page there was a picture of the cast from How I Met Your Mother. I watched this show when it was on so I was immediately curious about it. I was interested in how the author would tell the story with a connection to the show. I thought it was a really good idea to mix these stories because it was very interesting. It was fun and a very different way of rewriting a story.

The second storybook I picked was Nursery Rhymes Gone Wrong. What captured me on this storybook was the title because it announces the topic of the story very clearly. I think that is really important because it is the first impression that the storybook leaves on someone. When I am looking through the list of storybooks the first thing I see is the title, and the title is what makes me either read or not read the storybook. If there is a boring title or a title that sounds not interesting to me, I probably will not read it. The thing I was not crazy about was the pictures the author used in this storybook.

The third storybook that I choose is Mermaid Tales from Around the World. The reason I chose this storybook is because I really liked the use of images in this story. Every page had a different beautiful picture of a mermaid. I thought the images were perfect for this story, and really add to the design of the page.  I am a very visual person, and the first thing I looked for in these stories was good pictures. I think they can really make a storybook special.

Mermaid Tales from Around the World

Week 1: Introduction

Introduction 

Hi! My name is Stephanie and unlike many of the students from the University of Oklahoma I am actually from Norman, OK. I am in my senior year here at OU, and I am a Sociology major. I was in Business at first, but decided it really was not for me! I had always really enjoyed my sociology classes so I decided to change majors, and I really love it! The classes are really interesting and enjoyable. I just turned 22 years old this summer, and I can tell it is going to be a great year! I love to cook, bake, shop, and hang out with my family and boyfriend as much as I can!

Lady Antebellum at OKC Fest taken by me Stephanie Griffin

I had the best summer I have had in a while. I absolutely love country music so for my birthday my boyfriend bought me OKC Fest tickets. It was sucha great show, and so much fun! I cannot wait to go again next year! 

Gracie taken by me Stephanie Griffin 

Bandit taken by Suzy Griffin

Gracie on Halloween by Stephanie Griffin

I have two dogs named Gracie and Bandit. Gracie is a silver toy poodle and she is the sweetest dog you will ever meet. Bandit is a black and white husky and he is also the sweetest. The cool thing about him is that he has a blue eye and a brown eye! He is not nearly as intimidating as he looks :)

Jennifer & I taken by me

Michelle & I taken by Jennifer Griffin

I have two sisters who I am lucky enough to call my best friends! Michelle is 19 and is starting her sophomore year this fall at UCO. Jennifer is 16 on September 11th and she is a sophomore at Norman North this year. We are all so different! I am the oldest and definitely the more responsible one of the three as of right now! Michelle is the wild child, is obsessed with pickles, and is way taller than me. Jennifer is also taller than me, and she is the funny one of us three. She is crazy and loves to have fun, and is the sister that is good at EVERYTHING. 

Plaza de Espana taken by Don Griffin

In July I was lucky enough to get to travel to Spain with my dad and two sisters. We spent 3 days in Sevilla, and a week in Barcelona. We got to see so many beautiful things, but my favorite was the Plaza de España in Sevilla (pictured above, I am the one in navy). It was so colorful and beautiful, it was definitely a highlight. I really, really love to travel. I love experiencing new cultures, and the way people live in other places. I find it fascinating, so I feel really lucky to be able to experience that this summer! Next, I would love to go to England or Ireland, or both! This fall I am looking forward to some cooler weather, the holidays, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1" (because I absolutely love the books, the movies, and Jennifer Lawrence), and becoming one semester closer to graduating! I am taking some pretty difficult courses so I am praying that I manage my time well, and do not get too stressed out! I have been trying to get in this class for about 2 years so I am really excited to be able to take it this semester!

Week 1: Storytelling: The Hares and the Frogs

Storytelling

The Hares and the Frogs illustration by Milo Winter

The Hares and the Frogs 

As you may know, Hares are very easily frightened. They see the tiniest glimpse of a shadow, and they are jumping out of their fur and darting into the nearest hole. They hear the slightest of a sound and scurry off as fast as they can. As you can imagine, it is extremely hard to go a few seconds at all without seeing a shadow or hearing a sound. Therefore the Hares spend most of their day running away from noises and shadows. They can not enjoy their lives when they are constantly wasting the day in hiding spot after hiding spot. 

One day, the group of Hares had had it. They could not stand living in fear anymore, and needed to come up with a solution to end their misery. Finally, they came together and all concluded that dying a quick death would be better for them than living such a nervous and skittish life. They discussed the ways they could die that would be quick and not put them into too much pain. One Hare said "We could all jump of a cliff. It would be fast and easy." Another stated, "We could run straight into a pack of wolves to be eaten immediately. It would be painful, but very short lived." 

As they were pondering, they heard a slight brush in the bushes nearby. Being Hares, they hurried off as fast as they could to the burrow. While running to the burrow, they stumbled across a pond where Frogs were peacefully enjoying the day on a nice log. The Frogs got scared when they heard the Hares scurrying by. Immediately, the Frogs jumped right into the water for they felt safe there. 

"Wow,"  said a Hare, "we thought things were bad for us, but here we find creatures who are actually afraid of us, only Hares!"

Authors Note: "The Hares and the Frogs" can be found in The AESOP for Children. It is originally a story about how Hares are scared and easily frightened so they decided they would rather die than live that way. They eventually realize that something is actually scared of them and that makes them feel better and they decide not to die. I did not change too much about the story, but just elaborated more on certain parts. 

Book: The AESOP for Children

Author: Aesop

Year Published: 1919

Web Source: Aesop for Children

Google Timer Tech Tip

Google Timer Tech Tip

I have never actually thought about using a timer as a way to help me get things done. I usually write up a to-do list and check things off when I have completed them. I always put the most important ones/the ones due first at the top and work my way down. Using a timer could help me in a lot of ways because I tend to spend too much time on certain things. A timer would help me to manage my time better and it would help me realize how much time I am spending on things that do not require a large amount of time. I am glad to learn about this feature of Google, and will most likely use it frequently throughout the semester. 

Week 1: Un-Textbook

UN-Textbook Readings

Week 2: I think the story about Cupid & Psyche sounds interesting. I realized that I do not think I have ever heard the story about Cupid so I would definitely love to ready about it. I also really love Greek mythology in general so I am more likely to read the stories about Gods and Goddesses.

Week  4 & 5: I thought that the Persian Fairy Tales stories looked interesting. They include fairies, demons, and werewolves which all sound exciting! This one might be a fun read!

Week 11 & 12: I have never read the story of Beowulf, but it is a story I have always heard about. For this reason I would consider choosing this story. The caption sounds very intense and captivating. The story even includes a fire breathing dragon.

Week 11 & 12: I also would love to read Alice in Wonderland because I am sure it is very different than the movie. I do not recall ever seeing the full movie, but I would like to see the differences based on what I do know about the movie.

Google Search-by-Image Tech Tip

I used Google Search-by-Image to research this image which shows the Iguazu Falls which are on the border of Argentina and Brazil.

Iguazu Falls

Source Wikipedia

Additional Information: Iguazu Falls National Park

Keyboard Tech Tip

¡Buenos días! ¿Cómo estás?

I decided to use Spanish for the keyboard tech tip because it is the only language I have studied aside from English. I am not fluent by any means, but I know some! This phrase translates to "Good morning! How are you?" I really liked learning about this website that lets you type in any language because I have taken two semesters of Spanish and it was very hard to remember all of the codes to type out the letters with accents. I am taking my third semester of Spanish this fall and this will help me out a lot!

Blogger Templates Tech Tip

Blogger Templates Tech Tip

I really like more colorful things so I liked the "Watercolor" templates, but I also liked the "Picture Window" template and decided to choose the sky background within that template for my blog. I wanted something that was not too plain, but also not too distracting. I do not like it too simple because to me that would not grab my attention. I really like the background I chose because it is clean and not too busy. It is also great because you can read everything I post with this layout. I have never blogged before so it was fun to play with different backgrounds and layouts, and to see that you could really customize your blog. It is nice to know that you can really make your page your own!

Week 1 Favorite Places: Hawaii

I decided to pick Hawaii for my favorite places. I have a lot of favorites, but this one has to be the greatest!

Crystal Blue Waters of Hawaii

Being the beach lover that I am, my favorite place in the world has to be Hawaii! I have been to Hawaii twice and have concluded that it is pretty much the most beautiful place I have seen. It is peaceful, yet exciting at the same time. It is also a great place for a family to have fun together, or an awesome place to honeymoon (which is what I want to do). The first time I went to Hawaii, I went to Maui with my whole family which was great! There was great restaurants there, some shopping, and great hotels. I loved it! The second time I went with just my dad because his work had won a trip to Kona which is on the Big Island. It was very different from Maui. There was black volcanic rock everywhere and our hotel was very secluded.  Overall, Hawaii is an exotic, laid back, gorgeous destination where you can have the most amazing time whether you are on a family vacation or a romantic getaway! I plan to make many more trips in the future, and will hopefully visit all of the islands some day. 

Stephanie's Blog

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