Feedback Strategies Thoughts: Week 3

For Week 3 Feedback Strategies, we are reading articles on giving feedback. The two articles I read are:

• Be a Mirror 
• Specific Feedback that Helps Learning

I picked these two because they look interesting and helpful, and I wanted to learn a little more about giving specific feedback, because at least I've noticed before that that seems to be the best kind of feedback to give.

For the "Be a Mirror" article, I learned that people can often progress at different paces because of theri beliefs in their own abilities. And when they believe they can grow those abilities, instead of remain static, they often use more problem solving and other tools to do the best they can. Soa  big takeaway I got from the article is when giving feedback, focus on what the person is doing instead of what they are not doing, so you can give better specific feedback in a growth positive framing, and they won't feel bad, and instead, hopefully, lke they are on the right rack.

For the Specific feedback article, I learned that it is important to give feedback that is goal-oriented, so the student feels like your feedback is actively helping them get to some goal they are trying to achieve, instead of just thrown out there as a general criticism. I think if you frame most feedback in that way, people would be more receptive of it, because most people are trying to reach some goal, and if your feedback acknowledges that and tries to see how they can get there, that is actually helpful feedback!

I found an image of Sugriva asking for feedback! Make sure it is specific. (Link)

Project Topic Brainstorm Week 3

Last week, I looked at 3 options for my project that seemed viable. This week, I will focus in on only one of those options::

Ravana.

I decided to go with Ravana because even though I am not done with my Ramayana reading, I am still liking his character, and how he isn't wholly good or wholly evil but a good mix of both, and I think he could make an interesting project.

To get more research done on him, I clicked on the page you put together that acted as the hub for sources for him here. I looked at past projects and I want to look at Ravana: Roar of the Demon King, along with prior knowledge of Ravana from Ramayana and wiki articles I've already read to brainstorm possible stories.

For my first idea, I have thought about a type of origin story with Ravana. Since the gods seemed to have a great interest in Ravana, I think it could be interesting to explore his early relationships with those gods (like how Ravana has that curse on him from Brahma that only allows him to have consensual sex), and explore his time before Rama.

For a second Idea, I think I could flip the story in Ramayana around a little bit, and have Ravana bow down to Rama, and then when Shurpanka gets her ears cut off, instead of Ravana getting angry and going after Rama, he decides to side with Ramam since he is wise and can see that he would be no match for him. I think there are a lot of ways I could go with this story, I would just have to be creative and descriptive and give good reasons for his actions that still are true to his character.

For the last idea, I've thought about changing the story to where after Ravana takes Sita away from Rama, he is unable to get her back for a long long time because of reasons I will think of later, so she ends up reluctantly liking Ravana more and more until she eventually shares mutual interest with him, and she becomes Queen of Lanka. This story would be pretty crazy, because there are a lot of ways I could go with the story.

This is how I think of Ravana; How could Sita not want this?

Storytelling Week 3: Ravana, the New Rama

The following story is meant to alter the events in Ramayana reading Part B, where Ravana comes up with a plot to capture Sika from Rama. ( Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).

Rama and his brother  Lakshmana, along with Sita, sat alone in a cave deep in the forest, deciding what their next move was. They had only just earlier narrowly avoided death by the hands of Khara and his army of Rakshasas.

Sika was absentmindedly gazing into the forest while Rama and Lakshmana went over possible strategies to counter a possible attack from  Ravana, great king of Lanka and powerful rakshasas. Suddenly, a flash of gold caught Sika's eye. "Rama, see that radiant gold stag in the clearing over their? I want it, would you take it as a trophy for me, your beloved?" Rama rolled his eyes, growing tired of his wife's seemingly ignorant and aloof nature toward the potential danger at hand. However, he did love her dearly, and wanted to put her at ease. He agreed to go out get the stag for her, and be back soon.

Not 5 minutes later, Sika and Lakshmana heard Rama cry out from the woods, "Help Lakshmana !". Knowing Rama could normally fend for himself Lakshmana was hesitant to leave Sika alone, but Sika couldn't handle knowing Rama might be in trouble. He assured Sika he would go out and make sure Rama was ok, and be back shortly. He walked out to where the stag was first spotted, and saw Rama sitting on the ground holding his leg.

He approached Rama, and asked, "Brother are you ok? We heard you calling out for us." Rama replied, with a strange look in his eyes, " Yes brother I am fine, I just tripped and needed some help getting up, would you help me?" As Lakshmana bent down to help him up, Rama took advantage of  his off-balance position, and pushed him into a camouflaged pit that sit right behind him. Now in the pit, he noticed Rama was in there as well, and suddenly realised what had happened. He had been fooled by Ravana. Ravana had not only mimicked Rama's voice, but had also taken his guise. He said to the two brothers in the pit, "You fools, now rot here until the end of time. Now, I'm going to enjoy a little alone time with my wife, Sika."

SIka eagerly awaited the return of Rama and his brother, and was relieved when Rama strode back through the cave entrance. Now Ravana's plan was to get back at Rama by laying with his wife, but Brahma had put a curse on him, so that if he ever try to rape, or lay with a woman that didn't want him, all his heads would fall off. So to get around this, he had taken the form of Rama.

His plan was going perfectly, and Sika agreed that some alone time was nice, and maybe they should think about having an heir. But just as things were about to start, Brahma appeared, and struck down Ravana, revealing his true form. "Oh Ravana, you really thought you could get around your curse through imitation? If they don't want Ravana, in his true form, then the curse is active. Your heads will now be torn asunder." Ravana stood powerless as Brahma ripped off his heads, and banished him back to Khara. Before he left, he helped the brothers out of the pit, and warned them to be more careful from now on, for many would try to even more sinister things in the future.

Author's notes:

I decided to rewrite the part about Ravana decieving in kidnapping SIka because I saw lots of potential in the scene. I wanted to go with making Ravana able to take the shape of Rama, not only his voice, so that he could try to seduce sika, like he does after he kidnaps her in the story. I hope you guys liked it.

                                                            Ravana with Sika. (Link)

Week 3 Reading B Notes: Ramayana

I enjoy how Part B of Ramayana opens up with Bharata returning to Ayodhya, it reminds me of the storytelling trope of the prodigal son returning.

Kaikeyi is a very unsavory mother and widow, and it doesn't seem like there is much reason for her to be. This part of Ramayana is getting political, which surprised me because I didn't expect it to be as nuanced.

The excerpt from Valmiki's Sanskrit Ramayana  is much different that the previous readings. The language used is much older in style and reminds me of reading King James translation of the bible. It really gives a full description of the funeral ceremony for Dasharatha.

I admire hoes steadfast Rama is to being a truthful and "holy" man. It still brings to mind parallels with Jesus.

Bharata either really loves and believes in Rama, or he doesn't want the throne. Or both.

Tumburu is very frightening.

The poetry is powerful and I enjoy listening to it most.

A Rakshasi woman falling in love with Rama was not what I expected to happen. Ramayana has many twists! Expecially because Shurpankha actually offers to consume Rama's wife and bother. How could she think that would've worked?

14,000 men after Rama! Wow. I'm amazed  Also amazed at how resentful Shurpankha is.

Lakshmana knew what was up with the fake voice, but Sita guilted him into going.

I like the overarching story of the gods and how you can see their plan come into action through Rama.

It's interesting how Ravana has a curse so that he could not rape.

Kabandha is a very good character. Lots of imagination really went into Ramayana.

Ramayana keeps getting more and more engrossing; I love the idea of a town in time warp.

For my Image, I chose the image of Bharata reuniting with Rama, because it made me think of if that happened with my twin brother, and how I'd Feel. (Link)

Reading Notes: Ramayana Part A

Having never heard of Ramayana or really having exposure to any Indian Epics, I didn't know what to expect for this first real reading assignment, but I was pleasantly surprised.

I read through Part A pretty fast, and found it to be very interesting, and I especially liked all the parallels it drew to other old fairy tales and myths. I kept thinking how much Rama was like Jesus, being an "Avatar" for a god, and having many gifts and abilities.

I also thought the focus on magic weaponry was interesting, many times in old myths and legends their isn't much thought given to those types of things.

King Dasharatha was one of my favorite characters so far until he died, because he seemed like a very fair and wise ruler, who had distinctly human qualities, like making the mistake and killing the hermit's son in a hunting accident.

Overall, I really liked Ramayana Part A, and I actually look forward to reading part B soon. I like the format of the Public Domain version you have up, it's nice being able to click between the stories, and the "Reading Guide" cleared a few things up for me that wasn't immediately apparent.


Here is my favorite picture from Part A; Rama fighting the demon women. I like the art style, and how grotesque they look. (Link)