Feedback Focus - Ryan McElyea

Focus on your tasks. Source.

For the reading out loud technique I read "Why Dog and Cat are Enemies" out loud to my dog. I feel like it was interesting to spend more time focusing in on the story and hearing the story as I spoke it out loud. I really liked this story too! I felt bad for the poor dog! :(

For the copy-and-delete technique I read "What Makes the Lightning." This technique did not really work that well for me and I did not like having to go back and delete the previous paragraphs upon completion. The little notes helped but I did not see the benefit of deleting the previous paragraph.

For the time technique I read "Midterm Madness." Personally I did not like this technique much. I was fine focusing on the entire story from start to finish but when I went back to try to write notes, that is where I found myself kind of lost.

If I had to rank them in order I would do:
1. Reading out loud
2. Copy-and-delete
3. Timer

Week 4 Story Planning: The Divine Archer

An example of a "group" at work. LinkedIn

For this story I was thinking of using the two sides (Rama and Ravana) and put them both in a modern setting like at a university or working in industry. Maybe Rama is working on one product and Ravana is working on another and they are competing to impress the girl (Sita). For the story planning this week, I essentially took my reading notes and kept the relevant notes and discuss how they can be transformed to fit the story. The ideas are in parenthesis. This story might completely change but it is what I thought could be a possible approach.

• There were four sons that were born: Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna (Maybe say Rama's 3 brothers are his friends instead of brothers)
• Rama is the god Vishnu in human form (Rama is the cool kid)
• Sita and Rama fall in love (Sita likes Rama because he is the cool kid)
• Sita is also a goddess that is in human form (Sita is just some pretty girl)
• Agastya gives Rama weapons that will help him in later battles (Rama gets to work on the interesting project or something)
• Ravana has 10 heads and 20 arms (Ravana can be the weird kid)
• Vibhisnaha is Ravana's brother however he is on Rama's side (Vibhisnaha wants to be on Rama's side since Ravana is the weirdo)
• Sita refuses Ravana constantly (Sita thinks she is too cool to talk to Ravana)
• Ravana sentences Hanuman to death (Ravana makes one of the cool kids with Rama disappear)
• The fire ends up setting Lanka on fire (Indicates the start of a competition or something)
• Kumbhakarna, Ravana's GIANT brother, wants Ravana to give Sita back to Rama
• Both sides get ready to fight (Maybe the two groups on working on different projects or capstone topics and Ravana tries to sabotage Rama)
• Rama shoots off Ravana's crown when he arrives (Rama is being a jerk to Ravana)
• The battle lasts all day
• Rama slays Ravana (I'm not sure if I want Ravana or Rama to be victorious)

The Divine Archer by F. J. Gould. link to website.

Reading Notes: The Divine Archer, Part B

A girl with a bow. Source

The Divine Archer by F. J. Gould. link to website.

• (Part B is much shorter than Part A)
• Rama kills Vali with an arrow
• Rama gives Hanuman his ring as a token for Sita
• Hanuman goes to Lanka
• Vibhisnaha is Ravana's brother however he is on Rama's side
• Vibhisnaha tells Hanuman where Ravana is keeping Sita
• Ravana is keeping Sita at the ashoka grove
• Sita refuses Ravana constantly
• Hanuman finally speaks to Sita and gives her Rama's ring
• Haunman is then taking to Ravana's court
• Ravana sentences Hanuman to death
• Vibhishana does not let Ravana put him to death
• Ravana sets Hanuman's tail on fire instead
• The fire ends up setting Lanka on fire
• Sita gives Hanuman a jewel to give to Rama
• Queen Mandodari wants Ravana to have peace with Rama
• Kumbhakarna, Ravana's GIANT brother, wants Ravana to give Sita back to Rama
• Both sides get ready to fight
• Rama and his army build a bridge to Lanka 
• Rama shoots off Ravana's crown when he arrives
• The battle lasts all day
• Lakshmana is wounded by Indrajit
• Hanuman goes and gets herbs to heal him
• Rama kills Kumbharkana
• Indra sends Rama his chariot and weapons
• Rama slays Ravana
• Vibhisana becomes king of Lanka
• Rama sends Sita into exile
• Sita comes back and takes her spot on the throne

Reading Notes: The Divine Archer, Part A

A Divine Archer. Source.

The Divine Archer by F. J. Gould. link to website.

• This story begins essentially where King Dasaratha wanted a son to pass on his heir
• There were four sons that were born: Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna
• Rama is the god Vishnu in human form
• Vishnu was sent to defeat Ravana.
• Ravana cannot be killed by gods so he needed to be in human form
• Sita and Rama fall in love
• Sita is also a goddess that is in human form
• Rama had to be able to bend the bow of Shiva with his hands to be able to claim Sita
• Parashurama appears and wants to know who bent the bow of Shiva
• Parashurama then gives Rama the bow of Vishnu (which is himself?)
• Rama has no trouble stringing Vishnu's bow
• Three of King Dasaratha's sons get married on the same day (not Rama)
• King Dasartha wanted Rama to become the next king
• Bharata ultimately is chosen to be the King once Dasartha dies
• King Dasaratha dies and Bharata becomes king
• Rama puts his sandals on the King's throne until his exile is over
• Agastya gives Rama weapons that will help him in later battles
• Ravana has 10 heads and 20 arms
• Maricha appears as a golden deer to lure Rama and Sita
• Sita wants Rama to catch the deer
• Jatayu battles Ravana
• Ravana cuts off Jatayu's wings
• Sugriva wants to help Rama
• Sugriva is the leader of the monkeys (Vanaras)