tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.comments2024-01-25T10:27:15.895-05:00Spring 2021 Online Course DiaryLaura Gibbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994025992373244815noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-70572393367111711382021-05-06T20:30:35.558-04:002021-05-06T20:30:35.558-04:00Oh, Brian, I am sorry to hear about that... one of...Oh, Brian, I am sorry to hear about that... one of the strange and good things that happened over those years of me going to Austin was to meet many of my dad's old friends that I had not seen since I was very small (we moved away from Texas when I was 8, but my parents retired back there). I definitely learned a lot about him, good things, that I had not known about before.Laura Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04994025992373244815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-39152006673211556192021-05-06T20:26:44.271-04:002021-05-06T20:26:44.271-04:00Your Dad sounds a lot like mine, who also passed t...Your Dad sounds a lot like mine, who also passed the past year. He would have loved 'drabbles'.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07791283568073889587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-26135474151557990282021-04-30T15:08:34.685-04:002021-04-30T15:08:34.685-04:00Hey Laura,
So cool that you’re doing a storybook ...Hey Laura, <br />So cool that you’re doing a storybook with us! I was immediately drawn to the clean and consistent look of your home page, very nice. As I navigate the site I like that there are also multiple points from which readers can access the stories. Double thumbs up to the HD closeups of each of your tricksters on the home page, as well as the other great pics throughout the site. <br />The 100 word stories really kept me engaged, as you get that little dopamine hit and a good chuckle every 100 words! Hare by far got the biggest chuckle, but the craftiness displayed by Spider or the lessons learned by Mantis were also great stories. I also really enjoyed the history and map in the tortoise story. I appreciate that you preface each page with a little bit of history about the trickster animal, the story origins, how/where the stories have traveled, etc. I tried looking for something I could inject with some constructive criticism but I couldn’t find anything! Is there any story/page you feel could use some work? <br />Grant Dickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004489572307460615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-27564603990388648462021-04-21T12:14:59.318-04:002021-04-21T12:14:59.318-04:00Hi Laura!
I really enjoyed reading all of the Brer...Hi Laura!<br />I really enjoyed reading all of the Brer Rabbit stories that you told. They were really entertaining to read and get the point of it in so few words. I also wonder if you wish that there were more words so that you could tell more of the story? I still find it super impressive that you can tell a story in 100 words. I know that I would have struggled to do it. Cheyenne Rineharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016798112372381691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-15198158197958314342021-04-21T12:11:02.265-04:002021-04-21T12:11:02.265-04:00Hi Laura!
Wow! It is crazy to think that you start...Hi Laura!<br />Wow! It is crazy to think that you started teaching at OU a little after I was born and I am also in your final semester of teaching at OU. You say that you started drumming as your new hobby, do you know any songs or do you make them yourself? I think that it is really cool that you have messed with a lot of instruments and have found your instrument of choice! I use to play the flute in middle school and I loved it but do not play anymore. Good luck on expanding your Tiny Tales Book series! Cheyenne Rineharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016798112372381691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-30605272666430961072021-03-26T15:34:01.607-04:002021-03-26T15:34:01.607-04:00Hi Laura!
I had also chosen the Brer Rabbit storie...Hi Laura!<br />I had also chosen the Brer Rabbit stories for my readings. They were so entertaining and I believe my favorite section of readings thus far. I told my mom about them and she explained that my grandmother used to read them to her as a child which made them comforting in a way. <br />Did perfecting this short form of writing take a long time? It is so impressive that you are able to fit a whole story into 100 words. Do you ever wish there were more words so that you could paint a picture for the reader?<br />I really enjoyed that your post included four stories. I also find it easier to read as they are short and sweet.<br />BrooklinBBlairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08964468706601448695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-70146951577524171212021-03-26T15:28:43.970-04:002021-03-26T15:28:43.970-04:00Hi Laura!
I am so excited that you are participati...Hi Laura!<br />I am so excited that you are participating with the class! It makes a class so much more enjoyable when you can tell that the professor is enthusiastic about what they are doing. I have even read my parents some of your emails because they are so thorough and kind! I am sad that you are retiring because I was planning on recommending your class to all of my friends, but happy that you are leaving to do something you are so passionate about full time! This class has almost felt like a bit of a get away this semester since everything has been so stressful. I have absolutely loved this class and wish you so much luck with your full time writing!<br />BrooklinBBlairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08964468706601448695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-77076630903062537972021-03-22T00:28:59.833-04:002021-03-22T00:28:59.833-04:00I really enjoy how you've broken up the storie...I really enjoy how you've broken up the stories into relevant chunks. It helps the reader to draw into the key aspects of the story you're trying to portray. Along with the brief, meaningful sentences, the chunks allow the story to be told in a fantastic way that leaves the reader energized. <br /><br />The hare seems to be very similar to the coyote in Native American mythology. Some of the best myths I know are of the tricksters. Coyote also played tricks on the animals and was also likely to frame another animal for something it had done. It's interesting to see the trickster myths of another culture. Maybe it's the speed of the two animals that makes them the tricksters? <br /><br />I found it most surprising that the hare was an omnivore. For some reason, I had thought hares were herbivores, but it turns out that hares do sometimes eat fish and other meats. The more you know!Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02442436948356445042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-2026377158139998862021-03-15T19:24:03.942-04:002021-03-15T19:24:03.942-04:00very emotional and a special story, thank you for ...very emotional and a special story, thank you for posting it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124820380210833126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-919197132794544052021-03-13T00:49:26.753-05:002021-03-13T00:49:26.753-05:00Hi Laura!
I think it's SO cool that as our pro...Hi Laura!<br />I think it's SO cool that as our professor you're participating in this class right along with us! I've never had a professor do that before – it lets us see how much you're invested in our learning and how much you're passionate about the work! I'm honored to have been in this class with you as the professor (I guess I snuck in right in time)! How exciting is it that you're going to get to write full time now? I wish you nothing but luck in all you do going forward! Thank you for growing my writing knowledge SO much in this short semester – I have nothing but amazing things to say about this class!Sara Hauglandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06070873216095257836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-20379406791900754792021-03-13T00:44:10.863-05:002021-03-13T00:44:10.863-05:00Hi Laura!
I love how you've chosen a theme for...Hi Laura!<br />I love how you've chosen a theme for all of your stories to be centered around this semester! I really enjoyed how your stories were all broken down to be short, easy to read 100 word short stories. They were all very interesting to read from beginning to end, and short enough to keep my attention the whole time! Honestly might steal this idea for any upcoming stories! Sara Hauglandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06070873216095257836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-73907153996329814362021-03-08T01:48:21.347-05:002021-03-08T01:48:21.347-05:00Laura,
I really enjoyed reading the story! I like...Laura,<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading the story! I liked how you formatted it into different stories or sections almost. I felt like it just gave the story an extra element that I enjoyed. I also loved how you had multiple images. The images really help with the telling of the stories, so I love how I could look at them to better envision the stories. I can't wait to read more of your stories!Landonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18425507175991771603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-58636266616520340982021-03-08T01:43:03.876-05:002021-03-08T01:43:03.876-05:00Laura,
It's so awesome that you are not only ...Laura,<br /><br />It's so awesome that you are not only teaching this class but also decided to take part in it by doing the coursework. I think that really shows how much you care about your career as a professor. I also love how passionate you are with your writing. One thing that I love about coming to OU is to see everyone majoring in things that they love. There are so many people at this campus that are so amazing at so many different things. Your love for writing and storytelling can definitely be seen and is infectious. Thank you for caring so well for your students, and I am so happy that you will soon being more of something that you enjoy on your next adventure.Landonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18425507175991771603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-61398483198424829202021-03-07T19:09:07.097-05:002021-03-07T19:09:07.097-05:00Hi Laura,
I love the style of having 100-word stor...Hi Laura,<br />I love the style of having 100-word stories, and how some of the stories lead into each other while some are more stand-alone. I also liked recognizing similarities in the African myths with what I have seen in Cherokee myths. Both of them have Hare/Rabbit and Tortoise/Terrapin as tricksters. It makes me wonder if their myths evolved from a shared cultural interaction at some point. I wonder, is there a myth similar to the tortoise and the hare? I once heard a version told to me by my Cherokee teacher where tortoise tricks the hare by having his family stand at different points in the race while he stood a few feet from the finish, crossing the finish line the moment he saw hare approach. That way it would look like he was running much faster than hare. If there was a version of that myth in African folklore it would make for a neat edition and add to the idea of hare and tortoise being sort of competing tricksters. Arthur Gawainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02279089742997840096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-68145820133595464632021-03-06T17:43:29.242-05:002021-03-06T17:43:29.242-05:00Hey Laura,
I love that you are joining alongside u...Hey Laura,<br />I love that you are joining alongside us as a student as well during your last semester here! I am sure it is bittersweet. That is amazing that you are taking writing full-time! I'm excited for your future and wish you the best in your writing and drumming :). Side note, I was a percussionist in high school and I was on the OU drumline my first two years at OU. Drumming is amazing and such a fun hobby to have. Djembes look so fun! I have never played one, but they look and sound great. I appreciate you writing one of these and it is nice to get to know you more! Thank you for helping me appreciate storytelling and learn more about myself, and thank you for all you have done and are doing for us students! Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11723767119086461312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-4274745498054657522021-03-06T16:19:42.343-05:002021-03-06T16:19:42.343-05:00Hi Laura!
I read your story about the Hare and I f...Hi Laura!<br />I read your story about the Hare and I find them interesting and impressive. I don't see anyone else following the 100-word style of storytelling so it is truly unique. I find that your use of realistic images of the animals in your short stories made it easy to visualize the settings and what happen in my mind. I wondered why the leopard would eat the wolf and not chase after the rabbit. You said that the elephant sent many animals to kill the rabbit. What made you choose the leopard to write your story about instead of the other animals? Overall, your storytelling is amazing so I can't really add much suggestions. However, maybe adding two extra 100-word stories in the story about Hare and Lion. That would make all three separate stories each having three 100-words stories, perfecting the "Rule of 3s." Can't wait to see what you can come up with for the Spider.Tony Danghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08875559914401631441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-74114900271570829112021-03-05T09:44:06.054-05:002021-03-05T09:44:06.054-05:00Hi Laura! This compilation of 100-word trickster ...Hi Laura! This compilation of 100-word trickster stories about the Hare was so entertaining to read! I was very impressed by your ability to condense these stories into such a short space while still keeping the all the necessary details for me to understand the plot of the stories. One thing I’m curious about is how you chose the order for the Hare stories? The first three stories are obviously, as you state in your introductory paragraph, a set that builds off each other, and it appears that the last three stories also need to go in order. What was your reasoning for putting the stand-alone story “Hare and Lion” in the middle? Would the Hare’s narrative change if you moved it to the end? (I suppose you couldn’t put it at the beginning, because the Lion needs to be alive for the first three stories!) One suggestion that I might have for future stories is to keep this building narrative going. Maybe the Tortoise could have a grudge against the Hare in his set of stories because of these events. It would be fun to read the additional stories later in the semester and see how they are all interconnected! Overall, great job with these stories—I had trouble thinking of suggestions!MRHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00020263666201979082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-65624967912073648762021-02-28T01:11:00.725-05:002021-02-28T01:11:00.725-05:00Hi Laura!
I didn't know this is your last sem...Hi Laura! <br />I didn't know this is your last semester at OU... I am so glad I was able to join this class! I can truly say that you have helped me enjoy writing (which never had an inkling of a chance before) and remember my love for reading. It's easy to get so consumed in classwork reading that you forget to enjoy the process too. But reading FUN stories helps to bring it all back. Good luck with your full-time writing and drumming career!! Haha! That sounds so awesome. I will definitely look into your tiny tales more and share them with my mom (she LOVED the book from last semester). Finally, thank you for sharing that video! I hadn't seen it before and it was a great smile to end the night. Rachel Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16704488671532896886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-24351592662089094082021-02-28T00:30:38.526-05:002021-02-28T00:30:38.526-05:00Hi Laura! Before I begin to react to the story.. I...Hi Laura! Before I begin to react to the story.. It is so cool that you're a student too. It adds a different perspective! <br />I really liked how many pictures you included. I haven't thought of adding more than one to be honest, but it gave a lot of extra detail and imagery to the story. It's true, a picture tells a thousand words. Also, separating the story into blocks with a title that describes what is going to happen made the storyline and plot completely clear to the reader, which is helpful when we are comparing it to an original. It also provided foreshadowing. Do you know why magical objects are so common in African American trickster stories? I know a moral lesson is very common across cultures to stories, but it's interesting that objects, specifically magical or entranced ones, are a motif. Also, has there ever been a story from the tortoise's point of view to put him in a better light? There are always two sides to a story, even if one character is the trickster. It would be interesting to see if any of his actions, decisions or resentment seemed justified. <br />Sincerely, <br />Rachel Rachel Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16704488671532896886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-46582513083258680722021-02-22T00:11:53.490-05:002021-02-22T00:11:53.490-05:00Hi Laura! First I want to say I am so sorry for yo...Hi Laura! First I want to say I am so sorry for your loss. Second, I cannot believe you started teaching when I was only a 1 year old (hehe). I have to say that your teaching technique has been by far my favorite since I have been at OU. I am quite sad to hear you are leaving, but I am thrilled that you are branching out and reaching new goals! I would absolutely love to read some of your work that you do later after teaching! Wishing you the best!Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08686605965020251504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-7776701035230765352021-02-22T00:07:49.499-05:002021-02-22T00:07:49.499-05:00Hi Laura! I really enjoyed your post because it ma...Hi Laura! I really enjoyed your post because it made me feel more confident with condensing stories now that I have seen one done! The trickster tales were really fun to read, and I think there is a neat story behind them. Some people in life are simply tricksters and quite frankly should be left under their rocks ;) hypothetically speaking of course. Can't wait to read more of your stuff! Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08686605965020251504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-85130483911678687922021-02-21T17:50:22.457-05:002021-02-21T17:50:22.457-05:00Hello, Laura. That's crazy you've been tea...Hello, Laura. That's crazy you've been teaching since I was born--only because you seem so young and hip. I think you're an innovator with this class, and I hope others use it in the future. I'm sorry to hear about your father. That's really sweet of you to write for him. I know writing for those I love does them and myself well. Good luck with your future ventures!Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-45732407781624578862021-02-21T17:44:55.259-05:002021-02-21T17:44:55.259-05:00Hey, Laura. I really liked how you had an introduc...Hey, Laura. I really liked how you had an introduction at the beginning of the post. It set the stage for what I was about to read. You're a very good writer. These stories sound like originals to me. My favorite was the one where the cat tricked its neighbors. Maybe I should try to write a tighter story next time it's my turn. I keep nearing a 1000 words.Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-90415844733746071702021-02-14T18:17:27.871-05:002021-02-14T18:17:27.871-05:00Hi Laura!
My favorite of these tales was The Sly S...Hi Laura!<br />My favorite of these tales was The Sly Sheep and the Wolf. The Trickster hardly ever gets tricked in stories like these. I was not expecting The Cat and Her Neighbors to end the way it did either. I was sort of expecting the tree to topple from something else, and then the pig would get blamed for it. I have always loved Aesop’s fables!<br />Cady <br />Cady Strechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01306429076649296287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1624205718121734803.post-87476154595318052462021-02-14T18:04:18.935-05:002021-02-14T18:04:18.935-05:00Hi Laura!
I was not expecting your introduction to...Hi Laura!<br />I was not expecting your introduction to be an option with the randomizer! It is exciting that you are leaving teaching at OU to write full time. I can see why it would be nerve wracking though! I think this semester is definitely going to be chaotic, but I also hope it will be a good one. It is also my last semester at OU. <br />Good luck on your writing! <br />Cady <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12151221650994455629noreply@blogger.com