Monday, September 17

Today is Monday of Week 5. Yes, it really is Week 5 already! Here is a link to the Week 5 assignments (and if you're using the grace period this morning, here are the Week 4 assignments).

Class Procedures and Reminders

Start the week with extra credit. If you put off doing the extra credit until the end of the week, you might run out of time, but you can do Week 5 extra credit at the start of the week, or at any time during the week. And if you haven't done the Back-up and Review option, that's a good one to do now, checking on your progress so far.

Project Stack. First of all, THANK YOU to everybody for all the new project websites! You can check the stack to make sure I received your email. Meanwhile, with all these new website addresses, today I'll be updating the Myth-Folklore and Indian Epics project lists, and then I'll start updating the slideshow on Tuesday.

The following items are for fun and exploration:

Blog Stream. Wikipedia Trails are always so cool, and here's a great one from Laura in Myth-Folklore: From Uruk to Enki.

Featured Storybook. One of my favorite things about the Indian Epics is the abundance of women characters, and here's a Storybook about them: Women Who Take Charge. Sita, Draupadi, and Shurpanakha have endured traumatic events in their lives, but they all found the strength they needed to persist, and to reclaim their lives on their own terms.

India Video. Some of you in Indian Epics will probably choose this film by Nina Paley as your Ramayana option for this week: Sita Sings the Blues. It's a remarkable re-interpretation of the Ramayana, focusing on Sita:

Myth Video. This is another one from Crash Course: Mythical Horses.

Myth Item. Here's a map of America's Mythical Lake Monsters including the giant octopus that is supposed to live in Lake Thunderbird right in Oklahoma!

Writing. Prose has dialogue, and cartoons have... speech balloons.

Here is some advice for Monday and your brand-new week:

Growth Mindset Cats. This cat is ready for the new week: Stretch yourself so you can reach new goals.

And here's a TED-Ed video about new words: Where do new words come from?

Event on Campus. Come enjoy Italian Espresso in the Kaufman Hall Lobby from 12:30PM-1:30PM for the opening of Italy Week (details).

Find out more about this and other events at the Campus Calendar online.

Vishvakarman. Each year, September 17 is a festival of the Vishvakarman, the divine architect of the gods in the Hindu tradition. You can find out more at Wikipedia: Vishvakarman. The Vishvakarman Puja holiday is celebrated by architects and also by engineers and all kinds of technicians and craftspeople, especially in eastern India. Happy Vishvakarman Day!

Check out the Twitter stream for information and fun stuff during the day, or click here for past announcements.