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Link to site~~ https://sites.google.com/view/inspiredbytheenvironment/home
Website Bibliography
Link to site~~ https://sites.google.com/view/inspiredbytheenvironment/home
Website Bibliography
Introduction to the Soon Graduating Mariah
Hello~ My name is Mariah. I am an Environmental Sustainability: Planning and Management senior. I graduated high school in Arizona but I have lived in North Dakota, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma so home just ends up being wherever I am at the moment. I am equally excited and not excited about graduating in May. I'm not sure what I want to do after graduation, whether it be get a job or continue with school, so it can be a little stressful when people always ask. Right now my dream job would be working at a cosmetics company and making the products more environmentally friendly. The coolest thing I've ever done is study abroad in Seoul, South Korea ( my favorite place ). I always have a story to share, which can sometimes make my friends and family a little crazy. I had wanted to travel abroad for as long as I could remember and actually following through with it was amazing. Even though some days were hard I had a lot of fun and would recommend Korea or just studying abroad i
Hey Mariah! The concept of your storybook is wonderful! I am very passionate about protecting the environment, and I love the idea of honoring the history and culture of the different kinds of trees in India. Starting off with the anecdote about Amrita Devi was a great way of introducing the significance of trees within the culture. I also love the idea that the trees themselves will be characters – will they be personified as the narrators of the stories? I think this would be a very interesting idea to play around with.
ReplyDeleteYou might consider mentioning the role that the Gods play in honoring the trees. It is my understanding that certain Gods are characterized by or associated with specific trees. This would allow the reader to connect previous knowledge of the Gods with the stories you will be telling, and to deepen their initial understanding of the significance of trees in the larger genre of the Indian epics.
Hi Mariah!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the concept of your storybook! I never knew that trees had such a prevalent presence within Indian culture and religion. I liked how you gave a short background on each tree and the significance it still has to this day. In the description of the Banyan trees, you mentioned that the leaves of the tree was tied to the god Krishna. Do any of the other trees have a connection to gods or goddesse? If they do, I think that would be a good detail to add to your introduction, so that the audience gets a sense of how and why exactly people want to preserve these trees.
Also, I think your introduction would be better defined if you gave some more background on exactly what your story is going to be about. At the very end, you conclude that the trees will be the main characters for your storybook, but I did not really know what your story was going to be about. If you do add a short teaser at the end, I think that will attract your readers to continue reading your storybook!
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ReplyDeleteHi Mariah,
ReplyDeleteI think the subject you chose for your story is very interesting! I didn't realize the importance of trees concerning the history of India and Indian culture. I really liked the description you included and your use of the story about Amrita Devi as a way to introduce trees. It is really interesting to see how the different types of trees will have their different stories. I like the idea of giving parts of nature characters in a story. I think it would be even more interesting if you explain the connection the trees have to Indian Epics and the characters or Gods in them. Maybe use the ending of your intro as a way to set the stage for the rest of your storybook? Other than that it seems like you're on the right track and I'm sure your story will turn out great! I really enjoyed your introduction and I look forward to reading the rest of it!
Hi Mariah!
ReplyDeleteI really like what you have done with your storybook so far! I think that retelling various Indian epics from the point of view of some part of nature such as a tree. I think if their was some way to incorporate something into the introduction about how "it is now time for the trees to tell their own stories" that could help transition into your first story. I love how the mango tree is telling the story and I think it would be wonderful to hear more about that specific mango tree's history. I know that probably sounds weird, but I think it could be very interesting to know details like that this mango tree is an elder in the grove, and in charge of passing on stories to the younger generation of everything they witnessed in their lifetime. I have no idea how long mango trees usually live, but details like that would make the story flow a little better. Overall, I really like where you're going with this story book and I can't wait to read your next two stories!
Hey Mariah, I think your storybook was great thus far. I really appreciate your take on your stories because it is something i haven't seen someone do before, and I think it utilizes an important aspect of India's history that a of people don't necessarily think about. The aspect of nature being vital in each story is cool because the perspective of the things such as a tree adds a historical factor and factual information the reader most likely is interesting in learning about. I think allowing the trees for example to have a more character like aspect in the stories would add more depth as well, but overall I really enjoyed your approach this far, great job!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasant surprise! Something I am enjoying about this course is the opportunity to write creatively again and you apparently are sharing the same experience. I remember seeing this topic as one to choose from at the beginning of the semester and I wondered how it could develop. Now we know. I love the way you are bringing research on trees and their inclusion in the Indian Epics to life. Describing how the various parts of the tree are beneficial through the tree’s first-person narrative was a wonderful idea. Great job personifying the Mango! In your introduction, you describe a brief history of tree protestors. I never knew the history of the term “tree hugger” could go as far back as the 18th century. The only constructive criticism I feel I can offer is, perhaps, the Mango’s explanation of the symbiotic relation it has with human marriages. In the last sentence of your second paragraph, you write “We are all too happy to bless the new couple with a happy union as they in return bless us with a good crop.” To me, the sentence syntax reads as if the new couple does the work of the tree by yielding a good crop. Perhaps adding an action word such as “…they in return bless us by sewing a good crop,” might be a little more specific. But this suggestion might be a little too picky. Honestly, I felt like your story held up well.
ReplyDeleteHello Mariah,
ReplyDeleteI really like the aesthetics of your website. You do a great job of presenting and organizing the information. The pictures that you have are absolutely beautiful.
Your introduction is was very informative. I love that you are going to make a story about the trees. I agree with you in that India has a deep-rooted traditional relationship with nature. Many festivals that they have various connections with nature. The other day I was talking to my co-worker that's from India, he told me that there are some trees that people worship, like the Raavi tree (the Sacred Fig). I think it's really cool that you are doing a project about trees.
I enjoyed your story about the Mango tree. While researching Hanuman, I came across the story about Hanuman eating the sun that you mention in your story. I thought you presented the story in a clear and detail way. I look forward to reading the rest of your project.
Mariah, your introduction was very fun to read and it makes me want to read all of the additional stories that you will be coming up with. It serves as a good foundation for what you will be talking about in the upcoming weeks and I can’t wait to read them. More specifically, I think it will be interesting to read each individual story about Mango, Ashoka, and Peepal trees. Your description of each tree adds to the depth of the introduction and also lets the reader become invested in the story. Suspense is created just by these description that will lead the story in the coming weeks. Your history of India and the role that plants have played in Indian culture also adds depth and the reasoning for the need of this story book. Overall it was wonderful to read your introduction and I am excited to read the rest of your stories in the upcoming weeks.
ReplyDeleteHi Mariah,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea for a storybook!
You did a great job introducing the concept; starting with the protest in your introduction really hooks the reader. I’d love to have seen pictures of the various trees though for visual reference. It’s so cool to read about the symbolism and meaning of the different types of trees, and it’s something that never would have occurred to me otherwise!
I also liked your first story, “Mango,” very much. The way you framed the story from the perspective of the tree was great, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you find for the other trees and how you decide to make them a more important part of those stories.
And I’m a big fan of the phrase “enrage a sage,” whether that was an accident or no. Sounds like a carnival game.
Best,
A.M.
Mariah,
ReplyDeleteI like your focus on nature. There is something simple, beautiful, yet powerful about it, especially within Indian culture. The intro was informative and interesting. Adding a picture in the intro might not only make it more appealing, but a possible source to show the reader what you're explaining (i.e. the nature or divine figures). I enjoyed both stories. I liked the first-person perspective, sometimes it leaves the reader wanting to know who is speaking but makes the reader feel it is more personal. I read your author's note in the Banyan story and your research and it definitely shows. I think there is a lot of versatility with this theme (evident in just your two stories) and I look forward to more!
A storybook based on the stories of trees..with the trees themselves telling the stories? One of the most unique storybook ideas I've seen yet! I appreciate how each one of the trees has a distinct voice - the mango tree, full of stories of the past; the wise old Banyan, calmly overlooking and protecting; and the cutesy, energetic Ashoka, kind of boastful but in a "cute kid" kind of way. You've done a great job in giving them each a personality! This, coupled with the pictures of the trees, really makes you feel as if the stories are being told by the trees themselves.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciate the introduction and the overview it gives of the importance of these trees in India's history and culture. As of this comment, there is no Peepal tree story yet, but I'm excited - hopefully the randomizer will bring me back and I can read about this "king of trees."
Hey Mariah,
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative concept for your storybook; I think it is just wonderful. I want to start off and say that I like the design of your storybook. It looks really good with all the plants in the banners and the yellow accent on the page. It is also very cool that you have all the stories added and the ones that you have not written yet have a ‘Coming Soon’ on them. The introduction was very powerful and really set up the entire storybook well. The perspective you use in the different stories is also very cool. Doing it from the perspective of the trees is very creative and interesting. Learning about the different trees through this storybook was very exciting and I am super glad I clicked on this storybook. Great work on your storybook, and I hope that you have a great rest of the semester.
Hey Mariah,
ReplyDeleteI want to start by saying I love the concept behind your storybook, I would have never thought of something like that. I also love that its about the environment and you’re an Environmental Sustainability major, that ties so well. I really enjoyed reading your story, I think it’s an interesting concept to give a voice to objects that cant speak. If they really could talk, I think they would have quite the story, since they see things most others don’t and they have been alive for so long. I also like that the story of the mango tree focused on Hanuman because he is a very interesting and important character but we do not get to know him very well. It was nice to get a background and more information into his life. The only comment I can think of giving is to maybe include a few more pictures!
Hi Mariah, I think it is awesome how you incorporated the environment or nature in your storybook. I really enjoyed reading your stories because they were so different! In your story, Ashoka, I like how you made your tree a character with personality. It was cool that you gave it a talking role to an inanimate object- that was very creative. I also enjoyed the amount of details you added in your story. There was a lot of adjectives that helped me better visualize the characters and settings in Ashoka. And I was wondering where your picture were? I noticed you posted a link of the flower but it is not on your portfolio! It just seems empty with no pictures. Overall, you did a great job!
ReplyDeleteWWW Comment:
ReplyDeleteHey Mariah,
I love the topic that you chose for your storybook. Trees play an integral part in India not only culturally, but economically. As you stated in your introduction, Mangos are an important part of India’s economy as it is the national fruit. It also has a cultural prevalence as it is used in celebrations and worship ceremonies. I like how you explain the importance of trees in India and how it they play an integral part in India’s culture. Also, I like how you transition towards the individuals stories that you wrote about each tree. The images that you used for your stories were very appropriate as I can visually see each tree. It definitely made your storybook more engaging. I love your story called “Banyan.” It made the reader feel like they were meditating which is what I think you were trying to achieve. Overall, I really enjoyed your storybook