Identity, Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Racism Reflection

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How does race shape the way we see ourselves and others?

Race is a very important aspect of our identity. It may define our culture, background, and the way we think. Race may sometimes make us feel different from other racial groups. It may shape the way we see others. Maybe we see them as inferior, but I think mostly we see them as different or the “other”. Certain people may think that their racial group is the best, and all other racial groups are inferior, therefore we should discriminated against then because they are different, thus creating racism. Sometimes, we may think because we do not practise the culture our race practises, we are not that certain race, or if we are in two racial groups, we wonder which racial group we belong in more.

 

To what extent do our ideas about race influence the choices we make?

Race can also be connected to culture and what practises our race may practise. Just like peer pressure, we can be pressurised about our race. Whatever our race chooses to do, we may decide to follow. You may choose to not to something because prejudice and stereotypes are always being used against your race. I feel like the world can decided how we can change the way we view the world and all the racial groups. It is a matter of willing to accept that everyone’s different.

Tuff Times

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Chapter 3:

Are the Socs and the Greasers really that different? Why? Why not?

I do not think that the Socs and Greasers are really that different. At where we currently are in the novel, we’ve met two Greasers and their boyfriends: Cherry and Marcia. Cherry said that her life is not as easy as the Greasers think, and I agree. Near the end of chapter 3, Cherry says: “I could fall in love with Dallas Winston. I hope I never see him again or I will.” (p. 46). I think this means that Dallas might have been frightening that night, but she has witnessed many worser things in her own gang, contrary to the Greasers’ beliefs.

Are there any connections you can make to any of the characters and/or their situation?

One connection I have with Ponyboy is the conflicts I have with my siblings. Unlike Pony, I am the middle child in my family, but I really do not play the role of Soda. I can not boss my older sister around for obvious reasons, and I can not boss my younger sister around or else she would start creating a huge fuss that will get me into trouble. However, my older sister can boss me around and I can not really react, and my parents would not understand why I get so annoyed when my younger sister disturbs either my studies or free time.

Why do you think Johnny killed Bob?

I think Johnny killed Bob because Bob was drowning Ponyboy. I wonder if one of the Socs that showed up also beat up Johnny the first time. I think Jonny did what he did out of self-defence. Not just Johnny, but anyone would be scared to death in this situation

What could have been some alternatives?

Some other alternatives could be reasoning, trying to save Ponyboy without a knife (punching), knocked him out unconscious, or threatening the Socs instead of actually stabbing.

What do you think Ponyboy and Johnny’s situation prompted Ponyboy’s recitation of “Nothing Gold Can Stay?”

After Ponyboy and Johnny ran away, we saw them crying at a loss of their old life. Their new life is nothing compared to their old life. Ponyboy lost the comfort of Soda, Darry, and his old fun weekends. Johnny may not miss his parents, but he had his entire gang’s love with him at all times. I think the term “gold” refers to something amazing. Their old life may not have been perfect, but it was pretty amazing. Nothing amazing can stay.

Who is innocent? Who has experience?

No one in this novel is completely innocent. No one is free of crime, no one lives their life without guilt.

What is the difference between Cherry the Soc and Cherry the Dreamer?

I think Cherry wants to live her life free of trouble. There is trouble in every life, but she wants to get away from her troubles. She dreams of a vivid life without the rivalry of the Socs and Greasers, without the troubles she has to live through everyday. She wants to live without the fear of getting jumped.

Are Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally heroes? Why or why not?

 

How do we know that Darry truly cares for Ponyboy?

Write about what you understand about Cherry’s line “I could fall…” (lines 8-10 p 46)

I think it means that Cherry does not want to fall in love yet. In chapter 8, she said that she knows that she is too young to fall in love, but she does it anyways. She fell in love with Bob, but that was a bad decision after Bob was killed.

In realising that Cherry has green eyes, what does this signify for Ponyboy and his understanding of people and the world?

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2) Our inspiration came from the Big Ben itself. My group and I wanted to make a clock tower (form) with the function as showing the time.

3) As a real tower, I think this would be an effective tower. Our tower is only a prototype so the clock hands do not work. If this were a real tower, we would use gears and motors to make the clock hands turn according to the appropriate time. The citizens would use our tower for the time. I would put our tower in the middle of a bustling capital city, such as London, New York, etc.

4) I think our group worked well together. We tried to incorporate everyone’s ideas into one tower. However, we ran into conflict when paining. With 3 people crowded around one tower, sometimes the atmosphere got chaotic. I think we should have coordinated ourselves around one area of the tower, and notify the others when we were done so we could coordinate ourselves to other jobs.

Sculpture Self-Evaluation

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1) One sculpture project I am proud of is the cardboard tower project. I enjoyed working on this project with fellow peers that I do  not usually work with. I am proud of how the tower turned out, and I think we followed our blueprints accurately. We all contributed our ideas to make a good tower.

2) I have definitely gained a better understanding about 3D art. Before coming into this class, I did not know about relief art. I did not know there were artists that make relief art. I liked looking through the high and low relief art, and I got many ideas for my own wood relief project. I got to understand different forms, and how different forms could change the function of the tower.

3) One area of improvement I need is my precision and patience. I know that art needs a lot of patience; the patience I do not have. My wood relief project looks kind of rushed, and I think I need to slow down more and concentrate on the precision.

4) Some work habits I think I have developed are “Interacts Well” and “Contributes”. Without my contribution to the cardboard tower project, I do not think my group’s tower would be successful, and without our interaction, we would not have had fun making the tower.

Government Unit Reflection

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I feel like I could have done a lot better on this government unit. I think my problem was rushing through the test or not checking over my work enough, although I did check over my final assessment several times before handing it in.

For the next quarter, I will follow my study plan as sometimes I did not fully follow it, and I will not panic while taking the test and check over my work multiple times.

My best summative, TCI chapter 10, also had the best notes, so I will remember to follow that format when taking notes for the next quarter.

I really did not vary in my study strategies, but I think I will try some new strategies before the next summative.

Next time, when there is a test, I will follow my improved 5 day study plan and take notes according to my best format.