Eduardo’s Blog

The project I had with the Canadian students was a very exciting project. I enjoyed this project because I had learned how to interact with people from different places.  It was also a very fun thing to do. It was a pleasure working with people from Canada because we had different jobs to do. Along the way, there were some things that went the way we did not expect it to go. There were a few difficulties that we had to fix. Sometimes there were some problems like not being in the chat or having bad connections. I still thought it was a pleasure having the opportunity to collaborate with people from different places. Everyone in the group had what they needed when it was due according to our time-line. There was no one in the group that did not finish their part which was great. So overall, I thought that it was a pleasant experience. One thing that I would change about this would be the communication. Sometimes there was someone that could not get into the chat or something. So what I would change, again, would be the chatting. So that is my reflection about the project.

The word I chose for chapters 11 and 12 was friendship. I chose the word friendship because all the greasers where becoming closer as friends. All the greasers became closer because after Johnny and Dally, they had to live with what they had. Also, when Sodapop ran away from both Ponyboy and Darry, they talked. As they talked, they became closer and promised not to fight again. At the end, all the greasers learn how to live together. They become one big family.

The word I chose for chapters 9 and 10 was fear. The word fear popped into my head because Ponyboy was really scared. The whole battle between the Greasers and Socs made him scared. Ponyboy was scared of getting hit. I think he must have been scared even though he did not sat it. He was one of the first ones to get hit. He must have thought that he was going to end up in the hospital just like Johnny. He might have thought that he was going to end up dead or something. That is why I chose fear for chapters 9 and 10.

The word that I chose for chapters 7 and 8 was friendship. I chose friendship because Ponyboy was always going to the hospital to check up on Johnny. Ponyboy was concerned for Johnny. Ponyboy was checking if Johnny needed anything. Ponyboy also showed friendship to Johnny because Ponyboy tried to help Johnny in every way he could. No matter what got into his way, he would get to Johnny one way or another. This the reason I chose friendship for chapters 7 and 8.

Define Power: Many people thought that power could be many things. At the end, we all found out that power could not be touched. We found out that power is a type of force that makes someone stronger or weaker. It is like a the ability to do something. So that made my point of view change. I now know what power really something you can not touch or see. It is an ability to do something other people can not do.

How does power affect personal relationships: Power could destroy a friendship or make people become closer as friends. Power could could make something greedy with what they have. They could become selfish which no one likes. I think that power could people separate or become closer. In some ways, I thought differently about power. In my opinion, power can make many things happen to personal relationships. It can change people to hate one another or love one another.

How can power affect a persons decision making process: Power can make a person choose decisions that are not normal or correct. Power can also make a person change. Power can also make you say things you really do not mean. It makes people say what they would not say. Power changes the characteristics of people by giving them wrongs ideas. I believe that power can change the way you think. It could make you think bad things about people you really look up to or love. Power is sometime not a good thing because it will make you become a new person. Now I see how and why power affects the decisions of people.

Why is power important to people: Power could make people and things to become stronger. Power can make you the boss. What I think is that power can make you more powerful than other and it gives you permission to tell people what to do. It gives you the authority to tell people what they can do and what they can not do. I think power is needed because some people can be ruled. With power, it gives you authority to command other people. You should know that people could use power but not to take advantage. Often, many people tend to use power in a bad way which gets them into a lot of trouble. People can take advantage of their power by telling people to do wrong things.

The word I chose for chapters 5 and 6 was heroism. I chose heroism because Ponyboy and Johnny were heroes. They were very brave to go into the burning Church. They went in there to save 5 children. The only thing they were thinking of was to save those children. At the end, all of the children were in good condition. They were not scared to go in the Church to save the lives of the children. At the time, they were heroes to the children and everyone else. That is what made me choose heroism for chapters 5 and 6.

Fugitive is the word that comes to my mind when I think about chapters three and four. Fugitive come to my mind because Ponyboy and Johnny are running away for murder. They are both escaping from their town because they are scared of the police killing them. Fugitive also comes to my mind because they are running away from the government. They are running away because as I said, they did a big crime which was murder.

After the skype call, some of class’s opinions to the answers changed. Many of us changed it because we discussed the questions in class and understood better. There were a few answers that I agreed on. Many groups took time and patience to answer all four questions.

Define Power:  Many groups thought that power was many things. Many groups thought different things. Some groups thought that power was money. Other groups thought that power was a force or the ability to have something. They said that power could be a good thing or a bad thing. Many groups thought that power was something you could touch. At the end, we found out that power could not be touched. We found out that power is something you can not touch. It is like a force or the ability to do something. So that made my point of view change. I now know what power really is.

How does power affect personal relationships: Each group thought of many similar things. The groups thought that power affects personal relationships in good and bad ways. Power could destroy a friendship or make people become closer as friends. Power could could make something greedy with what they have. They could become selfish which no one likes. I think that power could people separate or become closer. In my opinion, power can make many things happen to personal relationships.

How can power affect a persons decision making process: Most of the groups had a similar opinion to this question. Some groups thought that power can make a person choose a wrong decision. Power can make a person choose decisions that are not normal or correct. Power can also make a person change. Another group thought that power can make you say things you really do not mean. It makes people say what they would not say. I believe that power can change the way you think. Power is sometime not a good thing because it will make you become a new person. Now I see how and why power affects the decisions of people.

Why is power important to people: Some groups thought that power is important to people because it makes them feel more important and confident. Other groups thought that power can make people more powerful than others. It could make you make decisions other people can not make. Another group thought that power can make you the boss. What I think is that power can make you more powerful than other and it gives you permission to tell people what to do. I think power is needed because some people can be ruled. With power, it gives you authority to tell people what to do. You should know that people could use power but not to take advantage.

 So overall, power can be a good thing or a bad thing. It is something that someone has from the beginning. It is the option for people to use it for good things or bad things.

Heartbreaking is the word that I think describes the book. There are parts in the book that are sad to me. There are parts were some greasers get jumped. The story is pretty sad because it seems hard what they are going through. Ponyboy, one of the greasers, does not have a mom or a dad. There are also some parts where Ponyboy gets jumped. These things must be hard for Ponyboy because he gets hurt a lot and has to live with what he has. There are some other parts that are heartbreaking in the story.

Identify situations in personal relationships that reflect power struggles.

There are many times when there are struggles over power. It can be with you friends or your family. People sometimes fight over something that isn’t a big problem. The struggles can be with a husband and a wife. Sometimes when a husband gives a command, they expect the wife to obey them. When the wife does not listen, that’s when they start arguing. They start arguing for power.

Give examples of personal experiences of power struggle situations and what was the outcome?

Most of the time, people have power struggles between their own family. An example of a power struggle that occurred to me was with my brother. I bought a toy that I really liked. I would never share with my brother. I showed power by not sharing with him. Until one day, he bought a toy. I wanted to play with it. He did not let me play with it since I did not let him play with my toy. At the end, I was sharing with my brother.

When and how do you use power in interactions with others?

When I talk to people, I show power. I show power because I could say anything I want to say. I could make them feel good or make them feel bad. I could agree with whatever they are discussing or I can disagree. Everyone has power when they interact with someone else. When you interact with someone, they can judge you and say if you are friendly of not. That’s why it is important to try and have nice conversations with people.

 Where do you see or have seen power struggles occurring in your surroundings? (Neighborhood, community, local government) 

I have seen many power struggles with our government in the last few years. People debate on how to govern a state. Every time there is an election, people debate to win the election. Candidates argue to have the power over the
U.S. Another place power struggles can occur are at school. When we play soccer during recess, everyone starts arguing who should start the game. That’s why people should be ready for power struggles because they can occur whenever and wherever.