Elva’s Comments (group member since Sep 11, 2012)

Elva’s comments from the 812 Discussion group.

Ponyboy decides to fight in the rumble for many reasons. One reason why Ponyboy wants to fight in the rumble is, he is loyal to the greasers. Even though Pony knows that the fight would be bad, Pony would do it for his gang. This shows that Ponyboy will always be there for his gang. Another example is Ponyboy wants to show Darry that he is not a child anymore. He wants to show Darry that he can handle a fight. This shows that Ponyboy wants to go to the rumble so that he can show Darry that he can fight too, and that he is not a child anymore.

Pony was right to fight for many reasons. One example is that Pony is a loyal member to the greasers and when the greasers are in trouble, he would be able to help. This shows that Pony will fight in the rumble for the greasers. Even though he knows that it is wrong, he will be loyal to the greasers. Another example is Pony wants to show the Socs that greasers are not trash. The greasers are always being picked on by the Socs and is treated like trash. This shows that if Pony goes to the rumble, he can show the Socs that the greasers are not trash, but they are equal to the Socs.

The attitude Ponyboy gives towards Darry change at the end of Chapter 6 for many reasons. For example, Ponyboy now understands more on why Darry is being tough on him. After their parents died, Darry didn't shed a tear. This shows that Darry really cares about Ponyboy. Another example is Ponyboy gained more respect. Since he saw Darry cry that Ponyboy might be hurt, Ponyboy gained more respect to Darry. This shows that Ponyboy now knows that Darry isn't being tough on him for no reason. Darry wants to protect. He didn't want to lose another family member. And since Ponyboy doesn't like Darry, now Ponyboy is respecting him now.

In the realistic fiction book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, my main character is Johnny. Johnny, in this book, is the second youngest of the 'gang', followed by Ponyboy. Ponyboy and Johnny are really close to each other. In the book, Johnny is a child who has been abused by his father. The most significant conflict for Johnny is, right after the time when Johnny got jumped by the Socs, Johnny has changed. One example is Ponyboy states, "...After the night of the beating, Johnny was jumpier than ever" (34). This quote shows how after being jumped by the Socs affect Johnny. In the book, Ponyboy explains how Johnny used to not be a coward, and how he sticks up to the gang. Then, after he got jumped, Johnny became super cautious, he always brings a switchblade with him. Another example is it took a lot for Johnny to cry. In the book, Ponyboy has stated that even though he is abused by his father, and no one even bothers to care, he didn't cry. However, in the part where Ponyboy had a flashback of the time where they found Johnny on the ground after he got beat up by the Socs, he was crying. This shows us that getting beat up by the Socs really affected him. After what he has gone through, this might be the worst thing that has happen to Johnny, that it made him cry.

The best definition for community would be, "A group of people who share similar goals and live in an area where they have to interact each other." One example of why I believe that this definition would fit the word community the best is, in a community, such as a classroom, our goals are similar, such as we all want to pass the grade, or to learn more, or even improve on something. This can form a community because there are people who have the same, or similar goals. Another example is when we interact with each other. In order for a community to be successful, we have to interact with other people for us to meet our goals such as, helping each other, or communicating with other people. In addition, we all live in a community in which we communicate with each other. One example is, when we order food from a restaurant. A person's goal might be to eat something, and they have to communicate with the waitress to order the food to complete their goal of eating their food.

My research paper is about global warming and how it affects us in negative ways. While gathering information, one thing that I found the most interesting was, people used to think that it was good that global warming is happening. The reason I found this really interesting is because back then, about in the mid 1900's ,people thought that global warming was good for some places that was cold. They thought that a little global warming wouldn't do much harm to them. However, when global warming started to increase, they started to understand that global warming is not something good. This really interested me because, what did the people thought global warming was back then? Did they know that Co2 is polluting the air? That really surprised me, but since, they didn't know much about global warming, they probably didn't know what it was.

In the realistic fiction novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, one big role that Arnold has, is moving out of the rez and going to Rearden High School. Mr. P forgives Arnold when he threw a 30 year old textbook at Mr.P's face. Mr. P tells Arnold that he has to leave the rez, so that way he would have a better hope. Mr. P understands why Arnold threw the book and is giving him the advice. Arnold makes a hard decision on whether to stay on the rez, and betraying all of his tribe members or go to Rearden. Arnold then decides to go to Rearden and left the rez to have a better education, and have more hope. A part that supports this is, after when Arnold left the rez, Mary, Arnold's older sister also left the rez and moved to Montana after all the years she has been staying in her basement bedroom. It is like Arnold influenced her to move out of the basement and live her life. Another reason that Arnold leaving the rez and going to Rearden is that it made him learn that he doesn't always need Rowdy besides him. Arnold has a strange appearance and he gets bullied a lot because of that. Rowdy, Arnold's best friend always defended him, like when Arnold and Rowdy both went to the Powwow, Arnold got bullied by the 3 brothers, and Rowdy defended him. Since Rowdy didn't follow Arnold to Rearden, he has to be on his own, and defend himself.

I strongly believe that Arnold believes in influential roles because, for example in the book, when Mary died, Arnold didn't give up. He still loved his sister, and he also said that it was great for her to leave the rez and move to Montana to live her life. Another example is in the book, when Arnold had his first basketball game with Wellpinit, when Arnold entered the gym, everyone that is in Arnold's tribe turned their back on him, because he left the rez and went to a white school. That didn't stop Arnold and make him feel bad that he left the rez. Instead, he laughed it out and didn't give up.

In the realistic fiction novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, the main character is Arnold. He is a 14 year old boy who is a Spokane Native American who lives in the rez. Arnold transferred to a school called Rearden, which is a school full of white people. Arnold will have a hard time fitting in since he will be the only Native American in the school, other than the school mascot that is also an Indian. At first, Arnold was an outcast and was not payed attention to. After, when he started to date Penelope, his crush, things changed for him. He became popular. He was also being noticed and payed attention to. The quote, "If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing." refers to Arnold. This quote means that you should open up a bit. In the book, Arnold didn't really open up to people because he thinks that they will make fun of him. The people at Rearden thinks that Native Americans have money because they work at casinos, but Arnold's parents didn't. Arnold is poor, but he didn't want to admit that because if he told Penelope that he is poor, he is afraid that she might break up with him. Also, if Roger finds out that he is poor, Arnold thinks that he wouldn't be his friend anymore since he is poor.

I can also relate to this quote because, in my life, I have come across the same thing. When I was in kindergarten, I have just came to back to America. I didn't know any english, so I had a hard time fitting in with the other students. I would misbehave in class cause I wouldn't know what I did wrong because I couldn't understand what they were talking about. I would be isolated from the other classmates and would be alone a lot. When I finally opened up and let other people in my life, I started to learn more because they would teach me what to do and I learned more. I felt better that way too.

In the realistic fiction novel, The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Arnold is a 14 year old Spokane Indian who lives in the rez. Arnold transferred to this school called Rearden which he is the only Native American in the school. In the chapters, there was one chapter called, "Slouching Towards Thanksgiving." Arnold gets bullied a lot and he doesn't get noticed. During geology class, Arnold told the teacher something that made Mr. Dodge very upset, his face was very red. Then, a classmate named Gordy, who is the class genius supported Arnold, saying that he is correct, but Mr. Dodge gave props to him instead of Arnold. In the book, after the class ended, Arnold thanked Gordy for backing him up, instead, Gordy said that he didn't do it to help Arnold but it was for science. This is what "Slouching Towards Thanksgiving" means. Arnold thought that he has made prossess of not being bullied in Rearden an thought that he was being noticed too. He also thought that Gordy was helping him and standing up for him, but instead he didn't. That made Arnold disappointed that Gordy was not even backing him up, but only do it because it was science. This is why the chapter is called, "Slouching Towards Thanksgiving."

I think the quote, "There is perhaps nothing so bad and so dangerous in life as fear," by Jawaharal Nehru reflects to both Arnold and Rowdy in the book, The Absolute True Diary Of A Part Time Indian , by Sherman Alexie. This quote applies to Arnold, is that because Arnold is a Native American, who lives on the rez, and he wants to go to Rearden, a school with a better education for Arnold than the rez, and is filled with white people. The school's mascot is an Native American, which Arnold is one himself. Arnold also has bad appearances so he is afraid that he will get bullied by the other kids from Rearden, because he is an Native American who lives in the rez, and his appearance. Kids in the rez, already are bullying him, and Arnold fears that he will be bullied even more, since he might be the only Native American going to a white school. That is Arnold's biggest fear right now in the book.

This quote also applies to Rowdy too. This quote applies to Rowdy is, he is Arnold's best friend. His only friend. In one of the chapters, Arnold told Rowdy that he is going to Rearden. Rowdy is a type of person who can't control his feelings, so, he gets his anger out by hitting people. Rowdy is sad that Arnold is leaving the rez, to go to another school, and he fears that he will loose his only friend. But Rowdy has an anger problem, so instead, he hits Arnold in the face, which he knows that it was his weak, and fragile part of his whole body. Rowdy also cried, and that shows us that he cares about Arnold, and he doesn't want him to leave the rez. That is Rowdy's fear and has made an impact to his life. The fear of Arnold going to Rearden and the fear that he will lose his best, and only friend.

In the realistic fiction book, The Absolute True Diary Of A Part Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, the trait that best describes Arnold is being worried. Arnold has big feet and hands, lopsided eyes, a big head and really skinny. In the book, it says, "Oh, the dancing and singing are great. Beautiful, in fact, but I'm afraid of all the Indians who aren't dancers and singers. Those rhythmless, talentless, tuneless Indians are most likely going to get drunk and beat the shit out of any available losers." This quote shows that Arnold is worried, because Arnold looks can make people think that he is a loser and would pick on him. Arnold has been picked on a lot at school by other students, so he is worried that if they go to the powow, he will bet bullied again. Since there are going to be drunk Indians, he will get beat up instead. This proves that Arnold is worried that he will get beat up.

I think that the role that influenced Arnold a lot in the book, The Absolute True Diary of a Part Time Indian, is his looks. For example, in the book, his looks really affected him because his head is huge and people would bully him buy calling him globe, or orbit. And they would spin him around and say "I wanna go here," pointing to a spot on his head. He doesn't have a lot of friends because he gets bullied a lot. He was in this club called, Black eyed of the month club, which is where people bully him. Arnold gets seizures about twice a week, and studders and lisps a lot. Only when you're young, people think that it is cute, but when Arnold is 14, people think of him as a retard. It is very mean and a bad impact on him. Another example is his eyes. Arnold's eyes are so bad, he has to wear these really big and ugly glasses. People would call him a grandpa. Finally, another example is, in the book, Arnold is very skinny and his feet were really big, people thought that he was just a upper case L.

A role that is most influential in my life is being an Asian. Throughout my life, I have heard these very ridiculous and untrue stereotypes about Asians. One example is, on the internet, I have seen pictures of Asians, with the caption, "find the one with his eyes open." In the picture, you can clearly see that everyone's eyes are opened. I felt angry at those people who made it because the picture was suppose to mean that Asians have chinky eyes. Not all Asians have chinky eyes! Another example is that people just assume that ALL Asians eat dogs. Last year, when I was going to classes, random people come up to me and ask, "Yo, is it true that you eat dogs?" Then they would say that SOME Asians eat dogs. SOMEEE not ALL!!! I was very mad because they would just assume that all Asians eat dogs

My Mom/age: 40/ setting: Home

This year, my mom had been saving up for an iphone. It was expensive and my mom was saving money to buy one. She put a lot of effort to get the iphone. In January, my mom finally bought the iphone that she had been saving money up for. Not even 2 months, she lost it. She even cried because she worked so hard to save up for it, and didn't know how she would've been able to loose it, when she was so careful about it. I felt really sad for her and I wished that I could go and buy her a new one, but I also know that I can't go buy her another one, because I don't have the money. Then, when my mom's birthday was coming up, my dad got her a new iphone. She was so happy and grateful for the iphone my dad bought for her.

Speaker- Jenny
age-12 setting-school, home

There was this girl in my school who was poor. She had good grades. Her mother works for many jobs. She didn't have a father either. One job was cleaning toilets. People in the school then started to make fun of her and saying that she is a disgrace. One day, the girl started to hang out with people in her school who didn't really study well. Soon, her grade dropped very low and became bad. Her mother found out about it and wouldn't speak to her. All she said is, "Do whatever you want" till then, she decided to study well and just ignore the other students. She learned that she should not follow other people's footsteps and just do what she really wants to do.