The Outsiders
By S.E. Hinton
Name_____________________________________
Essential Questions





How do perceptions lead to stereotyping and pressure to conform?
Why is it important to recognize that all people have common life experiences
that are both positive and negative?
What is loyalty and rivalry?
What does power mean?
What is identity?
Before Reading:
 What is identity? (Define identity)
 What are some examples of identity?
JOURNAL: In your composition books, describe your personal identity. What is
your group of friend’s identity? Are they the same? Why or why not?
 What is class?
 How would you describe an upper class (Socs) household? How would you
describe a lower class (Greasers) household?
 What is race?
 What is a clique?
 What is a gang?
 What is a stereotype?
 Give an example of stereotype.
2
STEREOTYPE GALLERY WALK ACTIVITY
Your group will walk around the room a view several different people from all
walks of life. You will record your observations below. Please answer the
following questions when making your observations:
 What is important to this person?
 What kind of job does or will this person have?
 If I met this person, would we be friends? Why or why not?
Person #1:
Person #2:
Person #3:
Person #4:
Person #5:
3
Sizing Up People
When you meet new people your age, what interests you about them? Use the
rating scale at the left. Circle the number that comes closest to showing how
important you think each of the qualities on the right hand column is to you. Then
compare your responses with those of your classmates.
Extremely
Important
Not Very
Important
1
2
3
4
5
the way they dress
1
2
3
4
5
their grades in school
1
2
3
4
5
the amount of money they have
1
2
3
4
5
the kind of possessions they have
1
2
3
4
5
the way they talk
1
2
3
4
5
their physical appearance
1
2
3
4
5
where they live in town
1
2
3
4
5
who their friends are
1
2
3
4
5
how they treat their friends
1
2
3
4
5
where they hang out
1
2
3
4
5
their ethnic background
1
2
3
4
5
their hobbies and interests
1
2
3
4
5
their sense of humor
1
2
3
4
5
their athletic abilities
1. Which of the qualities above are the most superficial? Which tell you something
of true significance about the person? Do two of each.
Superficial (shallow, not important)
*
Significant (important, matters)
*
*
*
2. Which one of these qualities would you want to be judged by? Which would you
not want to be judged by?
4
NAME IDENTITY
Write a Name Identity poem for Ponyboy. Use each letter of Ponyboy’s name
(like shown below) to create a sentence or single noun, verb, or adjective
that describes Pony’s identity. Refer to Chapter 1 for character information.
P _____________________________
O _____________________________
N _____________________________
Y _____________________________
B _____________________________
O _____________________________
Y _____________________________
5
IDIOMS
Definition: The natural way of using language. A fixed expression with a
non-literal meaning.
Directions: Using context clues (the words around the idiom), state the implied
meaning of the idioms below. You may work with a partner.
Saying
Meaning
“looking tough” (p. 1)
“lone it” (p. 1)
“digs movies” (p. 2)
“happy-go-lucky” (p. 2)
“get jumped” (p. 2)
“souped-up” (p. 3)
“tight knit” (p. 3)
“don’t use my head” (p. 4)
“bump on a log” (p. 4)
“bleeding like a pig” (p. 7)
“He gets drunk on plain living”
(p. 8)
“tough as nails” (p. 9)
“lift a hubcap” (p. 9)
“tag a long” (p. 9)
“wise cracker” (p. 9)
6
Outsiders Vocabulary
Chapters 1 & 2
Chapters 3 & 4
Chapters 5 & 6
editorial
hesitation
incredulous
nonchalantly
rebellious
reputation
rivalry
sarcasm
sympathetic
unfathomable
apprehensive
contempt
defiance
elite
gallant
premonition
reckless
rueful
sophisticated
wince
apparent
bewilder
conviction
elude
implore
indignant
reluctantly
sullen
testify
vital
Chapters 7, 8, & 9
Chapters 10, 11, & 12
abrupt
bleak
conformity
divert
exploit
hence
mimic
mourn
recurring
resemblance
acquitted
agony
circumstance
delirious
guardian
impact
stupor
triumph
vague
composition
Instructions:
1.
Record each word’s definition in your journal. Make sure you know the
definition and part of speech. You also need to be able to use each word
in a sentence. You will have two vocabulary tests for this novel.
2.
Choose one word from each box above to create a word web. The
required information is listed on the next page.
3.
You will need to complete 5 word webs total.
7
8
9
10
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
Chapter 2
1. Why didn’t Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally pay to get into the drive-in movie?
2. What is Cherry’s real name? Why is she called Cherry?
3. What did Cherry do when Dally brought her a Coke?
4. Give three reasons why Cherry and Marcia are not scared of Johnny and
Ponyboy even though, like Dally, they are Greasers.
5. Why had Cherry and Marcia left their boyfriends at the drive-in?
6. What are two rules Greasers have for themselves?
7. How did Johnny get beaten up?
8. What did Cherry mean when she said, “Things are rough all over”?
Chapter 3
1. What did Cherry say was the main difference between the Socs and the
Greasers?
2. What was the name of Sodapop’s horse?
3. What happened to Soda’s horse?
11
4. Why did Ponyboy think that maybe his world and Cherry’s weren’t so
different?
5. Why did Johnny stare at the rings on the Soc’s hand?
6. Why did Cherry and Marcia let their drunken boyfriends drive them home?
7. What was the last thing Cherry says to Ponyboy before she leaves in the
car?
8. How long has it been since Ponyboy’s parents were killed?
9. Why was Ponyboy late getting home?
10. Why did Darry get angry with Ponyboy and hit him?
11. Where did Ponyboy go after Darry hit him?
Chapter 4
1. What does Bob say a Greaser is?
2. What do the Socs do to Ponyboy?
3. What does Ponyboy see when he recovers consciousness?
4. Why did Johnny attack Bob?
12
5. Where do Johnny and Ponyboy go when the leave the park?
6. What does Dally give Johnny and Ponyboy?
7. Where does Dally tell them to go?
8. How do they get there?
9. How do they find the church?
Chapter 5
1. How does Johnny write a note to Ponyboy?
2. What is the one thing the Greasers are proud of?
3. What do Johnny and Ponyboy do to disguise themselves?
4. Why do Johnny and Ponyboy start crying?
5. How do Johnny and Ponyboy pass the time?
6. Who comes to visit Johnny and Ponyboy?
7. Pony boy receives a letter from whom?
8. Where do the police think Johnny and Ponyboy have gone?
13
9. What is a “heater”?
10. Who is spying on the Socs for the Greasers?
Chapter 6
1. Why is Cherry helping the Greasers?
2. When they are at Dairy Queen, what does Johnny tell Dally he is going to
do?
3. How have Johnny’s parents reacted to his running away?
4. What do the boys see when they reach the top of Jay Mountain?
5. When is the only time Ponyboy can remember seeing Johnny without a
defeated, suspicious look in his eyes?
6. Why does Dally hit Ponyboy?
7. How does Dally get burned?
8. How does Johnny get hurt?
9. What does Darry do when he sees Ponyboy in the hospital?
14
10. At the hospital Ponyboy realizes that Darry really cares for him. Why has
Darry been so hard on Ponyboy in the past?
Chapter 7
1. Why do the photographers take so many pictures?
2. What does Ponyboy tell a reporter at the hospital he would do if he could do
anything he wanted?
3. What do the doctors say about Dally’s injuries?
4. What do the doctors say about Johnny’s injuries?
5. What one food does Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry all like for breakfast?
6. Why does Darry leave the front door unlocked?
7. What charges were being brought against Johnny?
8. What will the court decide about Ponyboy?
9. Where did Soda’s girlfriend go?
10. Why does Randy say the rumble between the Socs and the Greasers won’t
solve anything?
15
Chapter 8
1. Why did the doctor let Two-Bit and Ponyboy in to see Johnny?
2. What two things does Johnny tell Two-Bit he wants him to bring?
3. Who comes to visit Johnny besides Ponyboy and Two-Bit?
4. What does Two-Bit give to Dally?
5. What does Two-Bit say keeps Darry from being a Soc?
6. Why does Cherry say she can’t visit Johnny?
Chapter 9
1. What are the two things Greasers have to be proud of?
2. Who is the only Greaser who doesn’t like fights?
3. Why is Tim Shepard’s kid brother, Curly, not going to be at the rumble?
4. What weapons are going to be used in the rumble?
5. Why does Ponyboy feel he and his gang don’t belong with Tim Sheperd’s gang
and the Brumley boys?
6. What are the rules for the rumble?
16
7. Who joins the rumble at the last minute?
8. How did Dally get out of the hospital?
9. How does the fight end?
10. Where do Ponyboy and Dally go after the rumble?
11. How do they get there so quickly?
12. What does Johnny tell Ponyboy to do?
Chapter 10
1. How does Ponyboy get home from the hospital?
2. Why is Dally so upset about Johnny’s death?
3. Who phones Darry, and what does he want?
4. When the police catch up with Dally, what happens? Be specific.
5. What was wrong with Ponyboy?
6. What did Johnny leave for Ponyboy?
17
7. Why wouldn’t Ponyboy eat anything when he was sick?
8. Why is Ponyboy worried about whether or not he called for Darry when he
was sick?
Chapter 11 & 12
1. How does Ponyboy describe Bob?
2. Why does Randy come to see Ponyboy?
3. What two strange things does Ponyboy tell Randy?
4. Who is at the court hearing?
5. What does the judge decide about Ponyboy?
6. Why does Ponyboy’s English teacher want to talk to him?
7. What does Ponyboy do when he’s confronted by three Socs?
8. Why does Two-Bit grin when Ponyboy picks up the broken glass?
9. Why does Soda run out of the house?
10. Why is the last sentence of the book unusual?
18
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Robert Frost
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Assignment: Write a 1-page interpretation in your composition
book about Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” Refer
back to Ponyboy’s description and recitation of the poem in
Chapter 5.
GREASER/SOC JOURNALISM
Write a newspaper article from the point of view of either a
Greaser or a Soc about one of the two following events:
• Johnny’s stabbing of Bob, or
• Johnny and Ponyboy’s rescue of the children in the church
fire
Create a catchy and imaginative title and check for spelling and
grammar. Remember to look in the text, Chapter 4 and Chapter
6, for useful information to include and influence your article.
19
The Outsiders
Literary Analysis: Symbols and Symbolic Poetry
Do you recognize any of the following symbols? Do you know what they stand for? Put
your guess or answer on the line following each one.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
A symbol is an object that stands for or represents another object or idea, like the ones above.
In literature, symbols can be anything, even common objects that mean something beyond
themselves. Read and think about each question below. Circle the letter of the correct answer
and write at least one sentence explaining the reason for your choice.
1. What did Corvairs and Mustangs represent to the Greasers?
A. The Socs’ contempt for the Greasers
B. The power of the Socs
C. The wealth of the Socs’ families
Reason for choice:
2. What did the Confederate soldiers in Gone with the Wind represent to Johnny?
D. The kind of gallantry on Dally’s part
E. The evils of war
F. A fear of authority and death
Reason for choice:
20
3. What did their long, well-oiled hair symbolize to the greasers?
G. Pride in their good looks
H. Dread of barbers
I. Their identity as a unique group of people
Reason for choice:
4. What did Bob’s rings symbolize?
5. What did Soda’s horse, Mickey Mouse, symbolize?
6. What did sunsets symbolize to Cherry and Ponyboy?
7. What did drive-in theaters symbolize?
8. Can you think of any other symbols in The Outsiders?
21
The Greasers and Socs
1.
Compare and contrast characteristics of the Greasers and the Socs
by sorting the nine words in the word bank into the appropriate
Venn diagram categories.
2.
Add at least 3 more words to the “BOTH” category and underline
them.
3.
Add at least 6 more words to either or both the “GREASERS only”
and/or the “SOC only” categories and underline them.
22
Comparing Identities: You vs. Who?
Choose a character from The Outsiders who you feel you can relate with in terms of
identity and personality OR choose a character who you feel you cannot relate with
at all. For example, this character could be the complete opposite in identity and
personality from you. Compare and contrast that character’s identity to your own
identity. (You must have at least 3 similarities and 3 differences.) All responses
must be typed. Think of the following questions as you write your response.
Please complete/answer the following:

Would you both be in the same clique? Or different cliques?

What characteristics are similar between you both? What characteristics are
different? Why are they similar or different? (Do not choose only superficial
characteristics – hair color, eye color, etc.)

Think of the character’s mistakes and accomplishments as well as growth in
terms of identity, self-reflection, maturity, etc.
RUBRIC - Comparing Identities: You vs. Who?
5
Excellent
Consistently
communicates
ideas in a
clear, wellorganized,
coherent
fashion.
4
Good
Often
communicates
ideas in a
clear, wellorganized,
coherent
fashion.
3
Acceptable
Communicates
ideas in a
clear, wellorganized,
coherent
fashion.
In-depth
Identity
Comparison
Exceptionally
expresses
identity and
examines
similarities/
differences.
Consistently
expresses
identity and
examines
similarities/
differences.
Expresses
identity and
examines
similarities/
differences.
Creativity:
Demonstrates
exceptional
knowledge
and a high
level of
personal
reflection in an
interesting
and creative
fashion.
Demonstrates
consistent
knowledge
and an
average level
of personal
reflection in an
interesting
and creative
fashion.
Demonstrates
basic
knowledge and
an average
level of
personal
reflection in an
interesting and
creative
fashion.
Overall
Evaluation
Total Evaluation:
2
Poor
Sometimes
fails to
communicate
ideas in a
clear, wellorganized,
coherent
fashion.
Sometimes
fails to
express
identity and
examine
similarities/
differences.
Sometimes
fails to
demonstrate
basic
knowledge
and
demonstrates
little personal
reflection.
1
Very Poor
Often fails to
communicate
ideas in a
clear, wellorganized,
coherent
fashion.
Often fails to
express
identity and
examine
similarities/
differences.
Often fails to
demonstrate
basic
knowledge
and
demonstrates
no personal
reflection.
______/15 points
23
The Outsiders: Final Assignment
Due:
Choose one.
Project #1 Heroes:
Create a poster, or other media project showing how different individuals are heroes. Then,
write a 1-2 page essay explaining why you believe each of the ‘main’ Greasers could be
considered a hero. Include your own definition of hero in the essay, and be sure to explain
how each individual, in his own way, meets your definition. Remember to support your
ideas with specific examples from the novel.
Project #2 Tuff & Tough:
Re-read Ponyboy’s description of Tuff and Tough in the book. Design a poster, or other
media project representing the differences in meaning in your life. Include items that you
feel are “tuff” and items that you feel are “tough”. Then, write a 1-2 page description of the
items you chose to include: why did you choose these items? What do they say about your
individuality?
Project #3 Individuality Collages:
Make two collages, one for yourself and one for a main character from The Outsiders. For
this project you need to make a poster (1/2 a poster for you and for your character). Collect
and cut out pictures, words and symbols that are representative of you and of your chosen
character. Think about things you like to do, things you own, things that you would like to
own, places you’ve been, people you admire (and the same for your character). Organize
and attach the collected items to make two collages. Then, write a 1-2 page description of
the items you chose to include for yourself and your character; why did you choose these
items? What do they say about you & your characters individuality?
Project #4 Alphabet Scheme:
Choose a character that you liked, or feel like you understand, and then create sentences
based on the alphabet scheme that demonstrate your knowledge of this character as an
individual. Then make an alphabet scheme for yourself showing how you value yourself as
an individual. This must be done using complete sentences and the final product should be
decorated (pictures, color, and appropriate graphics).
24
Rubric for Final Assignment
6
Relates
Graphics to Text
Summarization
Student
accurately
explains/shows
how each
graphic is
related to the
text in clear and
logical fashion
Student uses 1-2
pages to
describe clearly
what the project
is about
Outsiders Facts
Clearly
demonstrates an
understanding
of the novel the
Outsiders and
relates it to their
own lives
Individuality
Student shows
an
understanding
of individuality
and clearly
explains their
understanding
in their
project/paper
No errors
Jaguar Team
“No Excuses”
(see below)
4
Students
accurately
explains/shows
how each
graphic is
related to the
text
2
Student
accurately
explains how
some of the
graphics are
related to the
text
1
Student has
difficulty
relating
graphics to the
text
Student uses 1-2
pages to
accurately
describe what
the project is
about
Student uses
less than 1 page
or does not
accurately
describe what
the project is
about
Student
demonstrates
some
understanding
of the Outsiders
or does not
relate it to their
own lives
Student shows
a moderate
understanding
of individuality
and has some
reference to
this in their
project/paper
Student has
great difficulty
describing the
project
Demonstrates a
moderate
understanding
of the Outsiders
or does not as
clearly relate it
to their own
lives
Student shows
an
understanding
of individuality
and attempts to
explain their
understanding
in their
project/paper
Student shows
unclear
understanding
of the Outsiders
and does not
relate it to their
own lives
Student
demonstrates
no reference to
individuality
Some errors
NO EXCUSES
Not having your name on your paper
Not writing neatly and clearly
Not using capital letters when needed
Not having end mark punctuation
Not having complete sentences (no fragments or run-ons)
Not spelling common sense words and unit vocabulary correctly
25
Total _______ /30