The Outsiders Final Project
Due Date:
Choose one of the following project ideas:
A. Pretend you’ve been hired by a large video game company. Create a new game
using the novel as the game’s theme. Consider obstacles Ponyboy had to deal with
in the story and incorporate those into the program. You may create a written
report or a media presentation (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.) describing in detail how
the game works.
B. Create a media presentation of the 8 main novel characters. Include pictures,
direct and indirect characterization descriptions, and favorite quotations for each
character.
C. Write lyrics for “The Ballad of Johnny Cade” or another main character. Use a
familiar song melody (replace the words with your own lyrics), and sing your song
for the class or record it and present it to the class.
D. Pretend the publisher of The Outsiders has decided to print a “special edition” of
the book to celebrate its forty years of popularity. They plan to make each chapter
more appealing by including illustrations. Sketch twelve pictures (one for each
chapter) that the publisher could consider for use. Be sure to label each sketch
with its appropriate chapter number.
E. The Outsiders Glossary/Dictionary: Compile a list of words/terms (minimum of
twenty) specific to the early 1960s. Define each term and provide interesting or
colorful illustrations to enhance at least ten of the terms listed.
F. Invent a board game that challenges the players’ understanding of the novel. Your
board game must include a minimum of twenty trivia questions, board, player
pieces, and a clever description of the rules of the game. You may wish to refer to
other trivia/board games for ideas.
G. Create a collage that compares and contrasts the Greasers and the Socs. You may
use a combination of pictures from magazines, internet graphics, and hand-drawn
illustrations that symbolize or represent these two groups. The assignment should
be on full poster-size paper, colorful in appearance, and creatively organized.
H. Select four songs that would represent four scenes from “The Outsiders.” These
are songs that could become part of a “new” soundtrack for a new version of the
movie. Design a CD cover for the four soundtracks that you have selected. The
graphics on the CD cover must be hand drawn. Burn a CD with your selections and
be prepared to briefly play part of each selection and explain why you think that it
would accurately represent the specific scenes.
ALL PROJECTS MUST INCLUDE a brief essay relating your project to The Outsiders and how your
work ties in to the novel and/or characters. Use the writing format learned in your LRW class,
including introduction, body, and conclusion as well as proper grammar, usage, and mechanics.
See rubric for expectations and due dates.
FINAL PROJECT RUBRIC
20
15
10
Project is neat,
(preferably) typed,
and has a
“professional” quality
to it, especially when
using media or artistic
medium.
Reflects skillful and
effective organization
of ideas in the
development of the
project.
Project may or may
not be typed, and has
a finished quality to it,
especially when using
media or artistic
medium.
Project is neat, may
or may not be typed,
and has a semifinished quality to it.
Project is
messy, may or
may not be
typed, and has
an unfinished
quality to it.
Project is
messy, may be
illegible.
Reflects an adequate
organization of ideas
in the development of
the project.
Reflects an effort to
organize ideas in the
development of the
project, but may be
somewhat confusing.
Reflects a lack
of effort to
organize ideas,
and may be
somewhat
confusing.
Has an
unfinished/1st
draft quality to
it.
Addresses all
parts of
project
description
Clearly and effectively
addresses all parts of
the writing/media
project description.
Adequately addresses
all or most parts of the
writing/media project
description.
Attempts to address
the writing/media
project description,
but may be missing
key elements.
Attempts to
address the
writing/media
project
description, and
may be missing
key elements.
Does not
address the
writing/media
project
description, and
is missing key
elements.
Word
choice/errors
Word choice, is
skillful, precise and
sophisticated, while
reflecting the
individual student’s
writer’s voice.
Word choice, is
thoughtful and
effective, and reflects
the individual
student’s writer’s
voice.
Word choice is
general and basic,
but still reflects the
individual student’s
writer’s voice.
Word choice is
general and
basic and does
not reflect the
individual
student’s
writer’s voice.
Word choice is
poor and does
not reflect the
individual
student’s
writer’s voice.
Contains few, if any
errors in English
grammar, usage, and
mechanics.
May contain some
errors in English
grammar, usage, and
mechanics.
May contain some to
many errors in
English grammar,
usage, and
mechanics.
Contains many
errors in English
grammar,
usage, and
mechanics.
The written part of
the project clearly and
skillfully
summarizes/analyzes
the most significant
portions of the text in
the student’s own
words.
The written part of
the project adequately
summarizes/analyzes
the most significant
portions of the text in
the student’s own
words.
The written part of
the project
summarizes/analyzes
some portions of the
text in the student’s
own words but may
also have some
copying of main
ideas from other
sources.
The written
part of the
project does
not summarize
or analyze the
text in the
student’s own
words and may
also have some
copying of main
ideas from
other sources.
Presentation
Organization
of ideas
Relation to
The
Outsiders
STUDENT SIGNATURE: ___________________________________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE: ____________________________________________________
5
0
Contains
excessive errors
in English
grammar,
usage, and
mechanics
The written
part of the
project does
not summarize
or analyze the
text in the
student’s own
words
1.
PROJECT DECISION:
2.
PARENT SIGNATURE:
3.
BRIEF ESSAY:
4.
PROJECT:
5.
FINAL PROJECT TURN IN: