The Outsiders
S.E. Hinton
Project 1
Vocabulary skit assignment
Each student will be choosing one word from the vocabulary list. Your
job is to find the definition and write it in terms that the class can
understand. Be sure that the words are all spelled correctly.
You will then write a short script, using proper format that illustrates the
meaning of the word.
Your skit can be humorous or dramatic.
Your skit should be approximately 1 to 2 minutes in length.
Format
Title
Cast
Setting
Script: character name, colon: ,
exact words of speaker (no quotation marks), stage directions in
brackets.
How will I be marked?
Criteria
Excelling
Meeting
Developing
Not Yet
Effort
Props, costumes, memorized
lines, creativity
Definition
Spelled correctly, clear &
consise
Overall
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight
Project 2
Character Chart
Name
Role
Looks
Ponyboy
curtis
Main Character
Sodapop
Curtis
Ponyboy`s brother
Darry Curtis
Ponyboy`s oldest
brother
2-Bit
Mathews
(Keith)
Gang member
Johnny Cade
Ponyboy`s best friend
Steve Randle
Soda`s best friend
Dallas
Winston
(Dally)
Gang member
You will only be marked for completeness.
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight
Personality,
Interests, Etc.
Project 3
The Outsiders Character Sketch Assignment
You will be creating a new character for The Outsiders and then you will
write a short event that would fit somewhere into the novel. The length
for this writing assignment is 250 words to 750 words (one to three
pages).
Your assignment should have two main parts:
1) You will create a web describing the character. You may also draw
a picture of your character. This web should include several
aspects of your character. For example, name, age, likes, dislikes,
education, achievements, favourite sayings, family, etc.
2) You will write a short chapter excerpt that could take place
somewhere in the novel. Your chapter excerpt should be consistent
with the novel. For example keep the existing characters behaving
the same way as in the novel, use first person point of view, use
direct and indirect characterization, use dialogue, try using idioms
and similes or metaphors.
Hand in:
- web for your character (and picture if you drew one)
- prewriting
-rough copy with revisions and editing
-good copy in pen or typed
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight
The Outsiders Character Sketch Rubric
Name:_______________
Excelling
Meeting
Developing
Not Yet
-ideas are insightful
and original.
-sensory details are
present.
-both indirect and
direct
characterization are
used effectively.
-dialogue is used to
develop the new
character about 1020% of the time.
-two or more creative
similes, metaphors or
idioms are used.
-first person point of
view is consistent
with the novel.
-descriptive details
are specific vs.
general.
-little to no filler is
present
-ideas are thoughtful.
-both indirect and
direct
characterization are
used.
-dialogue is
incorporated
approximately 5 to
10% of the time.
-at least one simile,
metaphor or idiom is
utilized.
-first person point of
view is attempted.
-descriptive details
are general.
-ideas are simplistic
and show limited
evidence of critical
thinking.
-very little dialogue
is used.
-at least one simile,
metaphor or idiom
is attempted.
-third person point
of view is used.
-descriptive details
are limited.
-no new ideas are
presented.
-no dialogue is
used.
-no simile or
metaphor was
attempted.
-no descriptive
details are evident.
-ideas are well
organized and clearly
expressed.
-sentence beginnings
and length are varied.
-ideas are organized
into paragraphs with
appropriate structure.
-some variety in
sentence beginnings
and length is seen.
-there is evidence
of organization but
more clarity is
needed.
-not much variety
in sentence
beginnings and
length.
-character sketch is
confusing and hard
to follow.
No errors
A few errors
Errors are
somewhat
distracting to the
reader
Many errors which
significantly
distract the reader
All elements of
writing process have
been followed
thoroughly:
thoughtful prewriting, revision
(addition, deletion,
changes) and editing
(using appropriate
symbols)
Writing process has
been followed but
revision and editing
are incomplete
Significant
elements of writing
process have been
omitted (e.g. no
additions have been
made to rough
draft)
Editing and/or
revision is
completely absent
on rough draft
(Note: no outline or
rough draft = 0 for
this category)
Ideas
Organization
Mechanics
Writing Process
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight
Project 4
Choose to either to write a song or poem, create a soundtrack, or write a
script and act out a section of The Outsiders.
- Write a song or poem. 
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Write a song or poem that describes a particular part of the The Outsiders.
The song/poem should be significant in length and should relate to some
aspect of the story.
The poem may follow a traditional format or may be free verse.
The poem may rhyme or not but be consistent.
You may not do haiku or limerick or any other very short form of poetry as
these formats will not allow you to demonstrate all that you’ve read .
You may do an additional haiku or limerick for fun to compliment your main
song/poem.
Poems are to be performed in front of your class.
If you want to write a song, you can take the music and pattern of a song
that already exists and change the words to make it about The Outsiders or
you can compose your own music. If you borrow the music and pattern from
an existing song, you must make that known. Eg. “Ponyboy the Greaser” to
the tune of “Louie Louie” by Richard Berry.”
You should bring in the music to accompany your performance of your song
(if you choose song) or you can play the music yourself on an instrument or
have a friend play it for you.
- Create a soundtrack -
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Create a soundtrack for The Outsiders
Soundtrack must be accompanied by a report explaining why the music was
chosen. Some of the aspects of the soundtrack that should be explained
are:
o Song titles, artists, order used and for what pages in the graphic
novel.
o Why you chose a particular song for a particular part of the story.
Think about such things as:
 Mood, setting, action, light, dark, serious, light hearted, etc.
Soundtracks may be on tape, CD, or in a digital format such as .jpeg or .wma
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight
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You should not use the entire song as the performance shouldn’t be much
longer then 5 minutes. Give short samples of the music to establish the
atmosphere, and feeling of that particular part of the story.
The soundtrack is to be played for your classmates. You may do a basic
commentary of what part of the story you are at when music is changing.
Explanations are not necessary during the presentation as your music
choices should make the explanation obvious.
- Script and act out a section of The Hobbit. 
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Choose a section of The Outsiders .
Script (write out lines to be said by actors and movement directions for the
actors) – the script must be neat, typed or in blue or black ink and a copy
must be handed in to the teacher at the time of presentation.
Act out your scene from The Outsiders. You will need to recruit other
actors to be involved with you.
Practice your scene many times. Be prepared to act out your scene live or
you may act it out for video/DVD and edit your performance.
o If you plan to act out your scene live, think about space requirements.
o If you plan to make a video/DVD, you should leave lots of time for
filming and editing – it takes longer than you would think!
The scene should not be longer than 5 minutes in duration.
Costumes and props can be useful but are not absolutely necessary for this
project.
Lines should be memorized. It will make for a much better performance if
actors are not reading from a script.
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight
How will I be marked?
Criteria
Excelling
Meeting
Developing
Not
Yet
Performance gives evidence of
knowledge of The Outsiders
plot to chapter 9.
Performance is clear, easy to
understand and hear.
Performance is original and
interesting.
Evidence of practice is obvious
in the presentation.
Knowledge of audience location
is apparent (performers are
not speaking to the wall).
Written component of project
is in proper English: grammar,
spelling, punctuation.
Student/s have put in extra
effort to their project to
make it the best that they can.
Overall
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight
Final Project
- Write an essay Write an essay to demonstrate your understanding of and give your opinion on
the book. You may choose any of the following thesis statements, or come up
with your own. Please show your teacher your thesis statement BEFORE
beginning.
Ideas for thesis statements:
 What did you learn from the novel? Why is this important
 If you could say anything to Ponyboy, Dally, Johnny etc.. what would it be?
 How did you like the novel?
 Should all grade 8’s read this novel? Why?
 Did the themes in the novel help you in any way?
 Be creative, have fun, think of what you liked about the book.
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight
How will I be marked?
Outsiders Essay Marking Scheme
Name:_______________
Excelling
Meeting
Developing
Not Yet
Ideas expressed are
insightful, original,
and explore beyond
the content of the
novel
Examples are clear
Footnotes are clear
Ideas are thoughtful
and accurate to the
themes and events
of the book
Ideas are simplistic
and show limited
evidence of critical
thinking about the
chosen topic
No new ideas are
presented related to
the theme
Ideas are well
organized and
clearly expressed
and paragraphs flow
into one another
Transitions are clear
Topic sentences and
concluding
sentences are
effective
Ideas are organized
into paragraphs with
appropriate
structure
Some transition
Topic sentences and
concluding
sentences are
evident
There is evidence of
organization but
more clarity needed
for introduction,
paragraphs, and/or
conclusion
Essay is completely
fragmented with no
organization
No errors
A few errors
Errors are somewhat
distracting to the
reader
Many errors which
significantly distract
the reader
Choices made in
sentence variety,
vocabulary, use of
metaphors, etc. are
exceptional
Choices show some
thought
Choices show
limited scope
Essay makes no
attempt to convince
and uses only
everyday language
All elements of
writing process have
been followed –
thorough: thoughtful
pre-writing, revision
(addition, deletion,
changes) and editing
(using appropriate
symbols)
Writing process has
been followed but
revision and editing
are incomplete
Significant elements
of writing process
have been omitted
(e.g. no additions
have been made to
rough draft)
Editing and/or
revision is
completely absent
on rough draft
(Note: no outline or
rough draft = 0 for
this category)
Content
Organization
Mechanics
Style Choice
Writing Process
Lawrence Grassi Middle School – Grade Eight