The Outsiders Novel and Movie Writing Assignment
NAME:_____________________________________________
DATE:______________________________________________
CLASS COLOR:______________________________________
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Beginning of movie to church scene)
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After the movie you will complete a writing assignment. Chose from the
following options:
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OPTION ONE: You’ve got character: Compare and contrast the characters in the book and
movie: how well were the characters cast? Did the characters/actors appear as you
envisioned? Were any characters from the book missing in the movie? Why were some
characters different in the movie?
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For the following characters note actor’s 1.hair color (blonde, brown, red) 2. height (tall, short),
3. build (muscular. slim), and 4. actions in the movie:
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Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action3.
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Sodapop (Rob Lowe)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action3.
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Steve (Tom Cruise)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action 3.
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Johnny (Ralph Macchio)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action 3.
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The Outsiders Novel and Movie Writing Assignment
Dallas (Matt Dillon)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action 3.
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Darry (Patrick Swayze)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action 3.
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Two-Bit (Emilio Estevez)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action 3.
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Cherry (Diane Lane)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action 3.
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Bob(Lief Garrett)
Hair
Height
Build
Action 1.
Action 2.
Action 3.
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The Outsiders Novel and Movie Writing Assignment
OPTION TWO: Taking in the scenery: S.E. Hinton’s novel takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in
1965. The 1983 movie, was filmed in Oklahoma with costumes, sets, and music to bring
viewers back to the 1960s. While the books is based on Ponyboy’s first person narrative, the
movie uses sound, lighting, special effects and camera angles for impact. Is the movie or the
book more effective in delivering the story? How? What story elements are left out of the
movie? Why?
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How is the opening scene different than the beginning of the book?
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How does the song, Johnny O’Keefe's “Wild One” play into the scene?
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How does the movie’s set establish poverty for the Greasers?
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Pick a scene, describe how the MUSIC dramatizes the action in the scene.
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Pick another scene, describe how the SOUND EFFECTS dramatizes the action in the scene.
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Pick another scene, describe how the LIGHTING dramatizes the action in the scene.
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Pick another scene, describe how the CAMERA ANGLE dramatizes the action in the scene.
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Pick another scene, describe how the SPECAL EFFECTS dramatizes the action in the scene.
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What is your favorite scene in the first half of the movie? Why?
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The Outsiders Novel and Movie Writing Assignment
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OPTION THREE: You’re so critical: Play the role of movie and book critics: what did you like
about the book...about the movie? what did you dislike about the book...about the movie?
What is different about how the story begins in the move and in the book?
What I LIKE
MOVIE
Why I LIKE it
MOVIE
1
2
3
4
5
BOOK
BOOK
6
7
8
9
10
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The Outsiders Novel and Movie Writing Assignment
What I DO NOT like
MOVIE
Why I DO NOT like it
MOVIE
1
2
3
4
5
BOOK
BOOK
6
7
8
9
10
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WHAT/HOW I Would Change the movie:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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The Outsiders Novel and Movie Writing Assignment
OPTION FOUR: Look out Quentin Tarantino! You will play the role of screenwriter: how
would you adapt this movie for a 2014 audience? how would you deliver the same messages?
which actors would you cast? would you you change the setting (time, place)?
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Where/when would your movie take place?
Time:
Place:
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What — setting, characters, dialog, etc. — seems out-of-date in the movie for today’s audiences:
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1.
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2.
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3.
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4.
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5.
What characters/actors would you update for your movie, why?:
Actor/character
Replacement
Actor/character
1
7
2
8
3
9
4
10
5
11
6
12
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Replacement