The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
Grade Level
Middle School – Eighth Grade Language Arts
Inquiry Question
How do S.E. Hinton’s writing style, use of literary
devices such as simile, metaphor, personification,
allusion, irony, and symbolism, and use of setting
define the theme and underlying message of The
Outsiders?
Objectives
Students will
 Define and use vocabulary from the text
 Define and discuss central themes from the
text
 Determine key literary devices used in the
text and why
 Use The Outsiders to relate to issues
students’ lives and community
 Determine key conflict and resolution issues
in the text
The Outsiders Assessment Final Projects
As an eight-grade student, you will have your
choice on final project assessment to evaluate for
your understanding of the book “The Outsiders”.
Students must pick one activity from one of the
four categories below for project assessment. Some
projects do allow students to work in small groups
collaboratively. Research and project working time
will be provided to students in each core class.
Writing – Students may choose from the following
writing projects:
1. Newspaper Article: Imagine you are a
newspaper reporter. Write a news or feature
article on one of the most important events
of the book.
2. Literary Analysis Essay: Analyze the effect
of using a first person narrator in The
Outsiders. State your opinion as to whether
you think S.E. Hinton may have been better
writing the story from a third-person
narrative point of view, or first person as
it was written. Provide examples from the
story to back up your opinion. Be certain
to explain the differences between the two
types of narrators.
3. Poetry: Write a poem about The Outsiders
story or key message. Illustrate your poem.
4. Pretend you are a major character, like
Ponyboy or Cherry from The Outsiders.
Describe what your life has been like since
1967. What have you done, where do you
live, and what do you do for a living?
Write a biography describing your life now.
5. Create a journal, with at least 6 entries,
for a major character in the book The
Outsiders, after the book has concluded.
Explain what that character is doing and
what their hopes and dreams for the future
may be.
Music – Students may choose from the following
music projects.
1. Write lyrics about The Outsiders to a
popular music song that you know. Provide
lyrics in print.
2. Write a song about the story or central
theme of The Outsiders. Provide lyrics and
instrumental score.
3. Analyze music and provide examples of music
from the late 1960s. Provide a written
analysis of how music related to life during
the 1960s time period. Research music and
find examples of modern remakes of music
during this time period.
Art – Students may choose from the following art
projects:
1. You are a book designer, and the publisher
of “The Outsiders” wants to come out with a
new edition of the book. Design a new cover
or book jacket, and illustrate the first
page of each chapter. Provide a written
preview of the book for the back jacket.
2. Create a Diorama for two scenes in the book
The Outsiders. Be certain to provide a
written description of the scenes you are
creating.
3. Create a pop-up illustrated book for each
chapter of The Outsiders.
4. Choose a photograph or major work of art
that you think a main character in The
Outsiders would choose to have. Provide a
written explanation as to why.
Drama – Students may choose from the following
drama projects:
1. Create a screenplay or stage script for one
or more chapters of The Outsiders. Provide
scene, or setting, information and actor
cues.
2. Professionally act out a scene from one
chapter of the book The Outsiders. This is a
collaborative assignment that requires more
than one student – request teacher approval
if assignment requires more than two
students.
3. Pretend you are the author discussing their
book on the TV show “Oprah”. Describe why
you wrote the book and the audience you were
trying to reach with the novel.
4. You are a radio host interviewing S.E.
Hinton about her novel “The Outsiders”.
Provide interview questions and create an
interview skit based on the setting, theme,
plot, characters and conflict/resolution of
the book.
Presentation – Students may choose from the
following presentation projects:
1. Your job is to design an ad campaign to
promote The Outsiders. Create a poster and
present a 60 second TV or radio commercial
about the book and key message.
2. Create a PowerPoint or other media related
presentation to describe the plot, setting,
theme/message, conflict and outcome of The
Outsiders, as if you were a publishing agent
presenting this book to a major book
distributor.
3. Create a media or video recorded
representation of a scene from “The
Outsiders” or a character interview after a
major scene in the book.
*Collaborative
project*
All assignments must be declared by the student
and approved by Mrs. Johnsen. Due dates TBA!