The Outsiders Culminating Task
Part A: Vocabulary
The author, S.E. Hinton, uses lots of vocabulary that you probably didn’t know before
reading the book.
1. List 5 new vocabulary words you learned (NOT slang words from the era) and
explain their meaning in your own words.
2. Why is having a rich vocabulary important? How can/will you add these 5 words
to your vocabulary?
3. Use 3 of your chosen words (correctly) in your assignment somewhere. Make
sure you highlight the words so that they are easy for me to find.
Part B: Quotes
Choose one of the following three quotes:
Explain your thinking about the question listed using your own ideas and ideas from
the text.
1. Ponyboy calls Cherry out on her behaviour by saying, “You’re a traitor to your
own kind and not loyal to us” (p. 129). Why did he say this? Do you think he
was fair in what he had to say to her?
2. Ponyboy asks, “What kind of a world is it where all I have to be proud of is a
reputation for being a hood, and greasy hair? . . . Why should I be proud of it?”
(p. 132). Should Ponyboy be proud of being a greaser?
3. All the boys have different reasons for fighting. “Soda fought for fun, Steve for
hatred, Darry for pride, and Two-Bit for conformity” (p. 137). Do you think any
reason is good enough to support fighting?
Part C: Connection
1. Pick one of the characters that you relate to the most. Explain the connection you
have with that character.
Part D: Metacognition
1. What strategies did you find most helpful before, during, and after reading The
Outsiders and how can you use these strategies to improve as a reader?
The Outsiders: RJ Response
KNOWLEDGE
THINKING
COMMUNICATION
APPLICATION
Responsibility
Organization
Independent Work
Level One
-basic or incorrect
understanding of
new words
-identifies
few/simple
strategies
-identifies new
vocabulary
-uses basic ideas to
explain a quote
-minimal support
-attempts to
communicate
thinking
-uses 3 new
vocabulary words
-provides a basic
connection
-minimal support
Level Two
-uses clues from text to
determine meaning of some
unfamiliar words
-identifies reading strategies
and suggests how they can
be used
-identifies some relevant new
vocabulary words
-uses obvious and simple
ideas to analyze a quote
-does not provide enough
support
-communicates thinking by
using ideas from the text
-uses 3 new vocabulary words
(some are effective)
-provides a simple/obvious
connection
-uses some support
-follows few
expectations
-work is hard to
follow
-follows some expectations
-despite reminders,
doesn’t use time
well
-uses class time well with
some reminders
-organizes answers into
separate paragraphs
Level Three
-uses clues from text to
determine meaning of
unfamiliar words
-identifies effective reading
strategies and suggests how
they can be used effectively
-identifies 5 new vocabulary
words & explains why they
are personally relevant
-uses critical thinking to
analyze a quote
-backs up ideas with support
-communicates thinking
clearly by using a variety of
ideas from the text
-uses 3 new vocabulary words
effectively
-provides a complex
connection
-supports connection using
ideas from text and own ideas
-follows assignment
expectations
-organizes answers into
separate paragraphs
-highlights 3 vocabulary words
-uses class time wisely
Level Four