Stay Gold
The Outsiders Project
ELA 8
Robert Frost wrote, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” Do you think this has to be true in all things? Johnny
didn’t think so.
I.
Essay
Read Johnny’s letter to Ponyboy in Chapter 12 of The Outsiders. In it, Johnny explains his
take on Robert Frost’s poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” He gives Ponyboy advice to, not only
continue to appreciate the world’s beauty (sunsets), but to also share it with those around him
(Dallas). The letter goes on to tell Pony he has time to become whatever he wants to be and that
there’s good in the world. Again, Johnny asks Pony to share that information with Dallas. In
addition, Johnny writes, “…you’re gold when you’re a kid, like green. When you’re a kid,
everything’s new, dawn. It’s just when you get used to everything that it’s day.” Johnny’s final
words to Ponyboy in the hospital were, “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.”
Please write an essay and address the following;
a)
What did Johnny mean by saying “Stay Gold?” Details in this portion of the essay
should include quotes from the text as I did in the above paragraph.
b)
Did Ponyboy take Johnny’s advice? Explain your point of view by using information
from the text. In addition, you can predict what the upcoming years look like for
Ponyboy and the other characters in the book.
c)
How can you put Johnny’s advice to work in your life? What kinds of things can you
as a modern-day teenager learn from Johnny’s wisdom? What action can you take to
help those around you realize the beauty and good in the world?
II
Your Action Plan
What can you do to “stay gold” in your daily life? Can you influence others around you to
“stay gold” as well?
a) Display your “stay gold” button and share the meaning with those around you.
b) Use the attached form to document “gold” behavior that you exhibit over the next two
weeks.
c) Use the attached form to document “gold” behavior that you see others exhibit around
you.
d) If the behavior is above and beyond “gold,” send the person to my classroom to receive
their very own “stay gold” button. Do this by filling out the attached pass and giving it
to the person.
We will brainstorm as a class different examples of “gold” behavior. We will display “gold” behavior
on the bulletin board outside our classroom.
Name:
Date:
My Gold Behavior:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Stay Gold,
____________________________________.
Stay Gold.
Gold Behavior: ________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Given by:
On:
(Give this to Mrs. Bryce in Rm 124)
Stay Gold,
____________________________________.
Stay Gold.
Gold Behavior: ________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Given by:
On:
(Give this to Mrs. Bryce in
Rm 124)
Stay Gold Grading Outline
Essay
- -Clear quotes from text (grammatically correct use of space, quotes, and capitals)
-
-interpretation and analysis of text (quotes support main point of the story)
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-prediction with logical conclusions
-
application to the modern-day world (examples in one’s life)
-
-quote Robert Frost in essay
-
Use interesting language and elaboration (examples, quotes)
-
Check for run-on sentences and fragments
Action Plan
-
Complete a combination of 8 “gold” behaviors and recognitions of “gold” behaviors.
Explain to your parents, peers, and teachers what “stay gold,” means. Include Robert Frost’s poem,
Pony’s love for sunsets, and Johnny’s interpretation of it all.
Contribute to the hall bulletin board.