The Outsiders Homework Calendar
Due Dates: Read &
complete before the date.
Tuesday, April 22nd
Chapter
Comprehension, Gathering Textual Evidence & Reflection
Chapter 1
(pgs. 1 – 18)
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: In what point of view is this story being told? Why
do think the author made this choice?
3. Reflection #1: What is an outsider? What are the traits of an
outsider? How does being an outsider affect a person?
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: Ponyboy defines or categories himself and his
family several different ways. What is your definition of family? How
would you categorize your own family?
3. Reflection #2: Describe a time when you felt like an outsider.
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: On pages 37-38, Pony and Cherry discuss ways
that Socs and Greasers are similar and different. Make a T-Chart that
compares and contrasts the two groups. Use text details from the
chapter for support of your thoughts.
3. Reflection #3: Is one social class better than another? Why or why
not? Explain
1. madras
2. loping
3. reckless
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: Why does Johnny feel like it’s his duty to defend
Ponyboy and himself against Bob? Use text details from the chapter for
support of your thoughts.
3. Reflection #4: Is violence ever justified? If so, under what
circumstances? Who makes that decision?
1. unceasingly
2. bootlegging
3. ruefully
4. gingerly
5. sheepish
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: How did Johnny’s circumstances have an affect on
his personality? Use text details from the chapter for support of your
thoughts.
3. Reflection #5: Do people naturally fall into groups that don’t get
along? Why might they do that?
1. imploringly
2. hue
3. eluded
4. gorged
12pts.
Thursday, April
24th
Chapter 2
(pgs. 19 – 36)
14pts.
Monday, April 28th
Chapter 3
(pgs. 36 – 52)
14pts.
Periods #6/7 & 10
Wednesday, April 30th
Chapter 4
(pgs. 53 – 67)
*Due to the Math
Exam, students who
have English periods #1
& #2 will have HW #4,
5, & 6 due on Monday,
May 5th
16pts.
Periods #6/7 & 10
Friday, May 2nd
Chapter 5
(pgs. 68 – 84)
14pts.
Vocabulary & Synthesis
1. winced
2. feud
3. principle
4. vaguely
1. gallantly
2. aloofness
3. reeling
4. ember
The Outsiders Homework Calendar
Monday, May 5th
Chapter 6
(pgs. 85 – 99)
12pts.
Tuesday, May 6th
Thursday, May 8th
Chapter 7
(pgs. 100 – 118)
12pts.
Tuesday, May 13th
Chapter 8
(pgs. 119 – 130)
14pts.
Friday, May 16th
Chapter 9
(pgs. 131 – 149)
8pts.
Chapter 10
Monday, May 19th
(pgs. 150 – 160)
14 pts.
&
Chapter 11
(pgs. 161 – 166)
8pts.
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: What does Ponyboy mean when he says, “It wasn’t
Cherry the Soc who was helping us, it was Cherry the dreamer who
watched sunsets and couldn’t stand fights? Use text details from the
chapter for support of your thoughts.
3. Reflection #6: In what ways does reputation distort the way we
view people?
Mid-Unit Assessment (Chapters 1-6)
1. grim
2. detached
3. hysterics
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: Why does Randy come to see Ponyboy? What do
Randy’s actions reveal about him as a character? Use text details from
the chapter for support of your thoughts.
3. Reflection #7: Identify one theme from the novel so far, and choose
an example when a character or characters demonstrates that theme.
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: How is Darry different from the other Greasers?
Use text details from the chapter for support of your thoughts.
3. Reflection #8: Are there things we can do at school to develop more
acceptance and respect amongst one another?
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: Did the Greasers win the rumble? Why or Why
not? Use text details from the chapter for support of your thoughts.
3. Reflection #9: What does fear feel like? Describe how you felt at the
moment you’ve been most afraid.
1. radiate
2. drawl
3. clique
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in both
chapters.
2. (Ch. 10) Focus Question: Ponyboy asks himself: Who dies more gallantly,
Dally or Johnny? What do you think? Use text details from the chapter for
support of your thoughts.
3. (Ch.11) Focus Question: Why is Ponyboy refusing to believe that Johnny
is dead and insisting that he killed Bob Sheldon, not Johnny? Use text details
from the chapter for support of your thoughts.
4. Reflection #10: Does violence ever have a positive outcome? If so, under
what circumstances? Explain.
5. Reflection #11: Is it possible to idolize someone, even if they do something
wrong or illegal? Why or why not? Explain.
Chapter 10
1. stupor
2. dumfounded
3. stricken
4. delirious
1. abruptly
2. resemblance
3. divert
4. doggedly
1. gallantly
Chapter 11
1. idolized
The Outsiders Homework Calendar
Tuesday, May 20th
Chapter 12
(pgs. 167 – 180)
12pts.
1. In a few (complete) sentences summarize the gist of the events in this
chapter.
2. Focus Question: Ponyboy is referring to Randy when he says, “A
Soc, even, worried because some kid Greaser was on his way to a foster
home or something. That was really funny. I don’t mean funny. You
know what I mean.” What word do you believe Pony is trying to capture.
3. Reflection #12: What effect does it have on the reader that S.E.
Hinton
1. desert
2. veered
3. vast
Homework Directions
Each homework assignment for The Outsiders will be completed in each student’s English Notebook. The expectation is that all work
will be written using complete sentences at all times.
1. The Gist ~ For each chapter, students will summarize the main events that occurred within that chapter. This is typically done in 3 –
4 sentences. (2 pts.)
2. Focus Question ~ Underneath the gist of the chapter, each student should write out the entire focus question and then answer the
question using the same short response method we’ve discussed all year. This method is to “echo” or restate the question and give the
answer in the first sentence, then include the evidence from the text in the second sentence, and then the third sentence will give a
concluding sentence that summarizes the thought and explains the connections between the answer and the evidence. This is typically
done in 3 – 4 sentences. (2 pts.)
3. Reflection ~ Reflections are a student’s personal reflections on past events or connections that a student makes with the concepts
from the novel. This is a type of journaling activity that varies in length, but should be no more that 3-4 sentences. (2pts.)
4. Vocabulary & Synthesis ~ Underneath where the student has written the reflection, the student is expected to write each
vocabulary word (using correct spelling), write the correct definition of that word as it is used In the context of the chapter, and
write a sentence using the vocabulary term correctly. In order to earn credit, the sentence must illustrate the meaning. (2pts. each)
(Example: somber – extremely serious; grave; depressing. The look on Ponyboy’s face was somber as he delivered the awful news about
Johnny to the other Greasers.)