Honors English 7
Socratic Seminar Questions
Text: S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders (all chapters)
Level 1
- What are the differences between the greasers and the Socs?
- clothing
- transportation
- hairstyles
- reputation in the community
- sides of town
- music
- families
- What does Cherry conclude is the greatest difference between the two after her discussion with Ponyboy in Chapter 3? (Hint: it’s not money.)
- What are some examples of this on the greaser side? On the Soc side?
Remember to back up your answers with evidence and page-number citations!
Level 2
- How does S.E. Hinton develop Soda’s character throughout the novel?
- How does Hinton develop Darry’s character throughout the novel?
- How does Hinton develop Cherry’s character throughout the novel?
- How does Hinton develop Bob’s character throughout the novel?
- How does Hinton develop Johnny’s character throughout the novel?
- How does Hinton develop Dally’s character throughout the novel?
- Does Hinton mostly use direct or indirect characterization?
Remember to back up your answers with evidence and page-number citations!
Level 3
- Can Hinton’s indirect characterization be trusted? (That is, do the characters actions always support Hinton’s/Ponyboy’s claims?)
- What seems to be the novel’s message about innocence?
- What are all the different symbols of innocence?
- What are some ways that the characters seem to act that are not “innocent” or age-appropriate?
- Which characters have definitely lost their innocence?
- How do we know that Johnny was still “gold” to the end of his life?
- Is Ponyboy still “gold” at the end?
- What seems to be the novel’s message about arts, literature, and education? How do they affect our lives, according to Hinton/Ponyboy?
- What characters seem to like arts, literature, reflecting on their lives, and education? Which don’t? Are there any surprises?
- Does Hinton/Ponyboy believe that all people are equal, or that some people are “special”?
- Do the characters that do well at school or who like school the same characters who “dig” art/literature/thinking deep thoughts?
Remember to back up your answers with evidence and page-number citations!
What can I do in a seminar?
o Propose questions (“Lucia’s and Alan’s debate makes me wonder about…”)
o Propose answers (“I think the answer to Gerry’s question is right here on page…”)
o Propose interpretations (“We’ve been talking as those the two characters never met before. But if we assume they already knew each other, and then re-read their conversation…”)
o Propose a new way to discuss (“I think we are all remembering it differently. We should try not making any more comments until we’ve all taken a moment to re-read pages 4 and 5.”)
o Propose connections (“This reminds me of that story we all read back in December…”)
o Show the group outside evidence that you brought in to share (“I looked up the author last night and found this interview. Here’s a copy I printed out. It turns out that he also spent time in that same prison in his own life…”)
o Ask someone else to clarify what they already said or ask someone for more information (“Marcia, I don’t understand why you think that part is so important. Can you explain your evidence again for why you think that the ghost is all in her head?”)
o Pause to re-read the text, hunting for a clue or generating a new idea (Short pauses and even long silences are a good sign in a Socratic Seminar…)