Name: Date:

Reading – The Outsiders Period:

Webquest for Introduction to

The Outsiders by Susan Eloise Hinton

To better understand and appreciate all the literary elements of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, it is important to conduct some research on the author and the setting. In order to gather information and correctly answer the following questions, visit www.watchungschools.com and click Media Center and then on The Outsiders.

Part 1: Susan Eloise Hinton

Who is S. E. Hinton?

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What was her first published book and when was it published?

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What other works is she known for?

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S.E. Hinton was the first author to receive what award? What is the name of the association giving the award?

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How old was S.E. Hinton when she wrote The Outsiders? Why do you think her age was important?

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What event inspired her to write the book?

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What authors or books inspired her as a reader and writer?

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What type of person do you think S.E. Hinton is from the short biography on her official website?

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Part 2: Setting

Ponyboy, the main character in The Outsiders, likes to go to the movies. Imagine Ponyboy is introducing you to the story. One of the first things you need to do is get to know the setting of the story. The purpose of this activity is to investigate and help you understand the world that Hinton was writing about, before you read! Using this as a guide, you will explore life in the United States during the 1960's

A) Oklahoma
Oklahoma is the state in which all of S.E. Hinton's novels are set. Please gather five interesting facts about the state.

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B) America in the 1960’s

Find and write down 5 facts about the 1960’s- One for each of the following categories:

Education ______

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Fads and Fashion ______

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Books and Literature

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Events and Technology

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Movies

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Part 3: Allusion

Throughout the novel, there are many allusions to famous figures of this time.

Who was Paul Newman? Why did Ponyboy mention him in the opening paragraph?

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Who was Will Rogers? Why is this allusion important to the story?

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Who was Robert Frost? Why do you think he is important in this story?

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Who was Hank Williams? Why might he be important?

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What is the book Gone With the Wind about? Why might it be important?

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What is the book Great Expectations about? Why might it be important?

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