The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
Grade Level
Middle School – Eighth Grade Language Arts
Inquiry Question
How do S.E. Hinton’s writing style, use of literary devices such as simile, metaphor, personification, allusion, irony, and symbolism, and use of setting define the theme and underlying message of The Outsiders?
Objectives
Students will
Ù Define and use vocabulary from the text
Ù Define and discuss central themes from the text
Ù Determine key literary devices used in the text and why
Ù Use The Outsiders to relate to issues students’ lives and community
Ù Determine key conflict and resolution issues in the text
The Outsiders Assessment Final Projects
As an eight-grade student, you will have your choice on final project assessment to evaluate for your understanding of the book “The Outsiders”. Students must pick one activity from one of the four categories below for project assessment. Some projects do allow students to work in small groups collaboratively. Research and project working time will be provided to students in each core class.
Writing – Students may choose from the following writing projects:
1. Newspaper Article: Imagine you are a newspaper reporter. Write a news or feature article on one of the most important events of the book.
2. Literary Analysis Essay: Analyze the effect of using a first person narrator in The Outsiders. State your opinion as to whether you think S.E. Hinton may have been better writing the story from a third-person narrative point of view, or first person as it was written. Provide examples from the story to back up your opinion. Be certain to explain the differences between the two types of narrators.
3. Poetry: Write a poem about The Outsiders story or key message. Illustrate your poem.
4. Pretend you are a major character, like Ponyboy or Cherry from The Outsiders. Describe what your life has been like since 1967. What have you done, where do you live, and what do you do for a living? Write a biography describing your life now.
5. Create a journal, with at least 6 entries, for a major character in the book The Outsiders, after the book has concluded. Explain what that character is doing and what their hopes and dreams for the future may be.
Music – Students may choose from the following music projects.
1. Write lyrics about The Outsiders to a popular music song that you know. Provide lyrics in print.
2. Write a song about the story or central theme of The Outsiders. Provide lyrics and instrumental score.
3. Analyze music and provide examples of music from the late 1960s. Provide a written analysis of how music related to life during the 1960s time period. Research music and find examples of modern remakes of music during this time period.
Art – Students may choose from the following art projects:
1. You are a book designer, and the publisher of “The Outsiders” wants to come out with a new edition of the book. Design a new cover or book jacket, and illustrate the first page of each chapter. Provide a written preview of the book for the back jacket.
2. Create a Diorama for two scenes in the book The Outsiders. Be certain to provide a written description of the scenes you are creating.
3. Create a pop-up illustrated book for each chapter of The Outsiders.
4. Choose a photograph or major work of art that you think a main character in The Outsiders would choose to have. Provide a written explanation as to why.
Drama – Students may choose from the following drama projects:
1. Create a screenplay or stage script for one or more chapters of The Outsiders. Provide scene, or setting, information and actor cues.
2. Professionally act out a scene from one chapter of the book The Outsiders. This is a collaborative assignment that requires more than one student – request teacher approval if assignment requires more than two students.
3. Pretend you are the author discussing their book on the TV show “Oprah”. Describe why you wrote the book and the audience you were trying to reach with the novel.
4. You are a radio host interviewing S.E. Hinton about her novel “The Outsiders”. Provide interview questions and create an interview skit based on the setting, theme, plot, characters and conflict/resolution of the book.
Presentation – Students may choose from the following presentation projects:
1. Your job is to design an ad campaign to promote The Outsiders. Create a poster and present a 60 second TV or radio commercial about the book and key message.
2. Create a PowerPoint or other media related presentation to describe the plot, setting, theme/message, conflict and outcome of The Outsiders, as if you were a publishing agent presenting this book to a major book distributor.
3. Create a media or video recorded representation of a scene from “The Outsiders” or a character interview after a major scene in the book. *Collaborative project*
All assignments must be declared by the student and approved by Mrs. Johnsen. Due dates TBA!