The Outsiders S.E. Hinton

Before we begin reading, we must get INTO the text…

Think of the title of the novel The Outsiders. What sorts of images does the title bring to

mind?

Draw your visualizations in your notebook.

1. A person’s physical appearance (including how they dress) tells a lot about them.

2. It’s easy to be friends with people who are different from me.

3. People who are alike should stay together.

4. The environment you are raised in determines your future.

In your notebooks, answer the following questions.

Which qualities of people (i.e. the way they dress, their grades in school, their possessions, the way they talk, their physical appearance, where they live, who their friends are, how they treat their friends, their ethnicity, their interests, their talents, etc.) tell you something of true significance about a person? Which qualities would you want to be judged on? Why? Which would you not want to be judged by? Why?

In your notebook, answer the following question:

Based on what we’ve talked about so far, predict what you think The Outsiders will be about? Be sure to explain why.

Now let’s read the back of the book.

After reading this, does your prediction change?

In your notebook, explain if your prediction did, or did not change.

Students will consider the importance of judging people as individuals rather than as members of groups.

Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the main events and characters as they relate to the author's theme development.

Students will practice reading strategies, and critical reading skills before reading, during reading, and after reading the novel.

For each word, decide if you know it well and can explain it, OR if you’ve heard it or seen it before, OR if you have no clue.

AloofDefinition: uninvolved or unwilling to get involvedSentence: “He wasn’t unfriendly, just a little aloof.”

ConduciveDefinition: helping something to happenSentence: “Listening to the stereo is not conducive to studying.”

ContemptDefinition: attitude of utter disgust or hatredSentence: “Dally spat contemptuously as he thought of what the Socs did to Johnny.”

IncredulousDefinition: unwilling to believe, or unconvincedSentence: “The boys ran away because they thought the police would find their story incredulous; they thought the fuzz would believe the Socs, and not some greasers.”

RuefulDefinition: regretful or inducing pity Sentence: “You’re hungry?” he said ruefully, “I’m the one who hasn’t eaten all day!”

StereotypeDefinition: to reduce someone to a simple category; oversimplified idea of someoneSentence: “Dally seems like the stereotype of a greaser. Pony doesn’t seem like the type.”

GallantDefinition: courteous, or braveSentence: “Two-Bit gallantly offered to walk the girls home-the west side of town was only about twenty miles away.” (What a gentleman!)

IndignantDefinition: angry at unfairnessSentence: “It’s not fair!” I cried indignantly.

FathomDefinition: to comprehend or understand somethingSentence: “Pony could not fathom that Cherry might be able to fall in love with Dally.”

WistfulDefinition: deep in sad thoughts, especially of something lostSentence: “Pony was wistful when he thought of what life might be like in the country.”

SavvyDefinition: well informed; has practical knowledgeSentence: “Even though Dally was not book smart, he had a lot of savvy about the world.”

GreaserDefinition: a term to describe a “tough” young man in the 1950’s, typically poor with longer, slicked back hairSentence: “Need a haircut, greaser?” The medium sized blond pulled a knife out of his back pocket and flipped the blade open.