Reading and Analyzing the Outsiders by SE Hinton

This literature circle is geared towards students ages 11-15 (middle school).  We will be reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.  Students will create a project over the course of the seven lessons to document their analysis. Students will need a copy of The Outsiders (digital or hard copy) as well as a folder and a few sheets of plain and lined paper.  Students may want colored pencils or markers for the project (optional).

Students will be offered short video lessons that touch on a reading skill or standard.    Each lesson will also include an explanation of part of the novel-long project.

Lesson 1: Introduction and anticipation guide.  Students will think about what a stereotype is and discover how easy it is to make assumptions about people upon a single glance or short conversation.  This will set the stage for reading a book.  We will begin reading the book and noting the characters.

Lesson 2: Students will read chapters 1 & 2.  We will begin working on our own project based on The Outsiders.  We will review vernacular (slang) from the chapters so far and make a list of characters and their traits.  We will begin a Venn diagram to analyze the two gangs in the story.

Lesson 3: Students will read chapters 3 & 4.  We will talk about foreshadowing and make some predictions about what will happen next.  We will add to our project and talk about how the music a group of people listens to might mirror the way they dress/act.  

Lesson 4: Students will read chapters 5 & 6.  We will discuss the BIG event which is the catalyst for the upcoming chapters.  During this lesson, we will analyze the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost.  We will also talk about what makes a hero and add to our project.

Lesson 5: Students will read chapters 7, 8 & 9.  These chapters lead up to and include the climax of the story.  We will dig deeper into the characters' actions and motivations, as well consider how characters that might not act the way we expect them to.  

Lesson 6: Students will read chapters 10, 11 & 12. We will discuss some of the major themes we’ve seen in the book, including the importance of family.  We will analyze what characteristics define family and the many different definitions of family based on the reading so far.

Lesson 7: Students will complete a short writing OR drawing assignment.  During the lesson, we will tie up loose ends and discover the cyclical form of the novel.  Students will share their insights and writings.