Post-reading Assignment #2

Answer the following questions in your Humanities notebook, first. After your responses have been checked and edited, you will then re-write your responses on your handout, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, and hand it to your teacher.

1) How does the novel begin, and what problem does Ponyboy face right away?

2) Which character is telling us the story of "The Outsiders?"

3) Who do you think the main character in the story is? Describe him/her.

4) What's the major problem that Ponyboy faces? What other minor conflicts come up in the story?

5) How does Ponyboy first begin to solve his major conflict? How does Johnny help out Ponyboy along the way?

6) What is the turning point in the story?

7) How is the problem finally solved?

8) As the novel ends, why do we, as readers, have a feeling of hope and optimism?

9) What is the novel's most important theme, and why? Family, friendship, violence, youthfulness, innocence, etc. 

10) Would you recommend this book to others to read? Why or why not? Explain.

Post-reading Assignment #1

Ponyboy's experiences of that week were obviously unforgettable! Write about an unforgettable experience in your own life. It doesn't have to be a bad experience; it could be a happy one, or one where you learn a lesson the hard way. You could also focus on a situation you faced, such as a challenge or a conflict. Whatever you choose, make sure that the experience is of significance to you, and then show the reader this significance and what you may have learned. 

(Minimum 2 paragraphs)

The Outsiders: Chapter 12

1.  What 'circumstances' does Ponyboy's teacher refer to?  What circumstances does Ponyboy think his teacher is referring to?

2.   Why doesn't Ponyboy feel scared when the socs approach him and he threatens them with a broken bottle? How is this a dramatic change from the Ponyboy we have seen up until this point?

3.  What does Darry mean when he says, "you don't just stop living because you lose someone"?

4.  How do we know Sandy didn't love Soda as much as he loved her?

5.  Explain how Darry and Ponyboy play tug of war with Soda.

6.  What do we learn was so special about Johnny?

7.  What does Ponyboy end up doing for his English assignment?

The Outsiders: Chapter 11

1.  Explain why pony might rather have anyone's hate than their pity?

2.  What do you think is going on with Ponyboy when he says, "Johnny didn't have anything to do with Bob's getting killed…”?

The Outsiders: Chapter 10

1.  How does Pony's dreaming, or lying to himself, finally work in this chapter?

2.  Why was Johnny's dying so difficult for Dally to handle?

3.  Why do you think Dally would have wanted to die?

4. “But I knew that was what Dally wanted…and he always got what he wanted.” Did he really always get what he wanted? Explain.

5. Was Dallas Winston gallant? Use at least 2 examples from the book to back up your opinion.

6. What does Pony mean when he says, “Nothing we can do…not for Dally or Johnny or Tim Shephard or any of us…”?

The Outsiders: Chapter 9

1) Why do Pony, Sodapop and Darry shower and change clothes before a rumble? (131-132)

2) What were two things that greasers were proud of? (132)

3) What is the mood amongst the greasers as they are preparing for the rumble? (135-136)

4) What does the phrase "pretty good bopper" mean? (140)

5) Why was Darry chosen as the one to start the rumble? (140)

6) Who is Paul Holden? (142) 

7) Who joins the rumble just as Darry and Paul are about to fight? (143)

8) Who wins the rumble, the greasers or the socs?

9) After the rumble ends, what does Dally decide to do? (145-146)

10) What do you think Dally means when he says, "You get tough like me and you don't get hurt."?

11) What does Dally tell Johnny? (149)

12) What are Johnny's last words to Pony? (149)

The Outsiders: Chapter 8

1) Why do you think the doctor finally allowed Pony and Two-Bit to see Johnny? (119)

2) What does Johnny ask Two-Bit and Pony to bring him? (120)

3) Why is Johnny scared of dying? (121-122)

4) Why doesn't Johnny want to see his mother? (122)

5) In your opinion, what kind of person is Johnny's mother? (123)

6) What item does Dally ask Two-Bit to give him? (125)

7) Why do Pony and Two-Bit believe that Darry would be a Soc if it wasn't for the gang? (126)

8) When Pony asks Cherry to visit Johnny, why does she say 'no?' (128)

9) In talking to Pony, how does Cherry describe Bob? (128-129)

The Outsiders: Chapter 7

1) Why wasn't Pony worried about Dally's condition? (p. 102)

2) Why was Pony more worried about Johnny's condition? (p. 102)

3) What were the injuries that Johnny had suffered? (p. 102)

4) What do Pony, Soda and Darry usually eat for breakfast? (p. 104-105)

5) What does Pony find out the next morning when Steve and Two-Bit show him the newspaper? (p. 107)

6) After reading the two articles in the newspaper, what does Pony fear will happen? (p. 108)

7) What happened to Soda's girlfriend, Sandy? (p. 111)

8) Do you think that Randy would have really let the kids burn in the church without helping? Explain. (Opinion)

9) What does Randy share to Pony about Bob's parents? (p. 116) 

10) What reason does Randy give for not showing up at the rumble? (p. 116-117)

The Outsiders: Chapter 6

1) What car was Cherry driving at the beginning of Chapter 6? (p. 85)

2) After finishing his barbecue sandwich, what does Johnny announce to Dally and Ponyboy? (p. 87)

3) Why does Johnny think he'll be let off easy? (p. 87)

4) Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in? (p. 89-90)

5) What has happened to the church when the boys return? (p. 90)

6) What do Ponyboy and Johnny decide to do when they hear screams coming from inside the burning church? (p. 91)

7) How was Johnny acting while inside of the burning church? (p. 92)

8) Why do you think Pony and Johnny decided to help the kids who were inside of the burning church? (opinion)

9) If you were faced with a similar situation, would you have reacted like Pony and Johnny did, or done what Dally did? (opinion)

The Outsiders: Chapter 5

1) What does Ponyboy think has happened, when he wakes up at the beginning of chapter 5? (p. 68)

2) As Ponyboy waits for Johnny to get back, what crazy thoughts are going through his head? (p. 69-70)

3) As Ponyboy sat inside the church by himself, what noise does he hear? (p. 70)

4) Why does Johnny buy a copy of Gone with the Wind for Ponyboy? (p. 71)

5) Why was Ponyboy so proud of his long, greasy hair? (p. 71)

6) How do Ponyboy and Johnny spend the next few days alone?     (p. 75)

7) When Johnny calls Dally "gallant," what story does he share with Ponyboy? (p. 76) 

8) Explain what this line from the poem means, "Nothing gold can stay." (p. 77)

9) Who shows up to visit Ponyboy and Johnny? (p. 80)

10) What does Sodapop write to Ponyboy in his letter? (p. 81) 

11) Where does Dally take Ponyboy and Johnny to eat, and what do they order? (p. 83)

12) What is a 'heater?' (p. 83)

13) Which Soc is the spy that is helping the Greasers? (p. 84)

The Outsiders: Chapter 4

1.    Describe the park that Ponyboy and Johnny visit at the beginning of Chapter 4. (p. 53)

2.    Why was Ponyboy scared that the 5 Socs approaching them were drunk? (p. 54)

3.    What was Johnny feeling as the 5 Socs approached them? (p. 54)

4.    What do the Socs try to do to Ponyboy? (p. 55-56)

5.    After Ponyboy wakes up, what does Johnny tell him? (p. 56)

6.    What reason does Johnny give for killing Bob? (p. 57)

7.    Who do Johnny and Ponyboy turn to for help after Johny kills Bob? (p. 58)

8.    Why does Ponyboy think that Dally could never love Cherry? (p. 59)

9.    What does Dally give Ponyboy and Johnny to help them get away? (p. 60)
10.   What happened the last time that Ponyboy went to church? (p. 66)

The Outsiders: Chapter 3

Answer the following questions by using R.A.D.,

• Restate the question
• Answer the question
• Use Details from the text/passage to support your response

1) How does Cherry explain to Ponyboy the differences between Greasers and Socs? (p. 38)

2) What does Cherry mean when she uses the term "rat race?" 

(p. 38)

3) How did Soda feel when his horse, Mickey Mouse, was sold? 

(p. 40)

4) Explain what Ponyboy means when he says: "Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren't so different. We saw the same sunset." (p. 41)

5) How does Ponyboy react when Cherry asks him to describe Darry? (p. 42)

6) What does Ponyboy mean when he declared: "It ain't fair that we have all the rough breaks!" (p. 43)

7) Who approaches Ponyboy, Johnny, Two-Bit, Cherry and Marcia as they're walking home from the movies? (p. 44)

8) When Ponyboy looks at one of the Soc's hand, and sees 3 heavy rings, what idea dawns on him? (p. 44)

9) Even though Ponyboy, Johnny and Two-Bit are outnumbered by the Socs, how do they react? (p. 45)

10) Why did Cherry agree to go with Bob in his Mustang, even though she knew he'd been drinking? (p. 45)

11) What happens when Ponyboy finally gets home? (p. 49-50)

12) What does Darry do to Ponyboy to cause him to run away? 

(p. 50)

13) What do you think will happen in Chapter 4? (Prediction)

The Outsiders: Chapter 2

1) Who spoke up and told Dally to leave the girls alone?
2) Describe the car that Johnny recalled seeing the night he was jumped by the Socs?
3) Who was Timothy Shephard and why was he looking for Dally Winston?
4) Who joined the four at the movies after Dally had left?
5) What items of jewelry did the Soc leader like to wear and use as weapons?
6) How did Dally embarrass the two Soc girls at the theater?
7) Why had Cherry and Marcia walked to the theater?
8) What invitation did the girls extend to Ponyboy and Johnny?
9) Why didn't Dally return Johnny's criticism?
10) How did Dally react to Johnny's request?
11) What were the girls' names?
12) How much money did the boys pay to get into the movie?
13) What were some of the rules that the Greasers lived by?
14) After getting jumped by the Socs, what does Johnny do?
15) What do you think will happen the next time somebody tries to jump Johnny?

The Outsiders: Chapter 1

Answer the following questions from chapter 1 of "The Outsiders." Remember to use R.A.D. in helping you to write complete, detailed responses.


1) How old was Ponyboy Curtis?
2) What were "Greasers" and "Socs?"
3) Who did Ponyboy live with?
4) What kind of a student was Ponyboy?
5) Why did Ponyboy consider Sodapop his favorite older brother?
6) Why did Ponyboy go to the movies alone?
7) What happened to Ponyboy as he walked home from the movies alone?
8) Why did the Curtis brothers live alone?
9) What type of work did Darry do to support his brothers?
10) Who came to Ponyboy's rescue and chased the "Socs" away?
11) Why did the Greasers treat Johnny Cade as their pet?
12) List the four (4) other Greasers that are in Ponyboy's gang.
13) Why had Sodapop quit school, and where did he work?
14) How would you describe Two-Bit's personality?
15) What other Greaser had also been jumped by the Socs?