The Outsiders: Book Review for Teachers

Finding meaningful texts that engage students can be a challenge for English teachers.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, a staple of middle school curriculums, offers timeless themes that resonate with young readers' experiences today.

In this review, we'll explore strategies for teaching The Outsiders, including vocabulary building, discussion questions, and creative projects to bring this classic novel to life for 21st century students.

Introduction to The Outsiders: A Book Review for Educators

Exploring S.E. Hinton's Classic Novel

The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel by S.E. Hinton, first published in 1967. Set in 1960s Oklahoma, the story follows two rival groups, the Greasers and the Socs. The Greasers, including protagonists Ponyboy and Johnny, come from a disadvantaged background, while the Socs are wealthier and more privileged. When Johnny kills a Soc member in self-defense, Ponyboy and Johnny go on the run. The novel explores themes of social divides, identity, and the loss of innocence. With strong character development and an emotional plot, The Outsiders is considered a groundbreaking young adult novel that continues to profoundly impact adolescent readers.

The Outsiders in the Middle School Curriculum

The Outsiders remains a popular text in many middle school curriculums, as early adolescents can connect with the struggles Ponyboy and his Greaser friends face. They provide relatable perspectives on social class divides, family dysfunction, and forming one's identity. Additionally, the novel promotes empathy, analyzing how the Socs and Greasers’ rivalry stems from socioeconomic disparities. With strong themes that spur analysis and discussion, The Outsiders meets many English Language Arts standards for reading literature and informational texts in grades 6-8.

Objectives of This Book Review for Teachers

This review aims to assist English and reading teachers in evaluating The Outsiders for inclusion in middle school curriculums. It will provide an educator’s perspective on the novel’s literary merit, analyze its effectiveness in meeting ELA/literacy standards, and offer practical insights into teaching the text. Review sections will cover thematic content, reading comprehension strategies, and sample lesson ideas for activities aligned to Common Core standards.

Aligning with Common Core Standards

As a multilayered coming-of-age story, The Outsiders promotes skills in key strands of the Common Core State Standards for reading literature. Analyzing characters, themes, and the social commentary in Hinton’s novel engages students in close reading. Discussion and writing tasks also meet speaking & listening standards. Ultimately, the text prepares students for the critical thinking required in high school English courses.

What does the book The Outsiders teach you?

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a coming-of-age novel that explores profound themes related to identity, belonging, loyalty, and social divisions. As an English teacher, I believe the key lessons students can learn from this classic work include:

The Value of Loyalty and True Friendships

The rivalry between the Greasers and Socs shows how loyalty to a group can create divisions. However, the bonds between Ponyboy, Johnny, and their friends demonstrate the value of true friendship that accepts people as they are. Analyzing these relationships allows students to reflect on what makes a good friend.

Being True to Oneself

An important theme is the struggle to reconcile group identity with individuality. Characters like Ponyboy and Johnny feel tension between group loyalty and being true to their personal values. Examining this shows students the importance of preserving one's identity within relationships.

The stark social divides depicted in the novel mirror many current societal issues related to class, economics, etc. However, moments of heroism and reconciliation between characters like Ponyboy and Cherry demonstrate that social barriers can be overcome with understanding. This teaches that building connections across groups takes effort but is worthwhile.

Analyzing these key themes encourages students to reflect on identity, equality, empathy, and overcoming differences. By seeing how divisions affected characters in The Outsiders, readers gain perspective on current social issues and learn valuable lessons about acceptance.

Is The Outsiders appropriate for school?

The Outsiders is an excellent novel for middle and high school students. Here are some key reasons why it works well in the classroom:

Timeless coming-of-age story

Explores universal themes of belonging, identity, and peer pressure that resonate with adolescents
Features relatable teen characters that students connect with
Provides a window into youth culture of the 1960s that retains modern-day relevance

Engaging plot and prose

Fast-paced storytelling keeps students interested
Sparse yet vivid descriptions make the text very readable
Dialogue-driven scenes move the action forward

Thought-provoking discussions

Touches on complex issues like social class divides and gang violence
Sparks debates around morality, empathy, and individual choice
Encourages critical thinking skills

Interdisciplinary connections

Links to history curriculum through 1960s backdrop
Complements English Language Arts standards on analyzing literature
Ties into discussions on sociology, psychology and ethics

With its gritty realism and nuanced characters, The Outsiders gives students a meaningful reading experience full of teachable moments. The novel's continuing popularity in schools is a testament to its literary merit and classroom value.

Why was The Outsiders banned in some schools?

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton has been banned or challenged in some schools due to its portrayal of sensitive topics like gang violence, underage drinking, strong language, and family dysfunction.

However, many English teachers still regularly assign the novel because it offers valuable discussion opportunities and important themes that resonate with young readers, including:

The rivalry between the Greasers and the Socs highlights social divides and how stereotypes shape perceptions. This can lead to insightful conversations around prejudice, privilege, and overcoming barriers.

Personal Identity and Peer Pressure

Protagonist Ponyboy struggles with staying true to himself amid group expectations and peer pressure. This allows students to reflect on the tension between individuality and belonging.

Loss of Innocence and Coming of Age

Key events force Ponyboy to mature quickly and lose his innocence. Students can relate to the confusion of navigating this transition from childhood to adulthood.

So while some adult themes make The Outsiders controversial, many schools ultimately decide its literary merit and thought-provoking themes make it an impactful novel for middle and high school readers. Wise teachers can use its gritty realism to foster constructive dialogues.

What is the main message of The Outsiders book?

The main message of The Outsiders is about the struggles that teenagers from different socioeconomic backgrounds face and how they bond together over these struggles.

Specifically, the book explores the rivalry between two gangs - the greasers and the Socs - who come from opposite sides of the financial spectrum. The greasers, like Ponyboy, come from poor families and are looked down upon by the richer Socs. This leads to a cycle of violence between the two groups.

However, the story shows that despite their differences, the greasers and Socs face many of the same struggles growing up. Both groups experience strained family relationships, peer pressure, feelings of not belonging, and difficulties finding their identity.

The character of Ponyboy in particular learns that judging others based on stereotypes instead of understanding the struggles they face leads to further violence. He comes to see that focusing on the humanity he shares with the Socs allows them to resolve their conflict.

So the main message is about overcoming differences and relating to others through our common struggles. The Outsiders teaches that violence and stereotyping only lead to more violence, while empathy and understanding can help break cycles of conflict.

The Outsiders: In-Depth Literary Analysis

Dissecting The Outsiders' Plot and Key Events

The Outsiders has a tightly structured plot that builds tension through escalating conflict. Hinton foreshadows tragic events from the beginning, setting up the pivotal scene where Johnny kills Bob to protect Ponyboy. This climactic event drives the remaining plot, forcing the boys into hiding. Hinton uses cliffhangers across chapters to propel the action, seen when the church fire rescue leaves Ponyboy's fate unknown. The plot then descends into the final rumble between Socs and Greasers, ultimately resolving with Ponyboy realizing that Socs and Greasers are not so different after all.

Character Review: Protagonist and Antagonists

The Outsiders centers around the stories of Ponyboy and Johnny. Ponyboy serves as the emotional center and narrator, sharing his struggles with identity and innocence. Johnny represents goodness and virtue, yet also harbors inner darkness from his abusive home. On the antagonist side, Bob and his Socs friends antagonize and assault Greasers like Pony and Johnny, representing the wealthy yet troubled Socs. In the end, Hinton suggests neither side is truly bad, but rather both groups face issues in their lives.

Themes and Symbols: A Deeper Look

Key themes in The Outsiders include social divides, innocence, and identity. Social class divides are represented through the Greasers and Socs conflict. As Ponyboy bridges this gap, he comes to question social stereotypes. Innocence is seen in Johnny, while Ponyboy's is gradually lost. Lastly, the theme of identity emerges as Ponyboy reconciles being both a Greaser and a dreamer who likes sunsets and poetry. Important symbols include sunsets, which represent beauty and innocence, and the old church, signifying a longing for connection.

S.E. Hinton's Writing Style and Narrative Craft

Hinton crafts a powerful first-person narrative through Ponyboy's voice. She uses relatable teenage diction and imagery, contrasted with poetic metaphors of sunsets and dreams. The novel is fast-paced and dramatic, with emotion and tension amplified through short, punchy sentences. Ultimately, Hinton creates a resonant coming-of-age story that explores universal themes through a gripping, character-driven plot.

Teaching Strategies for 'The Outsiders'

Close Reading with Guided Questions

Close reading of "The Outsiders" can be facilitated through guided questions that promote critical analysis. Here are some sample questions to scaffold student understanding:

How do the descriptions of each character reveal insights into their backgrounds, motivations, and roles in the story? Have students track descriptions and make inferences.
What themes around social class and identity emerge through the rivalry between the Greasers and the Socs? Prompt textual evidence.
How does Hinton build suspense around critical incidents like Johnny's killing? Identify literary devices.
What moral dilemmas do Ponyboy and Johnny face? How do external pressures influence their choices?

Writing tasks like dialectical journals and literary essays further develop close reading skills.

Vocabulary Building and Language Arts

Academic vocabulary from "The Outsiders" like "contemplated," "defiantly," "reluctantly" can be taught through context clues or student-friendly definitions. Domain-specific slang like "heater" for gun, or "rumble" for gang fight highlight sociohistorical setting. Reinforcing through usage in sentences builds retention.

Analyzing Hinton's craft - her vivid imagery, foreshadowing, varied sentence structures - strengthens language arts skills. Identifying figurative language and literary devices shows their rhetorical purpose.

Fostering Discussions with Literature Circles

Student-led literature circles with assigned discussion roles prompt engagement with the novel. For example:

Discussion director - Develops questions
Passage master - Chooses meaningful passages and analyzes
Vocabulary enricher - Defines new words
Connector - Finds real-world connections

Color-coded role sheets, reading schedule, and group norms facilitate rich dialogue. Circles promote perspective-taking, accountability, and ownership of learning.

Interactive Activities and Printables

Creative responses like rewriting a scene from another character's perspective, making wanted posters, playlist for themes, or artistic representation of key symbols/motifs prompt deeper understanding while allowing self-expression.

Printable study guides, vocabulary exercises, comprehension quizzes, and graphic organizers like plot/character maps reinforce key ideas and allow customized pacing.

Multimedia options like analyzing film adaptation or creating social media profiles for characters make learning engaging.

Assessing Student Understanding of 'The Outsiders'

Evaluating student comprehension and analysis of The Outsiders can be achieved through a variety of assessment strategies. Here are some ideas:

Quizzes and Reading Comprehension Checks

Short multiple choice or short answer quizzes asking students to recall key plot details and character traits. These check for basic understanding.
Quote analysis questions that assess if students can connect quotes to themes and character development.
Reading check tools like exit tickets or entrance slips that evaluate ongoing understanding.

Analytical Essay Prompts

How do Ponyboy's relationships with different characters develop over the course of the novel? What might this symbolize?
How does the novel explore stereotypes regarding social class? What message might the author be conveying?
What might the rivalry between the Socs and Greasers symbolize in the context of 1960s America?

Creative and Multimodal Assessment Options

Students can create book trailers, comics, playlists, or other creative works to demonstrate analytical understanding. Provide rubrics detailing expectations.
Allow opportunities for oral discussion or debate around the novel's themes. Assess using checklists.

Using Graphic Organizers for Assessment

Incorporate graphic organizers like character maps or plot diagrams into unit tests. This scaffolds analysis.
Have students complete organizers to represent their understanding, then use these as assessment artifacts.
Create blank organizers for students to fill out, evaluating their ability to analyze and synthesize key information.

Supplemental Resources for 'The Outsiders'

Study Guides and Supplemental Materials

Additional resources like study guides, lesson plans, and supplemental materials can greatly enhance the teaching and reading experience of The Outsiders. Some valuable resources to consider include:

Teacher-created study guides - These often provide chapter summaries, analysis of themes/characters, discussion questions, and more to guide students through the key aspects of the novel. Teachers can easily adapt them or use them as-is.
Vocabulary builders - Pre-made vocabulary lists and activities focused on the advanced vocabulary used in The Outsiders. These help students learn new words in context.
Literature unit plans - Comprehensive multi-week unit plans that integrate The Outsiders across various activities. These plans save time by outlining pacing, assignments, assessments, and how to meet standards.
Historical context materials - The Outsiders is set in 1960s Tulsa. Providing students additional context on this time period can aid understanding.

Engaging Students with Games and Interactive Activities

Games, simulations, and interactive whiteboard activities are great ways to engage students, assess understanding, and bring variety into The Outsiders unit. Consider incorporating:

Digital timelines - Students plot major events from the novel on an interactive timeline. Great for visualizing the sequence of events.
Character maps - Visual diagrams exploring relationships between characters. Useful for analysis.
Games like Kahoot - Game-based student quizzes are an interactive way to test comprehension.
Sociogram activities - Students map out relationships and social groups, analyzing factors like stereotypes and social divides relevant to the novel’s themes.

Printables and Graphic Organizers for 'The Outsiders'

Printable study aids and graphic organizers help scaffold the learning process:

Chapter analysis charts - Printable charts for summarizing chapter events, new characters, plot developments etc.
Character trait charts - Visual organizers for detailing what traits various characters exhibit.
Theme graphic organizers - Charts to map out the themes explored in the novel, with evidence.
Vocabulary flashcards - Printable flashcards with unfamiliar vocabulary words for student practice.

Special Education Considerations

For special education students, consider implementing some of these adaptations for making The Outsiders more accessible:

Audiobooks - Audio versions help struggling readers or auditory learners better comprehend the novel.
Modified texts - Abridged or “translated” versions at lower reading levels provide accessibility.
Chunking readings - Breaking the novel into smaller sections makes it less intimidating.
Focus questions - Providing guided focus questions prior to reading helps students know what to look for.
Collaborative activities - Small group or partner work provides peer support.

Conclusion: Reflecting on 'The Outsiders' as a Teaching Tool

Summarizing The Outsiders' Educational Value

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a valuable teaching tool for middle school English classes. As a coming-of-age novel featuring relatable adolescent characters, it helps students connect with universal themes of identity, belonging, and empathy. Analyzing the text promotes critical thinking skills and exploring its historical context provides a meaningful window into 1960s youth culture.

Overall, The Outsiders enables rich discussion and activities across reading, writing, speaking and listening standards. Its literary merit and engaging plot make it one of the most widely taught classics.

Final Recommendations for Teachers

For educators considering The Outsiders, I recommend the following:

Use the novel to teach literary devices like foreshadowing, symbolism and imagery through close reading. Have students track examples with sticky notes.
Explore the characters and socioeconomic themes by mapping out the rival gangs and social divisions. Compare to modern times.
Assign creative writing prompts and essays connecting the book to personal experiences with identity, judging others, and defining family.
Show clips from the 1983 film adaptation to compare media interpretations of this literary work.

With strong universal themes and multilayered symbols and characters, The Outsiders continues to positively impact generations of students. Assigning this classic novel is sure to spur discussion, develop critical thinking skills, and leave a lasting impression on middle schoolers.