Finding Connection: The Outsiders

Lesson 8
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ELA

Unit 4

6th Grade

Lesson 8 of 26

Objective


Explain how the events of this chapter both reveal and change Ponyboy's perspective.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton  pp. 68 – 84 — Chapter 5

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A Note for Teachers


Hinton uses the word "pansy" on page 72 when Ponyboy is describing his change in appearance. Students may or may not be familiar with this as a derogatory term for someone who is perceived as gay or effeminate. Teachers may wish to address this with students and discuss the way that social acceptability of using specific words changes over time.

Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

How does Ponyboy's perspective change after his conversation with Johnny on pages 73–75? How does Hinton develop the reader's understanding of this change? Provide examples from the text to support your answer. 

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Key Questions

  • Why is Ponyboy's long hair so important to the way that he sees himself? How does Hinton illustrate the relationship between Ponyboy's hair and his identity? Cite evidence from pages 71–73 to support your answer.

  • How does Hinton illustrate the difference between Ponyboy and Johnny's perspectives of Dally? Provide examples from the text to support your answer. 

  • What does the letter from Soda reveal about Ponyboy's perspective of his relationship with Darry? Cite evidence from pages 81–82 to support your answer.

Exit Ticket

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Vocabulary


Text-based

gallant

adj.

(p. 76)

brave or heroic

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Book: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton  pp. 77 – 78 — reread

  • Poem: “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost 

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • What do Johnny and Ponyboy watch together? 

  • What leads Ponyboy to share Robert Frost's poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay," with Johnny?

  • What does Ponyboy say about the meaning of the poem?

  • What do you believe the poem means? 

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.6.1 — Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
  • RL.6.3 — Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
  • RL.6.6 — Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Supporting Standards

L.6.6
RL.6.2
RL.6.4
RL.6.10
SL.6.1
SL.6.6
W.6.1
W.6.1.a
W.6.1.b
W.6.4
W.6.9
W.6.9.a
W.6.10

Next

Determine the theme of “Nothing Gold Can Stay” and analyze how the author uses literary devices to develop that theme.

Lesson 9
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