"The Outsiders" Activities + Project Menu

Analyze a character's growth over the course of a novel by comparing traits at the beginning and end of the story

Identify and explain textual character traits using supporting details from the novel

Write cause-and-effect statements using signal words (because, as a result, since, therefore) drawn from specific events in the novel

Rewrite a scene from an alternate character's first-person point of view, adjusting the thoughts and feelings expressed

Compose multiple original poems in a character's voice using at least five distinct poetic forms

Require the mandatory reflection page plus a set number of additional options (the file leaves the exact count for the teacher to fill in) rather than assigning all eight activities.

Use the point-based rubrics provided for each major task (illustration, article, timeline, poetry, alternate point of view) to grade consistently across a class choosing different options.

Preview the external poetry-forms link before assigning 'The Poetry of Ponyboy,' since that option depends on a website outside this file for examples of cinquains, diamantes, and other forms.

Have students cite specific page and chapter numbers for several tasks (illustrated scene, setting illustration, alternate point of view), which doubles as a text-evidence check.

Character analysis and growth tracking — students compare a character's traits and self-perception at the start and end of a novel with supporting textual evidence.

Cause-and-effect writing — students compose original cause-and-effect statements from novel events using explicit signal words.

Perspective-shift narrative writing — students rewrite a chosen scene in first-person point of view from a different character.

Persona poetry writing — students compose at least five poems in a character's voice using distinct poetic forms such as cinquains and diamantes.