Week Three - Monday

Recap:

Today started off with a recap of the weekend's reading followed by discussion of our chapter review questions. Shortly afterward, we went into our literacy circle groupings and voted on our two best presentations (below).

In the second block, we looked at how Ponyboy's impression of the Socs and Greasers had changed in our journals and had a few students share their insights. We concluded our second last class together with a challenging, group-based, oral language vocabulary quiz to settle our current draw!

Tae Young's Character Next Door

Seo Yeon's Character Impression

Homework:

• Read final chapter and complete questions below
• Final literacy circle job
• Bring USB drive - optional (movie)

Chapter 12 Questions:

1. What circumstances did 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(p.170-171)? How is this a dramatic change from the Ponyboy we have seen up until this point? Was there anything odd about Pony's behavior?
3. What does Darry mean he says,"You don't just stop living because you lose someone?" (p.173)
4. How do we know Sandy didn't love Soda as much as he loved her? (p.174)
5. Explain how Darry and Ponyboy play tug of war with Soda.
6. What kind of guy is rare? (p. 178)
7. What do we learn was so special about Johnny? (p.178)
8. What does Ponyboy end up doing for his English assignment?
9. Where is the climax?
10. Why the title of the book? Who is the biggest Outsider of them all and why?

End of Week Two - Homework

For the weekend be sure to complete:

• Chapter reflection questions (below)
• Read Ch 10 & 11
• Literacy Circle Reflection

Chapter Nine

1. On the bottom of p.132, when Pony asks what kind of a world it is, what comment is he making about how he judges people?
2. Why do the boys fight? Is Pony different?
3. What is the difference between Tim Sheppard's gang and Ponyboy's? Explain how Pony feels this difference gives his group the upper hand?
4. What do you think Johnny's last words to Pony mean?
5. What happened with Dally in the end?

Chapter Ten

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. Who do you think Dally would have wanted to die?
4. How does Pony describe Dally as being a person who made a difference on pg. 154?

Week Two - Literacy Circle Presentations

Ji Hyun's Character Adventure

Soo Yeon's Quality Questions

Hye Su's Amazing Actions

Hong Gun's Plot in Reverse Order

Tae Young's Mad Metaphors

Ji Ye's Mad Metaphors

Ji Hyun Describes a New Setting

Joo Yeon's Powerful Vocabulary

Character Analysis Presentations

Thursday - August 9

Recap:

The day started off continuing our heated vocabulary game. With a turn around victory, B group proudly prevailed! Afterwards we went right into our expert literacy circle roles and followed up with the two best presentations. During the second component of the class, we made Bio Poems about Ponyboy and talked about expectations for the group projects tomorrow and the peer evaluation rubrics.

Bio Poem Guidelines


Line 1: His first name only
Line 2: 4 traits that describe him
Line 3: Daughter/Son of~OR Sibling of~
Line 4: Who loves~(3 items, places, or people)
Line 5: Who feels~(3 items)
Line 6: Who needs~(3 items)
Line 7: Who gives~(3 items)
Line 8: Who fears~(3 items)
Line 9: Who would like to see~(3 items)
Line 10: Who lives in~
Line 11: His last name only

   

  

  

Chapter Eight Questions


1. How does what the doctor first says, on page 119, foreshadow Johnny's condition?
2. “We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang. And for the same reason... " (p.121) What do you think Pony means, and what is the reason?
3. What does Pony mean on p.123 when he says, “We could get along without anyone but Johnny?”
4. If Darry didn't have Soda and Pony, why would he be a Soc?
5. What does Cherry mean when she says Bob "wasn't just anyone” on p.129?

Homework

• Finishing/Practicing Group Project Presentation and filling out peer evaluation rubric (posted below)
• Read Chapter 9
• Chapter 8 Questions (Above)
• Tidy up reflection journals for collection tomorrow

P.S. All videos will be posted to the site in their respective sections this weekend, in case you were wondering ;-D

Wednesday - August 8th

Recap:

Today we reflected on what was happening to our main characters in respects to the law, hospital, and how some of our perceptions of them had changed. We dug deeper into some critical questions from our reflection homework, then got right into our literacy circle expert roles.

During the second part of the class, we looked at Robert Frost's amazing poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay." We were asked to reflect and offer our insights as to the meaning of the poem and I was very impressed with your interpretations. Lastly, we looked at some expressions and vocabulary from our previous two chapters and started playing an oral language game which we'll conclude tomorrow.


Nothing Gold Can Stay
Robert Frost
____________

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Homework:

• Chapter 7 Reflection ?s (Below)
• Read Chapter 8
• Continue working on your group project/presentation (due Friday)
• Literacy Circle Jobs
• (NOTE: Hong Gun - We did not do Biography Poems today) - Leave for Tomorrow

Chapter 7 Reflections:

1. What condition is Johnny in after the fire?

2. Why would being crippled be worse for Johnny than someone else?

3. “Maybe people are younger when they are asleep” [p.104]. What do you think about this comment?

4. What is a juvenile delinquent [p.107]? Find a definition on the internet, in a dictionary, or create your own based on your own knowledge.

5. Why would Two-Bit think Johnny, Dally, and Pony were heroes all along; before they saved the kids?

6. What was Bob's "real" problem, according to Randy? [p.116]

7. Why did Pony think it was better to see Socs as “just guys” on p.118? What do you think he means by this?

8. What happened with Sandy?

9. Why does Randy talk with Pony?

Tuesday - Aug 7th

Recap:

Today we went over key points from chapters four and five, namely the stabbing of the Soc, Bob, and Johnny and Pony's hideout. We then discussed chapter six and how the drama of the fire put the view of the Greasers back in a positive context. Afterwards, we got into our expert roles from our literacy circle assignments and had our two best presenters. Later on, we played a fun 60's lingo vocabulary came. Finally, we became first person narrative reporters on a major event of our choice from chapter four or six.

Chapter Six Questions:

1. Do you think Dally's parents have influenced the way he is; his personality? Explain.

2. Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in?
3. What “other side” of Dallas is revealed in this chapter?
4. What's your own definition of a hero? Do the three boys prove themselves to be heroes, according to your definition? Explain.
5. Why do you think Johnny wasn't scared, despite the obvious danger, on page 92?
6. What does Pony realize about Darry at the end of this chapter?

Homework:

• Continue working on group project
• Above Chapter Questions
• Read Chapter Seven
• Literacy Circle Jobs

Monday - August 6th

Recap:

Today we reflected in our journals on a pivotal moment (or moments) from our past that helped shape our identity, then shared it with our peers. Following that, we took up the weekend's chapter reflection questions, discussed the group project some more and rounded up our day with literacy circles and the two best presentations.

Homework:

• Work with your partner on your group project
• Literacy circle jobs (given out at the end of class)
• Respond to the chapter questions (below)
• Brush up on your 60's vocabulary for a game tomorrow
• Read chapter six

_______________________________________

Reflection Questions from the Weekend Reading

Chapter Four

1. How did the author foreshadow that Johnny would use his knife in chapter 2?

2. What would your advice be to Johnny and Ponyboy if they'd come to you for help instead of Dally? Explain.

3. How did the setting foreshadow the events in this chapter?

4. Do you think Bob's death was justice? Explain.

Chapter Five

1. Why does Pony have a problem with Johnny's idea to disguise themselves?

2. What does Pony mean when he says, “I was supposed to be the deep one” [p.75]?

3. Do you think Dally is a hero based on what he did?

4. On page 78, Johnny compares Pony and his brothers to their parents. Which one of your parents are you most like? What similarities do you share?

5. What's a heater? Why does Dally have one?

6. Who's the spy for the greasers? Does this surprise you? Why or why not?

Week One in Review

We have now made a good start into our novel with our first three chapters read, have dove into some of the rich language of the text, and reflected critically via literacy circles.

Some reflective questions from Seo Yeon.

This week, we started off by looking at one of the main themes of our novel, identity. We reflected on this personally in our journals, and in groups by looking at things which can affect our identity.

Cliques

Gangs

Individuality

We then moved on to thinking about our setting of the novel (outskirts of New York during the 1960s) and talked about some key events that were pivotal during that era. We reflected on some teen interests during that time and how they'd be different if the book was written with teens from today.

Corvair

Greasers?

Lastly, we went into analysis of some of the main characters in our novel by detailing their physical appearance, personal attributes, relationships to other characters, and other relevant information.

Chapter Three Reflection Questions:

1. What does Cherry explain as the difference between the Socs and the Greasers?

2. Why don’t the Socs feel anything and the Greasers feel too violently?

3. What’s the conflict?

4. What does Ponyboy mean on p.39 when he says “Johnny and I understood each other without saying anything?” Have you ever had a relationship with someone who you understood, or who understood you, without having to say anything? Why is that important?

5. What does Pony discover about the Socs who were in the car?

6. When and how did Pony’s parents die?

7. What happens when Pony comes home after his curfew?

8. Why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him?

9. At the end of the chapter, how does the author foreshadow that bad things are to come? 

Weekend Homework:

• Finish above review questions
• Literacy circle reflections
• Start group project. Remember that you will present on Friday, August 10th!!
• Select a photo/photos to bring in on Monday that define your identity or from an event that has defined your identity.

I've been very impressed with the quality of effort from the majority in class. Keep  up the great effort!

Regards,

Mr. Ouellette

Tonight's Homework:

Chapter Two Reflection Questions:

1. Who is the Fuzz? [pg. 20]

2. Are the names Ponyboy and Sodapop nicknames? Explain.

3. Who are Cherry and Marcia?

4. What happens at the drive-in?

5. Why doesn't Ponyboy like referring to Sodapop as a dropout?

6. What is Ponyboy comparing Two-Bit to when he calls him a “chessy cat” on page 27? 

7. What happened to Johnny?

Journal Pt. 2 - Compare and contrast the 60's to our present decade. How would the novel change if it was written in this decade?

Read Chapter 3 and underline any points of interest that you would like discussed in class.

Great work today group!

Mr. Ouellette

Chapter One Reflection Questions:

1. Describe each of the three main characters briefly and their relationship with one another.
2. Who are the Socs?  Who are the Greasers?
3. How do Ponyboy's relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ?  Explain.
4. What does Ponyboy mean on pg. 18 when he says, “I lie to myself all the time?” Do you ever lie to yourself? Why? 

Hello and welcome to your summer book analysis elective on the exciting novel, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton!

The objective of this course will be to extract deeper meaning of underlying themes of the novel and look at a variety of critical ways to respond to and reflect on the text both individually and in groups.

Due to the short nature of this course, it is essential that you do your nightly readings as asked in order to get the most that this course has in store.

It is here that I will post pertinent information regarding this course, including homework, presentation videos,  and work samples. I encourage you to check this blog daily, once the course commences, in order to get the most out of this elective.

In the meantime, please best prepare yourself for this course by purchasing (or borrowing) a copy of the book, and reading the first chapter just before starting class. You will also need a notebook with lined paper, a pencil case, scissors, glue, and a pocket dictionary/thesaurus.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to email me at: juouelle@yahoo.ca.

Sincerely your course instructor,

Mr. Ouellette