Outsiders FREE-WRITES
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©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders FREE-WRITES
WHAT IS FREE-WRITING?
Free-writing means you respond to the
topic right away without having to plan
what you want to say. You let ideas flow
freely based on all parts of the topic without
worrying about every punctuation mark or
exact spelling.
Just keep writing in sentences and be
sure to include some specific examples and
details. When the time is up, your space
should be full!
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 1
Ponyboy tells us about the friends in his
life, like Two-Bit and Johnny. Two-Bit
makes him laugh, and Johnny is “everyone’s
kid brother.”
 Become a narrator like Pony. Describe some
of the important people in your life and
explain what makes each of them important
to you.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 2
Johnny stood up to Dally at the drive-in when
he was being rude with Cherry, saying, “You
heard me. Leave her alone.”
 What would you do if you witnessed
someone being continuously rude to another
person?
 Is this behavior the same as bullying?
 Should others get involved and try to stop it?
Explain why or why not.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 3
Cherry tells Pony one problem for the Socs is
“having more than you wanted.”
 How could having more than you wanted be
a problem?
 If you were to win a Lottery jackpot, do you
think “having more than you wanted” could
become a problem for you? Explain with
examples and details.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 4
Ponyboy tells us, “Dallas Winston could do
anything,” and when the boys are in trouble, he
does just that! He even provides a loaded gun.
 Do you think Dally is a positive influence on
Pony and Johnny or a negative influence?
 Think about Dally’s background and
personality . . .What makes him a good guy
or a bad guy? Use reasons and examples.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 5
Johnny tells Pony, “I never noticed colors and
clouds and stuff until you kept reminding me
about them.”
 Do you think most people take nature for
granted?
 In what ways do you enjoy or appreciate
nature? Use examples and details.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 6
Jerry Wood tells Ponyboy, “You shouldn’t be
smoking.” That was in 1967.
 Why do you think so many young people still
smoke cigarettes when we now know all the
serious health risks?
 Could you picture yourself ever becoming a
smoker? Explain.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 7
Pony tells Randy, “You would have saved those
kids if you had been there.”
 Do you think you would ever risk your own
safety to help another person? Explain what
types of situations you could picture yourself
doing this or not doing this.
 Do you think it’s our obligation to help
someone out if we can? Explain.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 8
Cherry tells Pony, “You’re a nice kid, Ponyboy.
Do you realize how scarce nice kids are
nowadays?”
 Do you think nice kids are scarce nowadays?
Explain.
 What does it mean to be a nice kid? Use
examples.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 9
At the rumble, Pony says about Darry: “He
wasn’t going to be any hood when he got old.
He was going to get somewhere.”
 What do you imagine Darry achieving in the
future? Write your own story of Darry’s life
beyond age 20. How could his determination
lead to a better life?
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 10
Pony wants to be sure he asked for Darry when
he was sick. Soda is comforting and caring for
Pony.
 Do you think people need siblings? Why or
why not?
 If you don’t have a sibling, explain how you
feel about that. If you do, are your siblings
an important part of your life? In what
ways?
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 11
Randy’s dad told him, “Tell the truth and
nobody can get hurt.”
 Do you agree with this statement?
 Is it always best to tell the truth? Explain
your thinking with reasons, examples,
experiences, etc.
©2014 Joy Sexton
Outsiders
FREE-WRITES
CH. 12
In Johnny’s letter he tells Pony, “There’s lots
of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don’t think
he knows.”
 What kind of “good” do you see in our
world today? If you could express your
ideas to someone like Dally, what would
you say? Use details and examples.
©2014 Joy Sexton