8th Grade Honors Extension Activity (Semester 2)
You are to read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. This book is available at the public
library or local book stores. While you are reading you are to complete Part I of
the assignment. This is due to your online instructor before the midterm. When
you have finished the book complete Part 2 of the assignment, which is due to
your online instructor before the final exam. All assignment should be emailed to
your instructor through the STARS Suite.
PART I- Complete all the chapter questions. Please type the answers in complete
sentences.
The Outsiders Reading Guide
CHAPTERS 1-3 (5-48)
1. What does Ponyboy think about his brother Darry?
2. What kind of person is Sodapop, according to Ponyboy?
3. In what ways are the Greasers different from the Socs?
4. Why is Johnny Cade special to his friends?
5. In what ways does Dallas Winston differ from his friends?
6. What did you learn about Ponyboy Curtis so far?
7. What is the author's purpose so far?
8. Why does Cherry Valance interest Ponyboy?
9. What does Ponyboy tell Cherry when she remarks that Johnny seems to have
been "hurt bad sometime"?
10. What does Cherry tell Ponyboy in defense of the Socs?
11. Why can't Ponyboy accept Cherry's opinion of the Socs?
12. According to Cherry what makes the Soashes different from the Greasers?
13. What does the episode about Mickey Mouse tell you about Sodapop and
Ponyboy?
14. Why is Darry angry when Ponyboy returns home, and how does he express his
anger?
15. How does Johnny try to comfort Ponyboy when he returns to the vacant lot?
CHAPTERS 4-5 (49 - 75)
1. Why do the Socs attack Ponyboy and Johnny in the park?
2. What is the result of the attack?
3. How does Dallas help Ponyboy and Johnny?
4. What is Ponyboy's state of mind when he and Johnny reach the church on Jay
Mountain?
5. How do Ponyboy and Johnny pass the time while hiding in the church?
6. What does Ponyboy think of the poem he recites to Johnny at sunrise? What
does Johnny think of it?
7. What news from home does Dally bring to his friends at the church?
CHAPTERS 6-8 (76-130)
1. Why does Johnny decide to turn himself in to the police?
2. What do Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally do when they discover that the church is
on fire?
3. What discovery does Ponyboy make about Darry when his brothers arrive at
the hospital?
4. Why does Jerry Wood's treatment of Ponyboy surprise Ponyboy?
5. What do the newspapers report about the fire and the three Greasers who
were on the scene?
6. Why is Darry concerned about Ponyboy's dreams?
7. What is Randy's reaction to the reports about the fire?
8. How does Ponyboy react to what Randy confides in him?
9. What is Johnny's reaction to being so ill?
10. What is Dallas' (Dally's) reaction to the news about Johnny's condition?
11. Why is Ponyboy rude to Cherry?
12. What different attitudes do Soda, Steve, Darry, and Ponyboy have about the
rumble before it begins?
13. What advice does Dallas give to Ponyboy on the way to the hospital?
14. What advice does Johnny give Ponyboy, and what do you think he means?
CHAPTERS 10-12 (131 - 156)
1. After Dallas confronts the police at the vacant lot, why does Ponyboy say, "I
knew that was what Dallas wanted?"
2. Why doesn't Ponyboy want to think about Dallas or Johnny?
3. How does looking at an old school yearbook affect Ponyboy?
4. In their conversation what worries do Randy and Ponyboy confess to each
other?
5. Why does Ponyboy insist that Johnny is not dead?
6. What is the outcome of the hearing?
7. Why does Two-Bit tell Ponyboy, "You're not like the rest of us and don't try to
be"?
8. What does Ponyboy realize about his past relationship with Sodapop?
9. How does Johnny's note help change Ponyboy's attitude toward himself, his
future, and his friends?
Part 2: Complete the following assignments and email them to your instructor
before the final exam.
1. Hinton, the author, gives detailed descriptions of each of the characters in
the book. Choose 4 characters and write a poem about each of the
characters. Expectations: poems should include descriptions of either their
personality or their looks and demonstrates thoughtful word choices
2. Pick out 10 significant incidents in the book. Make a timeline with the
incidents and a two sentence explanation of why they are significant. On
the timeline, put the positive incidents towards the top of the paper and
the negative incidents toward the bottom. Expectations: the key word is
significant events or incidents.