Point of View Writing Assignment
“The Outsiders”
In this assignment you will write your own chapter or scene for The Outsiders. As we’ve
talked about in class, this story is told from Ponyboy’s perspective. It’s almost like we
are sitting in a room with him when he tells us the story. This technique allows the
reader to become intimately acquainted with Ponyboy’s character and he shares with us
his most private and personal feelings and perspectives about the events and
characters in the narrative.
Your job is to choose another character in the story, and rewrite a “scene” as
experienced from that character’s perspective or point of view.
Things to Think About...
How might the story change? What judgments and secret thoughts might the character
share with the reader that he or she doesn’t share with the characters in the story?
What judgments or interpretations might they have about other characters’ actions?
For example, you might re-write the scene from the drive-in movie from Dallas’ or
Cherry’s perspective. What do you think was going through Cherry’s mind when she
was being harassed by Dally?
MAKE SURE...
YOU MUST TAKE THE TIME TO DESCRIBE THE EVENTS AND TELL THE STORY
TO THE READER IN YOUR WRITING.
A COMMON MISTAKE IS TO HAVE PAGES OF DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATIONS
BETWEEN CHARACTERS WITH LITTLE IN BETWEEN.
STOP BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER YOUR WRITTEN DIALOGUE, AND ALLOW
YOUR CHARACTER SOME TIME TO LET THE READER LEARN WHO THEY ARE ON
THE INSIDE TOO!
DUE DATE:
(see calendar on class website)
You will be given 2 to 3 hours of class time this week to work on this. The remainder will
have to be done at home.
Final copies should be typed and submitted to a dropbox folder in the LMS to save on
paper. If you MUST handwrite it, then we can scan your written work in class and
upload it to the dropbox.
Good Luck!
Outsiders Point of View Writing Assignment Rubric
4+
4
Name:___________________
3
Ideas/Content Relevant, telling
Voice
Voice
The idea for my
The idea for my
details go beyond the story is clearly
story is a bit broad;
obvious. Ideas are defined and fully
however, the ideas
fresh and original— supported. I’ve
are still fairly clear.
different than I’ve stayed on topic. I’ve I’ve stayed on topic
done in the past.
used my own ideas. and not wandered.
Unique, my own.
It is very clear whose I’ve really attempted I’ve told the reader
perspective my story to have the reader
whose perspective
is written from. I’ve feel whose
my story is written
played a bit with my perspective the story from, but I don’t
characters so they is written from. But, help the reader
really come alive.
in some parts, it’s
connect with the
more like I told
character (s)
them.
It feels as if this
I am sincere and
I seem sincere, but
story is written for fully involved. I
not fully involved in
the reader. I’ve used have really
the writing. My
engaging language attempted to let
story is pleasant to
and really drew the myself shine through read but not very
reader in. I have
in my writing. I’ve personal.
painted a picture to mostly connected
strongly connect
with my reader.
with my reader.
Word Choice Lively verbs and
Lively verbs and
effective language
used. I’ve stretched
my vocabulary, but
not always correctly.
An attempt at
figurative language
is made.
My story very
I have all of the
I have all of the
clearly matches up elements of plot;
elements of plot in
with the plot
however, my events the correct order;
diagram.
leading up to my
however, the
climax aren’t fully elements are fully
developed.
developed.
I have them down! Paragraphs=CHECK My spelling is
My paragraphs,
Editing=I tried my usually correct,
spelling, grammar best
paragraphing
and usage are all
Grammar= Almost attempted, but my
correct. YIPPEE for perfect
editing is limited. I
me!
have some problems
with grammar, but
it’s not serious.
effective language is
used. I’ve stretched
my vocabulary and
have used figurative
language.
Organization
Conventions
Presentation All drafts are
included in final
product: prewrite
sheet, plot diagram,
rough draft, final
draft
Lively verbs and
effective language
used. I’ve stretched
my vocabulary and
have tried at least
twice to use
figurative language.
2
1
I didn’t fully develop I’m still in search of
the plot and so the a fabulous topic. I
reader is left with
didn’t really begin to
questions. I
delve into my story
wandered a bit as
at all.
well.
The connection with Perspective?
the characters is
lacking, but I still
know whose
perspective the story
is written from.
I attempted to
connect with the
audience but there
are only glimpses of
me as a writer
shining through.
Uh Oh, I didn’t
connect with the
audience at all. My
writing is risk-free
and there’s no sense
of me in the writing.
Language used is
very functional;
however, I only took
a chance with my
vocabulary a few
times. Everyday
nouns are used.
Many of my words
simply don’t work or
don’t make sense. I
used a very limited
vocabulary.
Thesaurus? Not sure
what that is.
1 major element of
plot is missing.
Plot? What’s that? I
don’t even have a
clear beginning,
middle, or an ending.
My spelling is
usually correct, as
well as paragraphing
and I did attempt to
edit. I am having
more than just a few
problems with
grammar. But you
can still understand
my story.
All drafts are
All drafts are
I’ve missed one
included but one
included, but not in piece of the
item is out of order the correct order.
assignment.
Errors in grammar
and paragraphing
distracts the reader
from the story.
I’ve only included
my final draft—
OOPS!