Although you might not have guessed it at first, by now, you have surely been able to make connections between your life as a 7th grader in Wyoming to the lives of the Greasers and/or Socs in early 1960s Oklahoma. As you continue to read The Outsiders, I encourage you to keep thinking about your own life and looking for yourself and your friends in the characters in the book, all while contemplating the question: What is the author trying to say? Answers to this question always lead you to the major theme and thus, a way to personally connect to the literature.
We have already done an "anticipation guide," but I would like you to consider and respond to the statements below. You can pick which ones you would like to respond to.
**Be sure to type YOUR FIRST NAME first, then respond with your thoughts. Finally, keep in mind that your responses must be honest but appropriate. Do not use names of specific people or write ANYTHING that could be offensive or hurtful.**
1. Appearance can often tell a great deal about a person.
2. Anyone can be popular.
3. It is possible to change the way students act towards one another.
4. It is common to label people as being part of a group rather than an individual.
5. I felt like [character from The Outsiders] when... (Choose an event or time in your life when you faced issues that a character in the novel faces. It might be a direct similarity or an indirect one, but you must tie things the character is going through to your own life.)
After you have posted your response, feel free to respond to your classmates' posts. But remember, every time you post, TYPE YOUR FIRST NAME FIRST.
37 comments:
Mrs. Medill
In response to #4, I do think it is common to label people as belonging to a group rather than on their own individuality. I see this all the time in junior high and remember it very well from my own experiences in school. However, as an adult I can say that it really does not go away; perhaps it just changes form a bit. But I think adults label and generalize other people just as much as teenagers do.
This is a topic that interests me greatly because on one hand, most people need a sense of belonging which sometimes comes from "belonging" to a group. However, does that mean that individuality must be lost? And when it comes to JUDGING someone based on their "group" without knowing anything about that individual, well... that's really when it gets tricky and ugly. (Of course, "judging" other people at all is only for fools, right?)
For #5, I felt like Darry when a former student of mine was goofing around on the way to the public library and pushed a friend into the street. A car was coming and it was a really close call! The other student could have gotten hit. I was so scared that I yelled at that student. It is the only time I can remember doing that. I apologized later for yelling and explained that it was just that I was so worried and scared that someone could have gotten hurt. This reminds me of when Darry hits Ponyboy after coming home well past his curfew. I don't think Darry should have hit Ponyboy, but I do think it showed how worried Darry was. And that confirms for me that Darry does, in fact, love Ponyboy.
Alex. well, i dont think that people should be labeled in a certain group. I think that anyone should be able to be their own person.
kiarra:
Not all people can be popular. it's not something that you just get. I don't even really know how people become popular but they just do. Maybe it's because of the people that they hang out with or sit with i'm not really sure but i know that anybody inpaticular can just become popular.
Alex. i dont think appearance has a lot to do with a persons personality. i know some people that dont look like the most friendly people in the world, but they are really nice. its like dont judge a book by its cover.
Dylan
in response #2 i dont think anyone can be popular because like in the outsiders the socs and the greasers are diffrent in popularity because of what there paarents did and so not all people can be popular because it all depends on what you parnts did and if they were popular or not.
Madison
In response to #2, i do think anyone can be popular. It may not be the whole prissy thing with all the glam but people may like you (if your nice).Although, it can be unfair at times. somehow, (i haven't quite figured this out yet)if your
"pretty", then it seems to be ten times easier to get at the top of then chain. But,if you just have to the right friends, along the way, you can start climbing up to poularity chain. Just make sure you keep all your friends that you did meet along the way.
Bryce
In the response #1, is not really right because I know a lot of people that look like they are weird, but if you get to know them you will think that they aren't weird.
Kajsa:
I'm responding to #1. Appearance's can often tell a great deal abaout a person. If someone was wearing new brand clothes aposed to someone wearing walmart clothes(nothing is wrong with that!) then the brand clothes person would obviously be looked at differently than the other person with Walmart clothes. If someone doesn't brush their hair then people might think they're gross, but someone who straightens their hair could get compliments. So, you see how appearance's tell a great deal about a person: shabby not-so-cool clothes could make you a shabby not-so-cool kid; cute, stylish clothes could make you cute and stylish.
sierra,
I am responding to #1 because I do beleve apperence can often tell about a person. For an example, if your popular you would probably have rich, fancy,cute clothes like areopostale.Also if your not so rich you might just have cute clothes and sometimes fancy clothes with only some areopostale shirts just not as much like the rich people like the socs and the greasers. That is my respoce to #1.
Aubrey:#2
Not just anyone is popular. Popular is a word witch is often misunderstood in many situations. Im my opinion being popular is being someone that other people admire, someone that they look up to.
Being a 7th grade girl its hard to say witch girls you look up to and witch girls you dont. I am not saying that we are all bad. But in my eyes not anyone can be popular.
Steven
In response to #4 I think most people are classified as a group instead of an induvidual. Although I know a few people who are labeled as themselves, most people describe someone by their friends like for exapmle "oh that's pelopi she hangs out with charlane":). I know those are weird names but i didnt want to bore you to sleep. Anyway, sometimes being classified as a group is not a good thing, like if your a good kid but you hang out with a bunch of people who do drugs or something that can make it seem like you are like that too.
In the outsiders Cherry Valence is like this. She was practically born into the Soc's so there isn't much she can do to not be labled as one. So remember if you classify people by their friends just remember, in the words of S.E Hinton, Some Soc's watch sunsets too! :) :) :) :) ;)haha that last ones winking! o_0 sorry, i just wanted to put that face o_0 haha.
Bye,
Steven
SOFIA
well i do argree with you when you say even adults label people by there groups. I think that tis is wrong and shouldnt be done, but the people you are always with do show a lot about you and who you eventhough it dosent tell the full story. Now on the topic of Darry I also argree that he should not of hit Pony and I agree that he showed how worried he was for him. But I think he didnt just hit him because he was worried he also hit him because of his frustations he had towrds Pony. It wasnt just Pony who was frustated and heart it is also Darry. I know that when Im frustaed and stressed i want to slap someone (hahahahahahahahahah) but I try to come myself down. Also there is a seriouse lack of comunication between them and no sence of understanding and eventually it was going to blow up in their face. In the end we all knew this was going to happen.
jory- my comment for number five is i feel like i sometimes have problems like ponyboy and feel like a pet like johnny. like the on part where johnny and ponyboy ran away. i have done that before but i came back of course but now that i think of this i feel that i had the same problem. if someone older than me hit me i would've ran away too (which i did) but the thing is i had a big yard with a bunch of trees. i didn't hop on a train like pony and johnny. i just ran out in the backyard and climbed a tree where they couldn't find me.although on the other hand johnny and pony are running away to the country. sometimes i feel like johnny and sometimes i feel like pony and then times i feel like both. like the time i ran away.
Dylan
appearance dosnt have anything to do with what a person is like and it dosnt mater how someones appearance dosnt tell how someone is
Bryce
In response #2, popularity is a big thing in life. In the book "The Outsiders" the socs and the greasers are ranked differnt. The socs and greasers are popular in their own way. The greasers are popular because of the things that their parents did when they were a teenager. The socs don't like the greasers because of what their parents did.
Alex. anyone can be popular in their own way. people dont have to be the most popular person in the school, they could be the most popular to their friends or family, or just to themselfs.
Steven
Well I agree that people shouldn't be judged by what they wear but they are. That's just one of the sad things in this cruel sadistic world we live in. aka Junior High School. People are labled by what they wear and who their friends are. But just remember, dont care what people think!
Justin,although people often make assumptions about character based on appearence they are often wrong. Somone might dress the way they do because that is all they can afford but that often has no connection to thier personality.It depends what you consider popular. if you mean hanging out with the popular crowd not everyone can. if you mean having a lot of friends and not caring what group their in being popular is easy.
Justin,although people often make assumptions about character based on appearence they are often wrong. Somone might dress the way they do because that is all they can afford but that often has no connection to thier personality.It depends what you consider popular. if you mean hanging out with the popular crowd not everyone can. if you mean having a lot of friends and not caring what group their in being popular is easy.
kiarra: response to maddison.
I dont' get it either. i don't see why people go for the "prettyness" or how cool their clothes are or whatever.
Madison
i don't agree that appearance can tell a great deal about a person.
i seriously thought about going punk just to get a point to my mom. I don't have the punk personality... but i still think it would be really fun to dress up like one for a day hehehe. My point is, never judge a book by its cover, never judge a person by thier apperance.
Gabe: anyone can be popular its just what the type of popular your talking about. some people think if you beat up sombody or you ride a skateboard or somthing your cool. some people dont even know what popular is,they just use because they think if they use it there popular.
Dillon
Anyone can be popular if they are with a group who have some what the same ideas. Most of the time people are only popular for a short while. For example if a kid does 60 pushups they will be popular for a while. In some cases popular kids are vexing and abraysive but, not always.
Kajsa:
I'm responding to response #2. I believe that not everyone can or want to be popular. Somepeople like social outcasts might want to be in a "popular group" but they are labelled "LOSER"(no ofense to anyone that is a social outcast!:))
so the "popular group" doesn't want to hang out with a "LOSER" so they can keep their "cool" title.
But, other people who are in the "popular group" hate being mean and putting down others to be "cool" they want to leave but they would loose all of their friends so they stay in the "popular group" to keep friends. In conclusion, I believe not everyone can or wants to be popular!;)
Shariah
To #2 I do think anyone can be popular. But if you were considered as some "wierd" person (wrong to judge)would take a lot to be considered popular. I beleive people in Junior High are really judgemental toward thier peers and will only talk to and be nice to people who are considered "popular." But not all of them are like that and it is hard to tell which people are the mean, snotty kids and who are the ones who dont care what other people think.
Spencer
In response to #1, i think that someones appearence can tell alot about them. For example, if you see a clean cut man wearing nice clothes like sweaters or khaki pants (like a Soc) then you would probably assume that they are a nice, clean, person that hangs out with nice, clean, people (like the Socs). Although this fist glance isnt always accurate on telling what a person is like, it usually provides you with some knowledge on their background, their cleanliness, and the way they dress can sometimes tell you how they might feel. An example of clothes telling you how someone feels is the Greasers. The Greasers dress in worn jeans usually ripped, old, worn, or baggy attire, with usually an overcoat(probably a size or two too big for them)covered in holes. Some wear this attire because of wealth, but others wear this because they honestly dont care. Whatever reason they may have, the average homosapian will come to the conclusion that Greasers are a tough crowd(or Tuff, im still confused on the whole Tough, Tuff thing). Either way people assume the following: Socs, good people. Greasers, bad people. Although it may be unfair and sometimes unaccurate, your appearence can tell a great deal about you!;0 (steven tought me that):):):)(and that) :0 hahahahaha
bye
Spencer
ashley,
although it could be possiable to change the wa students act towards one anouther. But it all seems to be hard to try and change the way people treat each other but some people just don't want to change the way hat they act towards each other. some peopleare just are usually not hat they seem to be on the outside but on the inside they can be really kind and very generous but they just might not want to show that they can be kind and generous. But some days people just want to show what they are really like on the inside and they just want to show how they really fell about each other and just want to let it show. So some times it is possiable to change they way people act towards each other.
Aubrey:
Appearance often does not say a lot about a person. My brother was was born with olipicadontia (dont know how to spell it)because of it he has no perminant teeth and skin disorders. Besides his appearance, he is really smart, kind and thoughtful.
Some people say they express themself through there clothes, but in my case i wear whatever is comfortable. Ha ha.
So appearance does not mean anything to me, because it can often mean being judgemental.
steven See kiarra thats why people go after me because of my clothes and my "prettyness" haha o_0.
But i disagree about how you are what your parent were. thats not true. that's history you can still be whoever you want to be. :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
:):):):)smiley faces! ::)... ha its a crying alien! i might be a smiley face artist when i get older, i dont think it would pay that well though.
Justin,responding to kiarra, i think someone can become popular by not trying and being thierself.
Mrs. Medill
To my wonderfully smart students:
I am glad to see you all really thinking hard about what it means to be "popular." Some of you even suggested that being popular might not be something that everyone wants or should want. After all, it sounds like one thing that the "popular" crowd has in common is putting down others and being outright arrogant. Who WOULD want to be a part of that?
Is it possible to be "popular" because of your integrity, kindness, and good character?
SOFIA
when we talk about being poupolar (sorry for spelling it wrong) we are talking about our need to fit in right? well if thats the cases its a phicological need and i believe that if really need we can all forfill it
Bryce In response #2, popularity is a big thing in life. In the book "The Outsiders" the socs and the greasers are ranked differnt. The socs and greasers are popular in their own way. The greasers are popular because of the things that their parents did when they were a teenager. The socs don't like the greasers because of what their parents did.
Alex. i dont think appearance has a lot to do with a persons personality. i know some people that dont look like the most friendly people in the world, but they are really nice. its like dont judge a book by its cover.
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Freddie
I dont think its possible to chang how someone acts towards another because some people are just stubborn or too dumb to see the brighter picture
really good book
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