PROVING STUFF THEMES

WHAT IS A THEME? Answer: A reoccurring idea  “Since Mom and Dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us got to stay together as long as we behave” (Hinton 3).  “(Johnny’s) father was always beating him up, and his mother ignored him…If it hadn’t been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are” (12).  “…Two-Bit’s mother being a barmaid to support him and his kid sister after their father ran out on them…” (43).  “…and Steve– his hatred for his father coming out in his soft, bitter voice and the violence of his temper” (43).  “I felt sorry for Dally. He meant it when he said he didn’t care about his parents” (88).  PAGE 116

What is the common idea? Troubled Home Lives Broken Families Effects of family on children

Familiarity Alters Perception. UNIT THEME Getting to know something changes a person’s views.

Pony’s Perception of Darry

What is Ponyboy’s perception of Darry?  “Darry’s hard and firm and rarely grins at all” (Hinton 2).  “Darry isn’t ever sorry for anything he does” (6).  “Me and Darry just didn’t dig each other. I could never please him” (13).  “He never hollered at Sodapop…He just hollered at me” (13).  “Darry love me? I thought of those hard, pale eyes…Darry doesn’t love anyone or anything, except maybe Soda” (18).

Topic Sentence: By the end of Chapter 6, Ponyboy’s perception of Darry has changed.

Context What events lead up to your quote? Sequence of Events: 1) Pony and Johnny get hurt saving children in a burning church. 2) They get taken to the hospital. 3) While there, Soda and Darry come see Ponyboy. 4) Ponyboy sees Darry crying.

What text from page 98 proves Ponyboy sees Darry differently now?

Commentary Make your point. Ideas: 1) Why is it a big deal for Darry to cry? 2) How do Darry’s actions affect Ponyboy? 3) What is different about Pony’s views at this point in the story? 4) How could these events affect their relationship?

Let’s do it again.

Pony’s Perception of Socs

What is Ponyboy’s perception of Socs?  “I really couldn’t see what Socs would have to sweat about—good grades, good cars, good girls…Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I’d consider myself lucky” (Hinton 36).  “Things were rough all over, all right. All over the East Side. It just didn’t seem right to me” (43).  “’That’s why we’re separated,’ I said. ‘It’s not money, it’s feeling—you don’t feel anything and we feel too violently’” (38).

Familiarity Alters Perception. THEME

Topic Sentence: As Chapter 7 ends, Ponyboy’s perception of Socs has changed.

Context What events lead up to your quote? Sequence of Events ( ): 1) Where is Ponyboy? (p114) 2) Who is he with? 3) Who comes to speak with Ponyboy? 4) What does he talk about?

What text from page 118 proves Ponyboy sees Socs differently now?

Commentary Make your point. Ideas: 1) Why are Randy’s comments different from what we might expect? 2) What affect does this conversation have on Ponyboy? 3) Does Ponyboy like all Socs now? NO! But…. 4) What is different about Pony’s views at this point in the story?

Rewriting Paragraph #2 Familiarity Alters Perceptions

SETTING UP the QUOTE I walked over to Two-Bit,and Rany honked for his friends to come and get into the car. “What’d he want?” Two-Bit asked. What’d Mr. Super-Soc have to say?” “He ain’t a Soc,” I said, “he’s just a guy. He just wanted to talk.” Two-Bit asks what “Mr. Super-Soc” had to say. Pony responds, “He ain’t a Soc…he’s just a guy” (Hinton 118). or Pony describes Randy by saying, “He ain’t a Soc…he’s just a guy” (Hinton 118). Awkward Version: Pony says, “He ain’t a Soc, I said, “he’s just a guy” USING THE QUOTE

Transitioning Ideas Ponyboy’s Initial Perception -As the book begins, Pony thinks… -Pony initially believes… -the beginning of the story, Pony views Socs… -Pony originally believes… Context -However, in Chapter 7… -Things change later in the novel. Pony and Two-Bit are… -We see Pony’s opinions changing when he and Two-Bit are at the Tasty Freeze in Chapter 7. Randy Adderson…

Transitioning to Another Paragraph 1 - Pony demonstrates the theme later in the novel. 2 - We see Pony’s perceptions change again in Chapter The lesson he learns with Darry applies to other views of his as well.

Let’s do it again.

Pony’s Perception of Dally

What is Ponyboy’s perception of Dally?  “He was tougher than the rest of us—tougher, colder, meaner” (Hinton 10).  “Some were afraid of us, and remembering Dallas Winston, I didn’t blame them” (15).  “It would be a miracle if Dally loved anything. The fight for self-preservation had hardened him beyond caring” (59).  “Dally could take it—Dally was of the breed that could take anything because he was hard and tough, and when he wasn’t, he could turn hard and tough (88).

Familiarity Alters Perception. THEME

Topic Sentence: Ponyboy’s perception of Dally changes during the story.

Context What events lead up to your quote? Sequence of Events ( ): 1) Johnny has just died. 2) Dallas runs from the hospital and robs a grocery store. 3) He runs from the police and is killed. 4) Pony reflects on Dally’s life.

Nobody would write editorials praising Dally. Two friends of mine had died that night: one a hero, the other a hoodlum. But I remembered Dally pulling Johnny through the window of the burning church; Dally giving us his gun, although it could mean jail for him; Dally risking his life for us, trying to keep Johnny out of trouble. And how he was a dead juvenile delinquent and there wouldn’t be any editorials in his favor. Dally didn’t die a hero. he died violent and young and desperate, just like we all knew he’d die someday. Just like Tim Shepard and Curly Shepard and the Brumly boys and the other guys we knew would die someday. But Johnny was right. Dally died Gallant.

What text from page 154 proves Ponyboy sees Dally differently now?

Commentary Make your point. Ideas: 1) What kinds of things does Pony remember about Dally here? 2) How do these memories differ from his initial impressions? 3) How do you think Dally will be remembered by his friends? 4) How might Dally be different from what the rest of society may think?

CLEAN WRITING CHECKS Pony or Ponyboy—It’s one word. Same with Soda or Sodapop. Darry and Dally are two different people. Two-Bit – Capitalize both parts and hyphenate the name. Hinton Randy Adderson Soc/ Socs is capitalized. The plural of Soc is SOCS NOT SOC’S! The word beginning has two N’s NOT two G’s.