The Introduction NO NO’s 1) Announce Your Intentions “This paper is going to be about…” “In this paper I will…” 2) Begin with a dictionary definition “Webster’s dictionary defines perception as…” 3) Ask a Lame Question “Have you ever judged somebody before getting to know them?” 4) Stress Out over an Attention Getter “Greasers are filthy, trashy people. At least that’s what some people think.”

The Introduction Do’s 1)Begin with an interesting statement “In The Outsiders, Ponyboy Curtis may be the youngest greaser, but it’s possible he learns the most throughout the book.” Or In S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, Ponyboy Curtis learns a lesson that is valuable for any young person. Or In a world filled with different people, S.E. Hinton shows us that titles and first impressions do not always tell the full story.

The Introduction Do’s 1)Provide background that leads to your Thesis Statement. The main character and narrator, Ponyboy Curtis, is a 14- year old boy living on the poor side of town with other members of his gang, known as the greasers. This close- knit group of boys consists of his two brothers, Darry and Soda, along with four other boys from troubled homes sharing some of the same life experiences. Each of these boys also shares a hatred for a rival gang known as the Socs. Throughout the beginning of the novel, Pony reveals his views on each member of his gang and those of the Socs. However, experience teaches Pony that sometimes, familiarity alters perception.

The Introduction Do’s 1)Provide background that leads to your Thesis Statement. Who is Ponyboy? What is his situation in life? What is his social situation? Who is getting in the way of his happiness? What does he learn? THESIS STATEMENT! THESIS STATEMENT: PONY LEARNS FAMILIARITY ALTERS PERCEPTIONS.

The Conclusion NO NO’s 1) Announce What You Did “In this paper I …” “I just showed you…” 2) Talk to the Reader “So as you can see…” 3) Repeat Your Body Paragraphs “Ponyboy changes the way he sees his brother.” 4) Give Advice “So the next time you judge someone, don’t!”

The Conclusion Do’s 1)Begin by restating your Thesis Statement. Pony learns that becoming familiar with someone can change the way he sees a person. In The Outsiders, Pony finds first impressions are not always the best ones. Sometimes it takes a while to really learn what a person is like. And what we learn, is often different that what we first perceive. Pony’s experiences with Darry, Dally, and the Socs prove that first impressions are not necessarily accurate.

The Conclusion Do’s 1)Provide background that leads to your Thesis Statement. Sometimes it takes a while to really learn what a person is like. And what we learn, is often different that what we first perceive. In The Outsiders, Ponyboy is forced to see people in very difficult circumstances. Yet, it is during tough times that the true character of people is revealed. This is even true for Pony. As a reader, it might be easy to conclude that Pony is a young hood after the first couple chapters. The gang he is a part of could lead us to this conclusion. But through the course of the book, Pony proves to be an intelligent, deep- thinking kid who is insecure about himself and his group. Perhaps the lesson Pony learns can best be appreciated by understanding Pony himself.

The Conclusion Do’s 1)Provide background that leads to your Thesis Statement. Pony’s experiences with Darry, Dally, and the Socs prove that first impressions are not necessarily accurate. People are deeper than what appears on the surface, and only by digging under that surface can we find the truth. He finds that all of these people worry, just like him, and have problems and emotions, just like him. These are common bonds that unite all people regardless of social class or type of clothing. In fact, things are “rough all over” just as Cherry suggested (35). In the novel, Pony never seems comfortable with his title greaser. Perhaps this lesson will help him feel comfortable dropping the label and find happiness just being Ponyboy Curtis.

The Conclusion Do’s 1)Step back and wrap up the big picture. In general, how did this lesson affect Pony’s views? Why is the lesson important for Ponyboy Curtis? How will this lesson make him better? Does the lesson apply to our understanding of the title? How is the lesson a universal truth?

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.