1. Introduction The Outsiders Discussion, Author Biography
By S.E. Hinton
Introduction
Discussion,
Author Biography
Historical Context
Novel Information

2. Group Discussion Have you ever felt like an outsider?
How are outsiders usually treated?
Do you think our school has outsiders?

3. Compare these two images when you make your impressions.
First Impressions
We often judge people based on our first impressions of their physical appearance. Verbalize your first impressions of the people in the images below.
Compare these two images when you make your impressions.

4. Do You Agree? 1. Would you do anything to protect your family?
Stand up if you agree when I read the following statements
1. Would you do anything to protect your family?
2. Loyalty is the thread that holds friendships together.
3. Violence is sometimes necessary to resolve conflict.
4. People from different economic classes will usually not be friends.

5. Novel Title / Cover What do you think the title, The Outsiders, means?
Look at the picture on the front cover:
- Describe the cover in detail.
- What does the cover indicate about what may happen in this novel?

6. S.E. Hinton
Pay attention while I go through some biographical information about S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders. You may be asked to recall this information when I am done. 

7. S.E. Hinton Hinton was born in Tulsa in 1948.
As a young child, she was an avid reader and would spend her time writing her own stories.
She wanted to
create stories
about the truth
of teenagers (no
sugar coating).

8. S.E. Hinton
Hinton wrote The Outsiders while she was in high school. During her high school graduation ceremony, she was offered a publication contract for the novel. She published the novel under the name S.E. Hinton (instead of Susan Eloise) because the publishers didn’t think boys would want to read a ‘tough’ novel by a female.
Publication
Deal
Diploma

9. S.E. Hinton
After the success of The Outsiders, she attended the University Of Tulsa where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education.
In college, she met David Inhofe (her future husband). He was a major influence in her writing her second novel, That Was Then, This Is Now.

10. Susan married David and they had one son, Nicholas David.
S.E. Hinton
Susan married David and they had one son, Nicholas David.
She wrote a few more books (Tex, Rumble Fish, Taming The Star Runner). In the 1990’s, she focused mainly on children’s picture books.

11. Were You Listening Quiz!
S.E. Hinton
Were You Listening Quiz!
1. Where was S.E. Hinton born?
2. What did she enjoy doing as a child?
3. When did she write The Outsiders?
4. Why didn’t she publish under her full name?
5. Where did she meet her husband?
6. Name one other book she wrote besides The Outsiders.

12. Were You Listening Quiz!
S.E. Hinton
Were You Listening Quiz!
1. Where was S.E. Hinton born? Tulsa
2. What did she enjoy doing as a child? Reading and writing
3. When did she write The Outsiders? In high school (publication deal when she graduated)
4. Why didn’t she publish under her full name? Her publishers didn’t think boys would read a tough book written by a female.
5. Where did she meet her husband? At the University of Tulsa
6. Name one other book she wrote besides The Outsiders. Tex, That Was Then, This is Now, Rumble Fish, Taming The Star Runner

13. This novel is widely considered the first realistic young-adult novel.
The Outsiders
The Outsiders was inspired by real-life events at Hinton’s high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This novel is widely considered the first realistic young-adult novel.
Hinton’s High School
(Will Rogers High)

14. The Outsiders
Many of Hinton’s novels were so successful, they were turned into films
The Outsiders (1983)
That Was Then, This is Now (1985)
Tex (1982)
Rumble Fish (1983).

15. Historical Context
The book reflects the social division Americans experienced during the 1960s. Young people were attempting to find their voices and express their political opinions. Race relations were changing dramatically as the Civil Rights Movement drew attention to discrimination against African Americans. Though Hinton does not refer directly to any historical or political events in her work, the novel seeks to elevate public awareness of marginalized groups and to validate the voices and experiences of young people.

16. 1960’s Terminology
Below are some words you may encounter in the novel The Outsiders that were popular in the 1960’s
Fuzz = Police
Heater = Gun
Broad = Woman
Hacked Off = Angry

17. JD = Juvenile Delinquent
1960’s Terminology
Below are some words you may encounter in the novel The Outsiders that we rarely use today:
JD = Juvenile Delinquent
The Cooler = Jail
Rumble = Fight
Pickled = Drunk