1. The Outsiders Expository Paper
Compare two characters from The Outsiders in a four paragraph essay.

2. Venn Diagram Similarities Differences Differences So What? Character 2
Character 1 difference
Character 1 & 2 Similarities
Character 2 differences
Differences
Differences
So What?
p. 96, 291
© 2007

3. Venn Diagram Similarities Differences Differences
Randy
Johnny
Similarities
Greaser
Believe fighting is useless
Soc
Differences
Differences
So What? Fighting will not change their situation.
p. 96, 291
© 2007

4. Compare & Contrast Chart Thesis: Although Johnny and Randy are from different social circles, they both realize that fighting will not change that fact.
2. Randy
1. Johnny
HOW SIMILAR?
With regard to . . .
Johnny
Randy
“Useless…fighting no good.” (p. 129)
Doesn’t believe in fighting
“I’m sick of it because it doesn’t do any good.” (p. 103)
HOW DIFFERENT?
With regard to . . .
Johnny & Randy
Different social sets
“If it hadn’t been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are.” (p. 14)
“We’ll be the lucky ones at the top” (p. 103)
p. 101
© 2007

5. Introduction
Hook-Begin with an interesting broad statement about friends, family, relationships, etc.
Next, write a broad statement about the first character.
After that, write a broad statement about the second character.
Finally, write your thesis. Preview the comparison and contrast and tell why it is important.

6. Intro
People are born into different social situations, and usually the only way to change that fact is to work hard. Johnny is a timid greaser whose only love and affection come from his fellow gang members. Randy is a wealthy socialite whose friendships and family life is often superficial. Although Johnny and Randy come from different social circles, both realize that fighting will not change their situations.

7. Body I-Compare-Outline
Similarity-(TS)
First character example (CD) CM
Transitional sentence
Second character example (CD) CS

8. Body-Comparison
Johnny and Randy understand that fighting will not change their social situation. For example, Johnny mutters on his deathbed, “Useless…fighting no good.” (p. 129). This shows that before he dies he realizes that all of the gang’s fighting does not improve their lives. Randy also disagrees with fighting. He claims, “I’m sick of it because it doesn’t do any good.” (p. 103). This shows that he doesn’t want to take part in the rumble because his situation will not get any better. As you can see, both characters realize that their gang’s rumbles will not change anything.

9. Body I-Contrast-Outline
Difference-(TS)
First character difference-(CD) CM
Transitional Sentence
Second character difference-(CD) CS

10. Body-Contrast
Johnny is a lower class greaser who has all of the rough breaks, and Randy is an upper class soc with unlimited options. Ponyboy states, “If it hadn’t been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are,” (p. 14). This shows that Johnny’s only family was his fellow greasers. Randy on the other hand had a different situation. When talking to Ponyboy, Randy says, “We’ll be the lucky ones at the top,” (p. 103). This shows that even though he was being cynical, he realized that he had more opportunities than the greasers. Johnny and Randy may come from different sides of the track, but by the end of the story, they both realized that their current situation and futures did not depend on a rumble with the rival gang.

11. Restate thesis in different words.
Closing
Restate thesis in different words.
Write broader statement about friends, family, relationships etc.
Explain lesson learned.

12. Closing
Even though Johnny and Randy live in different worlds, they both understand that physical violence will not solve their problems. War has served a prominent role in every nation’s history. However, violence rarely solves problems, and many times ends up creating more.