Influence and Identity in 'The Outsiders'
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Influence and Identity in 'The Outsiders'

Grade 7English5 days
★★★★★
5.0 (1 rating)
This Project-Based Learning experience, designed for 7th-grade English students, centers around S.E. Hinton’s novel, 'The Outsiders.' Students explore how character interactions, particularly between the protagonist Ponyboy and others, influence his development and reflect the story's themes. Activities like role-playing, creating influence maps, and designing social media profiles for characters engage students in understanding themes of identity, social class, and friendship. The project emphasizes critical analysis, synthesis, and presentation skills aligned with Common Core Standards, fostering a deeper understanding of character dynamics and thematic development in literature.
Character DevelopmentInteractionThemesLiterature AnalysisProject-Based LearningThe Outsiders
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How do interactions between Ponyboy and other characters in 'The Outsiders' influence his development and illustrate the story's themes?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How do the characters in 'The Outsiders' influence the protagonist, Ponyboy?
  • In what ways do specific interactions between Ponyboy and other characters help to develop the themes of the story?
  • How does S.E. Hinton use character interactions to shape the plot in 'The Outsiders'?
  • What can we learn about ourselves and others through Ponyboy's relationships and experiences?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will analyze how interactions between Ponyboy and other characters influence his development in 'The Outsiders'.
  • Students will identify and explain key themes in 'The Outsiders' and how they are developed through character interactions.
  • Students will provide an objective summary of 'The Outsiders' with a focus on character influence and theme development.
  • Students will explore how S.E. Hinton uses specific character interactions to shape the plot of 'The Outsiders'.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.3
Primary
Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).Reason: This standard directly relates to analyzing how character interactions influence Ponyboy's development, a key focus of the project.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.2
Primary
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.Reason: The project involves determining the themes of 'The Outsiders' and analyzing their development through character interactions.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.6
Secondary
Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different characters or narrators in a text.Reason: Understanding different perspectives in 'The Outsiders' enhances the analysis of Ponyboy's character development and themes.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Character Mingle: Meet the Influencers

Transform the classroom into a 'meet-and-greet' event where students assume the roles of different characters from 'The Outsiders'. Each student receives a mystery card with character traits and must interact with others to understand each character's influence on Ponyboy, sparking curiosity about how these figures shape him.

Influence Map Challenge

Students create a dynamic influence map using strings and pins to visualize connections between Ponyboy and the other characters. This hands-on activity encourages them to explore multiple pathways of influence and interaction, challenging them to reassess any preconceived notions about character dynamics.

Social Media Profiles for 'The Outsiders'

Invite students to design a social media profile for Ponyboy and his friends, capturing how interactions and influences affect their personas. This modern twist allows students to connect through their experiences with social media, blending contemporary interests with classic literature.

Time Traveler's Diary

Students receive excerpts of Ponyboy’s diary set in different timelines, describing his feelings influenced by various characters. By piecing the diaries together, they navigate through different stages of his development, prompting them to question how each character plays a role in shaping him.

Empathy Walk: In Ponyboy's Shoes

Create an immersive experience where students walk through scenarios that replicate key events in Ponyboy's journey. Each station presents dilemmas or interactions with different characters, compelling students to make decisions based on Ponyboy's perspective and analyze the influence each character has on him.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Character Influence Explorer

In this activity, students will delve into the dynamics of character interactions in 'The Outsiders'. They will critically analyze how different characters affect Ponyboy's decisions and personality growth.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Re-read key chapters where Ponyboy interacts with other main characters.
2. Take notes on key passages where characters influence his thoughts or actions.
3. Discuss in small groups the various character influences on Ponyboy.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAnnotated notes and group discussion summary.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers RL.7.3 by analyzing character interactions and their impact.
Activity 2

Theme Illustrator

Students will identify and illustrate major themes within 'The Outsiders', focusing on how character interactions help develop these themes over the course of the story.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Identify major themes in the book such as social class conflict, identity, and friendship.
2. Select passages that illustrate the development of these themes through character interactions.
3. Create visual representations (e.g., sketches, diagrams) of how these themes evolve.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA visual theme map illustrating the evolution of key themes through character interactions.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with RL.7.2 by focusing on theme development through interaction.
Activity 3

Interactive Summary Showcase

Students will synthesize their understanding of 'The Outsiders' by creating interactive presentations. They will summarize character influences and thematic elements, integrating quotes and visual aids to support their analysis.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Compile key quotes and notes from previous activities.
2. Design a multimedia presentation using tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides.
3. Include visual aids and thematic analysis within the presentation.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn interactive multimedia presentation summarizing character influences and themes.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses RL.7.2 and RL.7.3 by integrating summaries with character and theme analysis.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Character and Theme Analysis Rubric

Category 1

Analysis of Character Influence

Evaluation of student's ability to analyze how characters influence Ponyboy in 'The Outsiders'.
Criterion 1

Insight into Character Dynamics

Measures how well the student understands and explains the interactions between Ponyboy and other characters.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides deep insights into character dynamics, showing a nuanced understanding of how interactions shape Ponyboy's development.

Proficient
3 Points

Offers clear analysis of character interactions, showing how they influence Ponyboy's development.

Developing
2 Points

Demonstrates a basic understanding of character dynamics, with some connections to Ponyboy's development.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify character influences or provide clear connections to Ponyboy's development.

Criterion 2

Use of Textual Evidence

Assesses student's ability to support analysis with appropriate textual evidence.

Exemplary
4 Points

Effectively incorporates a wide range of well-chosen textual evidence to support analysis.

Proficient
3 Points

Incorporates relevant textual evidence to support analysis adequately.

Developing
2 Points

Uses some textual evidence, but it may be minimally relevant or insufficient to support analysis.

Beginning
1 Points

Little to no relevant textual evidence used, or evidence is not effectively linked to analysis.

Category 2

Theme Development through Interactions

Assessment of student's ability to analyze how themes develop through character interactions in 'The Outsiders'.
Criterion 1

Identification and Illustration of Themes

Measures ability to identify significant themes and illustrate their evolution through interactions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Identifies themes with precision and illustrates their complex development through character interactions.

Proficient
3 Points

Successfully identifies key themes and illustrates their development through character interactions.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some themes but may illustrate their development in a limited or unclear manner.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify themes or illustrate their evolution through interactions.

Criterion 2

Use of Visual Representations

Evaluates student's effectiveness in using visual aids to represent thematic connections.

Exemplary
4 Points

Creates intricate and meaningful visual representations that enhance understanding of thematic connections.

Proficient
3 Points

Develops clear and effective visual aids that support thematic analysis.

Developing
2 Points

Creates basic visual representations that offer limited support to thematic connections.

Beginning
1 Points

Visual aids are poorly constructed or fail to connect to thematic analysis.

Category 3

Synthesis and Presentation Skills

Evaluation of student's ability to synthesize information and effectively present their analysis.
Criterion 1

Clarity and Organization of Presentation

Measures how clearly and logically student presents their analysis and summaries.

Exemplary
4 Points

Excellently organized presentation with a clear, logical structure that enhances audience understanding.

Proficient
3 Points

Organized and clear presentation that adequately conveys analysis to the audience.

Developing
2 Points

Presentation lacks some clarity or organization, which weakens audience understanding.

Beginning
1 Points

Presentation is disorganized or unclear, significantly impeding audience understanding.

Criterion 2

Integration of Multimedia Elements

Assesses the effective integration of multimedia tools to enhance presentation.

Exemplary
4 Points

Innovatively integrates multimedia elements, markedly enhancing the quality and engagement of the presentation.

Proficient
3 Points

Effectively integrates multimedia tools that complement and enhance the presentation.

Developing
2 Points

Uses multimedia elements but they are somewhat basic or do not enhance the presentation significantly.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal or ineffective use of multimedia elements, leaving potential untapped.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on how interacting with the other students assuming different characters from 'The Outsiders' in the Character Mingle event influenced your understanding of Ponyboy's development in the book.

Text
Required
Question 2

How effective do you think the Influence Map Challenge was in helping you visualize character connections and influences in 'The Outsiders'?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Which activity did you find most engaging and why: Social Media Profiles, Time Traveler's Diary, or Empathy Walk?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Social Media Profiles
Time Traveler's Diary
Empathy Walk
Question 4

In what ways has exploring character interactions and themes in 'The Outsiders' changed your perspective on relationships and personal growth in real life?

Text
Optional
Question 5

After completing the Interactive Summary Showcase, how confident are you in your ability to analyze character interactions and themes in a literary text?

Scale
Required