The Outsiders Socratic Seminar Questions



Socratic Seminar Questions for The Outsiders

Directions: Answer a minimum of 10 questions. Use details from the text complete with page numbers to support your answers. Add commentary and “What difference does it make” to your answers. You may need to cite from more than one place in the text to support your answer. Number your questions and use white space for organization. That means…skip lines! Points will be deducted from your overall grade if you do not follow these directions.

Sample:

#4 O: Here is where you will write your opinion. You can always expand on this verbally during Socratic seminar.

TE: Pg. 46 “She put her…” & “in the classroom.”

C: Here is where you will write your commentary. You can always expand on this verbally during Socratic seminar.

1. Would the story have the same impact if it took place somewhere else – especially in a large city such as New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago? Explain your answer.

2. Many readers don’t like the ending of the story – specifically that Johnny and Dally both die. Others argue that the book had to end that way in order to tell an effective story. Do you think the book would be as good if Johnny and Dally lived? Explain your answer.

3. This novel is a “coming of age” novel. This term means that in the course of the novel, a character moves from immaturity to maturity. How does The Outsiders fit this description?

4. Randy tells Ponyboy that Bob acted the way he did because his parents didn’t set limits on him – they never told him “no.”

a. Do you think this is a believable explanation for Bob’s behavior? Why or why not?

b. Do you think that parents need to set limits on their teenage kids, or is Bob’s behavior just an extreme - or unrealistic - example of what can happen?

5. Sometimes when a novel ends, we are sorry because we wish to spend more time with the characters which we’ve come to know so well. In a sequel to this novel, tell what you think happens to Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry in the next ten years of their lives.

6. This book is often on the list of “Most Banned Books,” which means that people try to get it removed from school reading lists. Critics cite reasons such as violence, alcohol and tobacco use. Write a rationale that explains why the book should or should not be required reading for eighth-grade students.

7. Why is the title The Outsiders?

8) Compare and contrast Pony Boy and Sodapop.

9) Johnny said: "Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold."  Did Johnny live by his own words? If so, how? If not, why not?

10) Which character do you believe least fits the stereotype of a greaser? Why?

11) Suppose the story had been written from Dally's point of view. How would that have changed our perception of the events?

12) Do you think people's willingness to stereotype will ever be overcome? Explain why or why not?

13) What is the climax of the story? Justify your answer.

14) Is Bob and inherently bad character? Or is he corrupted by the influences of others?

15) Is The Outsiders a realistic story? Why or why not?

16) Ponyboy changes throughout the novel, but how does Johnny change from the beginning to the end?

17) What was Darry’s purpose as a character in The Outsiders?

18) How do stereotypes affect Americans today?

19) How can people stereotype against a group of people without even realizing it? And what ways are the greasers themselves also stereotyping?

20) What do you believe is the main theme in the outsiders? Justify your answer.

21) What does it mean to be an outsider?

22) Was Johnny justified in killing Bob? Why or why not?

23) Ponyboy says, “I lie to myself all the time.” What do you think he means by this? And why do you think he does it? Do you ever lie to yourself? Why?

24) Johnny leaves Ponyboy a copy of Gone with the Wind. Why is this significant? How does it illustrate their friendship?

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