Journal Entry--Final Thoughts

Is murder always related to one’s sanity? Is there such a thing as an accident when murder is the result?

Killing Mr. Griffin--Final Thoughts

1. What does Mr. Griffin’s ring symbolize?
2. Why and how can Mark be considered a psychopath? (Look up definitions if you need to)

Journal Entry

How realistic is the author’s depiction of the students’ anger and frustration regarding tough grades? Is it just low grades that cause problems?

Killing Mr. Griffin-- Chapter 19

1. How does Ophelia’s song sum up the story? Analyze it closely.
2. Discuss the disparity (the difference) between what Mr. Griffin writes on Susan’s paper and the insecurity and fear she felt around Mr. Griffin himself when he was alive.

Journal Entry

Compare and contrast (two different questions) the student’s relationships with their parents. How are these relationships crucial to the stories outcomes?

Killing Mr. Griffin--Chapter 17-18

1. Why was Susan alone in the house?
2. What did Susan find out when she called David’s house?
3. Why does Susan think Mark killed David’s grandmother?

Journal Entry

Patterns—are they repeated? Are these characters trapped by their past? Are they all destined to repeat previous errors made by their parents? Or is there something else being suggested? Be specific and detailed and not superficial in your response. How can the pasts of the average American come back to “haunt” them or trap them into a way of life? Give examples.

Killing Mr. Griffin--Chapter 15-16

1. Should Susan go to the funeral? Why or why not?
2. What lies has Mark told the Garrett family about his aunt and uncle?
3. What doesn’t Jeff’s mom like about Mark?
4. What is ironic about the following statement made by Jeff’s dad, “It makes you wonder where the parents are while all that’s going on?”

Journal Entry

Lies—cheating is this way of life for young adults? Why do you think American culture has become so used to lies and untruthful behaviors?

1.. Who does the group think has all the answer? Why? What qualities make him the "go to" person?
2.. When Mark hears the news, why is he concerned about Sue?
3.. In what ways does Mark use Betsy?
4. What was ironic about David’s grandmother’s description of “going to sleep like Snow White?”

Chapters Five--Eight

1. Why did Betsy participate in the kidnapping plan? (It was more than her not liking him)
2. Who did Mr. Griffin remind David of? Why?
3. What did Betsy want to see Mr. Griffin do when he was tied up? What did Mark want to see him do?
4. Predict what will happen next...How will events unfold from here?

Plot Review: Fill in the blanks
After a tough but successful kidnapping, they leave their teacher (where) __________________. Two kids, ___________________ and ________________________ are having second thoughts. In fact, they decide to go back and release him by themselves. When they arrive, they find out it’s too late—he’s ______________________.

Killing Mr. Griffin--Journal Entry

What motivates people to murder? Is murder ever justifiable? Why or why not and when? What should society do to help bring down the murder rate? How should society educate and mediate murderers in society to prevent and reduce murders?

Killing Mr. Griffin--Chapter Three and Four

1. Explain the reasoning for choosing Susan as a decoy: (You must first know what a decoy is!)

2. The term sadistic means taking pleasure in another’s pain. To whom would the word apply? Why?

3. Explain (with specific details) the role of each high school character’s role in the kidnapping plot: Mark, Jeff, Betsy, Dave, and Susan

4. Explain why each person goes along with the “crime:” Mark, Jeff, Betsy, Dave, and Susan

Killing Mr. Griffin--Chapter Two

1. Describe Mark and Jeff's relationship? Use details from the text to support your answer.
2. Evaluate Mark's plan. Do you think it will work? Why or Why Not? Use evidence from the story to support your thoughts.
3. What makes Susan a good decoy according to Mark?

Killing Mr. Griffin--Chapter One

1. What makes a good teacher? What makes a bad teacher?
2. How did the author intend to portray Mr. Griffin?

Chapter 7 & 8

1. What condition is Johnny in after the fire?
2. What is a juvenile delinquent (p. 107)? Find a definition on the internet, in a dictionary, or create your own based on your own knowledge.
3. Why would Two-Bit think Johnny, Dally, and Pony were heroes all along; before they saved the kids?
4. What was Bob's 'real' problem, according to Randy (p.116)?
5. How does what the doctor first says, on page 119, foreshadow Johnny's condition?
6. "We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang. And for the same reason" (p.121). What do you think Pony means, and what is the reason?

Chapters Two and Three

Respond to the following questions:
1. Why doesn't Ponyboy like referring to Soda as a dropout?
2. What literary devise is used to describe Johnny's mugging in chapter 2?
3. Through Cherry, the reader gains better insight into the Soc lifestyle and mentality. Having learned this, what is the difference between a Soc and a Greaser?
4. What does Ponyboy mean on page 39 when he says, "Johnny and I understood each other without saying anything"? Have you ever had a relationship with someone who you understood, or who understood you, without having to say anything?
5. Why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him? What does this suggest about his feelings toward Pony?

Chapter One

1. Describe each of the characters and their relationship with one another.
2. Who are the socs? Who are the greasers?
3. How do Ponyboy's relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ? Explain.
4. Why is the 'gang' important to Johnny?
5. How does Ponyboy react to what Sodapop tells him about Darry?
6. Do you think Darry loves Ponyboy? Why does he treat Ponyboy the way he does?
7. What does Ponyboy mean on page 8 when he says, "I lie to myself all the time"? Do you ever lie to yourself? Why?

S.E. Hinton

Research information about the author of The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton. Blog about the interesting information you discover.

The 50s

Research the 1950 for the following topics: clothing, cars, Greasers, Socs, music, vocabulary, and famous people of the time.

Blog about what you discovered of this time period.

Outside Novel Selections

1. Select a novel with the same theme as The Outsiders
2. Write a blog that explains why you selected your novel and what predictions you have about your novel.

Welcome!!!

Welcome to our Novel Study blog!!! This blog will serve as a discussion board for activities and readings we complete in class. You will be responsible for posting a response at least once a week. In addition, you will be responsible for responding to your peer's posts. This will be a weekly grade in my class. Please respect the following blog etiquette:
As always....use complete sentences!!!
Do not use all caps--on the internet it means you're shouting
Do not copy/plagiarize someone else's ideas
While you can disagree with someone's opinion, you must be respectful to others
Always remember...Everything you write is for the world to see
Failure to follow the above etiquette will cause your posting to be removed and will therefore affect your grade.
I'm very excited and looking forward to reading your posts!