Novel Study: The Outsiders: Pre-Reading Activity

Before reading S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, use this pre-reading activity to get readers thinking about one of the major themes in the novel: stereotypes. A stereotype is a fixed idea that people have about a group that is often untrue or only partly true. Geared toward seventh- and eighth-grade learners, this activity begins with a brief introduction to the greasers and the Socs, as well as the role stereotypes play in the story. Students are then asked to consider some common stereotypes in our society and reflect on their own experiences with stereotypes. Ideally, this pre-reading activity should be used in conjunction with the novel to help guide meaningful discussions with students and build a respectful classroom community. For more resources related to The Outsiders, check out the full set of novel study worksheets.