Let's Get ready to Rumble

Violence, gangs, Greasers, Socs, friendship, brotherhood. These are some of the issues dealt with in the novel, The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton. Ponyboy Curtis's life revolves around these concepts.  Ponyboy knows that Socs are rich, never get in trouble, and come with a major attitude.  A Greaser, on the other hand, needs to know who his real friends are, as they are the ones who will be watching his back in times of trouble.  Ponyboy's world is turned upside down when his friend, Johnny, saves his life by killing a Soc.  He learns that Greasers and Socs both feel pain and must learn to cope with it, and that despite the diffences on the outside, the Socs and Greasers have more in common than he thought.

The Task

There has been a murder.  A young boy is found dead in a local park, a victim of a stab wound.  No further information is known. Your job is to investigate this mystery, and produce a written report in good form.  Your report will be in a format suitable for your role.

Choose one of the following roles:

        A Detective:   

You are a detective for the defense. Put together the case portfolio. Go through the book and create a chart detailing the events and timeline. Describe the crime scene (setting, how many trees, light posts, etc.) and possible evidence found, such as blood samples for DNA testing, fingerprints, and the murder weapon, as well as where it was found. Fill in the blanks that the books doesn't cover. Draw a diagram of the crime scene including where the body was found.   

  A Newspaper Reporter:

You are a newspaper reporter covering the story. Write an unbiased, informative article for your local newspaper. Conduct interviews to gather information and then write your article using the five w's (who, what, when, where, why). You will interview both the Greasers and the Socs to get as much information as possible about the murder. Neither side is very willing to offer information. Compile a list of witnesses and what questions you would ask. Record their accounts of what happened that night. Be sure to submit your notes with the final copy of your article. Your list should include the following witnesses:

At least 2 Greasers

At least 2 Socs

Cherry

The family of the child Johnny saved from the fire

 The school counsellor

You are the school counsellor for Johnny. Find out about Johnny's background and family history, as well as the issues of the time which may affect his surroundings. Gather information about gangs and find out the dangers that Johnny will face while being in a gang. Why do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages of being in a gang? What are some of the effects of witnessing abuse and/or being abused. Write your evaluation of  Johnny after a "session" with him. Include your diagnoses and what types of programs you think he could enter to get some help (provided you think he needs help.)

The Process

Form home groups of three. Based on the role descriptions above, select the role you want to play, ensuring that there is one person for each role in your group.   As you read the book, keep notes about the information you feel will be important to include in your finished article/report.  If you come across any pertinent information for your other group members, be sure to pass it on to them.

Consult the recommended websites for your role description task.  These sites will help you gather the background information that you need to complete your task.  Take notes if necessary.

Participate in group discussions. Be prepared with your notes and share your findings and ideas.  Be ready to share, and learn from others so that you have all the information possible to do a complete and thorough report/article.

Meet with your home group members and share your findings with them.  You sometimes get a whole different perspective of the character or story when seen through the eyes of different "roles." You just may gain new insights.

Write a rough draft of your report/article.  On the assigned day, have your group members read and edit your draft, giving constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement.

Print a copy of the assessment rubric available on student public.  Fill out the self-assessment page.  Attach the rubric to your notes, rough draft and final good copy of your assignment.

Learning Advice 

If you choose to be a detective--write a report the way you think a detective's report would read. You will need to be factual and provide a conclusions as to your interpretation of the events of the night of the murder, and offer your explanations as to why you think your theories are correct. Include your interview notes, drawings and sketches.   

If you choose to be a newspaper reporter--write a newspaper article using the format found on the Web sites you checked out. Use columns, a catchy headline for you piece and use your byline. Imagine this is going to be printed in tomorrow's newspaper. Use the five W's (who, what, when, where and why) to help you write an intriguing article. You don't want to be putting incorrect information out to the public, so make sure that the information is as accurate as possible. If you quote anyone, be sure to use the proper punctuation.

If you choose to be a school counsellor--write a case report. Include details from your "session" with Johnny, (you might want to include things that you found most interesting and disturbing, if any) and your own personal interpretations. Write down what recommendations for treatment you have for Johnny. Be professional. Imagine that this information is going to be vital in treating Johnny, so don't be casual in your assumptions and diagnosis.

Resources   

Use the following links to research your task role.. You may check out other links as well if you are interested.

About gangs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang	The 1960's http://www.history.com/topics/1960s
newspaper report templates http://www.extranewspapers.com/newspaper-template-pack-word-school/	FBI for kids http://www.fbi.gov/fun-games/kids/kids
S.E Hinton's website http://www.sehinton.com/books/	A simple detective report format http://www.fbi.gov/fun-games/kids/kids
About detectives http://www.criminaljusticeschoolinfo.com/police-detective-job-description.html
school counsellors http://kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/people/school_counselors.html

Use the assessment task criteria sheet  to ensure that you complete all sections of the assignment. You will be assessed both on your individual assignment as well as your contributions in group sessions. Print a copy from:

Student Public - English - 9-3 The Outsiders - Let's Get Ready to Rumble - Let's Get Ready to Rumble Assessment Criteria

Don't forget to complete the self-assessment questions on the second side, then attach it to all notes, rough drafts and your final project

Having completed your assignment and seeing and hearing the work of others in the class, you have a broader understanding of the themes and issues in The Outsiders. Researching from different roles, gives you a different perspective of the characters and the events in the story. If you enjoyed this book, you may like some of the other titles that were written by S. E. Hinton. Check the library for some of these.