STEP 1
After you have been paired up, review the following online resources to help you thoroughly understand what prejudice is. You will submit a definition of the word 'prejudice' to your teacher before you move to step 2.
Resources:
STEP 2
Create a diagram of some kind (Inspiration web, character map, etc.) depicting the types of prejudice the characters from The Outsiders face. Be sure to include many characters from the novel and be specific when discussing the type of prejudice endured and the context of the situation when the prejudice occurs.
character---type of prejudice---example from the book
STEP 3
Now that you have applied your knowledge of prejudice and its types, use that knowledge to write an editorial to your school newspaper discussing a real-life example of prejudice you have observed in your school or community. Your goals are to persuade your readers that this specific prejudice is a problem and offer a realistic solution. You need to refer to the examples in the novel (what you observed while "on assignment") to effectively express and support your opinion.
Your editorial needs to include:
- a persuasive, attention-getting title
- a definition of prejudice
- at least 3 references to The Outsiders
- an explanation of a current example of prejudice
- a reasonable, persuasive solution
Check out some examples of editorial writing from The Joplin Globe:
Editorial Examples
Editorials will be published in a community newspaper and distributed.
STEP 4 (Extension): Classes will exchange their publications with other classes, and each class will analyze the editorials and collectively choose the one editorial that provides the most viable solution for intolerance. The students could then develop a detailed plan to implement the chosen solution using media of their choosing.