Outsiders+Katie+S

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__Outsiders__ Week one, response #1 In a well written paragraph, tell me which character from the Outsiders you would like to be your friend. Use the BOOK with page numbers and paragraph numbers If I could have a friend in Outsiders I would chose, Cherry. I chose Cherry because she is a cheerleader, and (page 23, Paragraph 1) and she seems like a very nice friend. Cherry is very fair and does a great job at explaining things, like when she talked to Ponyboy; she told him that it doesn’t matter what group you are in you still can be friends. This is teaching all of us a great lesson, that it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, or what kind of clothes you wear, or who you hang out with, anyone should be able to be friends with anyone. (Page 38, paragraph 1-4) Cherry would be a great friend to have, too bad she isn’t real. But I have friends that are just like Cherry and even though Cherry isn’t my friend she sure would be if she were alive and real. I agree! She would be a great choice for a friend. ~Mrs. Best

Week 1 response #2 We all know that the fifth commandment is: Thou shall not kill. With that in mind, tell me what you would be feeling AND what you would do now if you were Johnny at the end of Chapter 4.

In the forth chapter, there is a death, Johnny killed one of the Socs. We all know that you shall not kill. I think that Johnny did and did not do the correct thing. He did do the correct thing because he did save Ponyboy. Johnny also did not do the correct thing. Johnny did the wrong thing by killing a Soc. Johnny did not have to kill a Soc. We know that they are enemies but he could have asked him to stop or hit him so Ponyboy wouldn't die. If I was Johnny and I had just killed someone, I would feel horrible. I would turn my self in, it would be so hard to live with that feeling on your heart that you killed someone. Even if the person I had just killed was a enemy. I would go and pray to God so he could forgive me. I do know that it very wrong to kill others, but Johnny was protecting his friend/self-defence. We should all fallow the fifth commandment, unless you might die if you don't kill someone/self-defence. I also would turn myself in. How can you hide forever? Do you really think they would have stopped drowning Pony if Johnny had just asked nicely? These are the same boys who beat Johnny senseless just awhile before? I don't think they would have listened. ~Mrs. Best Dear Katie, Although you bring up a great point, I would have to disagree with you on some points. As we have recently learned in religion, killing someone in self-defense is all right. I also feel as if Johnny would have politely asked them to stop, they would not have listened to him. Also, if he were to hit them, it would start a fight, and it would not be fair because Johnny was outnumbered. Although, I do agree with you that it was definitely mellow-dramatic, and he could have done something else. Of course, he was fearful of them, which may have stopped him from thinking straight. Overall, your paragraph was very thorough and thought-provoking. Great job! Sincerely, Maddie

A. On Pg. 92 it says: Johnny wasn't behaving at all like his old self...That was the first time I saw him without that defeated suspicious look. Explain what the author is inferring. Week 2 Response #1  On page 92 I thought that what book said about Johnny was a little suspicious. I think that the author is saying that something bad is going to happen to Johnny. Later in the book after Ponyboy got out of the hospital he kept say that he didn't feel very well. I think the author is trying to tell us that something bad is going to happen to Ponyboy and Johnny. Even though Johnny wasn't acting like his old self... the first thing that came to mind when I read that was. That something bad was going to happen to Johnny or maybe that Johnny was going to change how he acted. Johnny might change how he acts by maybe acting nicer, not stealing things, or maybe even stop being the mean greaser he usually is. No matter what it is, I think that S.E. Hinton is trying to tell us something, that shows that she is wanting us to predict what is going to happen next. Yes, something is going to happen. But I think she means that finally Johnny has a purpose. There is something he is capable of doing. That must make him feel good... don't you think? ~Mrs. Best  Dear Katie, I think you are right about the fact that the author is trying to make us predict what is going to happen next. I agree and think that something bad is going to happen to either Johnny or Ponyboy, or maybe even both. When you said that you think Johnny might change the way he acts or stop being the mean greaser he is, I didn't agree with you. I think Johnny was never really a mean Greaser. I think the rest of his gang thinks of him kind of like a pet like the book said. Ponyboy said that Johnny was never mean and that he was a really nice and kind person. But other than that I think you summed it up very well. Thanks! McKenzie

Week 2 Response #2  A. When we get to know people better, we usually like them more. If that's true, what could we do if we really don't like someone?

Think back to kindergarten, on the first day we did not know many people. But as you grow older and become friends with them, you get to know them more, and you have them as a friend. If we don't really like someone, we should get to know them. Your could get to know them by having them over to your house, play the same sport, or be on the same team. With those that we don't really like we probably don't know them very well. A solution to this problem is to get to know them more. In our life we are going to be meeting new people a lot so we all should have an open mind and get to know them more, so we can like them more.

 Very thoughtful, Katie! ~Mrs. Best