OUTSIDERS

ANTICIPATION GUIDE

Micah Edwards, MS
 The Outsiders Anticipation Guide
As we begin reading the novel “The Outsiders” you will be challenged to think about relationships, stereotypes, fitting
in, and a host of other social things that guide interaction both in the book and in our day-to-day lives. The
anticipation guide is designed to stimulate interest in the book, enable students to make predictions about things that
will happen in the text and connect new information to previously learned information, so that as the class reads
together, interest in the book and the characters grows.1 We will work on this anticipation guide over several days,
leading up to starting the novel.

Part 1: Below is a series of statements. Fill in the circle of the response that most
closely indicates how you feel.

1. People judge you by the clothes you wear.

2. Street credibility is better than education

credibility.
3. Smart people look a certain way.

4. Teens have the same issues.

5. People judge you before they meet you.

6. Everyone wants to be treated the same

7. Most people hang out with people that are

similar.
8. If you are different the world treats you different
and is slow to accept you.
9. Friends value loyalty.

10. At some point everybody is an outsider.

1
Reading Rocket. (2019). Anticipation Guide. Retrieved from: https://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/anticipation_guide

OUTSIDERS | ANTICIPATION GUIDE 1

 Choose five of the statements from Part 1 and explain your answer in complete
Part 2: sentences. Use personal examples when appropriate. Write 4 sentences for each
statement.

STATEMENT 1

STATEMENT 2

STATEMENT 3

STATEMENT 4

STATEMENT 5

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 This part of the guide will be completed in groups of four (4) and is in two parts.
Part 3: Part 3A (individual work): Before we start reading write yes if you agree with the
statement or no if you disagree, in the before reading column.
Part 3B: (group work): Discuss your answers in your small group. Take notes
during the discussion so that you can complete part 4.

Yes = I agree
No = I disagree

Before Statement After

Reading Reading*
1. Gangs are like family.
2. It’s easy to stand up for what is
right even if others don’t.
3. Fighting solves problems even
though it may not be ethical.
4. Fitting in is more important than
being yourself.
5. Bullying, harassment and
teasing are just a rite of
passage.
6. People who do something
wrong don’t get a second
chance.
7. In school someone always gets
left out.
8. Teenagers should be able to
tell their personal stories.

* Keep your Anticipation Guide as we will complete the after reading portion as a part of our
summative exercises.

Part 4: Reflection. Answer two of the following questions based on the group discussion.
Minimum of 5 sentences for each answer.

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 Individual Reflection:
1. What did you group talk about the most (pick from the statements above).
2. Write about the group discussion (who agreed, disagreed, what did you say).
3. What resonated with you the most and why?
4. Was your group respectful? Was it ok to disagree? Did you feel like you were an
accepted part of the discussion? Explain and provide examples.

REFLECTION 1

REFLECTION 2

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