The Outsiders – What? So What? Now What?

Personal Response #2

Directions
Please complete the What? So what? Now what? chart below. It is the same format
as the first response you completed before Spring Break. Choose a quotation from
the 2nd half of the novel, the section you finished reading for homework this past week. Respond using full
sentences in the spaces provide below:

Category My Thinking
Direct Quotation Chapter Page #
What?

 Write ONE direct quotation – the

exact words from the novel – that you
think is important and interesting

 Refer to your “sticky noted” pages for

inspiration

 Include the chapter and page #

So What?

 Tell the story of your quotation

 Explain why is important to you.

o To do this, tell me why you think the
quotation should be cared about and
paid attention to.

2 things to consider here:

 DON’T retell the story! I’ve read the

novel - numerous times! - and don’t
need a refresher

 DO give plenty of detail explaining

why that direct quotation stood out
for you. Did it:
o Create a powerful image in your head?
o Provoke a strong emotion in your
heart?
o Paint a clear image in your mind?
o Make you ask a question?
o Create confusion?
o Make you say, “Oh, wow!”
o Lead you to make an inference?
o Provoke a connection to your life, a TV
show, a movie, or another experience
of some kind?
o Stand out for some other reason?

 The goal in this section is to show me

your thinking as you were reading the
novel in general and to explain what
you think about the quotation you’ve
written above in particular.
Now what?

 Tell me how your direct quotation

might connect to the future of the
plot and characters

 You’ve finished the book so make a

reasonable prediction about the
impact that the ideas in your direct
quotation might have for the lives of
the characters after the events of the
novel

 There are no incorrect answers in this

section, but the more powerful
answers will fit more consistently
with the plot, character, and other
ideas presented in the novel The
Outsiders.

Assessment
Here’s the rubric I’ll be using to assess this task:

Category 1 2 3 4 5

Detail  Includes few, if any, specific  Includes one or two specific  Includes several specific examples
examples to support ideas examples to support ideas to support ideas

Depth of Ideas related to:  Ideas related to:  Ideas related to:
Thought  Predictions  Predictions  Predictions
 Connections  Connections  Connections
 Reactions  Reactions  Reactions
 Questions  Questions  Questions
 Images  Images  Images
 Big Ideas  Big Ideas  Big Ideas
o Character change o Character change o Character change
o Powerful o Powerful language o Powerful language
language o Theme o Theme
o Theme  Other: ______________  Other: ______________
 Other: _____________
are explored with sound thinking and are explored with deep, “beyond the
are explored with limited depth of some depth obvious” thinking
thought; thinking may be clichéd,
obvious, or inaccurate