comparing and/or contrasting two characters from the novel, The Outsiders Assignments | Essay Help Services

Write a four-page essay comparing and/or contrasting two characters from the novel, The Outsiders. You must use passages from the novel in each paragraph where the characters show the qualities you are discussing. Make sure the purpose of your essay is made clear in your thesis—whether you are contrasting or comparing or both comparing and contrasting—but do not announce. Use MLA style in your use of passages. Follow the one-side-at-a-time (subject by subject) structure I’ve shared with you in the module set up for this assignment on our Canvas page. You must include a works cited list at the end of your paper.

Characters to consider discussing:

Ponyboy
Johnny
Dally
Darry
Sodapop
Steve
Two-bit
Cherry
Randy
Bob
Qualities to consider when comparing and contrasting two characters

Book smart
Street smart
Respectful
Rude
Violent
Non-violent
Serious
Brave
Coward
Serious
Fun-loving or wise cracking
Afraid
Aggressive
Able to change
Unable to change
Hardened
Innocent “golden”
More strict way of showing love
More compassionate way of showing love
The above are just ideas—you can come up with other comparing or contrasting points on your own.

For the introduction:

Begin your introduction by referencing the novel and discuss how books explore human qualities by showing comparative and contrasting qualities in characters. Then build into identifying the two characters who will be the focus of your essay an get to your thesis. See the handout for sample theses for your essay.

Also, see the handouts for a sample body paragraphs and how to build your essay.

Toward the end of the essay, right before the conclusion, discuss in your opinion what was the author’s point in having two such contrasting or comparable characters. What is the reader supposed to learn from these characters? Incorporate a secondary source, a scholarly source who wrote about The Outsiders, to support your point. Search in ProQuest or EBSCOhost for the articles or essays on the novel and its characters.