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8th Grade Summer Reading

8th Grade Summer Reading Project

📚 Reading & Film Comparison Project: The Outsiders

📖 Objective:

Students will read The Outsiders novel and watch the 1983 film adaptation. They will analyze similarities and differences between the two versions, explore how the characters and themes are portrayed, and develop their own insights through comparison.

✅ Project Requirements:

1. Read the Novel

  • Complete the full text of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
  • Take notes on:
    • Main characters
    • Major themes (e.g. identity, class conflict, family, loyalty)
    • Important plot points
    • Emotional tone and narrator’s perspective

2. Watch the Movie

  • View the 1983 movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
  • Take notes on:
    • Casting choices and performances
    • Scene inclusion or exclusion
    • Visual tone and setting
    • Differences in dialogue or events

📝 Final Project: Comparative Analysis

✍️ Part 1: Written Essay (2–3 pages)

Answer the following in paragraph form:

  • Introduction: Brief summary of the story and what it’s about.
  • Characters: How are key characters (Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, etc.) portrayed differently in the book vs. the movie?
  • Plot Differences: What scenes were changed, added, or removed in the movie? How did that affect the story?
  • Themes: Are the same themes communicated in both versions? Which version did a better job and why?
  • Personal Opinion: Which version did you prefer and why?

🎨 Part 2: Creative Option (Choose ONE)

  • Storyboard: Choose a scene that was left out or changed and draw a 6-panel storyboard of how you would have filmed it.
  • Movie Poster Redesign: Create a new movie poster based on your interpretation of the book.
  • Video Review: Record a 2–3 minute “movie/book review” as if you're a critic on YouTube.

📅 Timeline:

  • Week 1–2: Read the novel
  • Week 3: Watch the movie
  • Week 4: Draft and complete final project
  • Due Date: August 31, 2025

📊 Grading Rubric (Total: 100 Points)

  • Essay content and analysis – 40 points
  • Organization and grammar – 15 points
  • Creative option effort and originality – 20 points
  • Comparison depth (critical thinking) – 15 points
  • On-time submission – 10 points