“The Outsiders,” Longmont Times, and Stereotypes in Informational Texts

In this lesson (one class period) students will investigate, as well as compare and contrast, how writers structure newspaper clippings in order to maintain stereotypes and manipulate story. The central primary document for this lesson is a photocopy of an actual newspaper from the Longmont Times written in 1932. For the purposes of this lesson, the other newspaper clipping will come from chapter 7 in The Outsiders. However, it is important to note that this second newspaper clipping can be easily substituted for any other newspaper clipping, real or imagined. The structure and format of this lesson will work just the same.

Students will produce re-written article titles as an exit-ticket for the assessment portion of this lesson.

This lesson was carefully constructed so it could fit within one class period. Teachers adapting this lesson should feel free to extend both the scope and assessment of this lesson to meet their students’ needs.

Final note: Students ought to have prior awareness of the word “stereotype” as well as a basic understanding of deportation.

In this lesson (one class period) students will investigate, as well as compare and contrast, how writers structure newspaper clippings in order to maintain stereotypes and manipulate story. The central primary document for this lesson is a photocopy of an actual newspaper from the Longmont Times written in 1932. For the purposes of this lesson, the other newspaper clipping will come from chapter 7 in The Outsiders. However, it is important to note that this second newspaper clipping can be easily substituted for any other newspaper clipping, real or imagined. The structure and format of this lesson will work just the same.

Download Lesson Plan: Word | PDF

Created By: Collin Currier, Casey Middle School