compare and contrast the outsiders and today's Youth Gangs

Whenever you are writing a comparison/contrast paper (paragraph, essay, research paper), you need to plan it out very carefully on paper first.

Try this:

1. Write all the information about one of your topics on one page.
2. Write all the information about the other topic on another page.
3. Then put them together in this order:

1. Intro
2. All about topic A
~~~2A. detail 1
~~~2B. detail 2
~~~2C. detail 3
~~~2D. detail 4
~~~2E. detail 5
3. All about topic B
~~~3A. detail 1
~~~3B. detail 2
~~~3C. detail 3
~~~3D. detail 4
~~~3E. detail 5
4. Concl.

The number of details for each topic will vary depending on your main points. I would include comparisons (how they are similar) in the introduction and conclusion, but sections 2 and 3 and all those details will be stating and explaining how they are different.

There are two recognized patterns for writing comparison/contrast papers. One is casually referred to as "zig-zag,” but can be very confusing for the reader if you don’t use transitions effectively. The other is topic-by-topic (which is what I've outlined above) and is much easier for the reader to follow.

See http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/comparcontrast.html for further help with comparison/contrast writing.

Once you have organized your information, please re-post if you’d like feedback from someone here.

To compare and contrast "The Outsiders" and today's youth gangs, you can begin by examining the key similarities and differences between the two.

Similarities:
1. Sense of Belonging: Both "The Outsiders" and modern youth gangs share a common theme of providing a sense of belonging for their members. In both cases, young individuals may join these groups to find identity and acceptance.

2. Social Factors: The social factors that contribute to the formation of gangs remain relevant in both contexts. Poverty, lack of opportunities, family dysfunction, and peer pressure can all contribute to individuals joining gangs, as depicted in "The Outsiders" and the reality of today's youth gang participation.

3. Deviant Behavior: Both "The Outsiders" and contemporary youth gangs involve engaging in deviant behavior. This can encompass activities such as violence, drug use/sales, theft, and other criminal acts.

Differences:
1. Time Period: "The Outsiders" is set in the 1960s, portraying gang culture at that time, while modern youth gangs reflect the current era. This time gap can lead to variations in gang dynamics, motivations, and social/political influences.

2. Organizational Structure: Modern youth gangs tend to be more hierarchical, organized, and sophisticated compared to the groups depicted in "The Outsiders." Today's gangs often have leaders, strict initiation processes, established territories, and a more defined criminal enterprise.

3. Technology and Globalization: The advent of technology and globalization has impacted modern youth gangs significantly. In "The Outsiders," communication and knowledge about gangs were limited primarily to local communities. Nowadays, with the internet and social media, gangs have the ability to expand their reach, recruit members, and engage in criminal activities on a larger scale.

To further analyze and provide a comprehensive comparison, you can explore primary and secondary sources, including scholarly articles, books, documentaries, and firsthand accounts from gang members, to understand the specific characteristics of both "The Outsiders" and contemporary youth gangs.