One of your goals is to define how these characters are outsiders. You may focu

One of your goals is to define how these characters are outsiders. You may focus on the similarities and/or differences between the characters, but the organizing feature of the paper will be connected to the outsider theme.
Some of the above characters have chosen to extricate themselves from society by their own free will while others have literally been cast out of society for various reasons. Some of the characters have been shunned by society based on their behavior. Your “outsider” definition needs to outline the specific reasons these characters are not able to function within the boundaries of society. You may wish to ask yourself the following questions to brainstorm for this topic: Why is the character so different from the other people in society? What has the character done, if anything, which makes him/her so unacceptable? What rule(s) has the character broken? What are the expected norms of society this character has violated? Does the character look different from other people? Does this character think differently from other people? Is this character’s gender a contributing factor to his/her becoming an outsider? Has the character broken the law? Does this character speak differently than other people? Is the character mentally unstable? Is the character a victim of discrimination? What cultural influences are at work in this character’s ostracism? Is the character torn between two cultures? Does the character have identity conflicts based on cultural background(s)? Does the character’s social class contribute to marginalization? What role does poverty play in the character’s position of isolation in society? Does the character have conflicts with authority figures and/or parents? Is the character an outsider in his or her own family? Is the character a misfit in his or her cultural group? *Be sure to narrow your definition of “outsider” as it applies to your chosen characters. Again, you may end up having two separate definitions of “outsider” depending on your character choices.
Another goal of the research paper is to incorporate outside sources into your paper to lend support/validity to your assumptions. Be sure to choose your topic first and then find sources to support your topic. In the event you need to switch stories based on the availability of research material this is okay. Indeed, it is normal for students to change their topics at least one time during the project.
Conclusion Suggestion — Once you complete your analysis of the characters and you have utilized outside materials to support your assertions, you may wish to end your paper by discussing why an understanding of the “outsider” theme is so essential in our
present day society. In other words, how does understanding the complexity of this topic lead us to a greater understanding of society? ourselves? other people? In other words, connect the outsider theme to
a potential solution or suggestion which might help to decrease this increasingly common problem of isolation in society.