In Chapter 12 Ponyboy’s English Professor offers him an opportunity to raise his grade from an F to a C (remember before this Ponyboy was an A student for English). For this Ponyboy is asked to write a 5 page (minimum) essay on the theme of the year, this prompt was left open to interpretation and our author gives us some hints and suggestions as to what Ponyboy chose his theme to be. Pretend that you are Ponyboy and write the essay that you believe he submitted to his teacher. Reread through Chapter 12 as the directions the Professor gives Ponyboy are vague. Be creative with this! Put yourself in the character’s place and dive deep!

Read the passage. the dust bowl during the 1930s, extreme drought and high winds made life incredibly difficult in the great plains region of the united states. in many areas, rainfall was forty percent less than normal. the soil became extremely dry, and when strong winds blew, they created tremendous dust storms. these so-called “black blizzards” were so thick that they made daylight seem like dusk. during this terrible period, the great plains region of the united states was named the “dust bowl.” over the next few years, the drought continued, and the winds created more dust storms. in some places, the drought and high winds lasted for eight years. many people wondered if the black blizzards would ever end. which statement about this paragraph’s main idea is true? this paragraph’s main idea is stated in the topic sentence. there are not enough details to support the main idea. this paragraph’s main idea is implied. this paragraph does not express a main idea.