iAdventure

GUIDE 2: Greaser or Soc

Welcome to the Wiedenmann Harold, Oklahoma City’s newspaper extraordinaire! It’s your first day on the job; Lou, your editor and boss, has called you into his office. On the corner of his desk is a tiny article cut out of some small town outfit. The headline reads: Local boy killed in rumble: Bob Sheldon, heroic American teen, killed ruthlessly by Greasers. Lou pounds his desk and says, “I want you to get to the bottom of this! How fast can you be packed?” Your eyes have nearly bulged out of your head, you were expecting to start in the obits or advice column, and you say, “Well, Sir, I haven’t exactly unpacked yet.” “Good, very good answer,” mumbles Lou as he walks around the corner of his desk. He’s rather a large man with coffee dribbled down his blue striped tie, which is a little too short for his ballooning belly. He’s a bit unkempt as well, tufts of hair sticking up, one shirt tail out, top button undone, and his pants look like he slept in them. “I’ll make all the housing arrangements. The article called these kids Greasers and Socs, like we’re supposed to know who they are. No information at all…” He rubs his hands together and places one of his stubby swollen hands on your shoulder and breathes a heavy sigh, “Would you prefer to case out a Greaser or a Soc?” “Sir, I think I better find out a little history before I go jumping in. I don’t want to waste valuable time shunned by these kids because I wasn’t prepared. I’ll need to check out both sides of the tracks if you know what I mean, Sir, and what kind of car should I show up with? I have my grandmother’s ’62 Comet right now.” “Well, Smith, I see why you’re at the top of your class. Yes, yes, do the research and let me know. I’ll start making some phone calls for accommodations. You know I have some friends down that way. You’ve got two days to pick a side; you know this is your big chance, right?” “Sir, I’ll give you my best.” “Very well, on your way then.” You shut the door gently and walk with purpose to your cubicle, picking up the phone to call the reporter from the article on Lou’s desk. He’ll probably be as good a place as any to get started.

Although your editor has assured you that he doesn’t care which gang you go undercover with, you want to make the best choice. The newspaper clip that your editor gave you did not cover who started the fight, or even how the teen was killed. You only know the boy’s name, Bob Sheldon, heroic American teen. In order to find out how he died and who killed him, you will have to go under cover as either a Greaser or a Soc. Research the culture of each gang. Choose the group that you will be able to blend in with the most. Remember, both gangs are a little on the clique-ish side. If you choose Greaser, be prepared to “grease up” and walk, and if you’re a Soc, you better have a hip new car (figuratively speaking of course.). Don't forget to fill out GUIDE 2.
•Gang Life	Romeo and Juliet The Hatfields and McCoys Hidden Bias: A Primer PBS: School Violence: Answers from the Inside (video clips) Gangs: Keep Out
•Social Stratification	PBS: People Like Us (Which social class are your tastes associated with? Make sure to play the social class game, read about the background, and watch video clips.) PBS: People Like Us (Essays on social class) Train Jumpin' The New Oil Barons Rima Social Classes (At the bottom of the page more information is provided; try clicking on the occupational scale for how people are sometimes grouped.)
Now that you understand what is at the heart of the division of the Greasers and Socs, it's time to make your decision. Will you try to find out who killed Bob Sheldon as a Greaser? Or as a Soc? Click on your choice below.

Communication Arts Class
Where you can find all the room 708 details for 7th Grade CA

If you have come here by mistake, click Home.