What are 20 important events in the Outsiders? (Timeline of Events)

The general plot points in the novel are:

1. On the way home from a movie, Ponyboy gets attacked by a group of Socs.

2. He gets rescused by other Greasers: Darry, Johnny, Two-Bit, Soda, and Steve.

3. At the drive-in, Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally meet two Soc girls, Cherry and Marcia.

4. After talking with Cherry, Ponyboy realizes not all Socs are bad.

5. Ponyboy gets home late. Darry loses his temper and hits him; Ponyboy runs away.

6. Cherry's boyfriend Bob and some other Socs try to drown Ponyboy in the fountain. Johnny accidentally kills Bob.

7. Dally gives Ponyboy and Johnny money, a gun, and a change of clothes.

8. Ponyboy and Johnny hop a train and then hide in an abandoned church in the woods.

9. Ponyboy recites "Nothing Gold Can Stay" and reads Gone with the Wind to Johnny, who loves both works.

10. Dally arrives. Johnny decides to turn himself in.

11. Dally, Johnny, and Ponyboy save several children from the church when it starts on fire. All are hurt, but Johnny is severely injured.

12. They go back to their city; Johnny is hospitalized.

13. Two-Bit announces that Johnny will be charged with manslaughter.

14. Socs and Greasers decide to have one huge fight to settle their differences once and for all.

15. The Greasers win the fight.

16. Dally and Ponyboy see Johnny in the hospital; Johnny dies.

17. Dally can't deal with Johnny's death, so he robs a store and commits 'suicide by cop,' in which he forces the police to shoot him.

18. Ponyboy goes back to school, but his grades plummet and he has trouble eating and sleeping.

19. Ponyboy opens the copy of Gone With the Wind and finds a note from Johnny. Johnny says that he will 'die proudly' and that Ponyboy should 'stay gold,' following his dreams and being true to himself.

20. Ponyboy writes his Language Arts theme paper on the events that happened to him. The reader realizes the novel is actually his essay.