The document discusses how S.E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders explores the causes and effects of the decisions made by its characters, as all stories are ultimately about the questions characters ask themselves and the consequences of their choices. It notes that while there are other themes in the novel, the entire plot is connected by the causes and effects that stem from the decisions of the characters. The analysis suggests examining how the causes and effects in the characters' decisions drive the development of the story.