|
 FLOWERS
FOR ALGERNON
By Daniel Keyes
(copyright 1959)
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Progress
Reports and Page Numbers |
Read By: |
Questions
turned in by: |
Quiz on
novel material and vocab. on: |
|
1-11
1-79 |
Jan8 |
Jan 9 |
Jan 9 |
|
12-14
79-149 |
Jan 16 |
Jan 17 |
Jan 17 |
|
15-17
149-216 |
Jan 22 |
Jan 23 |
Jan 24 final |
Reading and
Response Guide: This novel is written in the 1st person. It is in
the form of a diary kept by Charlie Gordon. The diary entries have
been grouped into sections called Progress Reports. Your reading
assignments will also be divided this way.
Answer each
question carefully ---most have several parts.
Part One
1. What is your
impression of Charlie? What can you learn about him from his written
language? What do you think he looks like?
2. Do you think
it is fair to perform such an operation on Charlie? To what extent do
you think he understands what will happen to him during the operation?
3. When
confronted with Gimpy's dishonesty, Charlie is faced with his first
moral dilemma. Explain whether you agree with Charlie's decision to
tell Mr. Donner about the situation.
4. Do you think
Charlie was better off before or after the operation? Explain your
answer.
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Part Two
5. Based on
Charlie's flashbacks, what kind of person do you think Norma has grown
up to become?
6. Compare
Guarino and Nemur in their treatment of Charlie. Which is the more
humane? Humane: sympathy or compassion
7. Why do you
think Charlie does not tell his father who he is? (Support with
information from the story)
8. In what ways
are Fay and Alice different? Why do you think Charlie is attracted to
Fay?
Part Three:
9. Do you think
Nemur's experiment was a success? Why or why not?
10. Why do you
think Charlie refused to accept Alice's help as his intelligence
declined?
11. Who do you
think is the happier person, the intelligent Charlie or the original
Charlie? Explain
12. Discuss
one of the major themes from Flowers for Algernon (Hint: Your answer
must use examples from the novel to support it.)
-
Finding true friendship
-
Trust
and trustworthiness
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Society's treatment of the mentally disabled
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Accepting who we are
-
Standing up for human rights
Vocabulary:
Instead of
Wordly Wise, you will be studying words from the novel. There is one
activity and a vocabulary quiz connected to each of the three
sets of progress reports.
Post Reading
Novel Projects:
Due Date for
Presentation: __________________________________
1. A writing
Project: Pretend that you are the subject of an experiment to improve
your musical, athletic or artistic ability. You have been asked to
keep a daily log of your thoughts. Using Charlie's progress reports
as a model, keep two weeks' worth of journal entries.
2. Convert a
selection from the novel into a short play or Readers Theatre. Assign
parts and perform the play live or videotape it to share with the
class.
3. Choose
several quotations from the novel that are meaningful to you. Combine
the quotations with illustrations in a Powerpoint or multimedia
presentation to share with the class.
4. Throughout
history, people who are mentally challenged have been segregated from
the rest of society. Research facilities for, and the treatment of,
people who were mentally challenged in the 18th and early 19th
centuries in Europe and the United States. Create a powerpoint or
multimedia presentation exploring this topic. You should also try to
connect your research to the information represented in the novel,
Flowers for Algernon.
5. Write an
editorial (500 word minimum) exploring your position on human
cloning or animal testing. Research both topics and defend your
position with at least three key supporting arguments. Be sure to
discuss opposing points of view in your essay.
Literary Skill
Development Activity
Choose one of
the four listed below after reviewing the requirements for each. This
is due on Friday, January 26.
1. Contrast
2. Symbol
3.
Characterization
4. Theme
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