Name and Date: ______

Flowers for Algernon

English 2H

AIMS:

·  How does Charlie’s character/identity change throughout the novel, and is he able to find peace with himself in the end?

·  Did Charlie make the right decision to get the surgery? Is he better or worse off in the end (or no different)?

YWBAT:

·  Analyze Charlie’s character change/ the impact his newfound knowledge of truth has on his identity and provide textual support for your analysis.

·  Prepare to argue that the scientific experiment conducted on Charlie was ethically legitimate OR that it was immoral, using the text/Charlie’s story to support your position.

Directions:

1)  Work in your GROUP of three or four (NO groups of five are permitted) to complete the chart below. List the advantages and disadvantages of altering intelligence levels. Be specific! Were the changes good or bad for Charlie? (Minimum three per window )

2)  Then, fill in the template outlining your argument. Be sure to include your three STRONGEST pieces of supporting textual evidence WITH PAGE NUMBERS, along with a concession and rebuttal.

Tomorrow, we will engage in an all class debate. Please bring your books to class!

Over …

Analyzing Charlie’s Seven Month Intellectual Journey: GROUP BRAINSTORM

Was Charlie better off BEFORE or AFTER the operation? Is the “Charlie” at the end different from the “Charlie” at the beginning? How does he change? Was it worth it? Brainstorm ideas related to this question by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of his altering intelligence levels. Then, write a concluding statement indicating your group’s opinion.

Category / Advantages: / Disadvantages
Charlie (pre-surgery) with little intelligence:
Charlie (post-surgery) with both “normal” and “super” intelligence:
Charlie (post-surgery) with little intelligence:

Conclusion:______

NOW, Use the notes you made in the chart above to help you complete the ARGUMENT TEMPLATE (BELOW). Use specific quotations and textual evidence to support your conclusion.

Outlining and Organizing Your Argument

I. Claim: (the thesis for your group’s argument)

Consider the models

-Although many argue A, it is clearly B because C.

-Although many say A, it is B because B+ and C…

______

II. Evidence (support for your claim) and explanation (description/details about why and how the evidence connects to and supports the claim). Write three specific pieces of textual evidence that support your claim. Use your strongest arguments! Include page numbers. Explain each briefly.

1)  ______

2)  ______

3)  ______

III. Reasoning (any additional logic that may be needed to support the evidence and explain why your argument/evidence is valid) ______

IV. Counterclaims (acknowledgment of other viewpoints or evidence that disagrees with your claim/thesis)

______

V. Refutations (evidence/reasoning that negates the counterclaims OR outweighs them)

______

Choose a spokesman or woman to speak for your group in tomorrow’s debate.

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