Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes 202 248 Meet

Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes 202 - 248

Meet the Author n Daniel Keyes n n Daniel Keyes was born in Brooklyn, New York. “Flowers for Algernon” was first published in 1959 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The story was later expanded into a fulllength novel, and then made into a movie called Charly, a musical play, and a TV “[I am] production. fascinated by the complexities of Read his full biography on page 248 the human mind. ”

VOCABULARY absurd n hypothesis n impair n introspective n naivete n opportunist n proportional n regression n sensation n shrew n specialization n statistically n syndrome n tangible n vacuous n

absurd adjective – ridiculously unreasonable n It’s absurd to when you consider the work that is being done in India and China today in the very field of his study. n Student demonstration n

hypothesis noun – a theory used as a basis for research n The hypothesis here proven may be described simply in the following terms… n Student demonstration n

impair verb – to weaken; damage n Motor activity is impaired; there is general reduction of glandular activity; there is an accelerated loss of coordination. n Student demonstration n

introspective adjective – examining one’s own thoughts, feelings n I keep telling myself how important this introspective journal will be. n Student demonstration n

naïveté noun – a lack of sophistication; simplicity n I have often reread my progress reports and seen the illiteracy, the childish naïveté, the mind of low intelligence peering from a dark room, through the keyhole, at the dazzling light outside. n Student demonstration n

opportunist noun - a person who takes advantage of any opportunity to achieve a goal, with little regard for moral principles n Dr. Nemur said that Dr. Strauss was nothing but an opportunist who was trying to ride to glory on his coattails. n Student demonstration n

proportional adjective – having a constant relation in degree or number n Artificially increased intelligence deteriorates at a rate of time directly proportional to the quantity of the increase. n Student demonstration n

regression noun – a return to a less developed condition n I’ve got to find the reason for the sharp regression in Algernon. n Student demonstration n

sensation noun – a state of great interest and excitement n Algernon and I were presented to the American Psychological Association. . . we were quite a sensation. n Student demonstration n

shrew noun - a mean, nagging woman n I remember hearing Burt say that Dr. Nemur had a shrew of a wife who was pushing him all the time to get things published so he could become famous. n Student demonstration n

specialization noun – a focus on a particular activity or area of study. n He was educated in the tradition of narrow specialization; the broader aspects of background were neglected far more than necessary – even for a neurosurgeon. n Student demonstration n

statistically adverb – in terms of the principles used to analyze numerical data n As will be seen by my report, these and other physical and mental deterioration syndromes can be predicted with statistically significant results by the application of my formula. n Student demonstration n

syndrome noun – a group of symptoms that characterizes a disease or psychological disorder n As will be seen by my report, these and other physical and mental deterioration syndromes can be predicted with statistically significant results by the application of my formula. n Student demonstration n

tangible adjective – able to be seen or touched; material n I suspect that Dr. Nemur, who is sixty – ten years older than Dr. Strauss – finds it necessary to see tangible results of his work. n Student demonstration n

vacuous adjective – showing a lack of intelligence or thought n I felt sick inside as I looked at his dull, vacuous smile, the wide, bright eyes of a child, uncertain but eager to please. n Student demonstration n

Connect to Your Life n What do you know about your brain?

Build Background In the short story you are about to read, doctors experiment with a surgical method to increase the intelligence of a mentally challenged man. n Each area of the brain controls a different function. n Look at the illustration of the brain on page 202. What areas might the doctors operate on during the surgery of the main character? Why? n

Focus Your Reading Characterization consists of the techniques a writer uses to create and develop characters. n These techniques include: n describing the character’s appearance n presenting the way the character talks, thinks, and behaves n showing what others think of the character n making direct statements about the character n n Examples

Focus Your Reading Making Inferences When you make a logical, or educated, guess about a character or even based on story clues or your own experience, you are making an inference. n Story clues + Own experience = Inference n

Mazes Ready – set – GO ! ! !

Read the selection (pages 202 -248). n Demonstrate the reading strategies you use by writing out thoughts, questions, predictions, etc. on your “notes” page. n Be sure to wrap up your thoughts with your final reaction to the selection. n Prepare for discussion by preparing at least 3 discussion starters. n