Flowers for Algernon: Charlie’s Wish
Name: _______________________________________
What was Charlie’s wish?
(Expression)
What details do I note surrounding the wish? Include at
least three positive and negative effects each.
(Reflection)
Looking back at the event, have I learned from his
experience? What do I take away from his wish and its
effects?
Summary (Final thoughts, combining opinions from Expression and ideas from Reflection):
Flowers for Algernon: Charlie’s Wish
Teacher Example________
Name: ______
What was Charlie’s wish?
Charlie wants to be smart.
(Expression)
What details do I note surrounding the wish? Include at
least three positive and negative effects each.
(Reflection)
Looking back at the event, have I learned from his
experience? What do I take away from his wish and its
effects?
Positives:
He is able to understand the
world around him.
Able to invent and create.
Able to have pride in his
ability.
People can feel threatened by
someone smarter or by their
own guilty conscience
Negatives:
Recognizes the cruelty in
others now. (His friends who
made fun of him before.)
Fails to connect with other
people who are not geniuses.
(His date with Miss Kinnian.)
Frustrated and impatient with
slower thinkers. (Dr. Strauss
and Dr. Nemur can’t
understand everything he
can.)
People are not always what
they seem- fake friends.
Wishes aren’t always good
ideas.
Outcomes can’t be predicted.
Knowledge and pursuing your
dream can be worth many
sacrifices.
Final Reflection:
Yes, Charlie should take the risk to pursue his dream. The
rewards of inventing and creating through his new found
genius will also help others, so it is definitely worth the negative
personal consequences.
His life goal is to gain knowledge, which can help him
understand the world more deeply. He could use his knowledge
to advance science and help others. His pain might be worth it if
it causes larger benefits.
Directions:
Combine your brainstorming from
yesterday into a connected piece of
writing. You should use statements
from both the EXPRESSION and the
REFLECTION columns as well as the
OPINION to write two+ paragraphs.
Follow the OREO format for solid
writing:
O- Opinion
R- Reasons
E- Examples
O- Opinion
Writing Check:
Read your partner’s piece of writing.
Did they support their opinion?
Check by underlining the parts of
the writing. If there is something
missing, make a note on their paper!
Opinion- GREEN
Reasons- YELLOW
Examples- RED
OPINION- GREEN
In “Flowers for Algernon,” Charlie’s initially has the wish to become smart. Charlie would be limited from achieving this
goal, if not for the aid of a science-fiction level operation. What great, extraordinary wish do you possess? Remember, a
wish is different than a goal, because goals can be achieved, and wishes are purely in the realm of fantasy.
My Wish
Name: ________________________________________
What is the wish?
(Expression)
What details do I note surrounding the wish? Include at
least three positive and negative effects each.
(Reflection)
Looking back at the wish’s possible outcomes, what have I
learned? Do I really want the wish to come true?
On May 20th, Charlie’s journal entry details how he witnessed a busboy at a restaurant ridiculed and laughed at for
making a mistake. To Charlie’s shame, he realizes that he has just laughed at the expense of someone he used to be just
like. Charlie begins to see his mistake as a positive error though, because it helps him discover a purpose. “Let me use
my gift to do something for them,” he writes about his hope to advance knowledge for those with learning disabilities
(Keyes 368). Have you ever made a mistake that turned into a positive moment?
My Favorite Mistake
Name: _________________________________
What was my favorite mistake?
(Expression)
What details do I note surrounding the mistake?
(before/during/ after)?
(Reflection)
Looking back at the event, have I learned from the
experience? What do I take away from the mistake?