By Daniel Keyes
Project Guide
Please choose ONE of the projects listed below to complete.
REMEMBER: This is an independent project
Create a Glogster mural of
“Flowers for Algernon.”
Be sure to include the main
character, the AlgernonGordon effect, and other
important aspects from the
story.
Using Penzu Journal, be
Charlie Gordon. Create a
journal about your life (as
Charlie Gordon). Make
sure to have at least 10
journal entries.
Research current work in
the field of neurobiology.
The gene NR2B has been
identified (in 1999) as
crucial to learning. Write a
report on the current
findings and connect it
back to Charlie in Flowers
for Algernon.
http://www.glogster.com
https://penzu.com/p
.
Make a short video
(5 to 9 min.) of
reenactments of sections of
the story that support one
of the themes of the story.
People or representations
of people can be used.
Identify the theme at the
end of the video.
Using Xtranormal, create a
skit that reenacts sections
of the story. Identify the
theme of the story in the
skit.
http://www.xtranormal.com/
Create a scrapbook that
follows Charlie’s journey
and the changes that occur
in him throughout the
story. The story takes
place over a period of
about 4 ½ months, so there
should be at least 10 pages.
Glogster/Penzu Journal RUBRIC:
Content
Organization/
creativity
4
Covers story indepth with
details and
examples.
Strong story
comprehension
was displayed.
All important
components
were shown.
Content is well
organized using
headings to
group related
material.
Attractiveness
Makes
excellent use of
font, color,
graphics,
effects, etc. to
enhance the
presentation
Mechanics
No misspellings
or grammatical
errors.
Complete and
thorough
Sentences.
Excellent use of
time. Always
on task and
focused on the
project at hand.
Time on Task
3
Includes
essential
knowledge
about the story.
Story
comprehension
appears to be
good.
2
Includes
essential
information
about the story
but there are a
few missing
pieces.
1
Content is
minimal OR
there are
several story
errors.
Uses headings
to organize, but
the overall
organization
could be
improved.
Makes good
use of font,
color, graphics,
effects, etc. to
enhance to
presentation.
Content is
logically
organized for
the most part
but lacks
creativity.
Makes use of
font, color,
graphics,
effects, etc. but
occasionally
these detract
from the
presentation
content.
Four
misspellings
and/or
grammatical
errors.
There was no
clear or logical
organizational
structure, just
lots of facts.
Three or fewer
misspellings
and/or
mechanical
errors.
Good use of
time. Mainly
on task and
focused on the
project at hand.
Could have
improved use
of time.
Use of font,
color, graphics,
effects etc. but
these often
distract from
the presentation
content.
More than 4
errors in
spelling or
grammar.
Did not use
time wisely.
TOTAL: _____/20 points
Scrapbook RUBRIC:
Content
Organization/
creativity
Attractiveness
Mechanics
Time on Task
4
3
Covers story inIncludes
depth with
essential
details and
knowledge
examples.
about the story.
Strong story
Story
comprehension comprehension
was displayed.
appears to be
All important
good.
components
were shown.
Content is well Uses headings
organized using to organize, but
headings to
the overall
group related
organization of
material. At
the scrapbook
least 10 pages
could be
are created in a
improved.
creative
manner.
The scrapbook The scrapbook
is exceptionally is attractive in
attractive in
terms of design,
terms of design,
layout and
layout, and
neatness.
neatness.
No misspellings Three or fewer
or grammatical
misspellings
errors.
and/or
Complete and
mechanical
thorough
errors.
Sentences.
Excellent use of
Good use of
time. Always
time. Mainly
on task and
on task and
focused on the
focused on the
project at hand. project at hand.
2
Includes
essential
information
about the story
but there are 12 missing
pieces.
1
Content is
minimal OR
there are
several story
errors.
Content is
logically
organized for
the most part
but lacks
creativity.
There was no
clear or logical
organizational
structure, just
lots of facts.
The scrapbook
is acceptably
attractive
though it may
be a bit messy.
The scrapbook
is distractingly
messy or very
poorly
designed. It is
not attractive.
More than 4
errors in
spelling or
grammar.
Four
misspellings
and/or
grammatical
errors.
Could have
improved use
of time.
Did not use
time wisely.
TOTAL: _____/20 points
Video RUBRIC:
Duration
Content
Characters
Voice
Time on Task
4
3
Video was at
Video was 4-5
least 6-9
minutes long
minutes long
Covers story inIncludes
depth with
essential
details and
knowledge
examples.
about the story.
Strong story
Story
comprehension comprehension
was displayed.
appears to be
All important
good.
components
were shown in
the video to
support the
theme.
Grammar and
Grammar and
usage were
usage were
correct (for the
typically
dialect chosen) correct (for the
and
dialect chosen)
contributed to
and errors did
clarity, style
not detract from
and character
the story.
development.
The pace
Occasionally
(rhythm and
speaks too fast
voice
or too slowly
punctuation)
for the story
fits the story
line. The pacing
line and helps
(rhythm and
the audience
voice
really "get into" punctuation) is
the story.
relatively
engaging for
the audience.
Excellent use of
time. Always
on task and
focused on the
project at hand.
Good use of
time. Mainly
on task and
focused on the
project at hand.
2
Video was 2-3
minutes long
Includes
essential
information
about the story
but there are
some missing
pieces to help
grasp the
theme.
1
Video was less
than 2 minutes
long.
Content is
minimal OR
there are
several story
errors that
distract from
the theme OR
do not display
the theme..
Grammar and
usage were
typically
correct but
errors detracted
from story.
Repeated errors
in grammar and
usage distracted
greatly from the
story.
Tries to use
pacing (rhythm
and voice
punctuation),
but it is often
noticeable that
the pacing does
not fit the story
line. Audience
is not
consistently
engaged.
Could have
improved use
of time.
No attempt to
match the pace
of the
storytelling to
the story line or
the audience.
Did not use
time wisely.
TOTAL: _____/20 points
Xtranormal RUBRIC:
4
3
2
1
Organization/
Creativity
Content and
characters are
clearly organized
in the skit and
displays
excellent
creativity.
Content and
characters are
organized in the
skit and displays
good creativity.
Content and
characters are
somewhat
organized in the
skit but lacks
some creativity.
Content and
characters were
not organized in
the skit and
lacked creativity.
Content
Covers story indepth with
details and
examples.
Strong story
comprehension
was displayed.
All important
components
were shown in
the skit to
support the
theme.
Includes
essential
knowledge
about the story.
Story
comprehension
appears to be
good.
Includes
essential
information
about the story
but there are
some missing
pieces to help
grasp the
theme.
Content is
minimal OR
there are
several story
errors that
distract from
the theme OR
do not display
the theme..
Characters
Grammar and
usage were
correct (for the
dialect chosen)
and contributed
to clarity, style
and character
development.
The pace
(rhythm and
voice
punctuation) fits
the story line and
helps the
audience really
"get into" the
story.
Grammar and
usage were
typically correct
(for the dialect
chosen) and
errors did not
detract from the
story.
Occasionally
speaks too fast or
too slowly for
the story line.
The pacing
(rhythm and
voice
punctuation) is
relatively
engaging for the
audience.
Good use of
time. Mainly on
task and focused
on the project at
hand.
Grammar and
usage were
typically correct
but errors
detracted from
story.
Repeated errors
in grammar and
usage distracted
greatly from the
story.
Tries to use
pacing (rhythm
and voice
punctuation), but
it is often
noticeable that
the pacing does
not fit the story
line. Audience is
not consistently
engaged.
Could have
improved use of
time.
No attempt to
match the pace
of the
storytelling to the
story line or the
audience.
Voice
Time on Task
Excellent use of
time. Always on
task and focused
on the project at
hand.
Did not use time
wisely.
TOTAL: _____/20 points
Research RUBRIC:
Quality of
Information
Mechanics
Organization
Sources
Time on Task
4
3
2
1
Information
clearly relates
to the main
topic. It
includes several
supporting
details and/or
examples.
No
grammatical,
spelling or
punctuation
errors.
Information is
very organized
with wellconstructed
paragraphs and
subheadings.
Successfully
uses multiple
resources to
find
information.
Excellent use of
time. Always
on task and
focused on the
project at hand.
Information
clearly relates
to the main
topic. It
provides 1-2
supporting
details and/or
examples.
Almost no
grammatical,
spelling or
punctuation
errors
Information is
organized with
wellconstructed
paragraphs.
Information
clearly relates
to the main
topic. No
details and/or
examples are
given.
Information has
little or nothing
to do with the
main topic.
A few
grammatical
spelling, or
punctuation
errors.
Information is
organized, but
paragraphs are
not wellconstructed.
Many
grammatical,
spelling, or
punctuation
errors.
The
information
appears to be
disorganized.
Uses multiple
resources to
find
information.
Uses some
resources to
find
information.
Does not use
many resources
to find
information.
Good use of
time. Mainly
on task and
focused on the
project at hand.
Could have
improved use
of time.
Did not use
time wisely.
TOTAL: _____/20 points