Flowers for Algernon Analytical Essay Assignment
Typically, when students complete a reading assignment in middle school and throughout high
school and college, an analytical literary analysis is assigned. Although you have only read the limited
text, the original short story, not the novel, you know that multiple themes have been shown throughout
the story. However, for this task, you will need to examine what Charlie Gordon learns and show how and
what he learns through an examination of his relationships, situations, and writings. Your thesis statement
should be developed using the following statement:
Charlie Gordon learns __________________ as shown through his relationships, situations, and writings.
So what does he learn? Does he learn the best and worst of humanity? Does he the responsibilities of
intelligence? Does he learn courage, patience, hope, love, forgiveness, and pride? How do we know that
he does not regret his decision? What do his final actions reveal? Does he learn compassion is as
important as intelligence?
To succeed on this essay, you must think and plan. You must follow some rules and you must reread.
This rereading does not excuse you from independent reading. By next week, I will want an AR quiz
taken. The real learning comes from rereading and writing as Charlie Gordon’s writing shows.
Reminders about Essay Introductions
Rule of thumb with an introduction to an essay is to do the following:



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Begin generally, broad. Think about what makes the book worth the reading. Use that attention-getter. Tug
at the heart. Invite wonder. Dangle a carrot. The “A” in ANT stands for Attention-getter.
Include name of author and work. This is an N of ANT, the NECESAARY.
Briefly in 1-2 sentences summarize the book. Character clarity matters. Clear up most important characters’
names---sort of a who’s on first approach, a NECESSARY component.
State your thesis. Thesis becomes the guiding light to outline paper, keeping writers focused (on track) and
clarifying readers about the purpose of the paper. I have included the rough fill in version of your required
thesis statement.
Below is a sample introduction for an essay on The Giver.
Age should not define or determine a person’s identity. However, many times age marks a
specific stage, a defining moment of change, or a rite of passage. In the futuristic fictional world of Lois
Lowry’s novel, The Giver, the main character Jonas knows that he and all his peers of the same age will
undergo a specific shift in their education as December nears and brings with it the Ceremony of Twelve.
In Jonas’ world, people live without hunger, pain, violence, crime, unemployment, and competition.
However, the people in Jonas’s world live in ignorance about the truth of their world. Like those within
his community, Jonas has been innocent about his world. However, events change when Jonas begins a
relationship with his mentor, known as the Giver. This relationship with the Giver affects Jonas’ other
relationships, alters his behavior, and redefines his beliefs and values as he discovers the inhumanity of
his society.
Sample Introductions for “Flowers for Algernon”
Imagine not being able to imagine. Hard to imagine such a paradoxical situation, for most people,
but not for Charlie Gordon the main character of Daniel Keyes’ “Flowers for Algernon.” Charlie can not
only imagine this situation, he has experienced it. An adult with a limited IQ, but extraordinary I-can
spirit, Charlie is selected to participate in an experiment that could triple his intelligence. Through his
experience, Charlie Gordon learns compassion is as important as intelligence as shown through his
situations, relationships, and writings.
Anyone who sits for over 4 hours through the mental torture of the SAT can only wish for a
magic pill that would increase intelligence in an instant. Such a magic brain boost would shatter
restrictions and open infinite possibilities. However, too often, the academic achievers dismiss the desires
and wishes of those less intelligent. In Daniel Keyes’ story, “Flowers for Algernon,” main character
Charlie Gordon has below average intelligence but above average motivation. So when he’s provided an
opportunity to increase his intelligence, he leaps at the opportunity. What Charlie Gordon realizes through
his experiences is that increased intelligence does not provide a quick fix or cure problems as revealed
through his situation, relationships, and experiences.
In today’s culture computer sophisticated geniuses or super star athletes seem to be the focus.
However, brains or brawn are not nearly as valuable as compassion and hope. In Daniel Keyes’ “Flower
for Algernon,”
How intelligent a person is or is not, should not determine how a person should be treated. All
people, no matter how intelligent, should be treated with dignity and respect. However, in DK’s story
“FfA,” Charlie Gordon is …
Remember, we have already learned how to cite sources, so the parenthetical citing of page numbers
should be a snap since you only have one source. Because you have only one source, you do not even
need to place the author’s name inside parentheses with the page number (Keyes 89-91) (89-91).
Everyone will have the same Work Cited---notice the singular Work, not Works
Cited.
Keyes, Daniel. “Flowers for Algernon.” Interactive Reader. New York: McDougal
Little, 2013, 83-127. Print.
You have received a lime green, card stock template that explains the skeletal structure of an essay. It’s a
pretty specific and helpful guideline that should serve you well. Use it, keep it, and remember it. Because
this type of writing is more formal, structured, and precise, an outline is priceless.
Outline
You will need to outline your examples locating specific page numbers which you will need to record and
(cite) in much the same way you have done in other papers. Below is an example of how to construct an
outline to guide you.
I.
II.
III.
Relationships
a. Before the surgery
i. Co-workers
ii. With teacher
b. Post surgery
i. Co-workers
ii. With teacher
Situations
a. Pre surgery
i. Home life and job
ii. Realities and goals
b. Post surgery
i. Home life and job
ii. Realities and goals
Writing
a. Pre surgery
i. Format and structure
ii. Content and impact
b. Post surgery
i. Format and structure
ii. Content and impact
6+1 Trait Writing Model: Flowers
CATEGORY
Introduction
(Organization)
10%
(IDEAS)
45%
(Organization &
Fluency))
10%
Conclusion
(Organization &
Ideas)
15%
for Algernon Essay
4
3
2
1
Introduction begins
generally, includes
author and title, briefly
summarizes the book,
and features a thesis
statement.
Introduction clearly
states the main topic
and previews the
structure of the paper,
but is not particularly
inviting to the reader.
Introduction states the
main topic, but does
not adequately preview
the structure of the
paper or interest
readers.
There is no clear
introduction of the
main topic or structure
of the paper.
(10-9 points)
(8-7 points)
(6-5 points)
(4 points or less)
All paragraphs include
clear topic sentences,
complete details and 1
well chosen, properly
cited per paragraph.
Almost all paragraphs
include ample support,
well-chosen quotes,
and properly cited
material.
Paragraphs include
examples from the
story, but not all are
relevant or effective,
and/or cited properly.
Too few examples
and/or relevant quotes
are used in the body
paragraphs.
(45-42 points)
(41-39 points)
(38-36 points)
Each one of the
paragraphs features a
clear topic sentence
and conclusion
sentence, which relate
to the thesis.
Transitions guide
paper smoothly.
Most of the paragraphs
feature a clear topic
sentence and
conclusion sentence,
which relate to the
thesis.
Some of the paragraphs
feature a clear topic
sentence and
conclusion sentence,
which relate to the
thesis.
Hard to follow thesis
because too few
sentences in body
paragraphs contain
topic sentence and/or
conclusion sentence.
(10-9 points)
(8-7 points)
(6-5 points)
(4 points or less)
The conclusion is
strong and leaves the
reader with a strong
sense of the writer’s
purpose.
The conclusion is
recognizable and ties
up almost all the loose
ends.
The conclusion is
There is no clear
recognizable, but does conclusion, the paper
not tie up several loose just ends.
ends.
(12-10 points)
(9-7 points)
(35 or less)
(6 points or less)
(15-13 points)
(Conventions)
GUMPS: grammar,
usage, mechanics,
punctuation, &
spelling
20%
Writer makes no errors
in grammar or spelling
that distract the reader
from the content.
Writer makes 1-2
errors in grammar or
spelling that distract
the reader from the
content.
Writer makes 3-4
errors in grammar or
spelling that distract
the reader from the
content.
Writer makes more
than 4 errors in
grammar or spelling
that distracts the reader
from the content.
(18-17 points)
(16-15 points)
(14 points or less)
(20-19 points)
Total Points