1. “Flowers for Algernon” essay
Adam and Eve/Charlie Gordon

2. Introduction Paragraph
Step I
Grab reader’s attention/hook your readers
1. rhetorical question/thought provoking question.
2. Thought provoking statement (roadmap)
3. anecdote (little story)
4. fact or statistic
5. Quote

3. 1. rhetorical question/thought provoking question
How does a child become an adult?
How does one lose innocence?
Why are children tempted to try adult experiences?
Why are children tempted to cross the threshold to the adult world?

4. 2. Thought provoking statement (roadmap)
Some people say one must grow up; others claim one may remain a child at heart...

5. anecdote (little story)
Adam and Eve
Paradise/Garden of Eden/state of innocence
Tree of Knowledge
Temptation
State of Experience/knowledge of evil

6. anecdote (little story)
Adam and Eve in a state of innocence enjoyed the Garden of Eden until they were tempted to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, driving them to a state of experience, aware of evil in the world.

7. fact or statistic # Informational texts!
Charlie Gordon, born with an I.Q. of 68, wants to attain knowledge like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

8. Quote
“Of Man’s First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste Brought Death into the World, and all our woe,”
John Milton’s Paradise Lost

9. 2nd/3rd sentence: Link/transition/bridge
Like Adam and Eve, in Daniel Keyes
short story “Flowers for Algernon” the protagonist loses his childlike state.

10. Thesis: What the essay will be about.
Dogs are great. (thesis)
Topic sentences
A. dogs are great because they protect.
B. dogs are great because they make great companions.
C. dogs are great because they are loyal.

11. Thesis
Charlie Gordon transitions from a state of innocence to state of experience when he obtains knowledge.

12. Sample Introduction
“Of Man’s First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste Brought Death into the World, and all our woe,” John Milton’s Paradise Lost Adam and Eve’s story parallels Charlie Gordon’s path in the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes.The protagonist Charlie Gordon begins in a state of innocence; however, after attaining knowledge, he enters a state of experience, aware of the evil in the world.

13. Body Paragraph I Friends
Topic sentence- friends innocence to experience
Concrete detail (integrated quote from story showing innocence)
Commentary (insight into the quote/your analysis)
Commentary
Concrete detail about state of experience, knowing about evil.
Conclusion (finished feeling to the paragraph and it may lead to the next paragraph)

14. Topic sentence for body paragraph I
Ex.
Charlie Gordon begins in a state of innocence in regards to his friends, but he then enters a state of experience, aware of his coworkers’ cruelty.

15. Concrete detail
For example, before the operation takes effect, Charlie writes in his journal….

16. 2 sentences of commentary
Sentence starters
This shows…
One may infer…
Reminder: do not write “ I think”; Stay in 3rd person p.o.v.
Use present tense.

17. Body Paragraph II The Factory
Topic sentence- friends innocence to experience
Concrete detail (integrated quote from story showing innocence)
Commentary
Concrete detail about state of experience
Conclusion

18. conclusion Restate a thesis in a new way Ask how or why this is true
Go Universal or give advice
Go full circle (how did you begin the essay?)

19. After the second time Charlie gets drunk with his “friends”
After the second time Charlie imbibes alcohol with his “friends”