1) You are to imagine you are a book critic, writing a review of True Believer in which you a) compare it to Make Lemonade and b) discuss its strengths and weaknesses than. You may decide whether you would like to place more emphasis on a or b. In preparation for this assignment you will want to read the attached reviews of books by "professional" critics to become familiar with this form of writing (4 pages minimum).
2) An important goal for LaVaughn is that she attend college one day. You are to imagine that you are LaVaughn, and the day has come to fill out your college application. The college you are applying to asks you to write to essay in which you answer the following question, "What is the most important lesson you have learned in life?" The lesson you choose should be relevant to the events of True Believer (4 pages minimum).
Flowers for Algernon Assignment
Choose 1 of the following:
A) Comparison/Contrast Essay�Compare/contrast the book to the movie Charlie. See attached sheet for a reminder on how to do this right. (3.5 pages minimum)
B) Expository essay�At one point, Charlie remarks, �Here in your university, intelligence, education, knowledge, have all become great idols. But I know now there�s one thing you�ve all overlooked: intelligence and education that hasn�t been tempered by human affection isn�t worth a damn� (172-173). Write an essay in which you assess the accuracy of Charlie�s remark. Is education/intelligence idolized in American society, and if so, at what cost? Be sure to make reference to the book in your answer. (3.5 pages minimum)
C) Expository essay�Consider how Charlie is treated in the story when he is �mentally challenged� and how he is treated when he is �smart.� What does it reveal about the characters� attitudes towards the mentally challenged/ �intelligent�? Are any of these attitudes mirrored in our own society? (3.5 pages minimum)
D) Imagine you are a scientist who has been given FFA as an example of how an experiment to increase human intelligence might turn out. You have been called on to write a letter to a prominent group of government scientists which explains the ethical issues which such a procedure would raise. Identify benefits and ways to handle potential problems. Who would qualify for the procedure and why? How would you make sure a mentally challenged person understood enough to agree to the procedure? Use examples from the novel to illustrate your point. (4 pages minimum)