Pre-Reading Activities Flowers for Algernon Pre-Reading Activities

Discussion Questions Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have an IQ of about 68? How would people treat you? How would you feel about yourself? Would you want to become "smarter"? If someone you respected came to you and told you they could make you smarter, would you take them up on their offer? Average IQ is considered to be around 100. This is the premise of the short story, "Flowers for Algernon." This story was written by Daniel Keyes, who later expanded the story into a novel.

Tests that Charlie Takes The Ink Blot (Rorschach) Test Thematic Apperception Test Maze

You will have one minute to respond to each blot. Instructions You are about to see several ink blots one at a time. Write down on your paper the following information after seeing each ink blot: 1. What you see the first time you look. 2. What you see after studying it a while. 3. Your emotional response to it. You will have one minute to respond to each blot.

Rorschach Test/Inkblot Test The Rorschach (RAW SHOCK) Test was developed by a Swiss psychiatrist named Hermann Rorschach. This test was designed to determine personality traits by interpreting a subject's responses to inkblot images. Look at the following inkblots and decide what it looks like to you. Write down your responses and then compare them with those of your classmates. Were there any similarities or patterns?

Rorschach Test/Inkblot Test

Rorschach Test/Inkblot Test

Rorschach Test/Inkblot Test

Rorschach Test/Inkblot Test

Rorschach Test/Inkblot Test

Background Method of psychological evaluation Psychologists use to examine personality characteristics and emotional functioning of patients Currently the second most commonly used test in forensic assessment Developed by Hermann Rorschach Swiss psychiatrist Believe in psychoanalysis early 1900s

Good or Bad Answers What is a "good" answer versus a "bad" answer? Your best bet is probably to stick to "seeing" healthy, friendly images. Avoid dark or violent answers. Butterflies, people holding hands, leaves, mountains, etc are all generally considered to be "safe" responses. If you can show how a particular shape really does resemble something, go ahead and say so. If you come up with a novel or particularly interesting answer you may get "points" for your creativity.

Thematic Apperception Test 2 Thematic Apperception Test

Instructions Tell as dramatic a story as you can for each picture, including: 1. what has led up to the event shown 2. what is happening at the moment 3. what the characters are feeling and thinking 4. what the outcome of the story is.

1

2

3

4

Definition The Thematic Apperception Test is an example of a projective test. Historically, the Thematic Apperception Test or TAT has been amongst the most widely used, researched, and taught projective psychological tests. Its adherents claim that it taps a subject's unconscious to reveal repressed aspects of personality, motives and needs for achievement, power and intimacy, and problem-solving abilities.

Types of Disabilities Visual Impairments Hearing Impairments Physical Disabilities Intellectual/Learning Disabilities Types of Disabilities Physical disabilities A physical disability is one that affects a person's mobility or dexterity. A person with a physical disability may need to use some sort of equipment for assistance with mobility. It also includes people who have lost limbs or who, because of the shape of their body, require slight adaptations to be made to enable them to participate fully in society. Paraplegia and Quadriplegia are what many people first identify with a physical disability. Paraplegia results from injury to the spinal cord, occurring below the neck, while quadriplegia refers to damage to the spinal cord in the neck. Varying degrees of loss of limb and other mobility may result from either condition. Other forms of physical disability, such as polio (an acquired disease), cerebral palsy (damage to brain tissue during fetal stages) and some genetic conditions can result in loss of mobility. Types of Physical Disabilities: Paraplegia Quadriplegia Multiple sclerosis (MS) Hemiplegia Cerebral palsy Absent limb/reduced limb function Dystrophy Polio Intellectual or Learning Disabilities People with an intellectual, learning, or cognitive disability have a reduced capacity to learn tasks or process information. A learning disability may make it difficult for a person to take in information and communicate what they know. Learning difficulties can cause difficulties in reading, writing, or mathematics. Learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder together affect between 3% and 10% of the population. As students, people with these disabilities are often intelligent, creative, and productive. Psychiatric disabilities A psychiatric disability (or mental illness) can develop at any age and is often not apparent to other people. Psychiatric disabilities are often the most misunderstood disabilities in the community, and peoples' attitudes may be based on prejudice and myth (e.g. schizophrenics are potentially violent). Mental illnesses can include stress-related conditions, major depression, bipolar disorder (formally called manic-depressive illness), anxiety, and schizophrenia. Depression is the most common non-psychotic mental illness (psychosis being a disorder which features the loss of contact with reality). Visual impairments Only 5% of 'blind' people can't see anything. Visual impairments can be caused by a multitude of factors, including disease, accidents, and congenital illnesses. There is a difference between the needs of visually impaired individuals and blind people. Hearing impairments Deafness and hearing loss can be caused by a wide range of factors, including physical damage, disease during pregnancy, or exposure to very loud noises. There is a distinction between people who are deaf and those who have a hearing impairment. Those hearing up to three years of age (when language begins to develop) often have comparatively good speech and lip-reading ability. Neurological disabilities A neurological disability is associated with damage to the nervous system that results in the loss of some physical or mental functions. A neurological disability may affect a person's capacity to move or manipulate things or the way they act or express their feelings. The way they think and process information may also be significantly influenced. The brain and the spine are the areas of the body most closely associated with neurology. Heart attacks, serious infections, and lack of oxygen to the brain may also result in a neurological disability. http://www.neads.ca/en/about/projects/inclusion/guide/pwd_01.php Psychiatric Disabilities Neurological Disabilities

Life Boat Theory Imagine that you were on a ship that has just sunk. You managed to make it to the last life boat. However, there are 9 people on the life boat that is only designed for four. So, 5 people have to either voluntarily get off the life boat or be thrown overboard by a majority rule. Getting off the life boat means certain death. Your assignment is to decide who should remain (selective reduction) on the life boat. The following is a list of the 9 people on board: A 17 year-old, special needs girl An infant whose parents died when the ship sank A 30 year-old genius A 50 year-old who doesn’t know that his cancer has returned. A 70 year-old woman who requires the aid of a walker An obese, 40 year-old mother of three young children A ex-convict who was in prison for murder You Your mother