Name__________________________________________

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time / “Rainman” / “The Boy with the Incredible Brain” Writing

At this point we have finished Curious and we will almost be finished with our movie “Rainman.” To finish
this unit, we will be writing a five-paragraph essay to answer the following prompt:

How is Raymond, the main character of the movie “Rainman,” similar and different to Christopher and /
or Daniel Tammet?

Your homework tonight is to finish this essay outline. Tomorrow we will have the class period to type your
essay. Your homework will be to finish the essay if you do not complete it in class.

Here are the steps to take to prepare for this essay. Use the outline on the back to help.

1. Look at the notes you have taken on the movie. You may compare and contrast Raymond to Christopher or
to Daniel or to both characters. Find either two similarities that Ray has with these people and one difference,
or two differences and one similarity. These will be your thesis and your three body paragraphs. Your thesis
may take the form Raymond the lead character from “Rainman” is similar to Christopher because he
______ and _____ but different from Daniel Tammet because he _____.

2. The three boxes on the outline will be your three points from your thesis. These are your three arguments
that will be your three body paragraphs.

3. Then below each of the three arguments are lines for your evidence. For each argument from your thesis
you need at least three specific examples of how Raymond is similar or different from whichever character you
are comparing, Christopher or Daniel. Write three pieces of evidence down for each argument.

4. Conclusion. When you are writing your essay next class, you will need a conclusion. First you will restate
your thesis and your arguments. Then, you need to tell the reader of your essay what can be learned from
reading what you have written. What can people learn from reading your paper about autism or how people
with autism function, or what it is like to have autism? Jot some ideas down here to use when you reach your
conclusion.

Conclusion notes:

5. Introduction. When you begin typing your essay in class, you will (of course) begin with an introduction.
Look back at the funnel introduction sheet that you got for your Shakespeare essay. If you can’t find yours it is
on my blog (sargentenglish@blogspot.com.) Just like with the Romeo and Juliet essay you will start with a
broad topic, then bring in the book and the movies. You will end with your thesis. Follow that structure in
writing this introduction.

We will be typing in the Library computer lab on ____________________________. If you

finish your essay you will have no homework that night. If you don’t finish your essay, please
complete that for the next class ________________________________.