Though much of William’s success is due to his own intelligence and determination, he would not have successfully built his windmill without the unwavering support of his friend, Gilbert. How does Gilbert contribute to William’s success?

Teaching Suggestion: This discussion will allow students to focus on the themes of Hope and Determination as well as Friendship that run throughout the memoir. It might be helpful to have students divide the book into thirds and consider how Gilbert contributes to William’s success in each section. Alternatively, students could create a chart labeled “Physical,” “Emotional,” and “Financial” to brainstorm the various types of support Gilbert provides for William throughout the memoir.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners and others, this class discussion can be used along with a graphic organizer to collect ideas and details from the text. The graphic organizer can then be used to populate evidence and support in answering Full Essay Assignment #2.