a man by the name of Phineas Gage experiences a life-altering event. Background:
While working on blasting a railroad right-of-way through Vermont’s Green Mountains
for the Rutland and Burlington Railroad, Gage is involved in a terrible, unfortunate
accident. Gage, a twenty-six-year old five feet, six inch tall man is the foreman on the
job. He and is assistant prepare the charges of black gunpowder in order to shatter the
rock. For some reason, he is distracted that day-- by someone or something. This
distraction causes Phineas Gage to lose his grip on his tamping iron, which slips down
into the hole and strikes the granite. Sparks are ignited and the tamping iron blasts a hole
through his skull. He is bleeding from his forehead and his mouth. The tamping iron is
covered with blood and brains. Transition Sentence (s) to Thesis: Although Gage is a
gruesome sight, it appears that Gage is unaffected by the accident. However, it is only a
matter of time until Gage’s doctor realizes that he is no longer the same person.
Thesis Statement: Gage’s unfortunate accident causes him to suffer physical injuries,
encounter many medical issues, and loses his ability to socialize, changing him to man
that no one hardly recognizes.
Lead Sentence: Even though Phineas Gage and his assistant follow a strict
routine each time they work with the explosives, this time something goes wrong. Topic
Sentence: Unfortunately Gage is distracted by someone or something, and as a result, he
sustains several physical injuries from the tamping iron accident that blasts a hole in his
skull. Supporting Detail/Example 1: Phineas Gage is left with an open brain injury. His
skull is cracked open, and his brain is exposed. The blood is making its way down his
face. Supporting Detail/Example 2: In addition, he is left with a rather large slit in his
left cheek, approximately one and a half inches. The scar is discolored from the
gunpowder and the rust from the tamping iron. He is bleeding inside his mouth.
Supporting Detail/Example 3: Unfortunately Dr Harlow is so busy tending to the wound
on his head, that he barely notices the burns that cover Gage’s hands and forearms. They
are covered in black from powder burns. Transition Sentence: These injuries are not only
a gruesome sight and a painful reminder of the unfortunate accident, but they also create
many medical problems for Gage.
Topic Sentence: Phineas Gage’s medical problems begin to surface two days after
his unlucky accident. Supporting Detail/Example 1: While his open brain injury allows
room for his brain to swell, at the same time the open wound is a breeding ground for
germs and bacteria—the perfect environment for an infection. Gage encounters his first
infection two days after the accident. His brain is leaking a “foul-smelling liquid,” and he
develops a fever. It seems that he is deteriorating quickly. Supporting Detail/Example 2:
Although he recovers from this infection, two weeks later his body begins to fight
another bacterial infection. Phineas Gage develops an abscess above his eye. Again, he
becomes feverish and loses his appetite. hope this helps you!
Explanation:
