Additional advice for the Frankenstein assignment.

I don’t have some secret template to which your paper must adhere in order to get a good mark. Firstly, I’m looking for evidence of engagement with the subject. I want you to write a paper that means something to you. Write about the aspect of the novel that philosophically interests you the most. You don’t need to address every question I suggested in the original assignment sheet. Write about what seemed significant to you. Better to develop a few themes well, than to superficially mention ten different views.

Secondly, be sure to attach your analysis to particulars. Provide examples from the text if you say, for instance, that the monster feels no guilt for his crimes. Don’t do this with lengthy quotations, however. Either use short phrases or indicate which chapter in the text you are referring to. In either case, you should use a chapter reference to indicate where your evidence for the assertion comes from.

Example: The monster refuses to acknowledge any guilt for the boy’s murder (6).

The other way in which you should attach your analysis to particulars is by the mention of particular philosophers and theories from lecture or the textbook.

Example: Sartre would say that Frankenstein had not lived an authentic life.

(Note: both of these examples are entirely fabricated and are not intended for anyone’s edification.)

Thirdly, be sure to spend sufficient time on this project. Poor thinking will hurt your mark. Poor writing will hurt your mark.  Poor organization (that is, organization that your reader can't follow) will hurt your mark.  Repetition and fluff will hurt your mark. Superficiality will hurt your mark.

Develop your points adequately and defend them adequately. It’s a short paper with no room for wordiness or wandering around. Provide your thesis in the opening paragraph, assemble your evidence under paragraphs with topic sentences and provide a short concluding paragraph. The point is to say intelligent things intelligently.  And then to polish what you’ve said by editing, rewriting and proofreading. And proofreading again.

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Assignment 2: The Frankenstein Assignment

Search out Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

It is widely available in libraries, book stores, second hand bookstores and in several places on the internet. Here is one url:

http://www.boutell.com/frankenstein/

Read the book. More than once, if possible.

Your paper should be about the philosophical issues the story deals with. Think about the various characters. What conceptions of the meaning of life are they acting from? What about the issues of morality and guilt, responsibility and freedom? Who has free will in this story? Who bears responsibility? And for what? Who is the criminal? And why?

You don’t need to address each of these items. They are merely suggestions. Work with what you find interesting. Other than reading the book, there is no requirement for research before writing this paper. What is required is thoughtful reading (and rereading), extended contemplation, intelligent comment and careful writing (and even more careful rewriting).

Keep notes while you read. Add to them as you reread. Talk to others who are reading the book. Talk to people who aren’t reading it. Think about it late at night or while you’re on the bus. Think about your childhood perceptions of Frankenstein’s monster. Think about movies you’ve seen that deal with similar issues. Make more notes. Don’t assume that some kind of insight will come to you in the hours before the paper is due. Don’t settle for a merely adequate paper.

Because the required word count is small, you must make every word count. Don’t ramble and repeat and fluff up.

The paper must be typed/computer printed and should be in the range of 750 words. You can express both your observations and your opinions in the first person. There is no need to quote extensively from the book, but indicate the correct chapter when you make reference to the text.

Lastly, do not jeopardize your standing in this class by dabbling with plagiarism.

Due date: in class,       FEBRUARY 8TH AND 9TH