Note: Please review the source guidelines below very carefully. If you do not choose from the provided sources below, this will cause a grading delay and you will need to resubmit the assignment.

Now that you have completed Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, you are in a good position to consider what critics have written about the novel. You will need a total of two critiques (also known as critical analysis essays) for this assignment. 

First, use the selection of links below

to locate a critical analysis essay written about the 1818 version of 

Mary Shelley's novel. You may focus most of your attention on this first

critique. If the author of your critique is not specified, focus on the publication of the critique. 

Choose from among these sources:

Romantic Circle's Critiques:  

Critique 1

Critique 2

Critique 3

Critique 4

Critique 5

Critique 6

Professor Naomi Hetherington’s critique

The questions in the study guides should have helped you evaluate this criticism in your head. Now it’s time to write it down! 

Your evaluation may go more smoothly if you approach the guiding questions in this order:

• Evaluate the critic/author: 

Who wrote the criticism you read? What credentials does the author have? (If you are using a valid source, you should be able to find these easily)

• Find the thesis of the article: 

What is the thesis of the critical article you’ve chosen? What point does the author want to make about Frankenstein?

• Evaluate the thesis: 

Do you agree with this thesis? Why or why not? We’ve covered many ideas in the study guides. Can you find points within the guides that support your agreement or disagreement with the critical writer(s)? Look for new supporting information rather than revisiting the same ones the critics have chosen.

• Evaluate the support: 

Whether  you agree or disagree with the thesis, does the critic provide  sufficient research from the text and outside references to make a  strong case? What does the article have for support from the text or  outside sources? In your opinion, what makes these references valid? Do  you feel the author uses this support properly? 

• Next, locate a  second critique about the novel that includes ideas somewhat similar  (genre classification, for instance) to any of the discussions you have  in your essay. The second critique can either support or refute any of  the claims in your paper. The objective of this portion of the essay is  to further support your opinion of the primary critic’s thesis or  support. Therefore, for example, if you choose a secondary article that  refutes any of your claims, you will need to counteract those ideas to  bring the focus of your essay back in alignment with your essay’s thesis  (your personal opinion of how the primary critic is either correct or  incorrect in his or her thesis claim and/or how the first critic is  either effective or ineffective in his or her support). Every discussion  in this essay should ultimately support the claim you make in your  thesis. 

For instance, if the first critic argues that  Shelley’s writing is juvenile, and if you agree, does the second critic  also support this thesis? How so? If the second critic does not support  your assessment of the first critic's thesis, what evidence can you use  from the text to argue that the second critic is incorrect? Consider  another example: if the first critic believes the novel is  autobiographical, and if you disagree, does the second critic help you  argue your own view of the first critic's thesis? If so, how? Perhaps  the second critic disagrees with your view and feels the novel is  autobiographical-- if that's the case, be prepared to use evidence from  the text to refute the second critic’s thesis and support your own  argument. Using two critiques in this way will allow you to create a  polished, comprehensive Evaluation Essay that allows you to connect your  own ideas to those of seasoned critics. 

• In addition to  addressing each of the evaluative components above, develop your essay  so it has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. You must include  an evaluative thesis statement in both the introduction and the  conclusion. Ensure that each of your claims is supported with valid  evidence from the literary criticism you have chosen; the novel, Frankenstein; and/or the study guides.

Using proper MLA style, insert parenthetical citations for all borrowed information in addition to a Works Cited page for Frankenstein and your chosen literary critiques; you are not required to cite the study guides if you use them.

• Helpful Hints: For a thesis statement, try answering a question like: How and how well does this piece of criticism state and support its argument regarding Frankenstein?

You might use these as possible guidelines in crafting your thesis statement:
(Critic,  aka author of the critique) uses (add critic title) to (add an  adjective to describe the effectiveness of the argument such as  “adequately” or “inadequately”) argue that (add critic’s thesis) by  (explain why and/or include your support).
OR
(Critic)’s  (add critique title) (add an adjective to describe the effectiveness of  the argument such as “adequately” or “inadequately”) argue that (add  critic’s thesis) because (explain why and/or include your support).

• More specific thesis examples: 

John  Smith uses "Frankenstein Critique Essay" to adequately argue that  Victor's mother created the first monster by coddling Victor as a boy.
OR
John  Smith's "Frankenstein Critique Essay" does not effectively argue that  Victor's mother created the first monster because the novel Frankenstein  too strongly supports inherent good or bad, which means nurturing roles  cannot be held responsible.

The guidelines for this assignment are: