Cornell University Frankenstein By Mary Shelley Application Essay
Assignment Instructions:
Frankenstein Application EssayThe Frankenstein Application EssayFor
this assignment you will write your Frankenstein1 application
essay. You are required to submit only your final draft for this assignment
though we encourage all students to take advantage of the additional feedback a
draft can provide. Use grader feedback, along with the course lessons and your
own ideas, to revise your optional draft prior to submitting the required final
copy.Literary
works like Frankenstein explore the "human condition" or
experiences that humans encounter. The study guides for Frankenstein offer
several "Real Life Considerations" meant to help you critically
analyze the applications of the work's themes in today's world. Now, you will
choose one of these topics and explore it using secondary resources to learn
more about the novel and its relevant social topics. You might find information
about social issues in familiar sources such as magazines, newspapers, or
social science journals. Make sure your sources are credible - you do not want
a random website or an encyclopedic website such as Wikipedia.2 Your
sources will preferably by scholarly ones. Here are some ideas of paces where you
might find appropriate sources for this assignment:·Internet Public Library: http://www.ipl.org/·Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/
(note that this is different from regular Google)·Microsoft Academic Search: http://academic.research.microsoft.com/·Cornell University's arXiv (open access sources in math,
biology, physics, and other fields): http://arxiv.org/·Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE): https://www.base-search.net/·Your local libraryYour
thesis statement and paper must address both the literary qualities and the
social issues as you evaluate the novel, Frankenstein. However, keep in
mind, your essay does not have to answer ALL of the questions listed under each
topic. Only answer the questions you feel are the most relevant to the thesis
statement you choose. Develop your essay so it has a clear introduction, body,
and conclusion. Ensure that each of your claims is supported with valid
evidence from the novel, Frankenstein, and at least three other
credible external sources.3 Using
proper MLA style, insert parenthetical citations and signal phrases for all
borrowed information in addition to a Works Cited page for Frankenstein and
your chosen external sources.You
have several options for this assignment:Option
#1: Can science go too far?There
is an ongoing battle between faith or spirituality and science that has been
active even before the time of Mary Shelley. What are some of the dilemmas she
addresses that are still important today? What are some of the ethical
questions she brings up regarding the scientific definition of life and death?
What does she illustrate about the power science has to blur the line between
life and death? What is a current news item that is similar to this issue?Hint:
Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: "How and how well
foes Mary Shelley's Frankenstein address ethical issues of science
and/or faith for audiences, regardless of when they read the novel?"Option
#2: DiscoveryBoth
Frankenstein and Walton are trying to discover something important to them.
What parts of their real lives drive them to discovery? Does that drive still
exist today? While we've mapped the globe, are there still geographical places
for people to explore? In science, are people still trying to discover the
meaning of life, who to save life, and how to defeat death? What methods do
they use? Are there better ways to accomplish these goals than others? What are
some of today's motivations for discovery?Note:
Develop a thesis that answers a questions like this one: "How and how well
does Mary Shelley's Frankenstein address human discovery as a
theme?"Option
#3: World Perception and PrejudiceReread
the paragraph where the creature describes the book from which Felix teaches
Safie. It begins: "The book from which Felix instructed Safie was
Volney's Ruins of Empires..."What
are some of the perceptions and prejudices from the book that Felix teaches
Safie? How have these perceptions and prejudices changed, if they have, in
today's society? What are some present day situations and references that may
claim a lack of prejudice or an open-mindedness, but, in fact, are still very
prejudiced, racist, sexist, etc.? Why do you think these situations still
happen? Can anything be done about it?Hint:
Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: "How and how well
does Mary Shelley's Frankenstein address human prejudice in the
world throughout time?"Option
#4: Personal PerceptionIt
could be argued that the creature did not consider itself a monster and didn't
do awful things until people treated him like a monster. What are some real
world instances in which people's actions could be a reaction to abuse from
others? Who do you feel is accountable in these situations? Why?Hint:
Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: "How and how well
does Mary Shelley's Frankenstein address the effect of peer perceptions
on personal development?"Option
#5: Death and SuicideAt the
end of the book, the creature promises to destroy himself. Is this a
justifiable end for him? Could he have been redeemed? Would he have had a place
in the world of Shelley's novel? How could this relate to current-day issues
like suicide or the death penalty?Hint:
Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: "How and how well
does Mary Shelley's Frankenstein address the value of an
individual's life and death?"Option
#6: Nature vs. NurtureThe
creature argues that had someone properly guided him, he would not have been so
wretched. Frankenstein4 argues that the creature
was evil to begin with, so it would have been useless to teach him at all. What
are some current debates - especially in education - where these kinds of
arguments still arise? How much of behavior of you think is based on nature
(how a person IS) and how much is basked on nurture (what a person LEARNS or
EXPERIENCES)? What examples from the present support your opinion> What do
you feel is the truth? Why?Hint:
Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: "How and how well
does Mary Shelley's Frankenstein address existing personality
traits versus how a person is taught to act?"Option
#7: FeminismThe
feminist perspective is often explored in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
How are the women characters treated in the novel? What perceptions of women
did Shelley use and comment on? How did she handle the theme of motherhood?Hint:
Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: "How and how well
does Mary Shelley incorporate responses to feminist issues into the novel, Frankenstein?"The guidelines for this
assignment are as follows:Header: Include
a header in the upper left-hand corner of your writing assignment with the
following information:·Your first and last name·Course Title (Composition II)·Assignment name (Frankenstein Application Essay)·Current DateFormat:·MLA-style source documentation and Works Cited5·Your last name and page number in the upper-right corner of each
page·Double-spacing throughout·Standard font (Times New Roman, Calibri)·Title, centered after heading·1" margins on all sides·Save the file using one of the following extensions: .docx,
.doc, .rtf, or .txt·Length: This assignment should be at least 750 words.Underline
your thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. 1 Remember
to italicize titles of books. Thus is you are referring to this book's title,
you should italicize it as Frankenstein. However, if you are talking
about Frankenstein the character, it will not be italicized (e.g., Victor
Frankenstein is the main character in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.)2 Tip:
Part of your grade will be assessed on the credibility of your sources.3 Failure
to use the minimum source requirement will constitute a severe point
deduction.4 It is a
common misconception that the creature is named Frankenstein. Keep in mind that
the creature itself is not Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein is the
human protagonist in the novel. The creature, or monster, is Victor's creation.5 This
resource may be helpful as you are making MLA formatting decisions: