Frankenstein grammar and style answers

HISTORY 214 Second Paper Assignment

In an essay (of no more than four or five pages, double-spaced) please explain what Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein reveals about the way people were reacting to the unprecedented changes to society caused by the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. What, for example, does the novel imply about attitudes towards human nature in this age of science and mechanization? Are there any natural limits to human knowledge? Should there be ethical limits to scientific inquiry and “progress”, and if so, what kind? In other words, please explain in what specific ways the characters, plot, settings, and actions of the novel might represent the anxieties produced by the Scientific & Industrial Revolutions?

Each essay will be graded on the following criteria/scale: A or A- Essays in this range offer a more or less thorough treatment of the question, with a clearly articulated

thesis/argument, cite plenty of specific evidence from the primary sources to support it, and demonstrate careful analysis of that evidence.

B+, B or B- Answers in this range may possess an adequate thesis/argument, and even summon sufficient evidence to support it, but omit some important aspects of the question, lack some important evidence, have minor errors of fact, cite non-specific or vague examples, and/or omit an important implication.

C+, C, or C- These essays are missing several important factors, are poorly edited, have a poorly defined thesis/argument, possess major errors or omissions of fact, lack pertinent examples or illustrations from primary sources, and/or fail to offer sufficient implications or historical significance.

D+, D, or D- Responses in this range offer little more than a basic answer to the question, simply summarize (often with errors), lack a specific thesis/argument, lack specific examples from the sources, and make little or no mention of implications or significance.

E These answers fail to answer the question in any meaningful way, fail to articulate any argument, usually demonstrate little understanding of the primary sources or simply don’t use them, and lack much discussion of any implications.

Formatting Instructions You must strictly adhere to the following format. I will deduct points from your grade for any deviation from these standards. Your paper must be 4-5 typed pages in length, double-spaced, one-inch margins on all sides, and in 12 point Times New Roman or Calibri font. Don’t get cute with line and character spacing, fonts, or margins in order to fill up a page. You’re not fooling anyone. Number each page in the upper right corner and staple it in the upper left corner. You do not need to include a separate title page or works cited page. Do not put your paper in any kind of a binder or folder. Include your full name, course number (HIS 214), and the date (all single spaced) in the upper left corner of the first page.

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Footnotes You should provide footnotes or endnotes for any evidence you use from the text - whether you are quoting directly from the text, paraphrasing or simply explaining what happens. Remember, the purpose of scholarly citations is that any reader should be able to track down the sources for your direct quotes, or for ideas or information taken from a specific source. For this course, we will employ a simplified system of citation. The first time you cite any text, you should give a complete citation as listed in the footnote below.1 Subsequent footnotes can be abbreviated by using the author or title and page number(s), as noted below.2 Notes should be numbered sequentially and single spaced.

Guidelines & Suggestions Many of you have your own tried and tested ways of writing academic papers, but here are some guidelines and suggestions. First, your paper must have a thesis statement, but in most cases you will not have one at the start. Most often, a thesis will emerge as you work on the material, but you should try to arrive at a tentative one as soon as you can and revise it as you work.

Here is a rough pattern for how your essays should be composed: 1. Introduction/Thesis Statement It is vital that you provide a thesis that offers a clear position on the question posed. In other words, explain to your reader what it is you intend to argue, and how you intend to argue your point. There should be no mystery to your reader about what you plan to argue. The introduction can also be a good place to explain the historical context. This does not mean you have to give a synopsis of all of modern European history in one paragraph, but rather indicate how specific aspects or events influence the topic. 2. Argument and Evidence The bulk of the paper will consist of a series of linked paragraphs that offer specific evidence to support the assertions you have made in your introduction. Each paragraph should clarify and build on your thesis. You may use any of the material in Frankenstein, as well as any information from the other books assigned that seem to support your hypothesis – BUT YOU MUST CITE ALL OF YOUR TEXTUAL EVIDENCE. It is not necessary to cite lecture material. Be sure that you make no claims or assertions that do not have supporting evidence or illustration with primary source material. Also, be sure that your hypotheses are not purely speculative. In other words, let the evidence lead you and your reader to the logical conclusion. Do not try to shoehorn or cherry-pick the evidence to fit into your argument.

1 Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Dover Thrift Edition, (1994), Page #. 2 Shelley, Frankenstein, #.

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3. Counter-Arguments (optional) Next, you might want to consider if there are any bits of evidence or possible arguments that seem to undermine or contradict your thesis. The very best papers almost always acknowledge or anticipate potential problems and even offer reasons why such counter-arguments do not invalidate the thesis, or cast too much doubt on your logic. Now, sometimes flaws do not seem to exist. While this can mean that you’ve done a great job, it can also mean that your thesis is too obvious, very shallow, or so absurd that it defies any systematic or logical argumentation. If you are having difficulty, please feel free to discuss your thesis with me before you write the paper. 4. Conclusion & Implications Lastly, you will need to provide a tidy conclusion that restates and refines your thesis. You will want to briefly summarize the evidence and any problems with that evidence and then, most importantly, you will want to consider the broader implications of your argument. This is the point in your paper where it will pay to think as creatively and as broadly as possible about the evidence. In any case, what I have given you here is meant to be a starting point for your thinking about your own paper. Do not feel as though you have to adhere strictly to the pattern I have outlined, but use it as a guideline. Finally, you should strive to present your argument in clear and concise prose, well-grounded with evidence from your source(s). For general advice on conventions of grammar and usage, I strongly recommend you consult The Elements of Style by E.B. White and William Strunk Jr., an extremely short classic reference text which is readily available on the web, in libraries, and in bookstores.