I hope you’re enjoying the break from classes so far this week, although I’m sure many of you are using the time in which to catch up on assignments and reading.
In English 1101, the short out-of-class essay on Frankenstein is due on Wednesday, March 2, and I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve learned from writing your first paper. I know some people are having a tough time with this novel, but hopefully you will grow to love it for the monster that it is. My hope is that it's already beginning to make sense to most of you.
On Friday, March 4, we'll be starting The Divine Ryans, which I'm sure will feel like a breath of fresh spring air to many of you.The best way to improve on this essay is to look at my comments on your first assignments. There were certainly specific areas that I pointed out as being problematic for you; whatever they were, go over your new essay and make sure you've addressed those issues. If you haven't had time to talk to me, there's always The Writing Centre.
If you’ve been to class, especially on the day I gave out the assignments, you probably have a good idea of what I’m looking for on this essay. It’s only 750-900 words, so that doesn’t leave much room for throat clearing. Do away with phrases like “I believe” and “It is my opinion that” or sentences that say nothing specific about the novel itself. Stay focused and go through your paper thoroughly for words and phrases that don’t add much to your essay. For example, in that previous sentence, I would have eliminated “thoroughly” and changed “add much” to “contribute” so that it reads as follows: Stay focused and peruse your paper for words that do not contribute to your essay. Fact is, most adverbs are unnecessary, and many times, you can use one precise word instead of several weaker ones.
Remember to use the sort of format for essay-writing that we’ve discussed in class. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. Then you need evidence to support that statement. And then you need full discussion of that evidence. That’s how you get substance into your essays.
Your thesis statement (however you phrase it) will decide what is important to discuss and what you can leave out. Furthermore, your topic sentences, if focused, will provide a clear guide as to how far your discussion needs to go.
Also, if you're writing an argumentative-style paper (which is always the best way to go), make sure you've considered the counter argument. For example, if you say that Victor is responsible for the death of Justine in Frankenstein, you also need to show you’ve considered other possible culprits, such as the creature himself, society, or perhaps even William for being such a little brat. The counter argument anticipates holes in your argument. Don’t worry about highlighting the weaknesses in your claims; I’ll see them regardless. The best thing to do is to show that you’re smart enough to have considered the counter-points and that is why you’ve made the conclusions you have.
As you write, remember to include appropriate details from the novel and show that you are able to make connections to the other most important images, scenes, and/or symbols for the topic you’ve chosen. For example, if you’ve chosen to talk about Elizabeth, you must surely make direct reference to her own words as they appear in her two letters to Victor, as well as to Victor’s own specific observations about her. There is more you could say, but I don’t see how you could avoid focusing on the key scenes or moments related to your topic.
Similarly, if you were discussing Victor and Walton, you should obviously make direct reference to certain parts of their conversations with each other. It only makes sense. If it’s Alphonse you’re interested in, then compare him, at least briefly, to other father figures in the novel while also paying attention to his own words, either in dialogue or letter.
In other words, focus on the most obvious and most important moments; suggest what they indicate about the character. Discuss it as a “symbolic moment” or discuss the character as being symbolic of some major concept that is part of Shelley’s authorial agenda.
I hope this helps somewhat. More to come, if time allows. But I expect you’ll be fine on your own, if only because this essay is so short, and all you have to do is focus on solid analytical discussion, using details from the novel to support your ideas.
See y’all soon.
GC
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