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:

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

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:

Doyou agree with this thesis? Why or why not? We’ve covered many ideas inthe study guides. Can you find points within the guides that supportyour agreement or disagreement with the critical writer(s)? Look for newsupporting information rather than revisiting the same ones the criticshave 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:

Length: This assignment should be a minimum of 3 typed pages or at least 750 words.

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 (Evaluation Essay, Writing Assignment 4)
• Current Date

Format:

• MLA-style source documentation and Works Cited
• Your last name and page number in the upper-right corner of each page
• Double-spacing throughout
• Standard font (TimesNewRoman, Calibri)
• Title, centered after heading
• 1” margins on all sides
• Save the file using one of the following extensions: .docx, .doc, .rtf, or .txt

Underline your thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.

Reminder: You need at least two critiquesin addition to the novel in Works Cited in order to receive the highestscore. In other words, you need three sources total in cited in theessay and on the Works Cited page in order to earn the maximum points inthe corresponding column on the grading rubric. Failure to meet thesource minimum will result in a severe decrease in your grade.