The document provides guidance and examples for writing a paper about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It outlines dos and don'ts for the introduction paragraph, such as avoiding sweeping statements and too much plot summary. Sample introduction paragraphs are included that vary in their effectiveness. The better ones state a clear thesis about how the pursuit of knowledge inhibits the characters' ability to experience sympathy. Body paragraph examples are also given, with one paragraph criticized for including multiple speculations without evidence. The document advises looking at the checklist for writing strong body paragraphs.

1. FRANKENSTEIN PAPER

2. Make sure you read the assignment sheet
carefully. Also look over the other paper
materials. Look over the Frankenstein Paper
Checklist.

3. Introduction Paragraph –
•A good introduction will be about 4-6 sentences.
A few don’ts
•Avoid generalizations
•Avoid sweeping statements
•“Since the beginning of time” / “FRANKENSTEIN is one of the greatest novels ever written”
•Avoid too much plot summary
•Don’t dive too much into Shelley’s biography

4. Introduction Paragraph
Do’s
The introduction draws the reader into a specific and compelling thesis
about the passage that illuminates the significance of key features of the
argument. The introduction may touch upon abstract ideas or questions
that will be answered.
Also – don’t summarize the plot, but use the plot as a way of introducing
the ideas that will be discussed.
Here are some samples from
previous papers on Frankenstein

5. The first two sentences have
Throughout the years, there have nothing to do with the rest of
been many remakes of Mary the introduction.
Shelly’s Frankenstein. There have
been countless remakes of There are grammatical errors and
movies trying to portray a typos here.
different aspect of what
Frankenstein is or should have There’s no thesis, just a description.
been. One major storyline that Not an argument, just stating
most forget to express is the the obvious - Shelley talks
relationship between the main about sympathy, but what does
characters in times of need & she say about it?
sadness. Mary Shelly implements
an element of sympathy in
Frankenstein to help understand
the relationship that Victor
Frankenstein has with Henry
Clerval and others throughout
the book.

6. Mary Shelley lived in eighteenth century, where This one spends too much time
Enlightenment ideas were spreading throughout talking about history, not
Europe. It was during this time that science was enough about what the paper
growing exponentially with breakthroughs in
technology such as electricity, industrialization of is going to be about.
labor, etc. To Mary Shelley, the introduction of
electricity in particular seemed to directly parallel
Prometheus’ gift of fire to humanity. Coming from Too much information about
a very political, philosophical, and educated family, Shelley.
it is very improbable that Mary Shelley did not
discover the Promethean Myth before writing her
novel.Frankenstein was written as a lesson about
the search for knowledge, and the dangers that go Too many speculations (electricity /
along with this pursuit.Although the protagonist, did Shelley know about
Dr. Frankenstein, never specifically compares electricity) that don’t matter.
himself to Prometheus, his actions clearly illustrate
the dangers associated with surpassing human
limits of knowledge. Mary Shelley created Victor
Frankenstein in Prometheus’ image and subtitled The thesis isn’t an argument, but an
her novel “The Modern Prometheus” as a way to explanation. There’s no road
communicate political and moral issues of this map that explains what the rest
pursuit of knowledge.By drawing an
incontrovertible parallel to the Promethean myth of the paper is going to be
Mary Shelley communicates a dire warning against about.
the potentially disastrous results of humanity not
being able to control its advances.

7. • While Frankenstein heavily revolves around This is better:
the quest for discovering innovative
technology and revealing new forms of
knowledge, another significant part of the The first sentence clearly sets up
book is the characters journey in trying to the topic.
quench their innate desire for
companionship and intimacy with others. The story is described briefly but
Walton, Victor, and the monster yearn for
relationships with others to share their specifically in connection with
discoveries and lives, yet there is a constant what the paper is going to be
struggle, and in many cases failure of about.
attaining this type of connection and
sympathy from others. By looking at specific
interactions, confrontations, and events that The thesis explains the problem that
take place in Walton, Victor, and the will be explored: the characters
monster’s life , we can see the longing for pursue technology, which
personal intimacy that is consistently being keeps them from happiness.
contested by the curiosity of knowledge and
one’s nature of being, as well as their desire
to receive sympathy from the world around
them. Throughout Frankenstein, the
characters’ purposes revolve mainly around
the pursuit of technology and unlocking
knowledge that inhibits their ability to
experience sympathy on a level that gives
them meaning, and allows for true
satisfaction and joy in life.

8. • In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley This is better:
depicts characters which compel the reader
to contemplate nature in both the external
world and the internal one of the human The introduction sticks to the book,
mind. Initially through Victor’s narration, explains which scenes are
and later through that of the Creature, the going to be central to the
natural world is conjured vastly around the paper, and sets up the key
delight of pure, unbridled sensation and themes that will be explored.
vividly under the intense scrutiny of
scientific observation. The Creature and his
creator are consumed by a fascination with The thesis is clear – it is going to be
these sublime landscapes and ideals, driving a discussion of sympathy and
them each to seek the peripheries of the sublime, and the flow of
experience, leaving behind the closer, more the paper is obvious .
nuanced human experience of sympathy.
For both Victor Frankenstein and his
creation, it holds that as preoccupation with
the sublime increases, one’s attention to
sympathy decreases, a correlation that
induces them to drive each other to ruin.

9. Body Paragraphs
Look over the checklist for questions to ask of
your body paragraphs. Also, look at the material
on claims, evidence, and analysis.
Here are some examples of body paragraphs.

10. Also, an all knowing narrator usually presents facts
to the audience the letters are not entirely
factual. Throughout the course of the story,
there is no proof that the Monster is actually
real. All that we are presented with is actions
the Monster did from Victor’s point of view.
The only other people that have seen the
Monster have also been killed by it. There is
reason to believe that the Monster does not The paragraph has about six
exist and that Victor himself is the Monster. He different ideas. There’s no
talks about it as if it is another person but it
may not be. The Monster could represent specific evidence and no claim
Victor’s inner demons coming to light which he that organizes the paragraph.
has no control over .When the Monster was It’s full of speculations that
created it can be seen as his inner demons
finally escaping and casting its shadow onto the don’t have evidence. Any one
world. Victor is appalled by this and becomes of these ideas might be an
sick in an attempt to fight off his demons but interesting idea for a
he fails. It is also entirely possible that Victor
killed William in the park that night as his paragraph, but together there’s
creation. That could be a reason why Victor no focused reading or
feels so guilty about Justine being put to death argument.
but doing nothing about it. Victor also could
have killed Clerval on the boat just as the
towns people said. There is no concrete proof
that the Monster in fact exists. That is until the A claim for this paragraph that
very last chapters of the book. This can confuse might have worked is, “Since all
the reader and cast doubt onto the rest of the we know about the monster is
story. If the Monster may not exist what else
could be made up by Victor. Shelley removes presented through his own
this doubt when Walton recounts a first-hand point of view, Victor’s story
experience of seeing the Monster shortly after lacks a certain degree of
Victor dies, but for almost the entire book
there is doubt cast about the plot. credibility.”

11. Victor’s life changes for the better and
he begins to put the monster in his
past. He becomes engaged to
Elizabeth and decides he needs to
Journey to England and gain more
knowledge from an English
Philosopher to succeed in his
creation of a female creature. His The paragraph is all plot summary.
lifelong friend Henry Clerval There’s no argument here.
accompanies him. After a while
Victor departs from his friend and There’s one sentence of buried
heads to Scotland to complete his analysis (Just as Pandora’s box .
creation. As he works, he has . .), but that’s really it.
feelings of “foreboding of evil.” After
much thought he realizes that only
The claim is a description, not an
misery will ensue if he continues his argument.
work. He disposes of the unformed
creature. When the monster learns
that he will not have a mate, he There’s one quote in the entire
warns “I will be with you on your paragraph and little
wedding night.” Just as Pandora’s explanation or unpacking of it.
box contained death, sin and other
forms of evil, so does Victor’s
monster as he continues to reek evil
and destruction of
Frankenstein’sworld.After the
murder of his friend Clerval and his
wife Elizabeth he knows he must rid
the world of his monster and sets
out to find him.

12. The “birth” of the creature by Victor is similar to a
mother giving birth to child inasmuch as Victor
takes the role of the mother, his lab is a surrogate
womb, and the creature is the child. Victor’s This works pretty well.
excitement prior to the birth of the creature is
similar to the excitement of an expecting mother
prior to childbirth, but unlike an expecting mother The claims sets up an argumentative
Victor’s excitement stems from scientific discovery flow that the rest of the
not from a preconceived feeling of love for an
unborn child. There are also similarities with the paragraph unpacks.
physical toll of child birth and the illness’s that
Victor suffered during both of the creations
scenes. Victor states that “My cheek had grown Ideally, there would be more
pale with study, and my person had become specific evidence from the text
emaciated with confinement.” Victor experiences
exhaustion and other ailments before and after than the one quote.
the creation of each creature; this is similar to the
exhaustion a mother would experience during and
after childbirth. What should be noted is that Still, there is evidence from the text
when Victor assumes the role of the mother figure to back up the provocatvie
he essentially took over the role of women in reading the writer sets up in
regards to their ability to create life. What also can
be inferred by this is that Victor has essentially the opening paragraph.
taken away the need for women for reproduction.
Victor was not only doomed to failure from his
desire to violate the natural limits of human The end of the paragraph offers an
knowledge, but by not caring for his child like a analysis that connects themes
mother would and therefore created a monster
with a thirst for vengeance. Victor planned to use in the book.
the fruits of his labor to help mankind, but he did
not take into account the responsibilities of the
care and protection of his creation and was
certainly not prepared for it either.

13. Victor’s desire for sympathy took a drastic change after
he realized the monster he had created, and the
seriousness to which he neglected all the people
that brought him joy. The monster’s creation
stirred up Victor’s need for sympathy in terms of
reviving his relationships with his family, friends,
and romantic other. Frankenstein’s good friend
Clerval was the first person he saw after creating This works:
the monster and he utterly desired to rekindle the
relationships that were so important to him
before. Upon Clerval’s arrival Frankenstein stated,
“Nothing could equal my delight on seeing Clerval; The paragraph is pointing out the
his presence brought back to my thoughts my connection between Victor’s
father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home so scientific pursuits and his
dear to my recollection.” Victor clearly shows how
his heart and mind have been absent from the failure in personal
family and friends he loves the most, and relationships.
recognizes how comforting the presence of a good
friend is. Clerval not only gives Victor affection and
care, but also truly acts as a way to bring Victor It uses evidence well throughout.
back to the reality of what’s important. Elizabeth
was not only Victor’s love, but also one who
continually showed sympathy toward him, in his
weakest stages of life. On the night of Victor and
Elizabeth’s wedding night he proclaimed, “You are The analysis explains the
sorrowful my love. If you knew what I have
suffered, and what I may yet endure, you would significance of the examples
endeavor to let me taste the quiet, and freedom from the plot.
from despair, that this one day at least permits me
to enjoy.” Here Victor is expressing the misfortunes
and lost he has experienced, and the sympathy he
desires from Elizabeth is one which provides
affection, compassion, and a mere comfort to the
distress he has faced. Victor’s selfish ambition
brought him to this place in his life accompanying
much sorrow, and consequently took the life away
from the people that he loved the most that
brought true meaning to his life in the beginning.

14. Conclusions
• Most conclusions stink because it’s the last thing
you’ll write before you turn in the paper. The
general feeling of most conclusions is “I’m done
with this stupid paper and now I have to write a
few more sentences.”
• Look over the tips on the checklist for advice on
how to make your conclusions not stink. While
the conclusion is not the part of the paper I grade
most stringently, “A” papers have solid
conclusions.