Costello AP Lit

Guidelines for our study of Frankenstein: Blogging: You will be required to write 10 original blog entries that are evenly spread throughout the novel. o You must have at least 5 entries that cover the first half of the novel (through Chapter 12) posted to your blog before 11:00pm on Tueday, April 3rd. o You must have the remaining 5 entries that cover the second half of the novel (after Chapter 12) posted to your blog before 11:00pm on Wednesday, April 11th. Each blog must begin with a cited excerpt from the novel, from which your entry will be based. Each blog post must be between 8-16 sentences in depth (not including the excerpt). Each entry must be posted separately. You will post 5 blogs in the 1st week of the project, and 5 in the 2nd week (see project calendar) At least three of the entries per week must critically analyze the effect of a literary technique on the work. You will do so by relying in the summer literary terms and/or the concepts typically covered in AP multiple choice questions, class discussion, etc. The other two entries may be more personal, reflective, though youre welcome to make those entries of lit. terms analysis. But even personal entries must still be rooted in analyzing the text. Do NOT summarize. Continue to label your posts according to topic, author, literary technique, etc. Though not required, continue to find links to other works of literature, pop culture, etc. Though not required, reading and commenting on other classmates blog posts was mentioned as a help during summer work, and so it stands to reason that spending some time reading and commenting on other classmates blog posts can help here as well! This assignments focus is NOT pinpoint accuracy of analysis. These blogs should be a reflection of your initial understandings, confusions, questions, and analysis. They should not be regurgitations of class discussion or an outside sources analysis. Its expected that after more time and discussion, you will look back on your blog entries and notice the growth that has come with further studying of the material.

Costello AP Lit

Studying: Annotation of your hard copy and using the note-taking guide to.well.guide your note-taking for each section will be requirements of your approach. o Annotation = highlighting, underlining, and marking (1) literary techniques in use as well as (2) passages that relate to (a) items from the note-taking guide, (b) thematic development, (c) characterization, (d) points that merit discussion and/or clarification, etc. o Note-taking = using the packet provided to record (1) your independent thoughts, (2) direct quotes and paraphrases of relevant text, (3) page numbers to allow for quick reference during discussion, etc. o Both aspects of studying will impact your test grades in significant ways. In other words, both your book and note-taking guide will serve as a visual representation of your effort. If full effort is clear, full points will be earned. Tip: Reread chapters AFTER discussion to help recognize/retain more detail I will ask that you use this calendar to outline your own reading schedule. M 3/19: introduce Frankenstein T 3/20: discuss Letters (p.1-14) W 3/21: discuss Ch.1-5 (p. 14-39) TH 3/22: review timed writings F 3/23: SPRING BREAK! ________________________________________________ M 4/2: discuss Ch.6-8 (p. 40-60) T 4/3: discuss Ch. 9-12 (p. 61-81); 5 blog entries due before 11:00pm W 4/4: TBA TH 4/5: Frankenstein Test #1 F 4/6: TBA ________________________________________________ M 4/9: discuss Ch.13-17 (p. 81-108) T 4/10: discuss Ch. 18-21 (p. 108-136) W 4/11: discuss Ch. 22-24 (p. 136-166); 5 blog entries due before 11:00pm TH 4/12: TBA F 4/13: Frankenstein Test #2

Thematic Topics in Frankenstein

Costello AP Lit

Some of these will be used after we complete the book to help prepare for a free-response timed writing. Be on the look-out for passages that touch on these topics:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

8. 9. 10.

11. 12. 13.

14. 15.

Alienation/Solitude: a sense of not belonging, either to a community or to one's own sense of self. Benevolence: the active expression of love and sympathy for one's fellow beings. Creation: involving both creativity, procreation, and the right and/or ability to create. Death: the frequency of death, and the place of the dead, are both involved in this theme. Depravity: sinfulness. Destiny: or fate, or necessity; both as it may be self-energized or seen as an external force in control of the self. Doubling: similarities of action between two figures, an eerie sense of there being a second self, similarities between two events/scenes (de ja vu) Duty: both one's sense of obligation to one's fellow beings and one's sense of responsibility for oneself. Education/Knowledge: how and what one learns. Family -- Domestic Affections: the value of shared and loving intimacy to be discerned, and experienced, in family life (role of mother, orphan, father, son, romantic partner, etc.) Frame Story: how structure impacts the work as a whole Guilt: Not just the sense of remorse, but how it is generated, and its value or dangers. Health: both its abstract meaning as a sign of well-being, and the specific ways in which an individual's health becomes affected by mental and physical conditions. Justice: how it functions; who is in control of it; who suffers or is privileged by it. Nature vs. Nurture: the meaning and function of whether people are born as they are or are formed into who they are