Monsters: What Are You Afraid Of?
11/12 Honors Seminar: Fall Trimester
Ms. Nardi
617-361-0050 x135
tnardi@pacrim.org
Essential Questions:



Where do monsters come from?
How do writers use language to construct monsters?
What does the production and consumption of monsters (in text and film)
reveal about humans?
Course Overview:
Throughout history, human beings have created stories about the creatures
they fear most. We see them in our novels, our movies and even our dreams.
This course will explore why people create fictional monsters. We will answer
the question: are these characters really dangerous? To answer this question,
we will read about some of the most famous monsters of literature: Dracula, Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein’s monster. We will try to decide: Do
actual monsters exist? What do our fears reveal about us as humans? What
would the “monsters” say if they had a voice? Finally, we will explore the
question: Are we the creepy monsters in the attic? Beware! This course is not
for the faint of heart.
Texts:
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Godzilla (film clips)
Jurassic Park (film)
Excerpts from: On Monsters:
“Torturers, Terrorists and Zombies” p. 231-249 Due 8/28
“Medicalization of Monsters” p. 151-153 Due 10/3
“Future Monsters” p. 255-257 Due 10/6
“Criminal Monsters” p. 203-218 Due 10/29
Literary Criticism:
“Suddenly Sexual Women in Bram Stoker’s Dracula” by Phyllis A. Roth
(p. 411-421 of Norton Critical Edition): Due 9/24
“Dracula’s Backlash” by Bram Dijkstra (p. 460-462): Due 9/24
“Possessing Nature” by Anne K. Mellor: Due 10/14
Major Assessments:
Assessment
Dracula Essay/Self As
Reader Personal Essay
Dracula Literary
Criticism
Dracula/Frankenstein
Essay
Monsters Final Essay
Oral Presentation: The
Missing Monologue
Length
4-5
pages
250
words
5-7
pages
5-7
pages
2
minutes
Due Date
9/17 Draft 1
9/23 Draft 2
9/26 at 2:30pm
Points
100 points
100 points
100 points
10/21 (Class)Draft 1
10/28 (2:30) Draft 2
11/19 at 2:45pm
150 points
150 points
300 points
11/19
50 points
1.) Dracula Essay/Self As Reader Personal Essay (4-5 pages) (150 points)
This is a metacognitive assignment. You should be observing yourself read
the text and describing your experience. Your essay will be in first person,
but it will include details from the text, including quotes. It may include:
areas of the text where you struggled, and areas that caught your attention,
reflections on the pace or place of your reading. It might include thoughts
you had about the book as you were reading, connections that you made to
the text as you went about your daily routine, and/or connections between
this course and another course you are taking.
2.) Dracula Literary Criticism Analysis (250 words) (100 points)
For this paper, you are essentially writing an argument about an argument.
Choose one of the two pieces of literary criticism. Evaluate the validity of
its argument. Answer the question: What is the value of this piece of
literary criticism in helping the reader to better understand or appreciate
the text? Where does it make strong points? Where does it make weak
points? What evidence supports your viewpoint? You should take a clear
position in your essay, just like you would in any other analytical essay. Also,
please write in third person and use evidence from the Dracula and the
article. *Note: For full credit, use Dracula quotes that have not already
been used in the critical essay.
3.) Dracula/Frankenstein Essay: Texts in Conversation (5-7 pages) (300
points)
What is the relationship between the two texts? What does one reveal about
the other or what do both reveal when read together? Choose one point of
comparison between the two texts. Examine that point of comparison from
all angles. *Note: Be sure that you have chosen ONE point of comparison,
and that you have not set yourself up for a three-part thesis/argument.
Balance quotes and evidence from both texts.
Sample topics:
-xenophobia/exploration of outcasts in society (explored in Ch. 14 of On
Monsters)
-human vulnerability (explored in Ch. 12 of On Monsters)
-ambivalence/concern about women’s shifting roles in society
-fear of reproduction/expressions of fear over sexuality/sexual desire
-books as moral messages about how to function in society
-exploring the hybridity (two sides/personality types) inherent in every
human/fear of our own worst qualities
-explorations of family/ambivalence about parent figures (our creators)
-religion/exploration of how these characters challenge faith
-celebration of “the hunt” as a form of self-cleansing (if we cleanse society
of these monsters, we cleanse ourselves.)
4.) Final Essay (5-7 pages) (300 points)
Focus on Essential Question #3
Self-Selected Thesis Question—Final essay must include all three major texts
and one of the films we discussed in class. You are strongly encouraged to
use the secondary sources that we study (On Monsters, literary criticism).
(Note: You may use Essential Question #3 to inspire your own question, but
it is much too broad for the scope of this essay.)
5.) Oral Presentation: Missing Monologue (2 minutes) (50 points)
This is a creative writing assignment. You will get inside the head of a
character from one text or film and speak from their perspective. Please be
prepared to hand in a typed copy of your script. Half of your score will be
on content and half will be on presentation skills.
Printing Policy:
All submitted work must be printed and placed directly into Ms. Nardi’s hands. Emailed papers will not be accepted.
Seminar Preparation:
Please come to seminar with your book annotated. You should bring preliminary
assertions/arguments about the text, questions for discussion, areas of confusion
and selected passages/quotes to support your thinking. You should also look at the
upcoming paper questions and use your notes to help you prepare ideas and
evidence for these assignments. Seminar will be graded using the text-based
discussion rubric (included in syllabus). Please note: If you are absent, please
return the following day with your missing notes and a note from a doctor or
parent explaining your absence. Unexcused absences will earn a zero.
Late Work Policy:
Please get in the habit of turning in your work on time. If you turn in a major
assignment late, 10% of the total point value will be deducted for each day late. If
a paper is more than 5 days late, no credit will be awarded.
Office Hours:
Writing assistance will be available every Tuesday in Room 3 from 2:30-3:40. If you
need additional assistance you should set up an appointment at a separate time.
Book Money:
Book money is due at the start of each trimester. Books cost $10/trimester if you
have turned in an approved free/reduced lunch form. Books cost $20 if you do not
qualify for free/reduced lunch.
Formatting:
All typed work must be:
 MLA format
 12 point font
 1” margins
 Times New Roman
 Double-spaced
Also:
 No extra spaces between paragraphs
 Please include a heading with your name, date, course and assignment
Monsters Calendar
August 27
August 28
August 29
CW: Intro to
Monsters &
Notetaking
CW:
-Pre-writing:
What did you
notice about
the text as
you read?
What did you
notice about
yourself as
you read?
(15 min)
College Fair
When is
someone (or
something)
called a
monster?
HW: Dracula
Ch. 1 & 2
(Mod. Ch. 2)
Due
Tomorrow
September 1
September 2
September 3
Labor Day
Vocab
(15 min)
What
connections
do you see
between
Dracula and
“Torturers,
Terrorists
and
Zombies?”
(40 min.
timed
writing)
Seminar
(45 min)
HW: Dracula
Ch. p. 7377, 88-93,
Ch. 10 & p.
169-173
Due
Thursday
CW: Seminar on
“Torturers,
Terrorists, and
Zombies”
-Seminar
(45 min)
HW: Dracula Ch.
3&4
due Tuesday
HW: Read
“Torturers,
Terrorists and
Zombies” p.
231-249
September 4
September 5
Vocab
(15 min)
Self As Reader
Essay Drafting
Seminar
(45 min)
HW: Dracula
Ch. 13-16
(Mod: Ch. 14
& 16 only)
Due Monday
Computer Lab
Reserved on this
day.
September 8
September 9
September 10
September 11
September 12
CW: Seminar
Vocab
(15 min)
HW: Dracula
Ch. 21-24
(Mod: Ch. 22
& Ch. 24)
Vocab
(15 min)
CW: Seminar
HW: Dracula
Ch. 17-20
(Mod: Ch. 18
& 20 only)
Due
Wednesday
September
15
Vocab
(15 min)
Self As
Reader Essay
(45 min)
Due Tuesday
September
16
Final
Seminar
Adding
on/Revising
Self As
Reader Essay
(45 min)
HW: Dracula
Ch. 25-27
(p. 374-411)
Due
Tomorrow
Computer
Lab
Reserved for
in-class use
Due Friday
Peer Response
Groups
(45 min)
HW: Dracula
Ch. 25-27
(p. 374-411)
HW:
Complete
first typed
draft
September 17
September 18
September 19
CW: Typed
draft must be
turned in by
2:45. It will
be graded on
the rubric
out of 100
points and
returned to
you Monday
in class. The
second draft
(also graded
out of 100
points) is due
Tuesday at
3:40.
CW: Peer
Editing Group
CW:
Vocab Quiz
Unit 21
(15 min)
Writing Time
(45 min)
Self As Reader
Essay Due
Tuesday
At 3:40.
HW: Print 3 HW: Revise
copies of first and Study for
typed draft
Vocab Quiz 21
Computer
Lab Reserved
for in-class
use
Computer Lab
Reserved for inclass use.
September
22
CW:
-Vocab
(15 min)
-Final Work
on Essay
Essay Due at
2:45
tomorrow.
Computer
Lab
Reserved for
in-class use
September
29
CW:
-Vocab
(15 min)
September
23
CW: Dracula
Literary
Criticism:
“Suddenly
Sexual
Women”
HW: Dracula
Literary
Criticism 2:
“Dracula’s
Backlash”
September 24
September 25
September 26
CW:In-Class
Seminar on
Literary
Criticism
CW: Peer
Response
Groups on
Dracula
Literary
Criticism
CW:
-Vocab
(15 min)
HW: 250
word typed
response due
tomorrow in
class
HW: Revise
Dracula
Literary
Criticism
Due 9/26 at
2:30pm
HW: p. 17-42
Due Monday
September
30
HW:
Frankenstein
68-89 Due
Tomorrow
October 1
October 2
October 3
CW:
“Medicalizati
on of
Monsters” p.
151-153
CW:
Vocab (15
min)
Note: If the
college fair is
scheduled during
class time, then
we will discuss
p. 90-146 on
10/7.
-Seminar
Examining
Exemplars:
Seminar
HW: p. 43-67
Due
Tomorrow
-Start
Frankenstein
(Ch. 1-4
p. 17-42)
(45 min)
Reviewing
Student Work:
HW:
Dracula
Frankenstein
Literary
p. 90-115 Due
Criticism
Friday
HW:
Frankenstein
p. 116-146
Due Tuesday
October 6
October 7
October 8
October 9
October 10
CW: Godzilla
CW:
Vocab
(15 min)
CW:
Pre-Writing:
What
relationships
do you
between
Frankenstein
and Dracula?
CW:
Vocab
(15 min)
CW: Drafting
Essay Topics and
outlining for
Frankenstin/
Dracula essay
CW: p. 255257 of
“Future
Monsters”
chapter
Seminar on
Frankenstein
and Godzilla
(45 min)
Seminar
(45 min)
and/or
Drafting Essay
Topics for Final
Essay
HW:
Frankenstein
p. 147-184
Due
Thursday
HW:
Frankenstein
p. 185-213
Due Tuesday
-HW:
Frankenstein Lit.
Criticism
(by Anne Mellor)
due Thursday
and Study for
Vocab Quiz 22
Due Thursday
10/16
October 13
October 14
October 15
October 16
October 17
Columbus
Day—No
School
11th Grade:
Only
th
(12 Grade
Field Trip)
PSAT
Please Note:
CW: Vocab Quiz
Unit 22
Vocab
Final
Frankenstein
Seminar
12th Grade will
do Tuesday’s
lesson on this
day. Also, if
the 11th grade
trip is
scheduled for
Friday, the
Anne Mellor
seminar will
be on this
day.
CW: Seminar on
Frankenstein
Literary Criticism
(by Anne Mellor)
HW: 5-7 page
draft of essay
due in class on
Tuesday (150
points)—
deductions if you
come to class
without printing.
October 20
October 21
October 22
October 23
October 24
CW:
Dracula/
Frankenstein
Essay
CW:
CW:
Vocab
(15 min)
Vocab
(15 min)
CW:
Dracula /
Frankenstein
Essay
CW:
Dracula /
Frankenstein
Essay
Peer-Editing
of Essays
Peer Editing
of Essays
HW: Paper
Due Tuesday
10/28 at 2:30
HW: Paper Due
Tuesday 10/28 at
2:30
October 28
October 29
October 30
October 31
HW: Begin
Monster
Monologues
CW:
Vocab
(15 min)
CW:
CW: Vocab
(15 min)
HW:
Drafting—
Complete 57 page draft
due at the
start of
CLASS
Tuesday—
This draft
will be
assessed on
the rubric,
scored out of
150 points,
and returned
to you by
10/27.
Computer
Lab
Reserved for
in-class use
October 27
CW:
Dracula/
Frankenstein
Essay
Seminar
(45 min)
HW: Paper
Due Tuesday
at 2:30pm
HW: Start
reading
Jekyll and
Hyde
p. 1-21
Due
Tomorrow
HW:
“Criminal
Monsters”
Essay
p. 203-218
Seminar on
Criminal
Monsters Essay
Partner Peer
Edit Monster
Monologues
HW: Complete
a 2-page
Monster
Monologue
Peer-Edit
Monster
Monologues
Happy Monsters
Day!
HW: p. 22-41
Due Tuesday
November 3
November 4
November 5
November 6
November 7
Jurassic Park
film
CW:
Vocab
(15 min)
Jurassic Park
Film
CW:
Vocab
(15 min)
Review:
Outlining Your
Argument
Jekyll and
Hyde
Seminar &
Post-Writing
Drafting Final
Essay
Questions
HW: 2 typed
or 3
handwritten
pages of prewriting due
Tomorrow
HW: p. 4164 Due
Thursday
November 10
No School
November
11
No School
HW: Bring 3
copies of a typed
version of your
outline with you
on Wednesday
Computer Lab
Reserved for
in-class use
Computer Lab
Reserved for inclass use
November 12
November 13
November 14
Do Now:
Vocab
(15 min)
CW: Continue
to draft final
essay
CW:
Vocab Quiz 23
First Draft of
Final Essay
Draft due Today
at 3:40 for
teacher
feedback
Peer
Response
Groups
HW: Draft
Essay
HW:
Study for
Vocab Quiz 23
Computer Lab
Reserved for
in-class use
Computer Lab
Reserved for inclass use
November 17
CW:
Vocab
(15 min)
Final Essay
Computer
Lab
Reserved for
in-class use
November
18
CW: Final
Essay
November 19
CW:
Vocab (15
min)
HW: Final
Paper Due
Wednesday
at 2:45
Final Essay
Computer
Lab
Reserved for
in-class use
Computer
Lab Reserved
for in-class
use
November 20
CW: Monster
Monologues
November 21
Course
Evaluation