“Monster-Making” Research Essay

This assignment, which according to department standards, is worth 40% of your final grade, is due
Tuesday, December 6. The final essay will allow you to demonstrate your critical and theoretical
understanding of monsters, and their creation on the sociological and psychological levels. You will
be expected to reflection on themes, prevailing images, conventions, codes, and literary devices
related to monsters as evidenced in the texts that we have studied.

In order to develop your response to one of the essay topics listed in this text and demonstrate your
ability to engage with the theories explored in this course, you must also reference at least two
secondary sources (an essay or article) that have been presented in this class.

Secondary Sources: Be certain to quote from at least one theoretical readings as you are
developing your argument. These sources include Carrol's Paradoxes of the Heart, Kristeva's
“Approach Abjection,” Timothy Beal's Religion and its Monsters, or the additional article in the
course pack “Monster Culture (Seven Theses)” by Jeffrey Cohen.

“Major Themes in Gothic Literature” cannot be used.

Remember to review the “Research Essay Body Paragraph” exemplar for guidance on how to best
integrate secondary sources into a fluid paragraph.

Use of Secondary Sources: All sources should be cited parenthetically in the body of the paper and
the essay must include a works cited page. Only scholarly sources, including articles published in
peer-reviewed journals, books, and formal, academic websites are acceptable.

Do not merely reference a theory and note that it applies to a text or scene.

You must use the secondary source to illuminate the text and contribute meaningfully to your
argument. In your reference to, and application of, a theory, make certain that you show how and
why that theory is relevant to what you have to say about the work. What new insights into the text
and its ideas does your secondary source provide? How do these new insights contribute to the
argument you are making about the text, its function, or meaning?

Preparation Assignments & Grade Penalty: You must re-submit your preparation assignments,
completed in class, attached to your final essay. A 3% penalty will be applied to essays that are
submitted without each associated document.

Essay Length: Your essay should be between 1250 words (about four double spaced pages without
block quotations), not including quotations. Essays that are longer than 1400 words, not including
quotations, will be penalized. Indicate your word count at the end of your essay.

Format and layout: Standard MLA 9th format for academic papers should be followed; typewritten
using 12-point Times New Roman font and 1” margins throughout; name, the instructor's name,
course title, and the date in the top left hand corner; a brief, descriptive title centred above the first
paragraph; and double spaced.

Essay Topics

Non-Subject-Theme Essays
Human monstrosity: do not respect human morality/values, etc. Do not understand human emotion
(unsympathetic)

Arthur Fleck:
- Is monstrous because of his laugh (Unheimlich), familiarity with murder (no human
morality or empathy) because he views them as unworthy of living
- Comments on human society’s failure to empathize with the unfortunate (proof: Joker’s
speech on Murray)

Your essay should make a statement of what characterizes human monstrosity.

2. Several of the tales that we have studied in this course, including The Island of Doctor
Moreau, The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, and Nadelman's God are
concerned with decline, degradation, devolution, and “decadence” in the areas of society,
art, morals, and more. Oftentimes, monsters are at the heart of this decline, or help to
represent it.

Topic: Select two such texts and explore their presentation of the subject of social or personal
(collective or individual) “decline.”

You must narrow your focus to develop a strong, clear, and specific thesis. To do so, you might
consider questions such as: “What is the cause of personal/collective/moral/artistic/etc. decline in
these texts?” “Do the texts offer hope for recovery?” “If so, how can we recover, and what is the
nature of that recovery?”

" The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde argues that society can still be
"saved" by a reversal of individuals' exploration in sins, while Joker argues society
will inevitably be corrupted."

 Include reference to the human monsters and the social observation that is
advanced through them.
 You do not wish to come up with "three different ways" in which the text
conveys this point, but build the argument over the essay step-by-step with
precise ideas through each paragraph that bring together aspects of the
texts and their ideas.
 Examine any published work of literary criticism on a given text; when you
have an essay that is of a hundred extended paragraphs, you cannot prove
the thesis in each paragraph. Instead, you build the argument of the thesis
and explore it in comprehensible pieces.

Grading Criteria

The following describes an “A” essay. All papers will be judged holistically based on these criteria.

Argument:

 Thesis is logical, clear, and specific. It provides an original, thought-provoking direction for
the essay.
 The thesis uses evidence from the text to discuss a broader theme or subject.
 The essay maintains its focus by elaborating on, supporting, and proving the thesis. There
are no digressions into other topics.
  Plot summary is kept to a minimum; all brief plot summary is used to support analysis and
the developing argument.

Organization:

 Introduction is strong; it clearly introduces the text to be studied, outlines the subject or
topic of the essay, and includes a specific thesis (A one-device-per-paragraph thesis will not
work for essays of this sort.).
 Body paragraphs have specific topic sentences that support the thesis clearly and identify the
subject of the paragraph.
 Unity is maintained in paragraphs.
 Ideas progress logically throughout the essay (the argument is organized and develops to a
satisfying conclusion throughout the essay).
 Transitions between paragraphs and ideas are smooth.
 Conclusion provides logical final statement on the subject of the thesis; it represents the
culmination of the essay's argument.

Evidence From the Text:

 Ample supporting evidence is included in the essay; all points and assertions regarding the
text, or ideas from secondary sources, are proven with reference to direct evidence.
 Evidence is integrated smoothly; there are no “hanging” quotations.
 Quotations enhance the argument; they are directly connected to the argument being
advanced.

Expression:

 There are almost no errors in spelling, syntax, or grammar.

Format:

 The essay expertly conforms to MLA format and assignment guidelines regarding length,
citations, header, works cited, 1” margins, etc.
 Quotations are referenced correctly and documented in a “Works Cited” page .