The Frankenstein Application Essay

Literary works like Frankenstein explore the “human condition” or experiences that humans encounter. The study guides for Frankenstein offer several “Real Life Considerations” meant to help you critically analyze the applications of the work’s themes in today’s world. Now, you will choose one of these topics and explore it using secondary resources to learn more about the novel and its relevant social topics. You might find information about social issues in familiar sources such as magazines, newspapers, or social science journals. Make sure your sources are credible – you do not want a random website or an encyclopedic website such as Wikipedia.2 Your sources will preferably be scholarly ones. Here are some ideas of places where you might find appropriate sources for this assignment: sing proper MLA style, insert parenthetical citations and signal phrases for all borrowed information in addition to a Works Cited page for Frankenstein and your chosen external sources.

You have several options for this assignment:

Option #1: Can science go too far?

There is an ongoing battle between faith or spirituality and science that has been active even before the time of Mary Shelley. What are some of the dilemmas she addresses that are still important today? What are some of the ethical questions she brings up regarding the scientific definition of life and death? What does she illustrate about the power science has to blur the line between life and death? What is a current news item that is similar to this issue?

Hint: Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: “How and how well does Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein address ethical issues of science and/or faith for audiences, regardless of when they read the novel?”

Option #2: Discovery

Both Frankenstein and Walton are trying to discover something important to them. What parts of their real lives drive them to discovery? Does that drive still exist today? While we’ve mapped the globe, are there still geographical places for people to explore? In science, are people still trying to discover the meaning of life, how to save life, and how to defeat death? What methods do they use? Are there better ways to accomplish these goals than others? What are some of today’s motivations for discovery?

Note: Develop a thesis that answers questions like this one: “How and how well does Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein address human discovery as a theme?”

Option #3: World Perception and Prejudice

Reread the paragraph where the creature describes the book from which Felix teaches Safie. It begins: “The book from which Felix instructed Safie was Volney’s Ruins of Empires…”

What are some of the perceptions and prejudices from the book that Felix teaches Safie? How have these perceptions and prejudices changed, if they have, in today’s society? What are some present-day situations and references that may claim a lack of prejudice or an open-mindedness, but, in fact, are still very prejudiced, racist, sexist, etc.? Why do you think these situations still happen? Can anything be done about it?

Hint: Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: “How and how well does Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein address human prejudice in the world throughout time?”

Option #4: Personal Perception

It could be argued that the creature did not consider itself a monster and didn’t do awful things until people treated him like a monster. What are some real-world instances in which people’s actions could be a reaction to abuse from others? Who do you feel is accountable in these situations? Why?

Hint: Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: “How and how well does Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein address the effect of peer perceptions on personal development?”

Option #5: Death and Suicide

At the end of the book, the creature promises to destroy himself. Is this a justifiable end for him? Could he have been redeemed? Would he have had a place in the world of Shelley’s novel? How could this relate to current-day issues like suicide or the death penalty?

Hint: Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: “How and how well does Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein address the value of an individual’s life and death?”

Option #6: Nature vs. Nurture

The creature argues that had someone properly guided him, he would not have been so wretched. Frankenstein4 argues that the creature was evil to begin with, so it would have been useless to teach him at all. What are some current debates – especially in education – where these kinds of arguments still arise? How much of behavior of you think is based on nature (how a person IS) and how much is based on nurture (what a person LEARNS or EXPERIENCES)? What examples from the present support your opinion? What do you feel is the truth? Why?

Hint: Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: “How and how well does Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein address existing personality traits versus how a person is taught to act?”

Option #7: Feminism

The feminist perspective is often explored in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. How are the women characters treated in the novel? What perceptions of women did Shelley use and comment on? How did she handle the theme of motherhood?

Hint: Develop a thesis that answers a question like this one: “How and how well does Mary Shelley incorporate responses to feminist issues into the novel, Frankenstein?”

The guidelines for this assignment are as follows:

  review the practice intervention and research literature on one intervention approach (for example: structural family therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy) for a specific problem/population. You will use the same problem/client population as the one that you used in your Social Work Practice Theory Paper so that you can explore clinical work with that client population more thoroughly. Imagine you are a clinical social worker with that client, pick one intervention to research, and describe how/why that intervention applies to and is useful in working with the client population.

Hello thank you for taking my question I have attached the following references/ directions to use to complete this question, I also attached my paper to use to help with this assigment.   This paper should be 3-5 pages in length (double-spaced, 12 pt. font) and include a title page and reference page with complete APA formatted citations for the literature you have reviewed. The 3-5 page length does not include your title page or reference page. The text of the paper should be organized in a narrative form with the following section headings:  1. Introduction: What you will cover and why you select this area.  2. Problem population: Briefly describe the problem population you will be addressing. This should be the same as the description in your Social Work Practice Theory Paper, with any necessary edits based on your instructor’s feedback. Be sure to include the characteristics of the population that are the focus of the intervention strategy. Use 1-2 references to support this discussion.  3. Review and critique of one intervention strategy: Using readings/articles. Use the following guidelines for analysis of the intervention:  a. Identify the theoretical framework that supports the intervention and any underlying assumptions. Similar to your first paper, identify which theoretical framework(s) guide the intervention. For example, cognitive theory and behavior theory guide CBT interventions, and feminist therapy is guided by social work feminist theory. Not all interventions are as clear-cut as these; however, there should be some theoretical support for all interventions. In addition, what does the theory or theories state about human behavior, etc.? This is what we mean by underlying assumptions.  b. Discuss the empirical basis, or lack of empirical basis, for the intervention. Has research been done to show the effectiveness of the intervention in general? With the population you chose? For example, CBT has a lot of empirical evidence that supports its use with individuals who have been diagnosed with depression.  c. Discuss the application of the intervention to the client’s situation, including strengths and limitations. Does the intervention fully address the particular needs of your population? What are the strengths and limitations of using this intervention with this population?  d. Discuss the role of the therapist in the intervention, including use of self issues.What would a therapist utilizing this theory do with a client? What would their role be? What is their level of self-disclosure? For example, feminist therapist believes in full self-disclosure.  e. Identify how the approach complements the strengths-based perspective and collaborative model of intervention or if it does not. Remember, in social work we believe that all systems (individuals, families, etc.) have strengths and that social workers and clients work collaboratively to bring about change. Sometimes the theories and interventions we use highlight individual’s strengths and collaborative work and sometimes they don’t. For example, an intervention that makes the social worker the expert would not be strengths-based. As such, you are asked to evaluate how this intervention complements or does not follow a strengths-based, collaborative social work approach.  f. Discuss how sessions are structured within the approach, including time/session limits. What does a basic layout of sessions look like? Is this a brief intervention, i.e. a limited number of sessions? Or does this intervention require several months?  g. Give examples of specific techniques used by the approach. What are the concrete steps of the intervention? For example, visualization exercises, homework assignments that require individuals to do a particular thing, etc.  h. Discuss how practice effectiveness can be evaluated. As a therapist, how would you know that this intervention is helping your client(s)? What would that look like?  4. Conclusions: About the intervention and its application to your population. The expectation is that you will summarize what you have learned from the professional literature on your topic as well as critically assess the intervention and research you have reviewed.  5. References: At least 5 scholarly references, in addition to the course texts or readings, should be used, properly cited in APA format, and included in the reference page at the end of the paper. You may use sources that you used in your previous paper.References please see belowRazza, N. J., Tomasulo, D. J., & Sobsey, D. (2011).Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 5(5), 40-45.Rothman, J. C. (2010). Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 9(2-3), 194-222.Saleeby, P. W. (2007).Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 6(1-2), 217-232.

Finding Problems, Solutions and their Effects

REQUIREMENTS

Choose one of the prompts listed below.

Introduction must state the prompt you chose and the point you plan to develop in the body of the essay,

UNDERLINE the central idea and thesis in your introduction and your topic sentences in the body paragraphs. 

Include at least 3 short quotes from a story as support and explain your support. EACH body paragraph must include at least one quote from the story.

FOLLOWING YOUR ESSAY, include the following additional materials: 1. A formal outline that includes copies of your final central idea, thesis and topic sentences as they appear in your essay. 2. A process analysis on the steps you took in not only preparing for your essay, but the actual attempted writing of it. Include the prompt you chose and why. Here’s a page of similar sample process analyses from previous classes. 3. A brief statement on what you learned about analyzing the methods and effects in the Matrix and how you can apply the Matrix to situations outside this English class.

Submit your essay and additional materials as one single document. Submit only PDF, doc or docx files. Do not submit Google or Pages documents.

INTRODUCTION TO PROMPTS

We can learn about ourselves, other people, our communities, and our global environment from reading literature. For example, we can analyze methods that characters use to problem-solve. We can learn how to draw conclusions about the meaning of actions or the effects of the environment on people’s lives. We can learn how to deduce connections between events.  In writing a comparative analysis, we can learn the tools for making comparisons and contrasts in real life. In short, reading literature and writing about it can give us insight into ourselves. It can also give us insight into human behavior, the human situation, and the human condition.

Now that you have completed Module 3 on short stories, it’s time to apply the problem-solving Matrix.  First, find ONE problem that faces a character. Summarize the problem.

Before you begin writing your essay, brainstorm. Analyze the methods (from the matrix) the character uses to try to solve the problem and the effects of each.

You MUST use the vocabulary in the matrix. That is, you must name the methods listed in the matrix that the character appears to use and its effects. For example, does the character use accommodation to solve the problem? If so, explain how and reference or cite the page number. Does the method solve part or all of the problem? Does it create a new problem? If it doesn’t solve the problem, does the character try another method? Or does the character try another method? What is it? How many methods does the character attempt, what are they and what are the effects of each? Keep going in anayzing the methods and effects until the final effect.

Choose one of the following prompts:

PROMPTS

Apply: Explain your process of applying the Problem-solving Matrix to the actions of characters. Get into as much detail as possible in analyzing the specific steps you took in applying the Matrix to analyze and interpret a character’s actions in trying to solve a problem. Include how you used the Matrix. Include the names of the solutions and outcomes (effects).

Compare: Compare two characters as problem solvers from one or two stories. The problems or the methods must be similiar. Which methods do they use?  Of the two characters, which character do you think proves more successful in applying the methods and why? You may also take the approach of which character proves less successful.

Speculate; Chose one character. If you could advise the character to use different methods for a better or different outcome, which method(s) would you suggest and  why? Include what you think the outcome might be and why.

Tool: After using the Problem-solving Matrix in analyzing and interpreting a character’s decision on methods and effects, how has his or her problem-solving methods and their effects influenced you in choosing methods from the matrix to solve a similar or related problem in your own life. OR how has analyzing the problems, methods and effects of one or more characters influenced you in understanding a problem you’ve had in the past and the methods you used to try to overcome the problem. What would you do differently based on your analysis of the story.  Be sure to use the vocabulary from the matrix in naming the methods and effects. 

HANDOUTS

Lecture Notes: Problem-Solving

How to Analyze a Plot

Lecture Notes: Avoiding Plot Summary

Lecture Notes: Central Idea and Thesis: Overview 

Lecture Notes: Characteristics of Summary versus Interpretation

Find MLA Resources under Module 6

Everything begins and ends at the Modules

The video about Angela Duckworth’s concept of “deliberate practice” was fantastic. The video discusses grit. She defines grit as stamina to passion and perseverance. You work hard and never give up to achieve your goal, and it has nothing to do with talent or intelligence. She claims that if you work hard, you will succeed. For example, I would use grit in my college studies by working hard and concentrating to achieve good grades. I have always wanted to be a dentist since I was a kid. I am still determined and working hard to become a dentist. I work hard because I believe that hard work yields good results. Currently, I study hard for my classes, I shadow a dentist, and read articles about new inventions every day.

Carol Dweck’s “growth mindset” has changed my way of thinking and how I will now go forth with my ways and habits in school. This is because many of the studies she had provided I could relate to one way or another; or I have seen it occur. A study provided in the very beginning was ten year olds that understood their abilities can be developed, they had what carol called a growth mindset. Then others that thought the challenge was too difficult had a fixed mindset, with their intelligences being fixed for judgement. Studies finding that those who had a fixed mindset looked for those who did worse than they did, or cheat rather than studying, or running from difficulty. Growth mindset, engage deeply with error, process, and learn from it. Learning something new and difficult registers the neurons in the brain forming stronger connections, and overtime they get stronger. Changing your mindset and difficulty can be transformed and neurons are created new connections.

Hello everyone,

I deal with my stress by always just living by thinking that the worse that could happen is I fail and live with said failure. While that thought process isn’t the most effective way to deal with stress for most people I do believe that it worked well for me since I can always use those mistakes, most of the time, to effectively come up with better strategies later to not at least fail as bad the next time. It was effective most of the time for me, although I can’t always have that line of thought since it definitely would not be helpful for me when I was in the army at the age of 17, with the army being a little more serious and less space for error. However, I do believe it is effective in less serious scenarios like giving a speech because the worse that can happen is that I mess up, and learn from my mistakes in the speech, which is why I am not surprised by scoring 84 since I just don’t mind failing a public speech. I will continue to use my current strategy of just being open to failing for my first speech so that I can learn from it and do better later on in the class.

I recall being really nervous for my first job interview. I had to go seek a lot of people for their advice in order to deal with the dread. I did thorough research on interview questions, advice, and company information, as well as taking notes. Then I did regular self-practice in front of the mirror, and rehearsed with family members or friends to gain feedback and get accustomed to gazing eyes. I took a deep breath for 5 seconds straight right before the interview, which I found quite beneficial in slowing down my heartbeat. To control my nerves throughout the interview, I attempted to speak at a steady pace, smile, and make eye contact. These were quite valuable since I came prepared with information gathered from careful research. When talking face-to-face with the interviewer, frequent practice reduced my stuttering and increased my fluency. I found that reminding myself to be calm helped me stay calmer during the interview, especially when I was given unprepared questions.

Because I had to speak in long sentences in front of people in both circumstances, I believe what I did for that first job interview would absolutely work for making a speech. In the event of a speech, I may need to devote more time to note-taking and practice because the speech will occur without interruption, unlike an interview.

For my first speech in this class, I think I would stick to the method of conducting thorough research, note-taking in details, watching videos of others making speeches for ideas on body language and vocal delivery, and ultimately, regular self-practice and rehearsals.

Respond to a colleague by sharing ideas for how shortcomings discovered in their evaluations and/or their examples of incivility could have been managed more effectively. Please include 2 references. Colleague’s response is below

While performing my workplace assessment there were several things that I never took into consideration that determined how healthy or unhealthy my work environment was. Although, after adding up my score I realized that 67 sounded a bit unhealthier than I perceive my work environment to be. I can’t say that this assessment is entirely accurate. Most of my lower score rating had to do with lack of teamwork or the organization providing room for growth.

The score ratings for management  was scored at a 5. This has a lot to do with the fact that we have an amazing leadership team.

I had a large amount of 4’s that were supported by competitive pay and management taking the view of employee’s perspectives when looking for ideas to make the organization better. Employee satisfaction was also scored at a 4, as I believe most of us are happy working here.

Two things that surprised me from the results was the result score overall. I feel that most of us are happy in this organization. We have a strong and supportive leadership team that has been the best we have had in the past 4 years.

The other thing that surprised me was how many neutral scores I had, and many had to be with trust and feeling valued as an employee, employee self-care and ability to grow within the company.

One area of the assessment that was true in every aspect was that we do not retain, the best and brightest staff. Its sounds terrible, but often times people who come to work in a jail come here from an acute care and often struggle with adaptation to the environment. The environment is very different in jail, every time care is rendered by nursing professional you have to wait on Custody staff member to assist medical staff

The results of the assessment suggest that my work environment can use some work and improvement. The assessment was beneficial in providing insight as to what areas need improvement.

I noticed with the assessment provided that there is a lot of incivility amongst peers. Although the facility I work for states it is a zero tolerance facility for inappropriate of unprofessional behavior, this typically is behavior that management has turned a blind eye too due to bigger situations going on. This is usually not addressed unless the gravity of the behavior is significant and causes a hazardous or hostile working environment. 

Incivility is defined as “a low intensity deviant behavior with the ambiguous intent to harm the target, violating the workplace norm of mutual respect.” (Bambi et al., 2017). This type of behavior ultimately affects patient care. When working in a hostile environment or working with individuals that cause incivility, it makes it difficult to provide mutual aid to a patient especially if people can’t set aside their differences during a time of need.

The facility I work for can promote a healthy working environment by providing flexibility with staff, allowing for breaks. Over the past couple of years, I believe that nursing staff has struggled with burn out due to increase loads of patient. Nurses have worked and excruciating amount of hours covering for nursing staff that has been off sick due to COVID, staff that has left the medical field or the facility in general. Fatigue and stress has definitely contributed to incivility in the workplace. Not because we are bad people but because we are tired. The organization could foster a healthier work environment by providing us with mental health services, and promoting physical wellbeing ensuring adequate rest time between shifts (Stoewen, D. 2016).

A healthy work environment for nursing is safe, empowering and satisfying (Wei et al., 2018). Allowing for coworkers to discuss areas that need improvement can help to promote a healthier work environment as well as the organization maintaining and enforcing zero tolerance for unprofessional conduct regardless of the severity. After all, having a healthy work environment is not only beneficial to staff but ultimately is most beneficial and in the best interest of our patients.

I had a situation a couple of years ago where we had one particular individual that was extremely hostile and boisterous when things were not done in the specific way that she wanted them done. Unfortunately, she was a difficult person to deal with on a daily basis. Yes, we were hard up for nurses hence why leadership turned a blind eye, but it wasn’t until her behavior was directed to patients and custody staff members that they finally had to take action. None the less the behavior went on for much longer than it should have.