Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
Step 1: Task Definition
1.1 Define the information problem
1.2 Identify information needed (to solve the information problem)
o What is my current task?
o What are some topics or questions I need to answer?
o What information will I need?
Brainstorm a topic. What is an issue in the book (Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Prometheus, Mount Tambora) you are passionate about? You must research the problem, research its causes, and persuasively argue for how we should solve it.
Wow! Need help getting started? Be careful when taking research notes; do them well and you won't have to return to the source. And remember: persuasive arguments account for both sides of the issue.
The Year Without a Summer - Mount Tambora in 1816.
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center 1815: How Climate Change Shaped the 19th Century World
USA Today 200 years ago, we endured a 'year without a summer'
The New England Historical Society 1816: The Year without a Summer
The Old Farmer's Almanac The Year without a Summer
The Guardian How the Year without summer gave us Dark Masterpieces
Step 2: Information Seeking Strategies
2.1 Determine all possible sources (brainstorm)
2.2 Select the best sources
o What are all the possible sources to check?
o What are the best sources of information for this task?
Additional Resources:
The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe
A Teacher's Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
The Glencoe Literature Library Study Guide for Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Study Guide Questions; Frankenstein Study Guide - Prologue the 'Walton Letters'
SparkNotes - Frankenstein;
Recommended scanner apps: CamScanner for Android or to work on both use Adobe Scan. Office Lens works with Office 365. All provide basic services for free and optional monthly charges to upgrade features.
Recommended note taking apps: OneNote, and Google Keep lead the pack. OneNote is attached to your school email account. (Best tools for OneNote, great tips and lecture notes.)
Dictation software: Windows Speech Recognition, and Google Docs Voice Typing.
Step 3: Location and Access
3.1 Locate sources (intellectually and physically)
3.2 Find information within sources
o Where can I find these sources?
o Where can I find the information in the source?
FWISD District Databases: Gale, Facts on File, Britannica, Ebsco, Discovery, TeachingBooks. ALL in the FWISD Online Databases app in Classlink.
Questions on Content of Frankenstein for Grade
Step 4: Use of Information
4.1 Engage (e.g., read, hear, view, touch)
4.2 Extract relevant information
o What information do I expect to find in this source?
o What information from the source is useful?
Step 5: Synthesis
5.1 Organize from multiple sources
5.2 Present the information
o How will I organize my information?
o How should I present my information?
Research Paper Requirements: (Each of the following is a grade.)
1. Research a topic of your choosing.
2.The topic must be approved.
Notes: Assignment Grade (use OneNote)
3. notes from at least five source types (i.e. art, interviews, transcript, book, etc.) with a minimum of 10 note cards each. You will also need to cite any videos or images you embed into your topic though they will not count towards credit. Ask Sexton or Warzecha if you are uncertain if your source is legitimate.
4. one image incorporated into the final copy and discussed: who, what, where, when, why, how
5. at least 10-15 quotations. 2 quotes must be blocked, others regular quotes. Word will help make sure blocking is correct with an automatic feature.
6. add a Works Cited
7. Times New Roman 12 point font
8. MLA format
9. Topic Outline
10. Rough Draft
11. Final Copy: no cover sheet, no table of contents, no Bibliography
Did you know that WORD will help format your research paper with little effort? Just type the paper and have it ready for your 'format' day in the library. The librarian will walk you through the process of making it beautiful and complete during class--'cause that's how I roll. (People caught mocking my 'old style' language will be mocked in turn.)
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Some quick video guides to help with formatting. Want to preset preferences for MLA? What about using citations and references? How do I get that table of contents? These videos provide a 'jump off' point. I'll help walk you through it in the library.
Tired of fiction and want the science? Consider reading Stiff with the Sora app.
Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers―some willingly, some unwittingly―have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. In this fascinating account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries and tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them.
Step 6: Evaluation
6.1 Judge the product (effectiveness) 6.2 Judge the process (efficiency)
o Did I do what was required?
o Did I complete each of the Big6 Stages efficiently?