Frankenstein and Social Darwinism

 

Introduction

We are going to be conducting a symposium on the relationship between Social Darwinism and Frankenstein. We will divide the class into groups and each group will have to become experts in one topic of our symposium. You will have three days in the Media Center to conduct your research and get your information and  presentation together. We will present our findings using PowerPoint in class the following week.

 

 

Task

Your group must become experts on your research topic. Next you will present that topic to the rest of the class by using PowerPoint and finally, your group will answer questions about your topic from the class panel.

 

Process

  1. Choose a topic
    1. Frankenstein and Science
    2. Herbert Spencer/Social Darwinism
    3. Scopes Trial/ Clarence Darrow
    4. Scopes Trial/ William Jennings Bryan
    5. Genetic Engineering Benefits
    6. Genetic Engineering Problems
  2. Divide the work
    1. The Experts: You are the world’s foremost scholars on your topic. At least two people will conduct extensive research on your topic and compile it into a PowerPoint presentation. You should also make sure that you have as much extra information so that you will not be stumped by the Panel.
    2. The Panel: At least one person will become a member of the Question Panel. He will conduct research on all of the other group topics, and compile a list of questions to pose to the other groups at the end of their presentations.
  3. Research :
    1. The Experts: Act as if you are the world’s foremost expert on your topic. Gather as much information as you can. You should present a comprehensive presentation on you findings and be prepared to answer any other possible questions from the panel. Within the presentation, you should show how your topic connects back to the novel, Frankenstein.
    2. The Panel: You should research all of the other topics and gather a basic understanding of that topic. Next, you will compile a list of at least five question to ask the panel.
  4. Present: Your presentation will be broken into two parts.
    1. Powerpoint Presentation: The Experts will present an 8-10 slide presentation that thoroughly discusses the topic.
    2. The Question Panel: You will then be subjected to the Question Panel. Each of the other groups will ask you at least one question about your topic. You will be judged on your ability to answer the question.

 

 

Resources

Starting Point

NOHS Media Center: Make sure that you browse through the school’s web offerings. Start by conducting a search on either EBSCO Host, or the Student Resource Center.

 

 

Frankenstein and Science

·  Frankenstein: National Library of Science: Examine some of the scientific connections between the book and modern day science. Be sure to check out all four sections

·   Modern Prometheus - highlights chapters; matches various artwork with passages and themes

·   Mary Shelley:  My Hideous Progeny - contains biography, title information, character descriptions, adaptations, genre (gothic literature), authors

·   The Birth of Frankenstein - explains how Mary Shelley 'invented' Frankenstein

·   Mary Shelley's life and other resources - chronology of Shelley's life, 19th century reviews of the book, a bibliography, other web

 

Herbert Spencer/Darwin/Social Darwinism:

·          Social Darwinism: What is Social Darwinism, and how was it derived from Darwin’s theory?

·        Survival of the Fittest: Who invented the term and what became of it through time?

·         Evolution and Philosophy

·        Herbert Spencer: What did Spencer believe in when he coined the term?

·        Victorian Views On Social Darwinism: What role did social evolution play in our understanding of society?

·        In the Name of Evolution: What role did eugenics play in all of this?

 

Scopes Monkey Trial

People:

• The American Civil Liberties Union: find out what role the American Civil Liberties Union played in setting up the trial.
• William Jennings Bryan: Ran for President three times and defended the role of Creationism in the classroom.
• Clarence Darrow: Was one of the most famous speakers of his day. Find out how he defended the role of evolution.
• H. L. Mencken: was one of the most famous news reporters of his day. What role did he play in the trial?
• John Scopes: the defendant. Why or  (did) Scopes teach evolution in his classroom.

Events:

• Dayton, Tennessee -- site of the trial: What type of town was Dayton. Why was the Evolutionary Trial of the Century held here?
• The Drugstore in America: See where the town locals gathered to formulate their attack on Darwin and Evolution.
• The Social Gospel and Fundamentalism: What role did sociology and Christian Fundamentalism play in the trial?
• The Jazz Age: What was society in America like during the trial?
• The Leopold and Loeb Murder and Trial: What affect did Clarence Darrow have on this trial and how did it affect the Scopes Trial
• The Scopes "Monkey" Trial: What effect did the trial have on the town of Dayton in years to come.
• WGN and the First Radio Broadcast of a Trial: What effect did the national broadcast of the trial have on society?

Genetic Engineering

Human Genetics Info

·        Implications of the Human Genome Project: Scientific, ethical and legal issues related to the Human Genome Project

·        Ethical Legal and Social Issues: Issues related to the Human Genome Project

·        Opposing Viewpoints Resources: A huge resource for this project. Search for genetics and get both sides of the issue

Bioengineered Food

·        Why Biotech: Information on why Bioengineered food makes sense.

·        Genetically Modified Food Definitions and links to various sites related to genetically engineered food

·        Pros and Cons Article relating the pros and cons of genetically engineered food

·        GE Food Alert: committed to testing and labeling of Genetic Food

·        True Food Now Greenpeace site dedicated to Genetically engineered food

·        Opposing Viewpoints Resources:  A huge resource for this project. Search for Bioethics and start digging.