If you’re tired of reading the same thesis statements about ambition and responsibility in Frankenstein, this one’s for you.
Here’s what I’ve realized: Traditional essays about Frankenstein often miss what makes the novel so powerful – its ability to help us examine our own relationship with innovation and power. So I completely redesigned my Frankenstein assessment, moving from single essays to layered analysis that mirrors the novel’s own structure.
Table of Contents
The Meta Factor
Think about it: Frankenstein itself is a story within a story within a story. We have Walton’s letters containing Victor’s tale containing the creature’s narrative. Each layer adds depth and perspective.
So why do we usually assess it with a single-layer essay?
Instead, I’ve developed a series of interconnected assessments that help students explore Frankenstein through multiple lenses while examining their own relationship with technology and power.
Starting with Origin Stories
Students begin by mapping both heroic and villainous interpretations of scientific pursuits – from Prometheus to modern AI companies. This framework helps them see how the same actions that advance knowledge can also unleash unintended consequences.
The real power emerges when students start applying this framework to contemporary figures. Is OpenAI’s Sam Altman a modern Prometheus, bringing revolutionary knowledge to humanity? Or is he, like Victor, reaching too far without fully considering the consequences? Students track parallel elements:
- Initial motivation and noble goals
- Key decision points and ethical choices
- Unintended consequences and responses
- The role of public perception
The origin story analysis reveals how well students grasp not just the novel’s plot, but its deeper commentary on innovation and responsibility.
The Ethics Panel
Rather than just writing about ethics, students embody different perspectives in our ethics panel discussions. Like Walton hearing Victor’s tale, they encounter multiple viewpoints on innovation and responsibility.
Groups represent different voices:
- Modern AI ethicists like Timnit Gebru and Kate Crawford
- Tech developers and industry leaders
- Historical figures and literary characters
- Policy makers and regulators
Each group researches their perspective deeply, preparing to engage in nuanced debate about:
- The limits of innovation
- Responsible development practices
- Ethical oversight and accountability
- The role of public discourse
The resulting discussions are electric because students realize they’re not just talking about a book – they’re wrestling with decisions they face every day.
The Substack Project
The final assessment brings everything together in a meta-analysis of AI ethics. Students research a modern AI company and analyze its trajectory through the lens of Frankenstein, creating their own “story within a story” through:
- A written analysis examining their chosen company’s “hero and villain” narrative
- An ethical scorecard evaluating the company’s choices
- Audio and video components sharing their insights
- Maybe a thoughtful exploration of paywall placement (meta-commentary on access to knowledge)
What makes this project powerful is how it forces students to grapple with real ethical dilemmas. When deciding where to place their paywall, for instance, they must weigh the same questions about access to knowledge that Victor faced – questions they themselves face when deciding whether to share AI tools with peers.
The multimedia components also mirror Shelley’s layered narrative structure:
- Written analysis (like Walton’s letters)
- Audio narration (like Victor’s tale)
- Video reflection (like the creature’s narrative)
- Ethical scorecard (like Shelley’s moral framework)
Why Substack?
When I first considered having students write Substack articles instead of traditional essays, I wondered if I was just chasing a trend. But here’s what I discovered: The Substack format actually creates a more authentic writing experience.
Think about it. In a traditional essay, students write artificial responses to artificial prompts for an audience of one – their teacher. But with Substack, they’re engaging in real-world analysis for their Frankenstein assessment, considering:
- What information is valuable enough to put behind a paywall
- How to make complex ethical ideas accessible to a general audience
- When to use multimedia elements to enhance understanding
- How to build credible analysis in a digital space
Plus, the Substack format naturally encourages students to find their authentic voice. They’re not trying to sound “academic” – they’re trying to sound credible, engaging, and thoughtful. Just like Mary Shelley, they’re using storytelling techniques to explore complex ethical questions.
This layered approach:
- Engages multiple learning styles
- Creates genuine investment in the analysis
- Helps students see real-world connections
- Builds transferable analytical skills
But more importantly, it transforms how students relate to the novel. Instead of seeing Frankenstein as a distant story about a reckless scientist, with this Frankenstein assessment they recognize its relevance to their own lives and choices.
Want to transform how your students engage with Frankenstein? Check out the full unit to implement this layered assessment approach.
Frankenstein Resources
Read the Teaching Frankenstein Series:
- Ice, Ambition, and AI: Teaching a Powerful Frankenstein Intro
- Teaching Frankenstein Like It’s 1818 Isn’t Working Anymore
- The Day I Realized My Students Are All Victor Frankenstein
- Beyond ‘Don’t Use AI’: Creating Meaningful Discussions About Technology Ethics
- Using Origin Stories to Make Frankenstein Click for Gen Z
- Not Another Essay: Rethinking How We Assess Frankenstein
Grab the Resources:
