English 102: The Gothic

Creative/Reading Response Assignment 10%

Final Due: Tues. May 9, 2023 10% (in class; informal presentations of projects)
Proposal due (Tues. April 18 or Thurs. April 20) in class.

Instructions: Produce a creative project which illustrates a clear and strong thesis that responds to
one of the options listed below. The project should also demonstrate your familiarity with a
variety of gothic and literary devices studied in the course. This project should be a creative
response to the work and readings we have covered in class.
There is room for creativity in these options, so hopefully choose one that picks up on your own
interests and skills.

Topics (choose ONE):

1. Movie/Book Trailer. Create and edit your own video (about 2 minutes) using visuals, a
soundtrack, sounds, voice-over. You don’t need to act out an entire scene from your
story; instead, you can use a narrator’s voice with your own images and filming to give
an overview of the book/film, but doesn’t reveal too much. The ending of the trailer
leaves you wanting more. This project is inspired by your own gothic story (pitch deck),
but you must incorporate original images (photos/filming of props, real settings, etc).
You may use a maximum of five images from your pitch deck, the rest of the
images/filming must be original. The script (min. 400 words) must be submitted which is
a polished final draft that is well-written and expresses a theme and the use of devices.
Here is an example of a Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/XWrNyVhSJUU Miss Peregrine’s Home
for Peculiar Children Book Trailer.
Here is an example of a film trailer: https://youtu.be/cxeiY2W03Mc The Haunting of Bly Manor.
The trailer contains a soundtrack, voice over, and cut images with very brief filmed scenes.

2. Create your own creature. Both works show how The Other is a reflection of their
society’s anxieties and fears. Using aspects/characteristics of Frankenstein’s monster, and
the Outsider create your own creature that reflects our modern-day anxieties. You
will also write a summary (400 words) of your creature, including which devices and
themes you have incorporated, and explain your inspiration from both sources
(quotes/textual evidence). You can submit an illustration (by hand or using software),
sculpture, or painting for this option.

3. If you are artistically inclined, illustrate a comic strip, comic series, or graphic novel
that has Frankenstein’s monster, and the Other meet each other. (Don’t forget to have an
overall argument and include some gothic devices.) You will also write a summary (400
words) explaining your inspiration from both works (quotes/textual evidence), as well as
which devices and themes you have incorporated.
4. You can explore a different creative option if you have a particular idea that you wish to
pursue, but come and discuss it with me for approval in writing. Send a MIO or meet
with me before Thurs. April 13th.

Evaluation Criteria: /10

1. proposal submitted on time that indicated the topic choice, a “draft” thesis & main points,
a list of literary/gothic devices to be used, and a list of important quotes/scenes. Also, a
brief overview of the form and content of the response.
2. a well-developed, strong and interesting thesis
3. analysis of literary/gothic devices
4. effective use of textual evidence & quotes from the film & the short story to support the
thesis
5. Creative Response:
a. clearly relates to your thesis and illustrates some literary/gothic devices while
demonstrating creativity and imagination.
b. relates clearly to the course material and readings incorporating aspects of the
works we’ve read together in a creative way.
c. Includes a written component that clearly indicates your thesis, the devices you
used in your creative work and provides textual evidence/quotes that inspired
your creation.

6. Your written response requires proper use of MLA format (includes a Works Cited and
parenthetical citations)

7. Your written response is clearly written using correct sentence structure, wording,
punctuation (integration of quotes) and vocabulary, and is organized using proper
paragraph structure.