Frankenstein 200 Years Later: Chemistry, Literature and Pop Culture

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 24 (2019) pp 162-165

Frankenstein 200 Years Later: Chemistry, Literature and Pop Culture

Lorri L. Lewis,^† Paul Jaussen,^‡ Michael Scrivener,^§ Daniel Shargel,^‡ Eric G. Meyer,** Franco Delogu,^‡ Lior Shamir,^†† and Sibrina N. Collins*^,‡‡

^†University High School Academy, Lanthrup Village, Michigan 48076; ^‡Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Communication, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan 48075; ^§Department of English, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201; **Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan 48075; ^††Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan 48075; ^‡‡The Marburger STEM Center, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan 48075, scollins@ltu.edu
Received September 5, 2019. Accepted October 30, 2019.

Published: 20 December 2019

Abstract. This cross-disciplinary (chemistry, engineering, literary studies, philosophy) exercise focuses on engaging high school students enrolled in an AP Literature course with Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein. The students attended a “Frankenstein Today,” seminar and panel discussion on the campus of Lawrence Technological University. The Q&A included key connections between Frankenstein and Marvel Studios’ Black Panther and the Avengers. Furthermore, an automatic text analysis was performed on the 89 student compositions. These compositions were assigned as part of the AP Literature course. Our results suggest that the students focused more on the sad condition of the creature (Figure 1), using it as an allegory of discrimination. In addition, we provide educators with approaches and/or recommendations to make key connections to electrochemistry concepts and this important literary work.

Key Words: In the Classroom; general chemistry; high school; curriculum; history; philosophy; interdisciplinary; multidisciplinary; public understanding; outreach; communication; writing; student-centered learning; electrochemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: scollins@ltu.edu )

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Supporting Materials:

The course syllabus and class schedule is provided for the high school Advanced Placement (AP) literature and composition course. (2830 KB)