Dracula Syllabus

A.I. – Environment

E.Q. – How does our environment affect gender/social schemas?

Reading Assignments / Ideas to Annotate
Week 1
Chapters 1-5 / * How does Count Dracula pervert elements of Christian tradition? What is the significance of this perversion?
* Discuss Stoker’s decision to recount the story of Dracula through journal entries, letters, and newspaper clippings. What are the strengths and drawbacks of this approach?
Week 2
Chapters 6-10 / * Discuss the appearances Dracula makes throughout the novel. What does Stoker achieve by keeping his title character in the shadows for so much of the novel?
Week 3
Chapters 10-15 / Discuss the roles of Mina Harker and Lucy Westenra. How are the women similar? How are they different? Why, in your opinion, is Lucy the first to fall under Dracula’s spell?
Week 4
Chapters 16-20 / *Discuss Dracula in relation to modernity. What, for instance, are the novel’s attitudes toward scientific advancements?
Week 5
Chapters 21-25 / * Discuss Van Helsing’s role as Dracula’s antagonist. Why is the old Dutch professor the most threatening adversary to the count? How does he fit into the gender / social schemas?
Week 6
Chapters 26-27 / *What is the role of social / gender status in the novel? How do Stoker’s choices of setting conform to the principles of Gothic fiction? How do they depart from these principles?

Each annotation must be included in the text, or on a separate sheet of paper. Annotations will be checked Friday’s, depending on when I have you. Each Friday class, you will use your annotations for a Supervised Writing!

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Supervised Writing Rubric

A= no spelling errors, 0-3 grammar errors, clearly presented and easily understood writing, with references and quotes from the text.

B= no spelling errors, 3-6 grammar errors, clearly presented and easily understood writing, with references and quotes from the text.

C= 1 to 3 spelling errors, 7-9 grammar errors, clearly presented and easily understood writing, with references and quotes from the text.

D= 4-6 spelling errors, 10 or more grammar errors. Information is somewhat organized, and has some fluidity.

F= 7 or more spelling errors, 11 or more grammar errors. Information is not clear, and does not make sense.