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Exploring Informational Text: Text Features

Introduction

For this activity, pretend you are about to begin a study of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley in your English class.  You have been learning about strategies for reading informational text and how text features can help you better understand the content in informational text.  Before you begin reading the novel, your teacher has asked you to examine an online exhibit about Frankenstein at the New York Public Library’s online Biblion, and answer questions about the text features provided. At the same time you are looking at the text features on the website, you will see some interesting connections between the novel and society today.

image of Boris Karloff portraying Frankenstein’s monster.

Frankenstein’s monster was also known as "the creature."


Your task is to explore the website "Frankenstein: The Afterlife of Shelley’s Circle," assess its text features by answering questions about the specific text features the site utilizes, and then assess how the text features, content and information about the novel help to show the "connections between Shelley’s time and our own."  You will use the interactive below to explore online resources and answer questions.  

The Process

Use the guiding questions in the interactive activity below as you explore Frankenstein: The Afterlife of Shelley’s Circleopens in new window. You may also use the Exploring Frankenstein: The Afterlife of Shelley’s Circle worksheet to take notes as you explore the resources.