MYTHOLOGY UNIT –Mythology Research Paper

The following assignment will allow you to use our library resources to help you complete a report. This assignment will count as a test grade and I will take several process grades. Read the instructions and follow the directions below to help you complete your project in a successful manner. Projects are due on ______. Remember that projects may NOT be turned in for a late grade.

INSTRUCTIONS:

A. Choose a Greek god, goddess, muse, mythological person, monster, or creature. Find the following information:

  • Origin of birth (how they were born, parents, etc.)
  • Family tree (parents and any other famous relations)
  • Their powers and their domains (what they ruled or had control over)
  • Symbols associated with them (at least two)
  • One related myth that connects them to any other god, or any story that explains why they are well known or why they are known for something.

B. Next, research a myth that your character is in. Read the myth and take notes. You will put your notes on correctly formatted notecards to turn in. You must have at least 20 notecards. Focus on the part that your character plays.

C. Once your research is complete, you will take the information and write a two-page report incorporating the above information along with this additional information:

  • Why you chose the character.
  • What you like the most about the character.
  • What you like the least about the character.
  • Why I should like your character the most.
  • Make sure (as you research) you write down all of your sources (including websites). You will be responsible for citing your sources with an attached bibliography (we will go over this in class).

D. Requirements: A minimum of 3 sources – you may have more than 3! You will also create source cards for these sources.

  • 1 book source
  • 1 research database
  • 1 CREDIBLE internet source

E. Create some form of visual aide for your presentation. This can be a poster, prezi, powerpoint, or you may *dress up as your character.

*I will give bonus points to anyone who dresses up as their character.

MYTHOLOGY REPORT FORMAT

The following is the format for writing your report. You must type your final draft in Times New Roman 12 point font. Make sure to double space and indent paragraphs.

Opening Paragraph - Introduction

  • 1st sentence – make an interesting comment about your Greek character.
  • Additional information that will add to your paper that is interesting.
  • Even though I am providing a format, please make sure your sentences flow and it does not seem like you are answering questions.
  • Thesis: General statement about who you are researching.

Body Paragraph #1

  • Tell how they were born and who their parents were.
  • Discuss their powers, domains, and symbols.
  • Be sure to cite your sources.

Body Paragraph # 2

  • Start the first sentence with: “A famous myth that surrounds ______…”
  • Tell the myth in your own words.
  • Be sure to focus on the part your character plays and how they contribute to the story. Think about their point of view. Provide at least 2 direct pieces of evidence from your myth for support. (Don’t forget your quotation marks)
  • Remember to cite your source from where you found your myth.

Body Paragraph # 3

  • Explain why you chose this character and what you like about them.
  • Discuss the weak side of their character.
  • If you could create your own myth today, what role would your character play.
  • End the paragraph with a sentence about what you learned about your character that you already didn’t know.

Conclusion Paragraph:

  • How does your character and myth apply to today’s world. What can we learn from your character or myth. Conclude with an interesting fact, a thoughtful insight, or a lesson learned.

* Remember that the above format is a way to get you started, but please feel free to add additional details, commentary, and facts to your paper. I do not want to restrict you, but only provide a guide to help you write your paper.

Works Cited Page (Bibliography)

The Works Cited list, or Bibliography, is a list of all the sources used to help you research and create your paper. They are arranged alphabetically by author’s last name, or when there is no author, by the word of the title (except A, An or The). [5.1-5.5]

You would list a book in this order:

Author (last name, first name). Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, year.

Example: Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. New York: Knopf, 1993.

You would list an entire internet site, scholarly project, or professional site like this:

Title of the Site. Editor. Date and/or Version Number. Name of Sponsoring Institution. Date of Access. <URL>

Example: Encyclopedia Mythica. 2004. 13, May 2004

You would list the CHHS’ CD-Rom information like this:

“Hercules,” Athena Classical Mythology. CD-ROM (New York: Mythopedia, Inc., 1995).

**Where “Hercules” is written, you would put the name of your Greek character. This is just an example.

Bibliography Page Example – MLA Format

  1. A works cited page is arranged in alphabetical order.
  1. When you write a works cited page, you must write each source in MLA format. (See Basic Citations Sheet)
  1. Remember after the first line, every line after that is indented.
  1. Don’t forget the little things (periods, quotation marks, underlining, commas – they are important!)
  1. Double space between each source, not each sentence.
  1. Look at the example on the next page.

Bibliography Page Example

“Croatia.” The New Encyclopedia Britannica: Micropedia. New York:

Penguin, 1991. 2:192-195.

Eco, Umberto. Foucault’s Pendulum. San Diego: Harcourt, 1989.

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography and Other Writings. Ed.

Kenneth Silverman. New York: Penguin, 1986.

Harrison, Patricia. Personal Interview. 19 Feb. 1993.

Kermode, Frank. “Criticism Without Machinery.” Literary

Reflections, by R.W.B. Lewis. New York Times Book Review, 11 July 1993.

Leland, John. “The Impolitic: Fashion and its Critics Sell the

Same Stereotypes.” Newsweek, 16 June 1996.

“The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL).”

12 Feb. 2008.