Assignment:
In 700 to 800 words, "Choose two major myths or episodes in Classical mythology
(THE ILLIAD & THE ODYSSEY). Compare and contrast the figures and events described in the two myths or episodes and demonstrate how they contain important insight or wisdom for an ancient and/or modern audience."
To keep you from the trap of purely personal opinions, you need to find 2 to 3 additional sources to support your analysis. These must be scholarly sources, not a random person tweeting from their basement. If you are discussing a piece of art, song, etc. include in a footnote how I can access the piece. Please do not forget all of the wonderful resources available online through the MSU Library. As you work to make your argument your own, please remember that an argument = claims with textual proof and inferences. Outlining your paper for yourself to make sure it follows a sequence of logical steps is also wise.
This is a formal paper, and as such there are certain minimum requirements of formal and style.
• The paper is to be double-spaced, 12 pt. font, with one-inch margins on all sides, and no extra space after paragraphs.
• Use tab indentation, not double spacing between paragraphs.
• Your paper title, your name, the course number and name (GNHU 285: Mythology), and the date should appear on the cover page only.
• Number the pages in the upper right-hand corner.
• Do not use silly fonts; Times New Roman or Calibri are good choices.
• Check that the font and font size are consistent throughout (including headers, title page, bibliography, quotations, etc.)
• You need citations and a bibliography page with full Chicago or MLA citations-I do not care which citation style you choose, but be consistent throughout the paper. Do not forget to cite the main work you read to analyze (i.e. the text of Apuleius or Sophocles).
• The paper should be as free as possible from mechanical and grammatical errors.
• Do not use contractions!
(Yes, these matters can and will affect your grade.)
Nota Bene: word count does NOT include title page, bibliography, header, footnotes, appendices.
The tone of your paper should be fairly formal, but it should also reveal the presence of a creative and interesting mind at work. The two extremes that you should avoid are the overly chatty paper that sounds like a conversation or a personal letter addressed to your teacher, and the dry-as-a-bone "lab report" paper, which is signaled by extensive use of the passive voice and the use of phrases such as "in the opinion of the present author."
As you begin the essay, do not waste time praising the author or the question: "One of the most important questions ever to face humanity is the function of the simile in Homer's magnificent epic poem, the Iliad". Likewise, do not waste time by slowly funneling in to the actual question with irrelevant background ("Since the dawn of time,"). Get to the point immediately; 700 to 800 words is not that long for proper analysis.
The introductory paragraph should leave me with a very clear idea of where the paper is headed. The best way to do this is to provide a thesis statement. Every paragraph should contribute a logical step toward proving your argument. The conclusion of your paper should not merely summarize the paper. Rather, it should persuade the reader that you have discovered and discussed something significant.
In constructing your argument, each paragraph should make a point (claim), give evidence supporting your point, and then make clear why that evidence supports the point you are making. It is easy to forget that last step, but it is an important one.