Research Paper Assignment

Research Paper - Mythological Creature

Parts of Research Paper: Introduction

 Part 1: Background Information – Creation/Lineage (parentage), Physical Characteristics, Dwelling Place (where they live), Special Powers, Weaknesses/Strengths, Etc.

 Part 2: Portrayal in Myths – Appears in (Hesiod, Homer, Ovid, Vergil, etc.), Connections with Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes, Good/Evil, Symbolism, Well-known Individuals (i.e. Chiron was a famous centaur, Polyphemus was a famous Cyclops)

 Part 3: Contemporary Connection – Art, Literature, Astronomy, and Everyday Life (i.e. video games, film, music, television, brand names) Conclusion: Explain the relevance of mythology

General Information:  You need a minimum of four sources. o One source must be a book.  Do not just settle on the first four sources you find. Find the best sources possible.  You will need a minimum of 25 note cards.  Gather more information than you feel is necessary.  Cite everything that is not common knowledge.

Guidelines for the Research Paper: 1. The final manuscript must be written in MLA (Modern Language Association) format with 12 pt Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins on all sides, and correct headings. 2. The final manuscript must be 3-4 pages in length (excluding the Works Cited page) and double spaced. 3. There will be individual due dates for your tentative works cited page, note cards, outline, and draft. Failure to complete these steps on time will significantly lower your overall grade. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade. Cite everything that is not common knowledge!

Topic Choices: No more than two students per period may choose the same topic. Amphisbaena (Amphisbaina) Fates (Moirae) Lamia Centaurs – Chiron Furies Nereid(s) (Sea Nymphs) Cerberus Gorgons - Euryale, Medusa, Stheno Nymph - Calypso Charon (Kharon)* Gigantes (Giants)* - Athos, Talos, etc. Minotaur Charybdis and Scylla Griffin Pegasus and Chrysaor Chimaera (Chimera)* Harpies Sirens Cyclopes – Polyphemus Hecatonchieres (Hecatonchires)* Triton Echidna and Typhon Hydra

*Spellings of these creatures can vary.

Topics with additional names after them indicate a well-known individual of that particular “species”. Focusing on one well-known creature in part two would be a good idea.

1 The Research Paper Writing Process  Checklist Preliminary Steps  1. Select a topic.  2. Research the topic by reading general information in books, encyclopedias, and credible internet sources.  3. Verify that there are enough available sources of information.  4. Write a tentative thesis statement.

Gathering Information  1. Print online information and place in back pocket of research folder.  2. Have a variety of sources; do not overuse any one source.  Do I have at least 4 sources?  Do I have at least one book source?  3. Record author, title, and publishing information for all sources to create a tentative works cited page. (Refer to Creating a Works Cited Page on page 10.)  Have I copied down all source information?  4. Take notes on notes cards. Include source/page citations. Use subject headings. Paraphrase. Summarize. Quote.  5. Keep EVERYTHING (notes, sources, etc.) together!

Writing the Paper  1. Revise tentative thesis statement.  2. Write a formal outline.  3. Write a strong introduction.  4. Use note cards and outline to write a rough draft. Include parenthetical citations.  5. Write a strong conclusion. Emphasize the importance of mythology and its relevance today.

Preparing the Final Manuscript  1. Revise your draft. Be sure that you have used third person throughout the paper and have incorporated quotations smoothly and correctly.  2. A final works cited page should include only the sources that you cited in your paper. Works cited should be in alphabetical order. This page does not count towards the three page minimum.  3. Proofread final manuscript to ensure there are no errors.  4. Make sure essay and works cited are together.

Turning in Your Work  1. Submit essay online to TURNITIN.COM  2. Turn in paper copy to Mrs. Schwanke  3. CONGRATULATIONS!!! You’re all done!!!

2 RESEARCH TERMS 1) ______– a reference book, usually alphabetized, that provides background information and facts

2) ______– any person, book, or document that provides information on a topic

3) ______– a collection of webpages, images, videos or other digital information

4) ______– a list of sources that were cited or referenced in a research paper; usually appears on a separate page at the end of the paper

5) ______– a reference in the text contained in parenthesis which points to a specified source in the Works Cited list containing a page number and author’s name [Example: (42), (Steinbeck 97)]

6) ______– a large collection of data organized for rapid search and retrieval through the internet

7) ______– an alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects mentioned in a printed work, giving the page or pages on which each item is mentioned; usually at the end of a reference book

8) ______– a program that searches for files, documents, and/or data from a database or the internet using specified keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found [Example: Google, Bing, Yahoo!]

9) ______– the address bar at the top of a web browser that indicates the website or webpage being viewed

10) ______– a punctuation mark (. . .) that indicates an intentional omission of a word or a phrase from the original text in a direct quotation

11) ______– exact words from the author set within quotation marks

12) ______– a restatements of the author’s ideas in your own words

13) ______– a condensed restatement of the author’s most important ideas

Credible Websites 3 The following websites should be helpful for find general information about mythology: http://www.greekmythology.com

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/mythology.html

http://www.theoi.com/Encyc_A.html

http://www.in2greece.com/english/historymyth/mythology/names/who_is_who_in_mythology.htm (use the scroll bar on the right to find your topic)

The following websites are more subject specific, focusing on the creatures of mythology: http://www.thanasis.com/creature.htm

http://www.theoi.com/Bestiary.html

http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/fantastic-creatures.html

http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html (click letter in the upper left corner then use the scroll bar on the left to find your topic)

http://www.loggia.com/myth/chimera.html

http://www.gods-heros-myth.com/godpages/hydra.html

http://www.greek-gods.info/monsters/

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/GG/creature.html

http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/beasts.html

http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/greek_roman.htm

http://www.greek-gods.info/ancient-greek-gods/

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/List-of-Greek-mythological-creatures

The following websites might be helpful for finding a contemporary connection (in cities, in constellations, in terrestrial objects, in brand names, in companies): http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/0195153448/studentresources/maps/starmaps/?view=usa

http://library.oakland.edu/information/people/personal/kraemer/edcm/contents.html

http://thanasis.com/modern/biz.htm

http://thanasis.com/modern/places.htm

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/other_worlds.htm

4 Plagiarism What Is It? Plagiarism is defined as presenting words and/or ideas from an existing source as if they were your own words and/or ideas. Plagiarism is essentially stealing! Plagiarism can occur if you copy directly from a source without using quotation marks or an in-text citation. Plagiarism can occur if you use words and ideas from a source that is not common knowledge and forget to include an in-text citation and documentation on the works cited page.

How to Avoid It 1. Record information for your works cited page as you find sources rather than waiting until you write your final manuscript. 2. Take thorough notes and record sources – their authors and their pages numbers – as you go. 3. Put notes in your own words. 4. When paraphrasing, put a majority of the author’s words in your own words. 5. When quoting, use quotation marks. 6. Make sure anything that is not common knowledge has a in-text citation in your final manuscript.

To Note or Not to Note Ask yourself two questions when deciding whether or not to cite particular information. 1. Does the information or the wording belong to someone else? 2. Would the information appear more credible if I cite it?

Directions: Indicate whether or not a writer should document the information in each of the following and give credit to a particular source. Circle yes if it needs a citation and no if it doesn’t.

yes no 1. Mythology helped explain natural phenomenon. It existed before mankind had science.

yes no 2. Mythology is still relevant in today’s world.

yes no 3. The phoenix is mentioned in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, but its ancestry and origin of birth is unknown.

yes no 4. “According to ancient writers, the phoenix lived for five hundred years, then died and was reborn. It had brilliant golden and scarlet feathers and grew to the size of an eagle.”

yes no 5. Mythology is all around the world in art, in literature, in astronomy, and in popular culture.

yes no 6. Japanese comic creator Osamu Tezuka's developed a twelve-book series titled simply Phoenix.

yes no 7. The phoenix, a bird associated with immortality, can be seen today in the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling.

yes no 8. The Encyclopedia of World Mythology states: “Fire can also be a symbol of new life, as in the case of the phoenix the mythical bird that is periodically destroyed by flames to rise reborn from its own ashes.”

yes no 9. Today, the phoenix is a symbol of resurrection and rebirth.

yes no 10. This mythological bird even appears in the name of the heavily populated U.S. city, Phoenix, Arizona. Creating a Works Cited Page

5 For each of the sources you decide to use for your research paper, you must be sure to copy down all the information necessary for proper MLA (Modern Language Association) documentation and citation. The way you cite your source depends what kind of text that is it. Due to the overwhelming number of resources available, only the most frequently used MLA source documentations are listed here. Use the following web sites. They practically write the MLA citations for you! http://www. easybib.com http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/ http://www.libs.uga.edu/ref/mlastyle.html

Book with 1 author:

Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name. Title of Book. City of the publisher: Name of the Publisher, year of the publication.

Example:

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Boston: Little Brown & Company, 1999. ______

Book with 2 or more authors:

First Author’s Last Name, First Author’s First Name, and Second Author’s First Name and Last Name. Title of Book. City of the publisher: Name of the Publisher, year of the publication.

Example:

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon, and Ash Dekirk. A Wizard's Bestiary: A Menagerie of Myth, Magic, and Mystery. New York: New Page Books, 2007. ______

Encyclopedia Article:

Author’s Last Name, Author’s First Name (if available). “Title of Encyclopedia Article.” Name of Encyclopedia. Number of edition with ed. Year of the publication.

“Title of Encyclopedia Article.” Name of Encyclopedia. Volume number. Total volumes. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Page numbers of article.

Examples:

Jones, Louis. "Aphrodite." The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th ed. 1987.

"Hades." UXL Encyclopedia of World Mythology. 3rd vol. 5 vols. Detroit: UXL, 2008. 471-474.

6 Page on a Web Site: Author. “Title of Page.” Name of Website. Date of Post. Name of organization affiliated with site (if available). Date of Access .

Example:

Lindemans, Micha F. "Phoenix." Encyclopedia Mythica: mythology, folklore, and religion. 9 June 2004. 11 Jan. 2009 . ______

Entire Web Site:

Author(s). Name of Website. Date of Posting/Revision. Name of Organization affiliated with site (if available). Date of Access .

Example:

Atsma, Aaron. Theoi Greek Mythology: Exploring Mythology in Classical Literature and Art. 11 Jan. 2009 . ______

Online Database:

Author (if available). “Article Title.” Publication Title. (Year of Publication): page numbers. Name of Database. Name of Library, Library’s City, State. Date of Access .

Example:

"Phoenix." Myths and Legends of the World. (2000): 1-2. Student Resource Center - Gold. Mira Monte High School Library, Bakersfield, CA. 11 Jan. 2009 . ______

Other notes and requirements:  Authors’ names are always listed with the last name first followed by a comma and then the first name.  Do NOT underline any punctuations marks.  Article titles should be in quotations.  Book and encyclopedia titles should be underlined.  Dates should be written day month year (i.e. 15 May 1995)  URL/electronic addresses should be in < >. Avoid hyperlinks and underlining.  Documentation means giving credit for an idea or fact. In-text documentation usually only includes an author’s last name and a page number. The rest is on the Works Cited Page.  There are books exceeding 200 pages that are updated yearly which are devoted to MLA format. You’re not expected to memorize any of the above information. But pay attention to details, particularly punctuation. The purpose of MLA citation and documentation is to give credit to the ideas of others and avoid plagiarism.  Your Works Cited Page should be written in Times New Roman 12 pt font and double spaced. Look at the next page for an example of a Works Cited Page. Notice it is in alphabetical order according to author’s last name or article title (if the author information is not available).

How to Order Works Cited Information 7 BOOK Author: ______Title: ______City of publication: ______Publishing Company:______Copyright date: ______

How to put it all together on your final works cited list: Lastname, Firstname. Title Of The Book Italicized. City: Publisher, Date.

ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLE Author of article (if there is one): ______Title of article: ______Title of encyclopedia: ______Copyright date ed: ______(example: 2002 ed.)

How to put it all together on your final works cited list: Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Article in Quotes." Title of Encyclopedia Italicized. Year ed.

PAGE ON WEBSITE Author (if known):______Title of Page or Document: ______Title of Website: ______Date Document Was Written/Updated/Posted: ______Name of any associated institution (if available): ______Date of Access (date you printed the article): ______URL (address) of Document: ______

How to put it all together on your final works cited list: Lastname, Firstname. "Title Of The Web Page In Quotes." Title of Website Italicized. Date Posted. Name of any Associated Institution. Date of Access

ONLINE DATABASE (For example: Student Resource Center-Gold, Gale Virtual Reference Library) Author of article: ______Title of article: ______Original Source (Name of publication): ______Date of periodical: ______Page range OR total number of pages of the article (if available): ______Title of Online Database: ______Name of Library: ______Library’s City, State: Bakersfield, CA Date of access (date you printed the article): ______Database Home Page URL Address: ______

How to put it all together on your final works cited list: Lastname, Firstname. "Title Of The Article In Quotes." Title of Publication Italicized. (Date): page range. Title of Online Database Italicized. Name of Library. Library’s City, State. Date of Access . PAGE ON WEBSITE Author (if known):______8 Title of Page or Document: ______Title of Website: ______Date Document Was Written/Updated/Posted: ______Name of any associated institution (if available): ______Date of Access (date you printed the article): ______URL (address) of Document: ______

9 Name: ______Period: ______Daily Grade Directions: Make a list of sources as you research your topic. Use proper MLA documentation.

Tentative Works Cited List Source Type (book, website, etc.)

Cited in ABC Final order Paper (number  1, 2, 3, etc.) ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______

10 Works Cited (Sample)

Allan, Tony. The Mythic Bestiary: The Illustrated Guide to the World's Most Fantastical Creatures. New York:

Duncan Baird, 2008.

Atsma, Aaron. “Phoinix.” Theoi Greek Mythology: Exploring Literature in Classical Literature and Art. 11 Jan. 2009

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Boston: Little Brown & Company, 1999.

Lindemans, Micha F. "Phoenix." Encyclopedia Mythica: mythology, folklore, and religion. 9 June 2004. 11 Jan.

2009 .

"Phoenix." Myths and Legends of the World. (2000). Student Resource Center - Gold. Mire Monte High School Library,

Bakersfield, CA. 11 Jan. 2009 .

“Phoenix.” U*X*L Encyclopedia of World Mythology. Vol. 4. (2008): 3. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Mire

Monte High School Library, Bakersfield, CA. 11 Jan. 2009 .

Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon, and Ash Dekirk. A Wizard's Bestiary: A Menagerie of Myth, Magic, and Mystery. New

York: New Page Books, 2007.

Works Cited Pre-Test (True/False)

11 Directions: Answer the True and False questions based on the sample Works Cited entries above.

_____ 1. My works cited page is a list of all the sources I used and cited in my research paper. _____ 2. My works cited page needs to be in alphabetical order according to authors’ first names. _____ 3. Every one of my source entries should begin with the author’s last name or the title of the article/web page (if there is no author provided).

_____ 4. If there is more than one author, the second author’s name should read last name then first name. _____ 5. Every one of my source entries should end with a period. _____ 6. All URL addresses should be placed within < >. _____ 7. My works cited page needs to have at least four entries. _____ 8. If a source takes up more than one line, every additional line needs to be indented five spaces (one tab).

_____ 9. My works cited page should be single-spaced. _____10. Titles of article should be underlined. Titles of books should be in quotation marks. _____11. Dates should be written as Day Month Year (i.e. 18 Jan. 2008). _____12. Months longer than four letters should be abbreviated.

12 Thesis Statement What is it? . The thesis statement is that sentence or two in your text that contains the focus of your essay and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about.

. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence in your paper.

. In terms of organization and structure, thesis statements typically appear in the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

How do I to develop one?

. Thesis statements often need to be adjusted as your research and writing progresses.

. Start with a tentative thesis statement that addresses the focal points of your research paper.

Thesis Statement Formula

Subject + Belief /Opinion/Focal Points = Thesis Statement

Parts of Research Paper: (1) Background Information, (2) Portrayal in Myths, (3) Contemporary Connection

Examples:

The Phoenix is a mythological bird that is still prominent in contemporary society with a great deal of history and symbolism attached to it.

The Graeae were three sisters with one eye and one tooth shared among them, and they are one of several female trinities in Greek mythology who have withstood the test of time and remain recognizable in modern society.

Though his name is not as familiar today, exciting accounts of the fearsome giant, Geryon, survive through Greek mythology and tales of one of its most famous heroes, Hercules. ------Tentative Thesis Statement Name: ______Period: ______Topic: ______

13 14 15 16 17 Outline . Your outline is a preliminary component of your research paper. It will help you organize your note cards and write your rough draft. . Major content divisions/categories are indicated by Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, IV, etc.) Your outline will include five major divisions. . Subdivisions of categories are specified by capital letters (A, B, C, D, etc.) Further subdivisions are indicated by numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, et.), then, if necessary, by lower case letters (a, b, c, d, etc.). . Subdivisions always include at least two letters/numbers. If there is an A, there must be a B. If there is a one, there must be a two. Think of an outline as a pizza. Subdivisions need to be able to be “cut” into at least two pieces. You can’t cut a pizza into one piece, or it would just be a whole pizza. . Below is a basic structure for how your outline should look. You may leave your introduction and conclusion without subcategories. Keep in mind that each Roman numeral in your outline may become multiple paragraphs in your rough draft/final manuscript. Outlines typically do not contain complete sentences.

18 Name: ______Period: ______Test Grade I. Introduction (Engage the reader’s interest. Introduce your topic.) Revised Thesis: ______II. Background Information A. ______1. ______2. ______B. ______1. ______2. ______C. ______D. ______E. ______III. Portrayal in Myths A. ______B. ______1. ______2. ______C. ______D. ______IV. Contemporary Connection A. ______1. ______2. ______B. ______C. ______1. ______2. ______3. ______V. Conclusion (Summarize key points about your mythological creature without being repetitive. Explain the relevance of mythology in the world today.)

19 Introductions

. Write a brief, general introduction to provide the background for your topic. . Catch the reader’s attention right away and then introduce the topic. . Start with a more broad statement, and then focus writing down to one central idea or statement, the thesis statement! . The introduction is one paragraph in length. . The thesis statement will be the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. . The introduction will be general information and common knowledge; therefore, no citations are necessary.

Introduction Example: The myths of Homer and Hesiod date back thousands of years. The Olympian gods and all the

mythological creatures that were a part of their world are still talked about today. They have a huge influence on

our contemporary society. We see these creatures in modern-day symbols, in advertisements, on television, in art,

in literature, and in our solar system. The Phoenix is one such creature. The Phoenix is a mythological bird that

is still prominent in contemporary society with a great deal of history and symbolism attached to it.

Tentative Introduction:

______

20 21 22 Presentation

You will need to create a power point over the information you have researched.

You MUST have slides over the following things:

1. Who/what is your mythological creature? 2. Background Information – Creation/Lineage (parentage), Physical Characteristics, Dwelling Place (where they live), Special Powers, Weaknesses/Strengths, Etc. 3. Portrayal in Myths – Appears in (Hesiod, Homer, Ovid, Vergil, etc.), Connections with Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes, Good/Evil, Symbolism, Well-known Individuals (i.e. Chiron was a famous centaur, Polyphemus was a famous Cyclops) 4. Contemporary Connection – Art, Literature, Astronomy, and Everyday Life (i.e. video games, film, music, television, brand names)

You must have a MINIMUM of 15 slides.

While slides do not have to be colorful and creative, it is suggested.

This power point must be completed when you walk in to class on Monday, May 6th. If you do not have it when you are called, it is late. Late grade policy applies.

A power point that CANNOT/WILL NOT load will be considered late.

23 You’re ALMOST THERE!!! YOUR FINAL DRAFT

What should I have? . A Cover Page with the following: Name Title of Research Paper Class Date . Your Research Essay . Your Works Cited

These three things need to be in ONE word file and uploaded to TURNITIN.COM

24 Mythological Creature Research Paper

Lab Days: April 15-19, 29-30- Library May 1 –Library May 2- Ag. Lab May 3- Library

Due Dates:

Assignment Type of Grade Date Research Vocab Test Test April 11 Website Evaluation (10) Test April 17 Tentative Works Cited Daily April 19 (7) Works Cited Test Test April 22 Tentative Thesis Daily April 22 Statement Note Cards (25) THREE Daily April 26 Outline Test April 29 Rough Draft w/P.R. Daily May 3 Presentation Test May 10 Final Draft Test No later than: May 10

You may turn in your FINAL DRAFT the WEEK OF May 6-10 Final Drafts need to be turned in through TURNITIN.COM ID: 5656564 Password: Tigers2016 Essays NOT turned in online will be subject to an IMMEDIATE loss of 30 points.

****All dates are subject to change. You WILL receive notice of these changes by keeping up with the assignment board, the Facebook page, or the classroom page through Smithville ISD.

25 Name: ______Period: ______

Paper Topic: ______PROCESS WORK: Possible Points Your Points Topic Choice and Thesis Statement 10 Tentative Works Cited Page 15 25 Note Cards 25 Outline (Handwritten or Typed) 15 Rough Draft (Handwritten or Typed) 60 Peer Review Sheet (2 Sides) 10 PROCESS WORK TOTAL 135 TOTAL

FINAL MANUSCRIPT: Possible Points Your Points Introduction 10 General Background 5 Thesis Statement 5 Body 50 Follows Outlined 3 Parts 25 Topic Sentence Begins Each Paragraph 10 Student Writing Is Incorporated with Research (Documented) Material 15 Conclusion 15 Restatement of Thesis 5 Reiterate Major Points 5 Emphasizes Mythology’s relevance today 5 Proper MLA Format (Font, Margins, Spacing) 20 Written in Third Person (No “I” or “You”) 5 Style (Transitions, Sentence Fluency) 5 Mechanics (Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation, etc.) 20 Spelling 5 Punctuation 5 Subject-Verb Agreement/ Consistent Verb Tense 5 Proper Sentence Structure (avoid run-ons, fragments) 5 Correct In-Text Parenthetical Documentation 25 Works Cited Page 25 4 Sources (minimum) 5 1 Book 5 Double Spaced 5 Alphabetical Order 5 MLA Format 5 FINAL MANUSCRIPT TOTAL 175 TOTAL * Final papers that do not meet minimum length requirements will automatically be deducted 25 points. They will then be returned to the writer for completion. ** Because meeting due dates is vital to the completion of this assignment, late work will only receive half credit (50%)

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