Mythology Creation Myth Essay Writing Assignment
The Turtle on his Back and Genesis 1:1: a compare/contrast essay:
This will be a five paragraph essay or a three paragraph analysis. You may choose which
way you wish to complete the assignment see details below). You may choose from 2
questions. One will be the basic question and one other will be advanced. Those students
doing the advanced question will receive extra points.
BASIC: What does “The Turtle on His Back” tell you about how the Iroquois view the
world? You must give specific examples from the text of the myth to reinforce your points.
For the five paragraph essay:
For the three paragraph analysis:
Provide an introduction with a thesis or
summary sentence of what you are
writing. You will need to use the essay
guide that is posted on NetSchool.
Paragraph 1: Your topic sentence
should give some detail that gives an
idea as to how the Iroquois see the
world. For example, do they believe in
one God or many? Use the compare/
Contrast thinking map to figure out
which details you will use.
Each body paragraph will contain one
of your examples. Use the compare and
contrast graphic organizer thinking map
to figure out which details you will use.
Paragraph 2: Same format as
paragraph 1.
Paragraph 3: Same format as
paragraph 1.
ADVANCED: Compare and Contrast “The Turtle on His Back” and the creation account
from Genesis. You must point out at least one way they are similar and two that are
different.
Five paragraph essay:
Three paragraph analysis:
Using your essay guide (on NetSchool),
plan an essay with an introduction,
thesis, three body paragraphs and a
conclusion. The body paragraphs must
have one comparison or contrast and
you will need to quote words from the
text with MLA format. Remember,
comparisons tell us what things are the
same and contrasts tell us what things
are different.
For the three paragraph analysis, use
the following format.
Paragraph 1: For your topic sentence,
indicate one of the ways in which “The
Turtle on His Back” and the creation
account from Genesis are alike or
different. The next three or four
sentences should develop or describe
what you came up with in the topic
sentence. End with a concluding
sentence. You will need to quote words
from the text with MLA format.
Paragraphs 2 and 3: Same format as 1.