Myth, Values, Culture, & Psyche: An Essay
Inspired by Tim Murray’s Myth Tetrad
Major Work, 60 points
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, psyche is “the
soul, mind, or personality” of a human. Through reading, writing, and
discussion we’ve looked at the connections between myth, culture, values, and individuals. Now I am asking
you to bring all of these ideas together to consider how mythology affected ancient Greek people, and more
importantly, how mythology and its values affect you.
The rubric and grading for this essay will focus on the ideas and content, organization, voice, word
choice, and conventions.
Here is the prompt:
What is a cultural value passed on through Greek mythology? How was this value
important to ancient Greek people, and how is it important to you today?
Write an essay that explores this question by focusing on the questions below:
• What was the complex message shared about that value in ancient Greek mythology
and how was it communicated in a variety of stories?
• Why was this value important to individuals in ancient Greece and how do you think it
affected their beliefs and behaviors?
• How does your current culture in the 21st century view this value now, and how is that
message communicated today?
• What is your personal view of this value and how does your understanding of it in
Greek mythology and current culture affect or influence your own beliefs and
behavior?
At the end of your essay, include a Sources Consulted list in MLA format. Include a citation for
Mythology by Edith Hamilton, and the resources you used for research.
The Writing Process- A quick and specific review
1. Prewriting- You have already started this. Your reading and notes for Edith Hamilton’s Mythology,
presentation, notes on other presentations, research, and journal writing will help you. Now, take time to
look at it and organize your thoughts about the prompt in some form of prewriting. What will work best
for you and the task? Take about 10 minutes to think; it will save you time later. A few format ideas:
a. Web or Mind Map
b. List
c. Harvard Outline (your roman numerals could be the paragraphs)
d. T-Chart
e. Free-Write
2. Drafting- Write the first draft of your essay. Look at the rubric as you go, so you actively working on
the skills that are being assessed, but don’t be focused on perfection or conventions. You’ll work on that
later. Trying to be perfect now will kill creative thought.
3. Revising- Make improvements to the Ideas, Organization, and Voice of your essay. In other words, the
content and language you are getting graded on. Focus on these:
q Answer the questions and stay on the topic.
q Be sure you have developed the complexity of the topic, explained it clearly, and supported
with specific details. Check the accuracy of your support from the book and your research.
q Use specific support for your thesis and conclusions. Summarize ideas and story elements that
prove your points, don’t write a long summary.
q Improve the introduction and conclusion.
q Check the transitions, topic sentences, and paragraph organization.
q Change the order of the ideas to improve clarity.
q Choose an appropriate voice
i. Formal but not snooty
ii. Clear and not overly wordy or flowery
iii. Don’t use phrases like “I am writing this essay,” (that’s obvious) “I think that maybe, ”
(shows a lack of confidence). Don’t use “we” or “you” (it shows that you assume what
others think). It’s ok to write “I believe,” or “I agree because.” This essay is asking for
your personal views, so that is appropriate.
4. Proofreading- Fix punctuation, spelling, and grammar. If you are weak on these, ask a reliable editor to
help you!
5. Publishing- Look at the course syllabus for final touches on formatting (heading, title, margins, fonts,
etc).
What’s important to remember for this essay, especially things that you sometimes forget?
Content
Language & Conventions
Name ____________________________________
Per. ________ Due Date _____________________
Categories
Ideas and
Content
40 pts
Language
Organization
Voice
Conventions
20 pts
Exemplary
• Clear and insightful
thesis that answers the
question with unique
personal connection
• Complex
understanding of
myths & values
• Strong, specific
support with a variety
of myths and
research, including
details/quotations
• Complete & engaging
introduction
• Paragraphs &
transitions effectively
support the argument
• Conclusion
summarizes &
extends the thesis
• Appropriate,
confident & engaging
voice for formal essay
that avoids
unnecessary phrases
& words
• Few or no errors in
complex conventions
• No errors in Sources
Consulted list for at
least 3 sources
Proficient
• Clear thesis that
answers the question
with individual view
Emerging
• Thesis becoming clear,
general, or may not
completely answer the
question
Incomplete
• Thesis is unclear or
does not adequately
answer question
• Good understanding of
myths & values
• Adequate understanding
of myths & values
• Poor understanding of
myths & values
• Good support with at
least two myths and
some research, with
some detail/quotations
• Complete introduction
• Adequate support may
be general,
unconnected, or weak in
several places
• Incomplete introduction
• Weak or somewhat
inaccurate support in
most of essay
• Paragraphs and
transitions organize
clearly
• Conclusion
summarizes & clarifies
the thesis
• Appropriate & clear
voice for formal essay
that may sometimes
uses
• Paragraphs &/or
transitions are attempted
but are ineffective
• Conclusion is present,
but may be repetitious,
abrupt, or confusing
• Sometimes
inappropriate voice
• Some errors
• Noticeable errors are
distracting
• Distracting errors or
incomplete Sources
Consulted list
• Few errors in Sources
Consulted list
• Inadequate
introduction
• Little or no attempt at
paragraphs or
transitions
• Unclear, or no
conclusion
• Inappropriate voice
• Many distracting
errors, hard to read
• Many errors, or very
incomplete Sources
Consulted list