Mythology Final Project
The Project: For this class, you will have a traditional final exam, even though we travel around
the entire world over the course of a single trimester. In addition, you will be expected to write a
four to eight paper using MLA format and documentation, as well as present your findings on
one of the topics listed bellow.
The Lord of the Rings
Ivan the Terrible (Dracula)
Harry Potter
George Washington
Zorro
Batman
Runemarks
Superman
The Alchemyst
Spiderman
The Chronicles of Prydain
Eragon
King Arthur
Sherlock Holmes
Benjamin Franklin
Star Wars
Davy Crockett
Robin Hood
Indiana Jones
Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
Pirates
Napoleon
Lenin
Percy Jackson
The Avengers
Once you have chosen your topic, you must create an essay by compiling the following information:
1. Determine which myths we’ve read over the course of the trimester to which these myths present a
parallel.
2. Compare and contrast the myths we’ve read to your modern myth.
3. How do literary archetypes (please see document on home wiki page) play into your understanding of
your modern myth as a parallel?
Write your paper and then create a presentation (power point or movie) so that you can share your work with
the class without reading the paper.
Paper length: 4 full pages to 8 pages, plus annotated works cited page
Movie or power point presentation length: 3 to 10 minutes.
Syllabus for Final Project:
________________: Topic selection
________________: Annotated Bibliography Due
________________: Final Project and Presentation Due
Suggested Structure for your Essay and Presentation:
1. Summary of your modern myth in your own words.
2. Compare and contrast the structure of the stories that are similar to your myth.
3. Compare and contrast the archetypes (characters, setting, and plot lines) in the myths.
4. How are the modern myths different from the ancient ones?
5. Are there references to ancient mythology within the work that you are reading?
Sample Outline for Modern Myth Paper and Presentation
Introduction (One paragraph)
A. Introduction Authors and time period of modern myth
B. Publication information of modern myth
I.
Overview of modern Myth --General plot (one to two paragraphs)
II.
Setting (one paragraph per setting)
A. Archetype of modern myth – Explain why modern myth fulfills this archetype
B. Explain ancient myth archetype setting
C. Explain similarity between two settings of the myths
D. Explain differences between the settings of the myths
III.
Characters
A. Good Character
1. Modern myth character, personality, and archetype (explain)
2. Ancient myth character, personality, and archetype (explain)
3. Similarities between characters (explain)
4. Differences between the characters (explain)
B. Bad Character
1. Modern myth character, personality, and archetype (explain)
2. Ancient myth character, personality, and archetype (explain)
3. Similarities between characters (explain)
4. Differences between the characters (explain)
C. Neutral Character
1. Modern myth character, personality, and archetype (explain)
2. Ancient myth characters, personality, and archetype (explain)
3. Similarities between characters (explain)
4. Differences between the characters (explain)
IV.
Plot
A. Modern myth plot archetype – explain why modern myth fulfills this archetype
B. Explain ancient myth archetype (explain)
C. Explain similarity between plots of the myths (explain)
D. Explain the differences between the plots of the myths
V.
Annotated Works Cited
A. One or two sentences explaining content of whole source
B. One or two sentences explaining how this source was used in research and its usefulness
C. One or two sentences explaining the usability of source
Paper should include IN TEXT citations. Please make references to the sources used in the research process;
these sources will include the textbook or the wiki pages, as well as the books and movies that are used in the
comparisons. Document paraphrased information as well as direct quotations. A well-documented paper refers
to its sources two to three times every page.
NoodleTools can also help with these citations. On the right hand side of the entry, click on the “In-Text
Reference” link. A new window will open that will illustrate what the in-text reference (stuff found in
parenthesis at the end of a quote or a paraphrased piece of information) should look like.
Example: The origin of Aquaman changed over time. In the original publications, called the Golden Age
version, Aquaman narrated his own origin: “From the books and records, he learned ways of teaching me to live
under the ocean, drawing oxygen from the water and using all the power of the sea to make me wonderfully
strong and swift. By training and a scientific secrets, I became what you see — a human being who lives and
thrives under the water” (“Aquaman Origins”).
Rubric for Annotated Bibliography
Category
Format
Content
Total:
Subcategory
Basic format
follows all MLA
guidelines
Citations are in
MLA format
Citations are
listed in ABC
order
Every citation is
followed by an
annotation (3-6
sentences total)
Each annotation
contains a brief
summary of the
source (1-2
sentences)
Each annotation
contains an
analysis of the
source (1-2
sentences)
Each annotation
discusses the
usability of each
source (1-2
sentences)
Bibliography
contains at least
6 sources
Points Possible
10
10
5
5
10
10
10
15
75
Points Earned
Comments
Rubric for Research Presentation
Category
Subcategory
Points Possible Points Earned
Appearance Presentation
displays
20
research-based
effort
Creativity of
presentation
20
allows it to
engage the
audience
All notes and
images are easily
10
able to be seen
from any point in
the room
Content
Provides a brief
summary of the
25
research paper
Provides a list of
25
works cited
Total:
100
Rubric for Research Essay
Category
Subcategory
Format
Paper is set
according to
MLA guidelines
Works Cited is
in MLA format
Citations within
the text are in
MLA format
Content
Brief summary
of chosen myth
(1-2 ¶ only)
Compares and
contrasts chosen
myth to myths
read in class
Highlights
literary
conventions
(archetypes,
symbolism, etc)
used within the
chosen work
Total:
Points Possible
20
20
25
10
50
50
175
Points Earned
Comments
Comments