Download MYTHOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER STEP ONE: Select a Greek god

MYTHOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER
STEP ONE: Select a Greek god, goddess, or mythological figure to research from the list below. Being
doing some preliminary research on your Greek figure. You will need a total of FIVE resources.
Greek Mythological Figures
Aelous
Epimetheus
Oceanus
Aphrodite
Gaea
Pandora
Apollo
Gorgons (Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa)
Persephone
the Erinyes
Eros
Ares
Hades
Perses
Artemis
Hebe
Pheobe
Astraeus/Astraios
Helios
Poseidon
Athena
Hephaestus
Prometheus
Atlas
Hera
Rhea
Coeus
Hermes
Nike
Crius
Hestia
Tethys
Cronus
Hyperion
Theia
Demeter
Iapetus
Uranus
Dione
Leto
Zeus
Dionysus
Maia
Pan
STEP TWO: After you have done some preliminary research, formulate a tentative thesis statement. As
you conduct more research, you can revise your thesis statement.
What is a Thesis Statement?
Your thesis is one main sentence that states the idea of the paper. Sometimes you begin with a
thesis and use your research to form a thesis, other times you need to do some research before
you can decide on a thesis. Use your preliminary research to formulate a rough draft of a thesis
sentence, which can be changed as you do your research.
Why Should Your Essay Contain A Thesis Statement?
--to test your ideas by putting them into a sentence or two 
--to better organize and develop your argument 
--to provide your reader with a “guide” to your argument
Formulate preliminary thesis sentence: What would you like to know about your Greek figure
after your preliminary research?
3 Questions I have about this topic:
1.____________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________
MY TENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT IS:
__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
____________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
____________________
STEP THREE: Begin taking notes. Use one “NOTE-TAKING SHEET” for each source. (To be passed out at a
later date.) You will have at least FIVE note-taking sheets. For each source, fill in the top of the “NOTETAKING SHEET” with the information requested. You will use this information later to create a works
cited page (AKA bibliography).
Each source should provide you with at least 10 pieces of information—if a source doesn’t provide
enough information, find a different one! Try to avoid pulling the same information from each source; the
more information you have, the better off you’ll be. This information should include but is not limited to:
a. Who your figure is and what he or she represents (what is he or she the god/goddess of)
b. What is the origin of your Greek figure?
c. Why is your figure important to Greek mythology/culture? How was he/she worshipped?
d. Other names (Roman or Greek) by which your figure has been known.
d. Who your figure is related to – mother and father, siblings, and children (if any).
f. Characteristics of your figure.
g. Symbols that represent your figure. Why do those symbols represent you figure?
h. Sacred animals, colors, etc. associated with your figure.
i. Interesting myth(s) associated with your figure.
j. Allusions/influences in modern literature, entertainment, business, etc.
STEP FOUR: Using your note-taking sheets to create an outline. You may use the outline provided (To be
passed out at a later date). Be sure to fill in ample details and minor details. Or, you may create your own
outline.
FYI—An outline serves as a guide to you when you begin writing your paper. If you have not already been
making formal outlines, this outline will be a formal version of your previous notes; it lays out your main
points and sub-points. Generally, this kind of outline uses conventions of formal outlining: Roman
numerals, letters and indentations.
STEP FIVE: Type your rough draft. It should be formatted as follows:
1. approximately 4-5 pages in length, font size 12, Times New Roman, double spaced
2. textual evidence within the paper, include citations for each quote within the paper (author’s name
page #).
3. include a works cited page—to be discussed in class prior to rough draft’s due date
STEP SIX: Complete and turn in final draft.
Your research paper will follow the MLA formatting rules. We will discuss different aspects of MLA
formatting as we work our way through the paper.
NOTE-TAKING SHEET
Author's Name:
Date Published (n.d. for no date):
Title of Article:
City Published (for print resources):
Title of Book/Website:
Publisher (for print resources):
Edition (for print resources):
Date Accessed (for websites & databases):
a. Who your figure is and what he or she represents (what is he or she the god/goddess of)
b. What is the origin of your Greek figure?
c. Why is your figure important to Greek mythology/culture? How was he/she worshipped?
d. Other names (Roman or Greek) by which your figure has been known.
e. Who your figure is related to – mother and father, siblings, and children (if any).
f. Characteristics of your figure.
g. Symbols that represent your figure. Why do those symbols represent you figure?
h. Sacred animals, colors, etc. associated with your figure.
i. Interesting myth(s) associated with your figure.
j. Allusions/influences in modern literature, entertainment, business, etc.
MYTHOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE
DIRECTIONS: Below is a possible outline. You may use the suggested main ideas and fill in the outline with enough major
and minor details or you may use your own main ideas. However, your outline must have a minimum of TEN main ideas
(Roman numerals).
I. Thesis Statement:
II. Figures name
III. Importance in Greek mythology/culture
IV. Other Names (Roman)
V. Relations/Family
VI. Characteristics (character traits)
VII. Symbols of the figure
VIII. Sacred Animals, Colors, etc.
IX. Myth(s) about figure
X. Allusions/Modern Uses of…
MYTHOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER—OUTLINE SAMPLE
I. Thesis Statement: Janus’ role in Roman society influenced and affected every aspect of their lives.
II. Figures name
A. Janus
B. Latin name = ianua
III. Importance in ROMAN mythology/culture
A. gatekeeper of heaven
B. god of doors & gates
C. temple in Rome
1. doors open during was—allows the god to intervene quickly when needed
2. doors closed during peace
a. closed during Augustus’ reign
b. closed once during Nero’s reign
D. worshipped at the beginning of any major event
1. harvest/planting time
2. births/marriages
3. offerings included new cakes of meal & salt, net wine & frankincense
E. before Rome was a Republic
1. had four temples
2. known as Janus Quadrifons
F. Jupiter able to move back & forth because of Janus
G. initiator of human life & new historical ages
H. one of the most important gods
J. name always invoked at the beginning of anything
K. present in Cicreo’s & Ovid’s writings
IV. Other Names (Greek)
A. Latin name = ianua
B. Possibly worshiped at Apollo or the sun & mood god
C. “Janus” type god found in Greece, may be related to Hermes
D. Janus-cult in Middle-East/Chaldeans
E. Hindu god with two or four faces similar to Janus
V. Relations/Family/Origin
A. came from Thessaly
B. married Camese and ruled Latium
C. father to Tiberinus (river god)
D. Apollo = Janus’ father in some myths
VI. Symbols of the figure
A. doors/archways/gates
B. double faced
C. represents time
VII. Myth(s) about figure
A. stopped the Sabines from attacking Rome
B. said to be present at different archways & gateways throughout the Roman Empire
IX. Allusions/other influences
A. where the name of “January” comes from
1. looking back on the old year & looking forward to a new year
3. was originally the 11th month in ancient Rome
B. became the symbol of Genoa, Italy (Middle ages)
C. Shakespeare—Othello
1. Iago invokes the name of Janus
2. Janus’ being two-faced is perfect metaphor for Iago
X. Miscellaneous
A. has two faces
1. one looking in and one looking out
2. like a door can let you in or let you out
B. on many Roman coins
C. the goddess Vesta is the last
D. diprosopus in cats
1. congenital birth defect causing two faces to appear on one head
2. also known as Janus cats
http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/roman/janus.htm
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/j/janus.html
http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-gods/myths-about-the-roman-god-janus.htm