Paper for Classics 40 Greek Myth Spring Term 2020Please read and re-read these instructions before emailing us with questions!
*Your paper should be between 5 and 6 pages (not 6-7 as it says in the syllabus),
typed in Times New Roman 12 or similar font with one-inch margins.
* In the syllabus it says that in Week 6 you will submit a plan of your paper through
Eli Review. WE WILL NOT BEING DOING THIS. THERE WILL BE NO ELI REVIEW
EXERCISES IN WEEK 6. You are advised to plan your paper, but need not show it to
anyone.
*The deadline for submission of papers is the end of week 7. However, it is flexible –
if you cannot make that deadline do not email us – just try to submit your paper as
soon as you can after that. Please don’t exploit this generosity – if most of the papers
are submitted after week 7 your TAs and Professor Morales will be miserably
grading around the clock. Papers will be submitted through Gauchospace, not Eli
Review. We will give you further instructions as to how to submit them in due
course.
* We are happy to discuss ideas with you in our office hours. Professor Morales
cannot answer questions that need more than very short answers by email
– please see her in her office hours if you’d like to discuss your ideas with her. We
cannot typically look at drafts of papers, but are happy to discuss ideas with you.
Choose ONE of the following:
(1) Describe how one or more Greek myths resonate with a contemporary social
issue or issues.
Select one or more of the myths that we have discussed in the course (including
those that you may have read about in the recommended reading, or seen
dramatized in the videos) and use them as a lens through which to examine an issue
or issues that are important today. You could choose Oedipus, or Narcissus, or
Prometheus or any other myth you want that has been covered by the course.
(2) Compare and contrast an ancient representation of a god, goddess, or other
character from Greek myth with one or more modern representations of the
same god, goddess or character.
You may choose representations in dramatic plays, poetry, visual arts, music or
other media.
You might find inspiration here (Mary Beard’s Mythology Trail):
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/collection-top-picks-mary-beard
Bonus points for recreating a famous painting in addition to writing your paper (there are
various examples going around social media) but choose your topic wisely (nothing
sexually explicit please – your professor is a sensitive soul). You might take inspiration
from these: https://www.boredpanda.com/art-recreation-at-home-getty-museumchallenge/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic
Tips:
* Make sure that you have a strong, arguable thesis
* You may, but do not have to, include personal reflections in your paper. It can
make for a powerful argument to do this, but be careful not to be too journalistic.
What I mean by this is make sure that your writing is not just a string of your
opinions, but that you back up the points that you make, especially the points about
the myth or myths, with precise reference to the ancient plays, poetry, and art in
which the myths are represented.
* Make sure that you show good knowledge of the ancient material by using it to
illustrate the points that you make (as you have been doing in some of the exercises
on Eli Review). However, avoid summarizing at length. Reiterating significant
events/plot points/details can help you make your argument, but such explanations
should always be brief (assume that your reader is familiar with the myth), and they
should only be there to illuminate your analysis and interpretation.
*Do not quote long passages. This is usually just a filler. Try not to pad your paper
with unnecessarily wordy sentences or whole blocks of text that say nothing. Be
concise and direct. If you feel the need to pad out paragraphs then maybe you need
more material and argument in your paper.
* You may refer to myths that we have not discussed on the course if you ask
permission from your TA or Professor Morales first (email or visit during office
hours saying which myth and why you want to use it). We will typically say no to
papers on Antigone myth or the Odyssey as we do not want rehashes of work you
have done at school.
* You must not plagiarize (see the syllabus). Every year someone hands in a paper
that cuts and pastes from Wikipedia articles – please do not do this – there will be
unpleasant and official consequences.
* Cite all sources appropriately using a consistent format (eg MLA:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_
style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html)