Your third short essay assignment will be to examine different aspects of contemporary mythology and folklore.
Possible topics:
• Choose scenes and events in any of the Harry Potter books or films that illustrate the Rankian ideas
discussed in this chapter.
• How does the use of magic in Harry Potter stories compare with that in the Prose Edda or in the Zuni
Emergence myth?
• Why do characters often perform their magic with the help of a special object? Name some specific
objects in ancient myths, traditional fairy and folk tales, and current fantasy and science fiction stories.
• Examine the mythical status and function of a legend. Study one of the following: a sports hero; a folk or
rock musician or group; a political leader, group, or movement, past or present (or future); an actress; one
of America’s “founding fathers”; figures associated with the myth of the frontier or any other actual
person of your choice whose life or adventures seem to fit a mythical pattern. Analyze the legend of this
figure according to two or more of the interpretive systems found in the textbook. These include: the
various insights produced by analyses of myth; Jung; Levi-Strauss; Campbell (the hero on a quest);
Propp.
Obviously, you can choose another topic. If you are having a difficult time coming up with a topic, feel free to set up an
appointment to discuss this with me during my office hours and/or by emailing me. I am here to help. In addition, if you
choose a topic that is NOT on this list, I ask that you email me before you begin so I can approve the topic.
Other things to Consider:
This is an Upper-Level English Course
Since this is a 2000-level course, and thus is one of the highest-level courses PGCC offers, the expectations I
have for your writing will be significantly higher than in some lower-level courses you may have taken with me
or with other professors. As such, your essays will be expected to a) analyze, b) interpret, and c) synthesize.
Simply summarizing information from a text or my presentations will not meet the requirements of this, or any
essay for this course.
Citations Needed
Obviously, your work will require both in-text (parenthetical) citations and a works cited for every source you
use. Remember that you need to use citation whenever you reference, summarize, paraphrase, or quote material.
Depending on your source (which may very well be a film, in addition to text), you will be required to use
appropriate citation style. This essay will require MLA citation. Information about that can be obtained from me
or by any reputable source on the internet (I recommend doing a search for “The Owl at Purdue”—their
information is fantastic).
Structure
If you’ve taken lower-level courses at PGCC (especially if you’ve taken a course with me), you may assume
that your essay needs to have a specific structure and perhaps follow a 5-paragraph format. For upper-level
English, this is not the case. Your first paragraph will most likely introduce the material and set out the direction
your essay is going to go (with a strong thesis that lays out your claim(s)), but after that, no set structure is
needed. As long as your essay follows a logical format that is easy to follow, you can ignore any set structure
rules you have learned in the past. That said, if you choose to follow a tried-and-true format like the 5-
paragraph structure, feel free to do so.
Goals for Paper Criteria:
Papers will meet the following criteria:
• Main Idea/ purpose/ focus-The paper stays on topic, is unified, clear, defines terms and meets the
requirement of the topic.
• Organization/ structure-The paper includes the effective use of modes, has an introduction and
conclusion, and uses transitions.
• Content/ development-The paper contains specific details, full support, and development of ideas.
• Tone and Style- The paper is appropriately written for the declared audience.
• Grammar/ Mechanics-The paper demonstrates proper use of sentence construction, usage spelling
punctuation, and capitalization.
Format for Papers (MLA):
• Put your name, instructor’s name, the name of the course/ the assignment number/
and the date at the top left of the first page, double-spaced.
• Have a title, centered at the top of the first page.
• Have your last name and page number at the top right side of each page. (Go to view/ headers and
footers—type your last name. Then go to insert page and add the page number.)
• All papers will be typed in size 12 font, double-spaced, using one-inch margins on “8 1/2 by 11” white
paper (NOTE: Microsoft Word margin default is 1.25 in.).
• You will turn in your papers via BlackBoard.
Revision Policy:
You may revise each major assignment only once. Revisions do not automatically receive a higher grade.
The revision must be a substantial improvement over the original paper and meet all criteria below to
receive a better grade.
• Simply making editing changes will not constitute a higher grade.
• Revisions are due no later than one week after the due date of the original paper.
• Major papers that are missing any of the required elements (i.e. notes, drafts, peer comments,
assignment sheet) will not be accepted for revision.
• Revisions must be submitted in the same format as the major papers, as listed above.
• Significant changes in your paper should be highlighted. Highlight new material in the new version and
remove material in the old version. Revisions submitted without highlighting will not be graded.
Written explanations of changes in the margins or on a separate page are required.
• You must have attended all workshop sessions for a major paper for its revision to be accepted.
