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Name:  _______________________________________________  Period:  _________  Date:  ____________________  Assign  #:  25    Greek Mythology Narrative Essay Directions: Read the following prompt carefully and RUTO it below. For centuries, myths helped the early Greeks understand phenomena, or puzzling events, in nature and in human life. A wild storm could be explained as the act of an angry god; falling in love might be caused by the goddess of love; or the creation of the four seasons may be explained by Zeus’ sympathy for humans. Whether these myths included gods, goddesses, or mortal heroes, their actions and adventures were used as lessons that taught important Greek values to future generations. You have just read several narratives recounting important Greek gods, heroes, and phenomena. Write a narrative essay from the perspective of a mortal (human) that would explain some type of natural phenomena and how a Greek god, goddess, or hero is involved. Your story should explain some type of event or state of the world that exists today. Be sure to include a Greek god or hero in your story that would have made this phenomenon possible. Describe the occasion so vividly that your readers will feel they were right there with your god or hero.  

 Timeline/Due  Dates:  The  following  lists  the  important  due  dates  for  this  paper.  Be  sure  to  follow  them  so  you  will  not  fall  behind.  Not  meeting  any  of  the  following  deadlines  will  result  in  being  assigned  to  Homework  Hall:  Sept  2          LABOR  DAY  –  NO  SCHOOL      

Tues,  9-­‐3/Wed,  9-­‐4  -­‐RUTO  Prompt  (pg  1)  -­‐Brainstorming  Activity  (pg  2)  

5/6    Prewriting  due  (pgs  3-­‐4)  

9/10      First  Draft  due    

11    Peer  Review  (pg  5)    

12/13    Writer’s  Workshop  

16/17      Final  Draft  due  

 Final  Draft  Format  Requirements:  *Final  Draft  can  also  be  neatly  handwritten  ☐Typed,  12  pt.,  double-­‐spaced*   ☐Times  New  Roman  or  Cambria*   ☐3-­‐4  pages  ☐ESAT  Heading  (No  Cover  page)   ☐Creative  Title ☐Page  numbers  

Read  the  prompt.  

Underline  ALL  the  important  parts  of  the  prompt.      Turn  the  MAIN  sentence  into  a  question.  Write  the  question  here:          

Outline  your  essay.  Begin  it  by  first  answering  your  question.  Your  answer  to  this  question  will  become  your  thesis.    Write  your  thesis  here:            

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 Brainstorming:  ☐Step  1:  It  is  now  time  to  begin  brainstorming  your  own  original  nature  myth.    Follow  each  step  below  to  get  your  ideas  flowing:      

1)  Make  a  list  of  natural  phenomena  Examples: rainbows, color of a sunset, animals, sneezing, solar eclipses, wind, lightning, yawning, etc.      2)  Select  a  phenomenon  from  your  list  that  is  familiar  to  you  and  that  you  can  observe.  3)  Observe  carefully.    Find  out  as  much  as  you  can  about  the  natural  event  that  you  have  chosen:  

• What  does  it  look  like?    

• What  does  it  sound  like?    

• What  does  it  smell  like?    

• What  effect  does  it  have  on  people  and  places?    

• What  are  the  scientific  reasons  for  this  event?    4)  Ask  yourself,  what  if?  Imagine  and  brainstorm  all  of  the  possibilities...            ☐Step 2: Choose  the  god/goddess  or  hero  that  will  help  you  tell  your  story.  Use  the  following  to  guide  you  in  your  writing  by  reading  myths  about  him/her  and  complete  the  following  information.  

 Ø Greek  name  of  god  or  goddess:  

 Ø Domain  (this  means  what  is  he/she  the  god/goddess  of):    Ø Flaws/crimes/behaviors  that  cause  trouble  for  this  god  or  goddess:      

   Ø Physical  description:  list  ways  to  recognize  this  god  or  goddess  (e.g.  does  he/she  carry  something  with  

him/her,  dress  a  certain  way,  have  physical  characteristics  that  are  different  from  the  other  gods  and  goddesses?  

       Ø Allies/Friends/Partners  in  crime:  

 Ø Hangouts/Where  would  this  god  be  found?    Ø Family  relationships  (e.g.  son  of  Zeus,  wife  of  Hephaestus):    Ø Symbols  that  represent  this  god/goddess:    

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 Prewriting:    ☐Step  3:  Answer  the  following  questions  to  begin  drafting  the  background  of  your  story:  1)  Purpose:    

• What  is  the  purpose  of  your  myth?            

• What  natural  phenomenon  will  your  myth  explain?            2)  Theme:  

• What  message  or  universal  truth  will  be  shared  by  your  myth?              

3)  Additional  Characters:  • Briefly  name  and  describe  your  main  character,  a  mortal  (protagonist).      

         

• Include  specific  character  traits  (physical  characteristics,  personality  traits).            4)  Give  details  about  the  setting  of  your  story.    Remember  that  setting  includes  not  only  time  and  place,  but  also  environmental  details.                    

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☐Step  4:  Fill  out  the  following  plot  chart  to  begin  drafting  your  story.    Plot Structure List Details of Your Story

Exposition

(Who? Where? Wants

What?)

• Introduce the main character

• Establish the setting • Decide what the character wants

Conflict

(But?)

• Decide on the problem that is keeping the

character from getting

what he/she wants

Rising Action

(So?)

• Create events in your story that show the

main character trying

to solve the problem

Climax

(So?)

• Create an event or happening in your

story that is a

turning point and lets

the reader know the

problem will be (or

is) solved.

Falling Action

(Then?)

• Write about what happens because the

main problem is out of

the way. Give the

character what he/she

wants.

Resolution/Denouement

(Finally?)

• Write an ending that gives the reader a

sense of completeness;

that everything is

going to be okay.

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 Peer  Review  

 Directions  for  the  writer:  After  you  write  your  rough  draft,  give  it  to  a  peer  with  this  page.    Directions  for  the  reviewer:  Complete  your  review  by  using  the  following  symbols  on  your  peer’s  draft  as  well  as  on  the  chart  below.    +  =  Great     ✓  =  Okay,  but  could  be  better     X  =  Needs  improvement       Score   Comments/Explanation of your score  The myth captured &

kept my attention

from beginning to end

 

   

One Greek god/goddess

or hero is depicted

accurately

 

   

The god/goddess or

hero shows heroic

qualities

   

A natural event is

explained

   

The myth is written

entirely in first or

third person

   

Specific nouns &

vivid verbs are used

to paint pictures

with words (imagery)

   

The myth flows & is

easy to understand

   

The myth makes sense

   

Proper nouns are

capitalized correctly

   

There are no spelling

mistakes

   

Reviewer’s Signature

   

 What  I  liked  most  about  your  myth  was:          Your  myth  could  have  been  better  if: