Prompt: Write an informative essay about a character from ancient Greek mythology. Summarize the plot of the myth and explain the cultural significance of the mythological character.

Based on the topic given in your prompt, what is appropriate to include in your informative essay? Check all that apply.

a mythical story that you have made up
a summary of the character’s myth
an explanation of why the character is important to Greek culture
information about why you chose your character
descriptions of several Greek characters

11 answers

In your informative essay about a character from ancient Greek mythology, the appropriate elements to include are:

  • A summary of the character’s myth: This provides the context and background for readers who may not be familiar with the specific story or details about the character.

  • An explanation of why the character is important to Greek culture: This highlights the cultural significance, values, and lessons that can be drawn from the character's myth and how they have influenced Greek society.

  • Information about why you chose your character: This adds a personal touch to your essay, allowing the reader to understand your perspective and interest in the specific character.

Including a mythical story that you have made up and descriptions of several Greek characters would not be appropriate, as the focus should be on one specific character and their myth.

hmm either one of them arent right or there is one more

Apologies for any confusion. Let's clarify the elements that are appropriate to include in your informative essay about a character from ancient Greek mythology:

  1. A summary of the character’s myth: Essential for understanding the narrative surrounding the character.

  2. An explanation of why the character is important to Greek culture: Important for demonstrating the significance of the character within the broader context of Greek mythology and society.

  3. Information about why you chose your character: Adds a personal touch and context for your selection.

The element that may have been implied to include but was not explicitly mentioned is:

  1. Descriptions of several Greek characters: If it's relevant to providing context or comparison to the chosen character, it can enhance the essay, but it should not deviate from the main focus on one character.

To clarify, if you are focusing on one specific character, it's best to limit yourself mostly to those first three elements. If you are contrasting the chosen character with others, then some descriptions may be relevant but should not take over the main focus of the essay.

Thus, the main points to focus on would be the summary of the character’s myth, their cultural significance, and your reasoning for choosing that character.

no no its only a summary of the character’s myth
an explanation of why the character is important to Greek culture

Evaluate whether each example is an effective or ineffective research question. Choose the answer that best describes why or why not.

Which Greek myth is the most important?

What are the stories of Greek gods about?

What is the name of the god of the sun?

What characteristics does Perseus have that make him a heroic character to ancient Greeks?

Let's evaluate each research question based on its effectiveness:

  1. Which Greek myth is the most important?

    • Assessment: Ineffective. This question is vague and subjective. "Importance" can vary based on context (cultural, historical, personal interpretation), making it difficult to address comprehensively in a research setting.
  2. What are the stories of Greek gods about?

    • Assessment: Ineffective. This question is too broad and lacks specificity. It would be more effective if it focused on particular myths, themes, or gods, as "stories of Greek gods" encompasses a vast array of narratives.
  3. What is the name of the god of the sun?

    • Assessment: Effective. This question is clear and specific. It seeks concrete information that can be easily researched and answered.
  4. What characteristics does Perseus have that make him a heroic character to ancient Greeks?

    • Assessment: Effective. This question is specific and allows for a detailed exploration of Perseus’s character traits, their significance in Greek culture, and how they reflect the ideals of heroism in ancient Greek mythology.

In summary, the first two questions are ineffective due to their vagueness and broadness, while the third and fourth questions are effective because they are specific and focused, allowing for clear research.

Evaluate whether each example is an effective or ineffective research question. Choose the answer that best describes why or why not.

Which Greek myth is the most important?
✔ ineffective; unanswerable

What are the stories of Greek gods about?
✔ ineffective; too broad

What is the name of the god of the sun?
✔ ineffective; too narrow

What characteristics does Perseus have that make him a heroic character to ancient Greeks?
✔ effective; clear and complex

Prompt: Write an informative essay about a character from ancient Greek mythology. Summarize the plot of the myth and explain the cultural significance of the mythological character.

Based on your prompt, if your first research question is “What myth does Prometheus appear in, and what is it about?,” what should your second research question be?

What parts of Prometheus’s story show what was important to the ancient Greeks?
Who are Prometheus’s family members?
What are the major events in Prometheus’s story?

Given your prompt and the first research question, “What myth does Prometheus appear in, and what is it about?”, your second research question should build upon it, focusing on the significance of Prometheus’s story to ancient Greek culture.

Out of the options provided:

  1. What parts of Prometheus’s story show what was important to the ancient Greeks?

    • Assessment: Effective. This question directly addresses the cultural significance of Prometheus's myth, which aligns perfectly with the goals of your informative essay.
  2. Who are Prometheus’s family members?

    • Assessment: Ineffective. While this question provides some background information about Prometheus, it does not directly contribute to understanding the cultural significance of his story.
  3. What are the major events in Prometheus’s story?

    • Assessment: Effective, but not as directly aligned with the cultural analysis. This question could help in summarizing the myth, but it doesn’t delve into significance or themes that are central to your essay prompt.

Conclusion

The best choice for your second research question is "What parts of Prometheus’s story show what was important to the ancient Greeks?" because it explicitly connects to analyzing the cultural significance of Prometheus, which is essential for your essay.

Prompt: Write an informative essay about a character from ancient Greek mythology. Summarize the plot of the myth and explain the cultural significance of the mythological character.

Based on your prompt, if your first research question is “What myth does Prometheus appear in, and what is it about?,” what should your second research question be?

What parts of Prometheus’s story show what was important to the ancient Greeks?
Who are Prometheus’s family members?
What are the major events in Prometheus’s story?

Given your prompt and your first research question, “What myth does Prometheus appear in, and what is it about?”, your second research question should aim to deepen your exploration of Prometheus's significance within Greek mythology.

The best choice for your second research question would be:

What parts of Prometheus’s story show what was important to the ancient Greeks?

Rationale:

  • This question directly connects to the cultural significance of Prometheus and allows you to analyze themes, values, and beliefs inherent in his myth, thereby enriching your essay.

Other Options:

  • Who are Prometheus’s family members?

    • While this could provide some background context, it doesn't contribute significantly to understanding the myth’s cultural implications.
  • What are the major events in Prometheus’s story?

    • This question is somewhat effective as it helps outline the myth, but it remains focused on the plot rather than its significance, which is crucial for your essay.

In summary, the first question sets the stage for understanding the story, and the second question enhances the exploration of its themes and cultural relevance.

What parts of Prometheus’s story show what was important to the ancient Greeks? yeahh!

Which of these are credible sources that would help you answer the research question? Check all that apply.

Research question: What parts of Prometheus’s story show what was important to the Greeks?

a .edu site for a college course in Greek mythology
a book of Greek myths
a blog about mythical characters
a wiki page on Greek mythology
an encyclopedia entry on Prometheus

To determine which sources would be credible for the research question “What parts of Prometheus’s story show what was important to the Greeks?”, let's evaluate each option:

  1. a .edu site for a college course in Greek mythology

    • Credible: Yes. Academic institutions typically provide reliable and well-researched information.
  2. a book of Greek myths

    • Credible: Yes. A published book, especially if authored by a reputable scholar or expert in mythology, would be a valuable source.
  3. a blog about mythical characters

    • Credible: No. Blogs can vary widely in credibility, and unless authored by a recognized expert in mythology, they may not provide reliable information.
  4. a wiki page on Greek mythology

    • Credible: No. While a wiki page can be a starting point for general information, it is not always reliable since it can be edited by anyone and may lack accurate scholarly references.
  5. an encyclopedia entry on Prometheus

    • Credible: Yes. Encyclopedia entries are usually well-researched and provide a good overview of topics, making them reliable for obtaining information on specific subjects.

Summary of Credible Sources:

  • a .edu site for a college course in Greek mythology
  • a book of Greek myths
  • an encyclopedia entry on Prometheus

These sources would be valuable in answering your research question regarding the significance of Prometheus's story in ancient Greek culture.