Thompson's Class: Mythology Research, Writing, and Presentation

Mythology: Collaborative Research & Multi-genre Writing
9th Grade Language Arts

Step 1: Task Definition

What is your purpose?

Research and learn about an assigned topic or character in classical mythology.
Keep proper and complete works cited information during the research process.
Read to determine main idea and supporting details.
SUMMARIZE information IN YOUR OWN WORDS for inclusion in the final collaborative project.
Use the discussion function of the wiki to communicate with your co-workers in other classes.
- Create/Divide assignments evenly.
- Share the work.
- Work together to create an effective and educational final product.
Collaborate with members of other classes to build a creative, multi-genre Wiki page that illustrates your learning.
- The collaborative wiki page must contain the following:
  - At least six (6) writing genres, one (1) of which will be a strictly informational, research-based piece that includes documentation of sources and parenthetical citations
  - Graphics: pictures, maps, genealogies, artworks, comic strips, and other appropriate visual illustrations to develop your topic
  - Links to sites outside the wiki that were used in research or that can further develop understanding of the topic.
  - Links to other pages within the wiki that cross-reference your character with others in mythology
  - Formal Works Cited Section referencing ALL sources used for ALL aspects of the project (information, pictures, videos, maps, etc.) Everything you use must appear on a Works Cited.
- The collaborative wiki page may contain audio, video, and any other form of expression that can be included in a wiki page.
Evaluate the collaborative process and the final product.

What has to be done?
- Library Research: Orientation, Intro to the Big Six, Find Resources
- Computer Lab: Internet Research, Works Cited, and Wiki
- Keep Notes and Accurate Source Information (This does not mean printing every web site you look at! In fact, this project is almost completely paperless, as the final product will be Internet-based, not printed. So, you will be able to take notes on paper when needed, but no paper will ever be submitted for evaluation.)

By when?
- Library Orientation
  - Mr. Thompson: October 5 & 6
  - Mrs. Anderson: October 7 & 8
- Library Research
  - Mr. Thompson: October 19 & 20
  - Mrs. Anderson:
- Computer Lab
  - Mr Thompson: October 7 & 8, 11 & 12, 25 & 26
  - Mrs. Anderson: October 21 & 22 / 27 & 28
- Completed Wiki Page due ____________

Step 2: Information Seeking Strategies

Which resources will be the most useful?
- Reference Books: Encyclopedia, Atlas, Almanac, Dictionary
- Non-Fiction: Books focused on various topics in mythology
- Internet
- Databases
- CD-ROMs
- Videos/DVDs
- Genre List in Writing Notebook
- Other multi-genre examples
- Citation Machine and/or Citation Maker

Step 3: Location, Access, Validity

Where do you find those resources?
- Library Catalogue
- Internet Search Engines
How do you know sources are valid, correct, and suitable for research? (Mrs. Jorgensen)
- It's all a bunch of CRAAP! (Currency, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose)

Step 4: Use of Information

General Information About Mythology (Everyone does these assignments individually!)
- Summary of Introductory Article will be submitted and scored.
- Myth Grid can be used on the final mythology test.
Collaborative Wiki Page (This assignment will be completed in collaborative teams, one person from each class period.)
- Students will share the responsibility for the final project outlined above.

Step 5: Synthesis (Multi-genre Writing)

Required Genre: Informational, Research-based Writing
- Thesis Statement: You will develop your thesis by synthesizing the information you find during your research. The thesis itself is not a fact you found during research; it is the conclusion you draw after putting all the research together.
- Specific Information (learned during research) to support/prove thesis
  - Information must come from at least three (3) different sources, at least one of which is not Internet-based.
  - All sources must appear on a properly formatted Works Cited
- Parenthetical (in-text) Citations that reference the Works Cited
Five (5) or more Other Genres: Selected by Collaborative Teams
- Consider all the genres on the Genre List.
- Choose genres that will best develop and explain all aspects of your character, possibly telling the character's story in the process (like Nothing But the Truth).
- Be thoughtful and creative! Examples: Imagine how much you would learn about Zeus by reading his love letters to the many mortal women with whom he had affairs. Consider how we might appreciate the jealousy of Hera if we could read an excerpt from her journal. Think about what the newspaper might say about the kidnapping of Persephone. How might a comic strip about Poseidon look? (Think outside the usual "box" of academic writing!)
- Consider the many purposes and audiences that will be most appropriate to illustrate your understanding of the character. Do not think in terms of school-like writing, which you only do for a teacher. Lots of people are going to see this project!
- Work together. Share ideas and responsibility.
"Bridges" are your transitions between the genre pieces. They connect the different genres of writing and give a sense of unity to the whole project. Bridges are short, simple cues that indicate to the reader that you are moving out of one genre and into another. There is no restriction on what the bridge can be, but it needs to be the same thing every time (same point of view, similar structure, etc.), so the reader can establish that it represents a transition.
- Short poems, song lyrics, prayers
- Journal entries
- Comic strips
- Facebook "Buddy Requests"
- Be creative! Good bridges help the reader make sense of your story.

Step 6: Evaluation

How will you know how you did?
- You will get continuous feedback from your team members during the process.
- You will get the praise and admiration of your classmates for a job well done.
- You will get a score from the teacher based on the quality of the final product and your contributions to your team's effort.

In order to learn about the mythology you will teach, you may need to research in books like Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, as well as those in libraries. You will also find a lot of information about mythology on the Internet, but be sure you use information from reputable sites. (Remember to check for CRAAP: Currency, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose.) Also, remember that many mythological characters didn't wear much clothing, so if you are looking for pictures to include on your wikis, be tasteful and/or use photo editing software to make them appropriate for display at school. Here are a few sites that might help get you started:

Encyclopedia Mythica

Greek Mythology

More Greek Mythology

Bullfinch's Mythology

About Greek Mythology

Women in Greek Myths

Wikipedia: Greek Mythology

Infoplease: Greek and Roman Mythology

Internet Public Library: Mythology

Other Optional Resouces and Web 2.0 Technologies

Reminder #1: All these resources are free, but if you choose to use them, you will need to create accounts using an e-mail address that isn't already in their system. As always, you will have to keep track of all your login information. Also, make sure ALL your group members have input on the content of the page and that you don't have two people in the group doing the same thing without knowing about what the other is doing. USE THE DISCUSSION FUNCTION ON THE WIKI TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ALL DOING!!!

Reminder #2: Many of these resources will require some time to learn how to use! Don't forget that the ultimate goal of this project is to teach us about a topic in mythology with a variety of written genres. Don't spend more time learning the technology than you do thinking about how it applies to your topic.

Citation Builder (at school) and Citation Machine (from home): These will help you create a proper Works Cited!

Shelfari: What might your character's online shelf look like? You could write his/her review of a book.

Facebook: If your character had a Facebook page, what would his/her profile say?
(Hey, that reminds me. Have you joined this group yet? You should!)

(Suggestion: If you actually create a Shelfari, Facebook, or other online profile for the character, give him/her the last name Thompson to indicate which class it was created for. Thanks for the idea, JG!)

Blogger: If you already have a blog set up, you can create another one without making a new account. If your character were a blogger, what would s/he write about?

Glogster: Online posters can include audio, video, you name it! And there is a way to insert them on your wiki page. (Madi the Intern can show you how!)

Prezi: Better than PowerPoint (and free!) -- Here is an example. Here is another.

Bitstrips: Cartoon maker

Twitter: What would Hades Tweet?

CogDogRoo: Story Tools (This site will require some time to investigate. Lots of cool stuff, but it might take a while. Also, it's a wiki!)