Greek Mythology
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Introduction
Picture this - a family of Gods, seven men and five women, who provide protection and social order, as well as assistance in childbirth and farming. Zeus, the supreme ruler, can be a free spirit, and Hera, his wife and sister, can be calm or revengeful. This family is definitely not the Osbourne’s nor the Sopranos (although you might think they act like them some times).In an effort to better understand their world, the ancient Greeks created stories about these Olympian gods and goddesses. These stories often explained everyday occurrences ranging from the weather, death and the afterlife, to seasons, historical events, and even natural disasters. For this web quest, you will discover who these Greek gods and goddesses are. So put on your hiking boots, and prepare for a climb… back in time…. Welcome to Mount Olympus, Ancient Greece!
Tasks
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In this web quest, you will complete two tasks:
1. You will randomly choose one of the 12 Olympian gods/goddesses and become an expert on that deity by immersing yourself in research. Then, you will create a 6-8 minute presentation based on your new knowledge of your Olympian god/goddess.
2. Closer to the end of the term, you will create a new God or hero that is connected to the myths we studied, but would be present in, or worshiped by, our society today.
The Process
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Task 1: The Presentation
A. Spend some time and read about the Olympian gods/goddesses. Be sure to explore other web sites as well. The ones listed below are intended to be used as a starting point, so feel free to explore any web site your Olympian takes you to!
B. After you have thoroughly researched your god/goddess, you will need to determine what information you should include to add depth and interest to your presentation. The below questions are meant to serve as a starting point for you to build upon. Remember, you’re the expert, so be prepared to address audience questions.
1. Explore the family of your god/goddesses
a. Children (and affairs with them if applicable)
b. Spouses (and affairs if applicable)
c. Siblings (and affairs if applicable)
2. What was their purpose? Why?
3. What did they control? How and why did this come to be?
4. What symbols were associated with them then? Present day connections?
5. Describe one story where your god/goddess interacts with another god/goddess.
Describe one story where your god/goddess interacts with a mortal.
6. Describe one story where your god/goddess helps someone.
Describe one story where your god/goddess seeks revenge on someone.
C. Presentations are effective when the visual aids assist the presenter. Thus, it’s important to remember that YOU are the most important part in the presentation. (Of course it’s important for the visual aids to be easy to follow and engaging, but don’t use “flashy slides” as a substitute for your own knowledge.) Please also copy, paste, and print off a rubric to give to the instructor at the start of your presentation.
D. Directions for the presentation:
1.The presentation is the culmination of your research; it’s a way to show that you have truly learned about your deity, and it’s a way to assist others in this process as well. Be sure to keep those ideas in mind as you are preparing.
2. Somevarious strategies or methods you might choose to do this include, but are not limited to:
- a power point presentation (the most popular method, but you’ll need to find a friend to run the slides)
- handouts or overhead transparencies that assist the presentation, perhaps in the form of an outline (the instructor can make any copies you need and provide transparency paper too)
3. Remember to rehearse your presentation so that you are more comfortable with it and to double check the timing too (6-8 minutes). Typically, we will talk faster when actually presenting, so focus on creating a smooth pace. We also have a tendency to believe that our presentations will be longer than they actually are, so this can also be addressed with a couple of rehearsals.
4. Remember that your goal is to provide the audience with a good overview of your God/Goddess that supplements and enhances the information provided in the course textbook. You are the expert on your Olympian!
5. Finally, don’t forget to allow for questions at the end of your presentation (this is in addition to the 6-8 minutes though)
Conclusion
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In this web quest, you learned about the 12 Olympian gods and goddesses who lived on MountOlympus. However, Greek mythology involves many other tales, some of which we will be reading about as the term progresses. Using the following links, you can read about other gods and goddesses, heroes' dangerous feats, flying horses, one eyed monsters (Cyclops), and much, much more!
For information about strange and wondrous creatures:
For information about heroes and their amazing adventures:
For information about other gods and goddesses:
Evaluation
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Task 1-Presentation
CATEGORY / 10 / 9 / 8 / 7- 0Content
10 pts / Presenter shows excellent in depth understanding of the deity and constantly explores that deity in a thorough way. / Presenter shows good understanding of the deity and normally explores that deity in a thoughtful way. / Presenter appears to somewhat understand the deity, but covers him/her in a somewhat superficial way. / Presenter does not present an in depth understanding of he deity, or the presentation may be underdeveloped.
Knowledge
10 pts / Presenter constantly and clearly explains several unique aspects connected to their deity, and includes information on how their deity was worshiped at the time, and / or how their deity is represented in today’s society / Presenter clearly explains several unique aspects connected to their deity, and includes some information about how their deity was worshiped at the time, and / or how their deity is represented in today’s society. / Presenter includes only a couple of unique aspects connected to their deity, and may or may not include information about how their deity was worshiped at the time, and / or how their deity is represented in today’s society. / Presenter does not appear to understand their deity, and / or does not include information about how their deity was worshiped or represented in today’s society.
Originality
10 pts / Presentation clearly is original, for the presenter has put forth continual effort to make sure that it is extremely engaging for the audience from start to finish. / Presenter puts effort into being original, and the presentation is engaging for the audience most of the time. / Presenter attempts to be original, but still needs some work at being engaging, for the audience may be starting to nod off. / Presenter is as original as the pre-recorded message on an answering machine and the audience is wishing they were listening to nails being dragged across a chalkboard.
Timing
10 pts / The presentation is between, or longer than, 6-8 minutes in length. / The presentation is between 5-6 minutes in length. / The presentation is between 5-4 minutes in length. / The presentation is under 4 minutes in length.
Individual Presentation
10 pts / Presenter speaks clearly, and maintains appropriate eye contact a majority of the time for the visual aides are a tool by which the speaker conveys the information. / Presenter speaks pretty clearly, and maintains appropriate eye contact most of the time, for the visual aid serves as a tool most of the time. / Presenter is hard to understand from time to time and maintains minimal eye contact for the visual aids are more of a crutch for the presenter. / Presenter is difficult to understand a majority of the time and / or makes little to no eye contact, for the information contained within the visual aids could simply be read by the audience.
Please note the material for these rubrics is from RubiStar--
Term Project (Task 2)
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Assignment:
Develop a new God/Goddess or a Hero that represents some aspect of our society today, would be present today, yet also has connections to the myths we’ve studied throughout the term. In your paper, address the following questions about your god, goddess, or hero.
- How is this god, goddess or hero you created helpful or harmful to society?
- What are some characteristics of this deity or hero?
- What are the intentions of this deity or hero?
- Describe the personality of this deity or hero.
- Explain the strengths of this deity or hero.
- Explain the weaknesses of this deity or hero.
- What do you want this deity or hero to symbolize?
- What type of job would this deity or hero have in today’s society?
- Why should this deity reign with the other Gods on Mt.Olympus?
Step 1:
Create an initial draft of everything about this god or goddess. Please consider including a representation of what this deity might look like. If you need to review traits of the original gods and goddesses, visit the links listed below. Then compare your draft with the questions listed above to make sure it has all the necessary components.
Step 2:
Make any revisions / additions, and create a final draft about your god or goddess and be sure to include an explanation about why this new deity should reign with the other gods and goddesses on MountOlympus. (It would be a good idea to also include a visual representation of your newly formed deity/hero.)
Step 3:
Copy, paste, and print off the below rubric to hand in with your final project.
Please Note: The final paper should be at least 4 pages typed in 12 font, TNR and be double spaced. Only the final draft will need to be handed in—hopefully with a picture as well.
Task 2-Term Project
CATEGORY / 10 / 9 / 8 / 7- 0Set up / Closure
10 pts / The introduction is inviting, states the main topic and previews the structure of the paper, the conclusion puts a strong sense of closure on the paper. / The introduction states the main topic and previews the structure of the paper, but is not particularly inviting, the conclusion puts a sense of closure on the paper. / The introduction somewhat sets up the topic, but might be underdeveloped, uninviting or does not adequately preview the structure of the paper, the conclusion might be forced or short. / There is no clear introduction of the topic for it seems to jump right into the body, the conclusion is nonexistent or leaves the reader with a need to read more.
Sequencing (Organization)
10 pts / Details are placed in a logical order and the way they are presented effectively keeps the interest of the reader. / Details are placed in a logical order, but the way in which they are presented/introduced sometimes makes the writing less interesting. / Some details are not in a logical or expected order, and this distracts from the focus of the paper. / Many details are not in a logical or expected order. There is little sense that the writing is organized.
Fluency
10 pts / A variety of thoughtful transitions are used. They are varied and always clearly show how ideas are connected. / A variety of transitions are used. They are mostly varied and normally show how ideas are connected. / Some variety of transitions is present, but connections between ideas are choppy from time to time. / Transitions? What are those? The ideas are not connected or are connected incorrectly so that the paper is more choppy than smooth.
Originality of Ideas
10 pts / Thoroughly and insightfully explores the personality, strengths, weaknesses, and symbols with this hero / God. / Explores the personality, strengths, weaknesses and symbols with this hero / God. / Somewhat explores the personality, strengths, weaknesses and symbols with this hero / God, but few ideas are insightful. / Barely explores this hero / God so that the explanation is superficial.
Support for Topic (Ideas)
10 pts / Relevant, telling, quality details give the reader important information that goes beyond the obvious or predictable. / Supporting details and information are relevant, but one issue or portion of the paper is unsupported or undeveloped. / Supporting details and information are relevant, but several issues or portions of the paper are unsupported or undeveloped. / Supporting details and information are not relevant or not well thought out.
Justification for the Creation of this new God / Hero
10 pts / Provides an insightful explanation and connection to the myths we have studied. / Provides an explanation and connection to the myths we have studied. / Explanation is brief, or superficial; few connections are made to the myths we have studied. / No explanation is included; no connections to the myths we have studied were made.
Credits
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