Research Assignment | Online Assignment

Once your topic is approved, you will research the myth(s) related to the mythical beast, using books, scholarly journals, e-texts, and well-researched articles on-line (they must have a clear author and use citations for sources). Your research may be to find original sources from which the mythical creatures first appear in world mythology as well as researchers in anthropology, literary criticism, or psychology who are investigating what your particular mythical creature may mean to the society from which it
comes (as a symbol, etc.) or mythological creatures in general.

Use at least 3 sources and pay attention to discrepancies between the various versions of the myth. Part of your grade will come from your research, so do not rely on Encyclopedias, study pages, blogs, or other insubstantial websites to support your ideas. Some creatures may be difficult to find information on easily online, so if you have questions about sources let me know as soon as possible. CRAPhandout.pdf

Follow MLA style for formatting:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_sample_works_cited_page.html
For your Mythological Zoo paper you need to find quality academic sources, not just a quick Google search. Under no circumstances should you use Wikipedia, but lots of other websites don’t provide academically vetted information and in mythology we have to be aware of INFOTAINMENT, where loose research is done to entertain us with tidbits of knowledge but not substantial enough for you to use in your paper. Avoid sites like “greekmythology.com” “Ancient.eu” and other general sources. Instead go to the library. And the CoD Library is a good place to start even online: https://bb.cod.edu/bbcswebdav/library Click for more options

Click for more options

Here you can search in the “CATALOGUE” for books (and we have lots of e-books on mythology available) or “DATABASES”. When you click on “DATABASES” scroll down to HUMANITIES->GENERAL HUMANITIES. Databases that are good for articles are:

“ACADEMIC SEARCH COMPLETE”
“HUMANITIES PERIODICALS”
“HUMANITIES E-BOOKS”
“JSTOR”
“PROJECT MUSE”
Either in the CATALOGUE or DATABASES search for your Mythological Creature AND Mythology from the Culture from which your Creature comes. General sources may be used to get to big ideas from myths of a particular people or culture.

Anywhere you search verify if you have found a good source with the CRAP test (this is a real thing!)

The CRAP Test asks you to consider the following criteria:
Currency – the timeliness of the information
Reliability – the accuracy and correctness of the information
Authority – the source of the information
Purpose – the reason the information exists

Find out more about verifying sources via CoD’s Website at: https://www.codlrc.org/evaluating/sources