Assume the persona of one of the following characters from Greek mythology:
Odysseus
Ajax
Achilles
Agamemnon
Clytemnestra,
and respond to the controversies surrounding the 2000 Presidential election. What do you, as Odysseus, Ajax, Achilles, Agamemnon, or Clytemnestra, think should be done to resolve the problems surrounding the election, and why? Defend your arguments with examples drawn from your own (i.e., Odysseus', Ajax's, Achilles', Agamemnon's, or Clytemnestra's) experiences.
Keep in mind the following guidelines.
a. You do not need to use any secondary works for this essay. Feel free, however, to use whatever secondary works you consider appropriate. Be sure that all such works are thoroughly cited, and that your essay reflects your own thinking.
b. Proofread carefully. Papers with egregious mistakes in grammar or spelling will receive very low grades. In particular, keep in mind the admonitions spelled out in my guidelines for writing papers.
c. Be sure to hand in your paper on time. Remember that papers will lose one letter grade for each week they are late.
d. Be very conscious of structure: provide a clear introduction and conclusion, and arrange your arguments logically and succinctly. Both your introduction and your conclusion should have a complete summary of your arguments.
e. It is important that you show accurate knowledge of the myth or myths you choose to analyze, but by no means should you include in your paper extensive summaries of the myth or myths. You can take for granted that your reader knows the myths, and you can spend your time analyzing rather than recounting them. You will want, however, to cite specific examples from the myths we have studied to support your conclusions.
f. Please come to see me at any time if I can provide advice or assistance.
Grading:
Accuracy in recounting myths: 10 points
Consistency of arguments with character chosen, and appropriateness
of examples: 20 points
Substance of arguments: 20 points
Structure: 20 points
Clarity: 20 points
Style, grammar, and spelling: 10 points