Telling Your Creation Myth Story

Assignment: Choose an area of the world that you would like to investigate. Confirm your choice with Camilla. Now investigate the following: What ancient cultures inhabited that geographic area? Each ancient culture has a creation myth. What is the creation myth of the culture and geographic area that you have chosen? Go online and find the myth of how the world was created, and the myth of how mankind was created, from that specific culture.

Once you have found your creation myth, make sure it is from a reliable source. To do that, you should have at least TWO sources. One may be written more simply than the other, but you should know who the organization is behind both texts. Print out a copy of each, making sure the URL is listed on each print-out. Remember, you can find the organization information by going to an "About" link, or going to the root directory.

Then:
1) Read the materials you have gathered
2) Familiarize yourself with the story
3) Write down the story in your own words, without copying exact phrases from your sources. [Hint: You may want to frame your retelling as if you were telling the story to children -- like you would tell a fairy tale.]
4) Plan your presentation. You will read out your version of the story, illustrating it with pictures displayed in PowerPoint.
5) Find pictures to illustrate your story online. They can be from anywhere, but must appropriately illustrate your story. Every presentation must begin with a picture of the country in which the myth originates.

The Myth of Creation in Norse Mythology

In Norse Mythology, there are nine worlds, inhabited by elves, trolls, giants, gods and men. An ice giant and a cow bring life into being. The ice giant feeds on the cow's milk and brings forth gods. The Aesir Gods gain ascendency against their brother jotuns (or giants). The chief of the Aesir gods is Odin, the one-eyed god. The Aesir gods make men, and men populate the earth.

WELCOME TO THE SPRING 2009 SEMESTER, Cycle 1

BASELINE WRITING SAMPLE: EXPLORE OPINION, GIVE EVIDENCE

In our first class we discussed the fact that ancient cultures have many different explanations for how humans came to exist. Today's explanations include God, evolution, and random chance. What is your personal opinion on the topic?


Existential Questions Essay:
Answer these philosophical questions: In your opinion,

1) How did we human beings come to exist?

2) Why are we here? Do we have a purpose? If so, what is it?

Write a 2 page hand-written essay answering these questions. Support your essay with evidence from your own life experience.