History Essay for Writing 102

Now, you have already picked and defined your archetype, your concept, and defended your definition of it. The next step is to trace back the appearance of your archetype. How far can you take it back? What has changed as it develops? Does it appear in different cultures? How does it differ between those cultures? These are questions you may want to answer when you look at the history of your topic. Looking at the history can help you understand how the archetype appears in modern fairy tales and can help you look at how it has been, is being, and might be changed for modern audiences. You may also want to look at the culture that shaped a particular version of your archetype and how it influenced that version.

One of the challenges of this essay is to select credible sources: accurate versions of historical stories and credible academic sources discussing the history of these stories. You will need to reconcile and synthesize these sources into your account of how your archetype came to be.

Quotes are a requirement for this essay. You should have at least one quote from every source on your works cited list.

Please remember that AI is not permitted in this class, thus for any aspect of this essay assignment.

Prompt:

This essay is to look at the history of your archetype. Remember, there are no original fairy tales, but your job is to go back to older versions of the stories youre looking at. Explain how the archetype has developed as you define that archetype. Look at how the history has shaped the definition. Explain links between the history of the stories and the archetype. This may include links between the cultures and versions of the stories. You can look at problems within the archetype and how the history of it may have contributed to those problems.

This essay is not asking you to define your archetype. Its already done that. Its not asking you to argue with your sources. Thats the next essay. Its not asking you to make suggestions for how the archetype should continue to change. Thats the fifth essay. In this, you are looking at its history and how that history has shaped it.

You must use at least six sources for this essay. At least three of them must be academic (peer-reviewed) sources. At least three must be classic story sources. You must cite your quotes and paraphrasing. You must include a works cited page. Use MLA format.

This essay should follow standard essay structure. Be sure you have a strong thesis. Put some thought into how to develop and organize your essay.

Format:

Your essay should be 1800-2100 words. Use Times, Ariel, or Helvetica font. Font should be size 12, and your essay should be double-spaced, single-sided. Include page numbers in the upper right corner. In the upper left corner of the first page, include a header including:

• Name
• Class
• Teacher
• Assignment
• Word count
• Date

Also remember to give your essay a title.