Keeping in mind our in-class readings and discussion, compose a research paper that explores some aspect of
Goddess, goddess worship, witchcraft, or Wicca. You may pick from one of the following options as the general topic of your
paper:
Option 1 - The Worship of the Goddess
- Choose a goddess of classical mythology (either Western or Eastern) and write an essay that discusses not only her
role in mythology, but the values--positive and negative--she represents for modern human beings. You may want to
consider such aspects as her archetypal role and symbols, her visual appearance, and her interaction with other
deities and mortals in myths. How do these relate to the feminine archetypal symbolism that we have studied in
class? What does she suggest about the worth of the feminine? Can a knowledge and understanding of the dynamics
of the feminine archetype make a significant contribution to an individual's personal search for identity in the
face of cultural sex stereotyping and pressures?
Difficulty level: hard.
Option 2 - Historical Witchcraft
- Write an essay that discusses either the "Burning Times" in Europe or the Salem Witch Trials in the United States
bringing out some of the key issues and problems in our understanding. Some possible areas of inquiry might
include:
- social conflicts arising out of economic change, social mobility, class, and so on;
- gender roles and accusations against women;
- images of witchcraft in the literature of the day and their consequences in witch hunting;
- the nature of evidence and legal procedures;
- and political controls (or lack thereof) over witch trials.
Difficulty level: moderate-hard.
- We sometimes have a tendency to think of witchcraft as being a uniquely European phenomenon. However, the practice of
witchcraft is universal and as diverse as the regions in which it was practiced. Write an expository essay that
explores non-European forms of witchcraft, such as African witchcraft or Asian witchcraft.
Difficulty level: easy-moderate.
- There is perhaps no holiday or festival more associated with witches and witchcraft than Halloween. And yet despite its
popularity in America, most people don't realize that in celebrating Halloween they are carrying on a tradition
that goes back thousands of years to the Celtic tribes of northern Europe. Write an essay that discusses the
"haunted history" of Halloween.
Difficulty level: easy.
Option 3 - Witchcraft Today
- Although the practice of witchcraft may be as old as humanity itself, Wicca as a religion is a relatively recent
phenomenon. Write an essay that discusses the history of Wicca. You will want to examine the contributions of
people like Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, Janet and Stewart Farrar, and Raymond Buckland, among
others.
Difficulty level: easy-moderate.
- Wicca is not a unified or cohesive belief system by any means: there is no central authority or liturgy; various
traditions have their own rituals, philosophy and beliefs; autonomy is fiercely protected; and diversity and
change are embraced. Nevertheless, Wicca does hold core beliefs and practices. Write an essay that defines these
core beliefs and practices.
Difficulty level: easy.
- Write an essay that examines Wicca in Kentucky today. If you choose this option you will be provided with a list of
practicing witches in the Lexington/Louisville area (complete with a brief bio and contact information) that have
expressed an interest in being interviewed by you. You may, at your discretion, interview all, some, or none of
these individuals. The purpose of this option is to explore their religious beliefs and practices, and to get a
sense of what it means to practice Wicca in this area. How similar are their experiences, and how are they
different? What drew them to Wicca? Can they practice their religion openly? What stereotypes (if any) must they
overcome in their community? Do they practice alone or are they a member of a coven? What is it like raising
children in the Craft? The questions you pose and the conclusions you draw are entirely up to you.
Difficulty level: moderate.
- Central to the practice of Wicca is the ritualized use of magic. But what is magic exactly? Write an essay that
attempts to answer that question. This is a very broad topic, and you will want to narrow it considerably before
writing your essay. You may, for example, wish to take a broad approach to the topic, defining magic in terms
of, say, high vs. low, white vs. black, and so on. Or else you may want to get more specific, researching such
topics as sorcery, sympathetic magic, green magic, spells and charms, magical rituals, Wiccan magical practices
and altar tools, sex magic, candle magic, and so on.
Difficulty level: moderate.
- Write an essay that presents current Christian perspectives on Witchcraft and Wicca.
Difficulty level: easy-moderate.
Option 4 - The Witch in Literature and Film
- In a number of fairy tales such as "Cinderella" and "Snow White," the maternal mother is absent and has been
substituted with a stepmother and/or a witch figure. Examine the representation of the mother figure (including
grandmother and stepmother figures), the witch (crone) figure, and the relationships between these figures and
the daughter/protagonist in traditional fairy tales. You might focus on one particular tale, or you might look
at several different tales with similar themes. Discuss your analysis in relation to:
- Jungian theories: Analyze the tales in terms of the Mother, the Shadow, or the Animus/Anima archetypes.
In addition to Jung, you may want to research the work of Marie-Louis von Franz and Sybylle
Birkhauser-Oerie.
- Feminist theories: The representations of motherhood, mothers, and mother-daughter relationships have
taken a central place in feminist studies. See, for example, the work of Nancy J. Chodorow, Marianne
Hirsch, Shari L. Thurer, and Adrienne Rich.
You might want to consider the following questions to help get you thinking about the topic:
- How do visual details of storytelling effect the representation of the mother figure and/or the
witch (crone) figure?
- Are there specific places in the text in which a daughter/protagonist relationship with a mother/witch
figure changes?
Difficulty level: hard.
- From the three witches of Shakespeare's Macbeth to the three witches of Charmed, witchcraft and the
occult have long been popular topics in entertainment. Hollywood's portrayal of witchcraft and witches has ranged
from the macabre Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, to sappy Bewitched-like comedies
featuring good witches who use their supernatural powers to snag the perfect mortal. Write an essay that analyzes
the image of the witch in two or more films, or in a television series such as Bewitched, Sabrina, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, or Charmed. Describe what they reveal of modern understandings of witches, women, devils, etc. Has
the portrayal of witches in these medias changed in recent years?
Difficulty level: moderate-hard.
Writing Requirements-Essay 2
Length: 5-7 pages.
Due Dates: Mon. Oct. 9, Peer draft (bring two copies); Mon. Oct. 16, Final draft.
Sources: At least three. Your sources must meet the following minimum requirements:
- At least one source must come from the readings in our course packet.
- At least one sources must come from books, magazines, and journals from the University's libraries and/or
Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost).
- Although you may use them in your paper, dictionaries and general purpose encyclopedias (e.g. Encarta, wikipedia)
do not count toward your source requirements.
Writing Requirements-Essay 3
Length: 10-12 pages.
Due Dates: Mon. Nov. 13, Peer draft (bring two copies); Mon. Nov. 20, Final draft.
Sources: At least five. Your sources must meet the following minimum requirements:
- At least one source must come from the readings in our course packet.
- At least two sources must come from books, magazines, and journals from the University's libraries and/or
Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost).
- At least one authoritative Internet source.
- Although you may use them in your paper, dictionaries and general purpose encyclopedias (e.g. Encarta, wikipedia)
do not count toward your source requirements.
These are, of course, the minimum requirements; you may use as many sources as are necessary to adequately explore your topic.
Always keep in mind that the sources you use reflect on how seriously you approached your research, and you will be evaluated on
their applicability and strength.
Submitting Your Work
Essays must be submitted in a plain, 2-pocket folder with your name clearly written on the outside. Plastic
folders or folders containing school logos or other decorative art will not be accepted. The following items must be included inside
your folder:
- Final draft of essay, stapled, in a pocket by itself.
- First draft of essay I reviewed (if applicable).
- The copy of your Topic Proposal and Annotated Bibliography (Essay 2) that I graded.
- Completed Peer Evaluation Forms.
- Essay Grade Sheet (available in the "Notes" section of this Web site).
Folders missing graded Topic Proposals will not be accepted. Folders missing peer evaluation forms will be docked one letter
grade.
Grading Criteria
When assigning grades, I reserve "A" for exceptional papers; you do not get an "A" simply by addressing the
topic in a standard way and avoiding mechanical errors.
I will assess you in the following three areas:
Invention
- Introduction and Thesis: Are these components of your essay clearly written,
easily identifiable, and effective in presenting the topic, providing direction to the paper as a whole,
and discussing the significance of the topic?
- Accuracy, Wording, and Research: Have you used the required outside sources to support your argument,
and when using these sources, do you express their concepts fairly and accurately? NOTE: Failure to meet
research requirements may result in an 'E' for the essay. Have you integrated quotes smoothly?
If you are paraphrasing, do you use your own words yet still remain faithful to the author's original
meaning? Have you expressed your ideas clearly and concisely? Is the essay in your own words?
- Lines of Argument: Have you clearly and extensively defined necessary terms? Have you illustrated your
criteria with specific examples and, if necessary, contrasting examples? Have you established ethical, logical, and
emotional reasons (evidence) in support of your thesis, in order of importance?
- Conclusion: Have you summarized your argument, leaving your readers with ideas that they can think about in
the future?
- Revision: Are there substantial changes between the draft and final versions of the essay?
Does your final version meet the length requirements?
Organization
- Beginning: Have you followed the organizational plan discussed in class? Have you offered an introduction
in which you explain the issue and show why it is relevant? Have you presented a clear thesis that guides and
unifies the essay?
- Middle: Are your paragraphs focused and well developed? Do your paragraphs contain topic sentences?
Have you revised for clarity and worked on eliminating wordy, unclear, and/or repetitive
areas in your essay? Have you included transitional words between sentences and paragraphs to make your
ideas flow more smoothly?
- End: Do you offer a conclusion which does more than merely repeat your major ideas?
Style
- Format: Does your paper adhere to MLA format, including font and point size? Have you correctly cited
from your sources and inserted a parenthetical citation after each quote? Have you introduced the quote
in an effective way? Have you correctly used MLA formatting and included a "Works Cited" page?
- Tone: Is your tone appropriate for the chosen audience?
- Grammar/Sentences: Is your paper free from grammatical errors such as sentence fragments, fused sentences,
comma splices, mixed constructions, apostrophe errors, subject/verb and pronoun/antecedent disagreement?
Is the essay free from spelling errors?
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