Humanities 115 Short Essay Grading Criteria Excellent Passing Unacceptable Analysis 25, 18, 10 Details of individual myths are discussed thoughtfully, articulately, and accurately. Critical approaches and terminology are applied accurately and insightfully. Discussion of myths reflects rich, genuine intellectual engagement. Applications of critical approaches and terms to myths occur, and demonstrate intellectual engagement with course materials, but maybe relatively superficial or contain some inaccuracy. Discussion may at times be vague, ideas may be somewhat underdeveloped. Important elements missing or very underdeveloped. Substantial inaccuracies may occur. Scholarly Rigor 13, 9, 5 Assertions are consistently backed with textual evidence. Sources are precisely cited with in-text parenthetical citations as well as a works cited page, if applicable. Text-based support is sometimes used, citation is imprecise or incomplete. Text-based support is generally absent, and/or citations are absent. Coherence 5, 3, 1 Ideas are organized into coherent paragraphs. Transitions are used effectively within paragraphs. Transitions also fluently connect paragraphs. Ideas are organized into paragraphs. Transitions are usually present and effective. Essay lacks coherent paragraphs and transitions are absent or ineffective. Grammar & Mechanics 5, 3, 1 Standard Academic English is deployed in a controlled manner. Punctuation is precise. Small, occasional errors might occur, but never impede meaning. Controlled deployment of Academic English is emerging. When errors occur, they only occasionally impede meaning. Errors are numerous and consistently impede meaning. Formatting 2, 1, 0 The following conventions of Modern Language Association format are used precisely: essay is consistently double-spaced throughout; a heading with your name, instructor’s name, course name, and date appears at the top left corner of the first page; title is centered just below the heading; text of the journal begins one double spaced line below the title; last name and page number appear at the top right of each page. Most conventions are followed. Most conventions are not followed. Student Sample Essay #2 Genesis Myth “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created male and female. He created them. And God blessed them.” (Leonard, Mcclure, 87) Unfortunately, the sentiment that men and women are equals is contradicted several times in the Genesis myth. The Genesis myth has had a negative influence on women’s roles in society that continually have impacts in today’s modern world. The myth describes women’s purpose as being subservient to men, women are easily swayed and manipulated, and that for seeking knowledge, women deserve the painful shame of childbirth. This patriarchal creation myth has played a role in justifying the suppression of equal rights throughout history and is still debated today. To begin, the sole reason for the creation of woman ...

1. Humanities 115
Short Essay Grading Criteria
Excellent
Passing
Unacceptable
Analysis
25, 18, 10
Details of individual myths are discussed thoughtfully,
articulately, and accurately. Critical approaches and
terminology are applied accurately and insightfully. Discussion
of myths reflects rich, genuine intellectual engagement.
Applications of critical approaches and terms to myths occur,
and demonstrate intellectual engagement with course materials,
but maybe relatively superficial or contain some inaccuracy.
Discussion may at times be vague, ideas may be somewhat
underdeveloped.
Important elements missing or very underdeveloped. Substantial
inaccuracies may occur.
Scholarly Rigor
13, 9, 5
Assertions are consistently backed with textual evidence.
Sources are precisely cited with in-text parenthetical citations
as well as a works cited page, if applicable.
Text-based support is sometimes used, citation is imprecise or
incomplete.
Text-based support is generally absent, and/or citations are
absent.
Coherence
5, 3, 1
Ideas are organized into coherent paragraphs. Transitions are

2. used effectively within paragraphs. Transitions also fluently
connect paragraphs.
Ideas are organized into paragraphs. Transitions are usually
present and effective.
Essay lacks coherent paragraphs and transitions are absent or
ineffective.
Grammar
& Mechanics
5, 3, 1
Standard Academic English is deployed in a controlled manner.
Punctuation is precise. Small, occasional errors might occur, but
never impede meaning.
Controlled deployment of Academic English is emerging. When
errors occur, they only occasionally impede meaning.
Errors are numerous and consistently impede meaning.
Formatting
2, 1, 0
The following conventions of Modern Language Association
format are used precisely: essay is consistently double-spaced
throughout; a heading with your name, instructor’s name, course
name, and date appears at the top left corner of the first page;
title is centered just below the heading; text of the journal
begins one double spaced line below the title; last name and
page number appear at the top right of each page.
Most conventions are followed.
Most conventions are not followed.
Student Sample Essay #2
Genesis Myth
“And God created man in His own image, in the image of God
he created male and female. He created them. And God blessed
them.” (Leonard, Mcclure, 87) Unfortunately, the sentiment that
men and women are equals is contradicted several times in the

3. Genesis myth. The Genesis myth has had a negative influence
on women’s roles in society that continually have impacts in
today’s modern world. The myth describes women’s purpose as
being subservient to men, women are easily swayed and
manipulated, and that for seeking knowledge, women deserve
the painful shame of childbirth. This patriarchal creation myth
has played a role in justifying the suppression of equal rights
throughout history and is still debated today.
To begin, the sole reason for the creation of woman in the myth
was purely to give Adam a companion to serve him, as all the
animals God had already created were unsuitable and left him
wanting. A woman’s role in society if defined by how
subservient she is to her husband. The myth never mentions
women having desires of their own, they are simply the
belongings of their male counterparts. According to the story,
“…but for Adam, there was not found a helper suitable for
him…And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which
He had taken from the man and brought her to the man.”
(Leonard, Mcclure, 88)Eve is not even given her own agency in
her creation, it’s as if by her creation she is indebted to the
donator of the rib. In today’s society we still spread this
message, that to be a good woman you must be obedient and
submissive. Women are encouraged to fulfill their husband’s
needs as their main objective in marriage, for example, having
dinner on the table by 6pm, maintaining a certain physique to
please the husband sexually, or in extreme cases, justifies
domestic abuse.
Secondly, the explanation of man’s fall from grace relies
heavily on the questionable judgement described of women. In
the short excerpt in which the snake is deceiving Eve, “When
the woman saw the tree was good for food, and that is was a
delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one
wise, she took from its fruit and ate…” (Leonard, Mcclure, 89)
the word choice stands out because it describes female traits of
vanity and a lower moral threshold. These descriptions are
important because it speaks to how women are viewed in

4. society. It is common among patriarchal myths that women have
deceitful, petty or other questionable traits which speaks to men
needing control over women, lest they bring on the banishment
from the Garden of Eden with their poor choices.
Finally, and most damaging for the female population, is the
punishment God delivers to all woman kind because of Eve’s
transgression. For daring to seek knowledge that God forbade,
women deserve the pain and shame in giving birth and
menstruation while still being at the mercy of the husband, as
described in this verse, “To the woman He said, ‘I will greatly
multiply your pain in childbirth; in pain you shall bring forth
children; yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall
rule over you.’”(Leonard, Mcclure, 89). God effectively makes
giving life a burden that causes pain and is cursed with
animosity between parents and children. Today men still find
the natural process a woman’s body goes through in contempt
and disgust. Currently, there is a tax on feminine hygiene
products, a war on reproductive rights and body shame in all
directions (breast feeding, hem lines, objectification) facing
women and it is in part due to the beliefs passed on through this
myth.
To conclude, there are many facets in the Genesis creation
story, however it has had overarching negative impacts on civil
equalities for women. Between being given as a server to men,
descriptions of lower moral character and the ‘shame’ women
bare, this myth has been manipulated in arguing women’s roles
and rights in society, often as a means of control and
domination. The damaging implications of this male-centric
creation story has been manipulated to justify the burning of
witches and the denial of equal rights, and shaming women for
exerting control over their own person which is precisely the
reason it is important to examine the effects a myth can have on
a population even after hundreds of years. The messages of the
Genesis inform people’s attitudes and societies practices in
which have had a damning effect on the female collective over
the centuries.

5. Works Cited
Leonard, Scott and Micheal Mcclure. Myth & Knowing- An
Introduction to Mythology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Student Sample Essay #2
Genesis Myth
“And God created man in His own image, in the image of God
he created male and female. He created them. And God blessed
them.” (Leonard, Mcclure, 87) Unfortunately, the sentiment that
men and women are equals is contradicted several times in the
Genesis myth. The Genesis myth has had a negative influence
on women’s roles in society that continually have impacts in
today’s modern world. The myth describes women’s purpose as
being subservient to men, women are easily swayed and
manipulated, and that for seeking knowledge, women deserve
the painful shame of childbirth. This patriarchal creation myth
has played a role in justifying the suppression of equal rights
throughout history and is still debated today.
To begin, the sole reason for the creation of woman in the myth
was purely to give Adam a companion to serve him, as all the
animals God had already created were unsuitable and left him
wanting. A woman’s role in society if defined by how
subservient she is to her husband. The myth never mentions
women having desires of their own, they are simply the
belongings of their male counterparts. According to the story,
“…but for Adam, there was not found a helper suitable for
him…And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which
He had taken from the man and brought her to the man.”
(Leonard, Mcclure, 88)Eve is not even given her own agency in
her creation, it’s as if by her creation she is indebted to the
donator of the rib. In today’s society we still spread this
message, that to be a good woman you must be obedient and
submissive. Women are encouraged to fulfill their husband’s

6. needs as their main objective in marriage, for example, having
dinner on the table by 6pm, maintaining a certain physique to
please the husband sexually, or in extreme cases, justifies
domestic abuse.
Secondly, the explanation of man’s fall from grace relies
heavily on the questionable judgement described of women. In
the short excerpt in which the snake is deceiving Eve, “When
the woman saw the tree was good for food, and that is was a
delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one
wise, she took from its fruit and ate…” (Leonard, Mcclure, 89)
the word choice stands out because it describes female traits of
vanity and a lower moral threshold. These descriptions are
important because it speaks to how women are viewed in
society. It is common among patriarchal myths that women have
deceitful, petty or other questionable traits which speaks to men
needing control over women, lest they bring on the banishment
from the Garden of Eden with their poor choices.
Finally, and most damaging for the female population, is the
punishment God delivers to all woman kind because of Eve’s
transgression. For daring to seek knowledge that God forbade,
women deserve the pain and shame in giving birth and
menstruation while still being at the mercy of the husband, as
described in this verse, “To the woman He said, ‘I will greatly
multiply your pain in childbirth; in pain you shall bring forth
children; yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall
rule over you.’”(Leonard, Mcclure, 89). God effectively makes
giving life a burden that causes pain and is cursed with
animosity between parents and children. Today men still find
the natural process a woman’s body goes through in contempt
and disgust. Currently, there is a tax on feminine hygiene
products, a war on reproductive rights and body shame in all
directions (breast feeding, hem lines, objectification) facing
women and it is in part due to the beliefs passed on through this
myth.
To conclude, there are many facets in the Genesis creation
story, however it has had overarching negative impacts on civil

7. equalities for women. Between being given as a server to men,
descriptions of lower moral character and the ‘shame’ women
bare, this myth has been manipulated in arguing women’s roles
and rights in society, often as a means of control and
domination. The damaging implications of this male-centric
creation story has been manipulated to justify the burning of
witches and the denial of equal rights, and shaming women for
exerting control over their own person which is precisely the
reason it is important to examine the effects a myth can have on
a population even after hundreds of years. The messages of the
Genesis inform people’s attitudes and societies practices in
which have had a damning effect on the female collective over
the centuries.
Works Cited
Leonard, Scott and Micheal Mcclure. Myth & Knowing- An
Introduction to Mythology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
1
Student Sample Essay #1
The book of Genesis according to Scott Leonard and Michael
McClure’s, “Myth & Knowing - An Introduction to World
Mythology”, highlights many different factors that have
influenced society, as we know it. Many of which have had a
positive impact on modern society and how some choose to live
their life everyday. Though there are various accounts on how
the Genesis myth has affected modern society negatively, as one
passage reads, “ I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth”
(Leonard and McClure 89). The positives and benefits from the
impact Genesis has made on society outweigh those negatives.
Even for those who are not Christians or have a chosen faith.

8. Genesis is similar to most other myths in regards to having a
God or creator, which people can relate to and see contrasts to
make a determination whether or not one wants to believe. In
this process most will always gravitate towards the positive
aspects of the myth and is why Genesis is the most powerful. “It
is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper
suitable for him” (Leonard and McClure 88), is a statement that
generates the feeling that most people want, which is
companionship. Not only for the love or sex, but more so to
have someone to experience life with. Loneliness is the driving
factor for depression and by God providing a mate shows that
he or she has heart and knows the emptiness loneliness creates.
This need for companionship is still growing today and
continues to become a positive player in one’s life and in our
communities, and ultimately has helped us build the thriving
communities we have today.
Another factor to look at is the fact that we do not live in a
perfect world; therefore consequences are inevitable for some of
the choices made by man. A great example of this was Adam
and Eve who were punished for going against God’s simple
commands. The verse “ cursed is the ground because of you;
and you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Leonard and
McClure 89), sheds light on the fact that even the smallest bad
mistakes can have an everlasting affect on life. Thus causing
one to think before acting or devise a plan that will not disrupt
nature or break simple rules that have been proven in the past to
be detrimental to society if broken. This lesson learned in
Genesis has proven to be a powerful means of showing that
nature is and will always be more powerful, no matter who or
what one chooses to believe in. This lesson from Genesis does
not go into great detail about exactly how or why an apple is so
important, but it does illustrate what can happen if one chooses
to test forbidden ground, and that means if it gives life, do not
destroy it. In other words, this lesson has created the motivation
to take care of Mother Nature, earth.
There are those who might argue that Genesis leaves out too

9. many details as to why certain events happened the way they
did, is God by himself, and that everything mentioned is just a
fact of life. Which is the main point behind Genesis, it is the
unknown that keeps people wondering and exploring. God gave
the gift of choice and imagination and these became lessons.
Lessons that as humans we use everyday to create new avenues
or thoughts and why we are the superior beings on earth.
To choose whether the Genesis creation myth is more positive
than negative is virtually impossible. Especially when there are
so many different ways to view the lessons within. These
lessons have withstood the test of time and have demonstrated
positive impacts on the lives of people. The fact that Genesis
has so many underlying positive motives illustrates that it was
meant to bring people together through accountability,
community, work, and perseverance. Adam and Eve did not stop
living because of a mistake and these mistakes would not have
been known if there were not rules, and these rules have helped
us all grow.