How to Write a Mythology and Folklore Research Paper

When might you need (or want!) to write a research paper on mythology and folklore?

The first case is you’re a college student getting a major in History or Culture Studies. The second case is you’re a scholar working in corresponding fields and unraveling legends and ancient tales to the scientific community.

Or, the third case:

You’re a fan of this field and want to promote your love and knowledge of mythologies and their mysteries to a broader audience.

Sure thing, you can buy research papers from reputable writing services assisting students and everyone who needs high-quality academic content. However, if you are ready to accept this challenge and write a mythology and folklore research paper yourself, keep reading:

Below are the five steps to help you.

Choosing a Topic

Choosing mythology paper topics depends on several factors:

1. If you’re a student who needs to write a mythology and folklore research paper, your professor may provide a topic in the instructions. For open-ended assignments, you can pick a topic, but ensure it’s research-promising and relevant to your field of study.
2. If you’re not a college student but are enthusiastic about mythology and want to write about it (e.g., a blog post, an article for a scientific journal, etc.), choose a topic of your interest. However, ensure you have enough reputable sources (research with relevant data) to support it.

Here are a few topic ideas for your future mythology and folklore research paper:

• The Hero’s Journey Across Cultures: Compare and contrast the archetype in Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and African folklore.
• Mythological Creatures and Their Symbolism: Examine the roles and symbolism of dragons, unicorns, and phoenixes in different cultures.
• Creation Myths: Explore the similarities and differences in creation myths from the Greek, Hindu, and Native American traditions.
• Mythological Themes in Art and Architecture: Study how they have been depicted throughout history, focusing on ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt.
• Folklore and Modern Media: Analyze how traditional folklore has influenced contemporary literature, movies, and video games.
• Women in Mythology: Analyze the representation and roles of women in different mythologies, such as goddesses, heroines, and villains.
• The Underworld and Afterlife: Compare the concepts of the underworld and the afterlife in Greek, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian mythologies.

Research

In research papers, it’s critical to provide a historical background of the topic you discuss and support your arguments with evidence. So, once you choose a topic, conduct preliminary research to see what scientific information is available and what you can use as references.

Numerous research sources are there for you to address:

Check books, brochures, newspapers, science journals, academic articles, and online publications from reputable websites. Consider the .edu, .gov, and other thematic and trustworthy blogs on mythology.

Writing a Thesis Statement

A mythology and folklore thesis statement is a core element of your research paper. Whatever topic you choose, you need to articulate an argument you will appeal to and explore in the body of the paper.

A thesis is a sentence or two in the introductory paragraph of your work. It encloses your argument and defines the purpose of your paper. What will you examine and discuss? What will be the core idea of your research?

Before writing a draft, summarize it in a sentence or two. A thesis statement determines the direction of your work: With a concise and straightforward argument, you’ll understand how to organize your text to prove it.

Drafting Your Mythology and Folklore Research Paper

Before you move to the steps to write a folklore research paper, ensure you understand its format. It’s one thing if you’re a mythology enthusiast willing to write a blog article or a social media post about Odin and Thor or ancient Egyptian pharaohs: It’s okay to use creative writing techniques and a more casual writing style. It’s another thing if you’re a college student or a scholar working on a research paper:

You’ll need to follow a more complex structure than a traditional five-paragraph essay with an intro, body, and conclusion.

Include the following elements in your mythology and folklore research paper:

• A cover page with your name, institution, paper topic, the name of your professor who’ll review this paper, etc.
• Abstract (It’s a summary of your paper so the audience can understand its topic and purpose.)
• Introduction
• Literature review, where you share what other researchers have already said on the topic)
• Methodology (How you collected and analyzed the data)
• Results (Your findings)
• Conclusion (A summary of your findings and your suggestions for future research on the topic)
• A list of references you used while writing (Here are some practical tips on formatting them.)

Depending on your paper’s topic and methodology, it may include appendices. It’s additional materials like graphs, illustrations, schemes, tables, surveys, and other visuals illustrating your points and supporting your arguments.

Final Steps: Editing Your Paper

Once your research paper draft is ready, please don’t hurry to publish it or submit it for editorial review. First, reread it several times and revise it if necessary.

Proofreading and editing are crucial, so you can only complete your writing process with these final steps.

The goal is to filter out all the errors — spelling, grammar, punctuation, logic, and style — from your research paper. In other words, you polish it while editing. Reread your draft several times:

• Does it follow all the instructions you got from an educator regarding the structure, format, and other technical or creative details?
• Does it have a clear thesis and language?
• Is it logical, coherent, and easy-to-read for the audience?
• Have you cited all the sources you used as references?
• Is it grammatically correct?

Bonus: 5 Mythology Research Paper Tips

So, now you have the five steps to writing a stellar research paper on mythology and folklore that will impress educators, scholars, and all other readers. Do you want to make it sound even more powerful?

Here are a few extra mythology research paper tips for you:

1. Before writing, ensure you understand all the requirements: a topic, length, formatting, citation style, etc.
2. Outline your paper before writing a draft: Such a roadmap will help you organize the text and ensure you get all critical elements.
3. Be creative: Analyze and interpret the data so that readers get hooked and want to continue investigating your work.
4. Give examples of the mythical traditions and customs.
5. Illustrate your points and use narration if possible: Myths and legends are about stories, and that’s what makes them so attractive to millions.

Ready to write a paper and tell your story to the world?