Research Paper
A hero of a thousand faces begins with a single archetype.*
Since the Hero’s Journey and archetypes are the basis for everything we are reading this year and AP
Language focuses on the world of non-fiction, you will use your summer reading
biography OR autobiography and apply Campbell’s ideals to the subject’s life answering the essential
question:
How does Campbell’s study of archetypes and the Hero’s Journey apply to a human life and shape and/or
reflect our culture or our perception of culture?
Different ways you could do this (not an all-inclusive list):
1. Focus solely on the subject (person about whom the bio/memoir is written) and whether she/he
has the characteristics of an archetypal hero/heroine. Here you will trace the journey as a
background to the characteristics of the subject.
2. Look at the life events as the journey and explain how it follows Campbell’s guidelines.
3. Define each person (including the subject) throughout the bio/memoir as an archetype and how
she/he fits into the theme, or universal message, of the story.
4. Focus on one stage of the Hero’s Journey, correlate it to an event in the subject’s life and how the
subject reacts then discuss whether or not this is an archetypal behavioral pattern.
Instead of a ton of literary criticism, your secondary resources will most likely focus on archetypes, the
Hero’s Journey, and circumstances/events/places occurring in the bio/memoir. Everyone MUST use A
Hero with a Thousand Faces as one secondary source.
Requirements for the Research Paper
Sources
o
o
o
o
Primary: chosen biography/autobiography
Primary: A Hero with a Thousand Faces
Secondary: 2+ of your choosing (only one may be a website)
Avoid 123helpme.com, sparknotes.com, cliffsnotes.com, pinkmonkey.com, freeessays.com,
Wikipedia, etc.
Quotations
o
You must have at least 12 quotations with correct parenthetical citations in the body of your essay.
Research Proposal
o
You will submit a typed research proposal
Outline
o
You will submit and include a formal outline
Works Cited
o
You must include a formal MLA Works Cited page
Format
o
MLA standard rules apply-parenthetical citation (NOT footnotes or endnotes), heading on outline
only, page numbering starts on actual paper, works cited is the last page of paper (NOT
somewhere shuffled between drafts or at the very bottom), Times New Roman 12 point font,
double spaced
Plagiarism
o
You and your parent will sign a plagiarism statement acknowledging that any use of undocumented
work will result in a failing grade.
Word Count
1200 minimum/2400 maximum
You will turn in:
o
o
o
o
Final draft of research paper (outline, paper w/works cited)
A draft that shows heavy revision
A draft that shows ratiocination and general editing
Pre-writing
Due Dates:
Research Paper Plagiarism Contract: 10/9
Research Proposal (typed): 10/13
Research Draft #1: 10/23
Research Draft #2: 11/3
RESEARCH PAPERS DUE: 11/19
*Original quote: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Lao Tzu
http://mrob.com/pub/std/archetypes.html#lab3 (Archetypes)