Instructions: Now that we have read and studied Robert Ray’s excerpt, “The Thematic Paradigm,” your next assignment is to select a film as the basis for your research assignment. You should select a film that has a strong hero or heroine, and your aim should be to prove how the hero or heroine fits into Ray’s heroic paradigm, or how he or she is a combination of both heroic types, or how he or she might complicate Ray’s paradigm. You need to select a film, watch it, and annotate those scenes that define your character’s behavior prior to our librarian’s demonstration.
The key here is to select a worthy film. In other words, you might want to select a film that has been recognized by film critics and film scholars. Again, you will be writing a research paper and you will be integrating secondary sources. The more that has been written critically about your chosen film, the better off you might be at finding academic criticism. The newer the film’s release date, the more limited you will be in regards to finding scholarly sources. Think about selecting a critically acclaimed movie from the 20th Century as a means to play it safe. Movies with superheroes or super heroines are disallowed. For example, Batman, Spiderman, Spiderwoman, Wonder Woman and others of these heroic types are off limits.
If you are at a loss on what sort of movie to select, go to either the British Film Institute website at http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time or the American Film Institute website at http://www.afi.com/100years/movies10.aspx to review their lists of Greatest Movies of All Time. A good many films on the BFI list are foreign. Remember that Ray’s “The Thematic Paradigm” is written from an American perspective. You might choose a foreign picture to see if its hero or heroine fit into Ray’s paradigm or fit elsewhere. If you are still at a loss over what type of movie to select, ask me and I will give you some specific choices.

Exploratory Questions to Consider: After you have selected your film, think critically about the main character by addressing these questions: What sort of hero is he? What sort of heroine is she? What cinematic heroes does he resemble? What cinematic heroines does she resemble? What is his/her maturity level? How does he/she function in society and toward the opposite sex? How does he/she respond to politics and law? Is he an outlaw hero, an official hero, or a combination of both? Why or why not? According to your own model, is your female character an outlaw heroine, official heroine, or a combination of both? Why or why not? Your research paper’s thesis might be derived from one or more of these exploratory questions.

Note of Female Characters: Think critically about gender, and how in the case of female characters their sex alone will complicate Robert Ray’s claims about what distinguishes an outlaw hero from an official hero. Do not misrepresent Robert Ray’s claims. Nowhere in his excerpt does he argue about what traits constitute an outlaw heroine or an official heroine. Therefore, if you choose to conduct your research project by aiming your purpose at a female character, you must create your own models which distinguish between outlaw heroines and official heroines. In some cases the kinds of characteristics your heroines embody will overlap with the characteristics Ray’s heroes embody.

Watching and Studying Film: Students should sit down with the picture, pausing various scenes and sequences, determining how the visual will support their argument.

Obtaining the Film Material: Students should be able to purchase films through iTunes. However, oftentimes DVDs come with directorial or expert commentary and/or educational documentaries or interviews. Such features might make ideal secondary sources. Therefore, I recommend you getting a copy of the DVD by way of our library’s DVD collection or our library’s InterLibrary Loan system. Our librarian will show you how to create your InterLibrary Loan Account if our library does not carry your movie. It may take some time for the DVD to arrive, so please request it as soon as possible.

Paper’s Purpose: To write an informed, thoughtful, organized, and original argument using Robert Ray’s theories. To find, analyze, and synthesize appropriate and varied research (including primary and secondary sources) into an argumentative essay. (Films will be primary sources. Secondary sources will be commentaries on primary sources – another writer’s opinion about or interpretation of a primary source. See pp. 381 in AWR for further explanation on how to distinguish between primary and secondary sources. Robert Ray’s excerpt will also be a primary source because his theories will drive your argument.) To articulate and develop an original claim. To demonstrate an understanding and adequate use of logic and rhetorical choices. To provide the reader with new knowledge on the subject.

Paper’s Thesis: In the thesis statement, students need to identify and explain what their particular argument is. The thesis statement needs to be underlined.

Topic Sentences: Topic sentences need to have a rhetorical and structural purpose and need to be underlined as they appear in each body paragraph. See pp. 32-33 in AWR for further support.

Paper’s Audience: Your audience is cinematically literate and they have seen the picture you are using as basis for your research paper. However, you will still need to contextualize the movie when necessary. In addition, your audience has an understanding of Robert Ray’s article. These two understandings should keep students from unnecessary explanation and summary.

Paper’s Message: To engage in an already ongoing conversation about your topic, to make your point of view clear in this conversation, and to contribute something NEW to the argument.

Format:  Essays should be 7-9 pages long and must conform to MLA formatting (12 pt., Times New Roman, 1” margins, double spaced, proper heading, etc.) and citation guidelines. The works cited page DOES NOT count toward your page count. A minimum of eight reliable, cited secondary sources is required for this essay. The film and Robert Ray’s article will be your two primary sources. At least one secondary source has to be derived from a book in print. Consult A Writer’s Reference pp. 371-72 for citation guidelines. These pages will reference you to the correct MLA rules on subsequent pages in the MLA section.

Required Sources: As stated above, students need to cite at least eight reliable secondary sources. The film and Robert Ray’s article will serve as your two primary sources. The secondary sources will vary in forms of publication. Please see below specific requirements.

1.    One source must be derived from a radio or television interview, or a special feature, such as a documentary
2.    One source must be derived from physical print or in the form of an eBook
3.    Three sources can be derived from online newspapers or popular magazines
4.  Three sources should be derived from online scholarly journals
5.    If you feel that some sources are more credible than others, you have the option of mixing and matching, but just do it with balance in mind. For example, if you find a second print source that is crucial to your argument, you can substitute this source for a newspaper or magazine source.

As for what heroes or heroines your characters resemble, that is going to take some concentrated research. Please do not ignore this requirement. As you begin researching, highlight names of other heroes or heroines connected with yours. Then you can cross reference, researching those heroes and heroines, too.
You might want to research why a director selected the particular actor or actress to play the lead roll. This kind of research might make for ideal background information to be included in your introduction.

Disagreeing with Sources: Students must logically disagree with at least two sources.

Assessment: The written assignment is worth 20% of the grade.

Annotated Bibliographies: The annotated bibliography is worth 5% of the grade. Prior to turning in your final paper, students will construct an annotated bibliography. This will contain no fewer than 5 sources at the time, each in correct MLA format with a paragraph or two about the source (summary) and how students think it will help their research paper. (See pp. 358-361 A Writer’s Reference for sample annotated bibliographies and extra guidance.) Upon final submission, students should not submit their annotated bibliographies. As implied above, annotated bibliographies will be collected at an earlier date. Students, however, must have a complete and correct works cited page included with their final submission.

Due Date: The final draft of your research paper is due tentatively on April 27th by 7:00 P.M.