“Ghost of Tsushima,” by Sucker Punch Productions,’ particularly the important symbolic nature of honor and its relationship with Jin Sakai.

Overview: You will write a critical literary paper in which you analyze, in depth, the significance of the Hero’s Journey, archetypes, or symbolic elements in a story. Pick ONE of these approaches. DO NOT try to write a paper using all three approaches. This essay must have a clear, arguable thesis that you support throughout the essay with both evidence and analysis. It should be a strongly researched piece of writing with multiple sources of evidence. At least five sources should be used, appropriately cited, and listed on the works cited page.

Text: You should perform your analysis on one primary story. There are many options here, and I am possibly open to other ideas if it fits well with the themes we have been working on. You will want to work with a story that has: 1) identifiable elements of the Hero’s Journey; 2) clear Archetypes; or 3) strong use of symbolism.

Sources: Besides the story you are analyzing, you will need secondary sources to add evidence to your argument. You are encouraged to use “Archetypes in Literature” or “The Hero’s Journey” in your essay, but you will still need to do research for additional evidence. You need at least 3 secondary sources that were not provided in class, and a minimum of 5 items on your works cited list. At least one source must come from the library (and hopefully more than one). While Campbell and Beeny should be cited separately in your works cited list if using the “Hero’s Journey” handout, I will only count this as one source. The strongest evidence will come from books and articles available from the college library, and these should be your first choice. Some web-based sources can be used, but it is critical that these are strong, trustworthy sources. Many websites online are created by people who do not actually have a firm understanding of the subject, and some are quite simply wrong. Consult with librarians and with me as you gather research materials.

Ultimately, you need as many sources as it takes to reasonably prove your argument. Thus, your paper may require more than five sources. You need to be able to prove your arguments in your body paragraphs. If your paper is weak on research, this will significantly affect your grade.
INTRODUCTION, CONCLUSION, AND BODY PARAGRAPHS

Introduction:

Situation: Quickly introduce the work you are writing about and the author. If there is a major theme you are focused on, you can introduce that as well. Do not argue here. (2-4 sentences on average).

Problem: What is the problem or question you are going to address in the paper? This is where you show the purpose of your paper, and your methodology. You can list a question here, but do not have to. (1-3 sentences on average).

Solution: Last sentence of paragraph should state your thesis. This should be ONE sentence.

A Thesis should not: 1) state the obvious; 2) be a list; 3) be non-argumentative; 4) ask a question.

Body Paragraphs:

Topic Sentence: First sentence should state the argument of the paragraph. This argument should directly support your thesis.

Textual Evidence: Quotes from the text that support topic sentence. You must directly be quoting from the story!

Secondary Evidence: Reference to a secondary source that supports your claim. This can be a direct quote, paraphrase or summary. Generally, it is better to summarize secondary sources.

Evaluation: Your interpretation of the evidence and explanation of how it proves the claim. You must always evaluate all evidence presented.

Repeat 2-4 as needed.

Concluding sentence: reword your topic sentence and connect it to your thesis to ground out the paragraph and remind the reader of its purpose.

Conclusion: Do not summarize your essay here. Instead meld together your main claims and show your reader how it all fits together. Answer the question “So what?” and show the reader why your stance is significant. For example, you might remind the reader of how a mythological approach reveals elements otherwise missed, or explain how your analysis helps us to better understand the nuances of an archetype. Maybe you have some overall thoughts about how Campbell’s ideas are useful for thinking about stories or even about the human condition. You should leave your reader with a deeper understanding of the work you have considered.