Length: 2 – 1,250 word papers 5 pages, double-spaced, in 12-point font, not including title page and references list
Objectives and Outcomes
Examine a personality theory in-depth.
Apply concepts that you have learned in the course materials.
Acquire knowledge about a specific topic or issue related to personality theories that is of interest to you.
Analyze and synthesize information about your chosen topic.
Your first assignment is to choose a specific theory from one of the five perspectives (psychodynamic, humanistic/existential, dispositional, biological/evolutionary, learning-cognitive), and write about how it relates to the personality of a superhero in the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America (Steve Rogers) your essay must address the psychological theories of the major personality theorists and apply the ideas presented in the research literature to the superhero’s personality. Remember, the aim is not to provide a film critique or your personal opinion of the film or particular superhero, but to engage with personality theory. The goal of the assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of the chosen theories and your ability to apply them.
When you are writing the first paper, after your introductory paragraph, describe the aspect of the theory that you have chosen to focus on and then present information from the research literature that further describes, illustrates, and supports that theory aspect. Once you have done this, then engage in an analysis of the movie character that you chose to focus on. The analysis of the character must use specific examples from the film and also must be connected back to the theory aspect and the research literature that you presented earlier in the paper.
For this first paper, you must use three to four academic (scholarly) sources. These may include original research articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and secondary sources—that is, books or articles written by someone with appropriate academic credentials that criticize a piece of original research or that compare several pieces of research on a single issue. All of your sources should have been published within the past five to ten years. The only online sources that you may use are electronically published scholarly journals. At least one of your sources should be a research report of an empirical study.
Structure
Introduction
The introduction to your paper should address these questions in a scholarly way:
What do you intend to do?
What issue(s) will you discuss and from what point of view?
What approach to your topic will you take?
What will be the limitations of your research and your discussion?
This section should define what you will and will not cover.
The most important part of your introduction is the thesis statement. St. Cloud State University’s Literacy Education Online has a clear and simple outline of what a Thesis Statement is and is not, and The University of Toronto’s Writing Advice provides information about Using Thesis Statements . Both resources are succinct and provide clear examples.
Body
In the body of your paper, you should follow through on what you said you would do in the introduction. Make sure that your interpretation of the superhero’s character is clear, and make sure that the theories, concepts, and research findings that you use to support it are directly relevant to the personality theory that you have chosen. It is important that you organize the paper in a meaningful way, that you express yourself clearly, and that you argue and document your ideas. You are encouraged to use quotations from the movie relevant to your character, but please use paraphrasing for the rest of the paper. Any ideas attributable to someone else must be acknowledged with proper in-text citations, and listed in proper APA reference format at the end of the paper.
The Form of the Essay
Your paper should be written so that your ideas flow logically, there are connections between your ideas, and you use new paragraphs for new sub-topics. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typing errors will be taken into account in the assessment, as will your careful use of APA style in your paper in general, and in your in-text citations and your references list in particular. Refer to the Citing and Referencing section in the Course Information manual for several sources of information on APA style.
For Essay # 2 use the same character but our second assignment is to choose a different theory from the one you chose for Essay 1 and write about how it relates to the personality of the superhero that you wrote about in Essay 1.
Your treatment of your topic must reflect the purpose of the course; that is, your essay must address the psychological theories of the major personality theorists and apply the ideas presented in the research literature to the superhero’s personality.
When you are writing the second paper, after your introductory paragraph, describe the aspect of the theory that you have chosen to focus on and then present information from the research literature that further describes, illustrates, and supports that theory aspect. Once you have done this, then engage in an analysis of the movie character that you chose to focus on. The analysis of the character must use specific examples from the film and must also be connected back to the theory aspect and the research literature that you presented earlier in the paper.
For this paper, you must use three to four academic (scholarly) sources. These may include original research articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and secondary sources—that is, books or articles written by someone with appropriate academic credentials that criticize a piece of original research or that compare several pieces of research on a single issue.
Marking Key
Introduction
20%
Concisely states the rationale, purpose, and structure.
Describes background of the personality theory chosen.
Includes clear thesis statement.
19–20
A wordy or sketchy statement of the rationale, purpose, and structure.
Includes information either unnecessary or better placed later in the essay.
Thesis statement clearly describes either what the paper is about or what point you are trying to make, but not both.
17–18
A well-written, interesting rationale or background statement, which includes either the purpose or the structure.
Unclear or inadequate thesis statement.
15–16
A well-written, interesting rationale or background statement in which neither purpose nor structure is described.
Unclear or inadequate thesis statement.
13–14
Poorly written with neither purpose nor structure described.
No thesis statement.
11–12
No introduction.
0–10
Review of the Literature
40%
Accurately discusses and integrates the main findings of 3 to 4 scholarly articles.
Demonstrates a clear understanding of concepts, theory, and relevant research; demonstrates insight into personality theories.
Well-organized, planned, and integrated material.
31–40
Does not include recommended number of resources and/or some of these are non-academic sources.
Demonstrates understanding of a small range of concepts, theory, and research evidence, but these may not be fully explained.
21–30
Does not include recommended number of resources. A number of sources are non-academic.
Basic understanding is evident in some aspects of the issues, but discussion is confused or sketchy.
11–20
Incomplete, inaccurate discussion of secondary sources.
1–10
No articles summarized.
0
Application of Theory to Superhero and Discussion of How Well Superhero’s Behaviours Illustrate this Application
25%
Excellent, thorough, and integrated discussion of how the theory relates to superhero personality.
Includes examples of specific behaviours that illustrate the concepts.
Thorough discussion of how well this theory explains (or does not explain) the superhero’s personality.
20–25
Discussion of application of theory to superhero personality but lacks depth.
15–19
Confused or superficial discussion of application of theory to superhero personality.
1–14
No discussion of application of theory to superhero personality.
0
Form
15%
Consistent use of current APA style in title page, body of the essay, citations, and reference list.
Excellent organization, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. (A well-organized essay will use headings and/or clear, logical transitions to shift from one section to the next.)
Selects and uses a structural theme; reasoned order of presentation.
10–15
Consistent use of APA style. Generally well-written (logical, clear) with a few minor errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation.
7–9
Consistent use of APA style. Logical and clear, but with many errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
5–6
Use of APA style in most cases. Some confusion or lack of clarity in organization and writing.
3–4
Use of a citation style other than APA. Generally confusing, illogical, and unclear
1–2
No citations or reference list.
0
Total
100%
