Pre Production: Write a documentary thesis

Pre Production: Write a documentary thesis

By Sergio Herrera

This is an assignment. You will create a documentary thesis

Why you should write a thesis?

Think of a thesis as the starting point on a map. If you don’t have starting point, then it is difficult to plan your route and reach your destination (your conclusion). The thesis provides a roadmap that lets your readers know where your ideas are headed. Furthermore, it engages them and makes them think about your topic from the start. A well-written thesis will help you create a clear, concise paper with a strong argument. When writing persuasively, you need to know what you want to prove or your essay will lack focus. The smaller points that form your detailed argument should flow from your thesis.

Take a moment and think about a community topic that you would like to explore and possibly educate people on.

You learned about a one sentence thesis. Take this concept and turn it into a sentence that can be a starting point for a documentary

Open Ended

What is your documentary thesis?

Multiple Choice

Does your thesis answer a question, propose a solution to a problem, or take a position in a debate?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Is the thesis worthy of a documentary?

(If will you run out of points too quickly, it is not a worthy thesis)

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Is the thesis too obvious?

(If you cannot easily see the counter argument, it's too obvious.)

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Can you support your thesis with evidence you can find online?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

If someone reads your thesis and they say "so what?"

Can you explain to the audience why it's important?

• Yes

• No

Did you say no to any of the questions above? Rewrite your thesis statement so you can answer yes to all the questions.

Open Ended

What is your documentary thesis?

Open Ended

So What?