A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Movie Analysis Essay
A movie analysis essay might be the most difficult type of writing assignment you’ll ever face, but with a bit of guidance and practice, you can tackle it like the strong writer you are.
To show you how to write a movie analysis essay, we’ve created this step-by-step guide that will give you all the tools and resources you need to make this task easier.
Learn how to write an A+ movie analysis essay with our easy tips and techniques!
Part 1: Research
Before you start writing, it’s important to do your research.
This means watching the movie several times and taking notes on your thoughts and impressions. You should also read up on the director, the actors, and the movie’s place in history.
Finally, learn about what other critics have said about the film by reading reviews from reputable sources. Armed with this information, you can write an informed analysis of the film.
Part 2: Thesis Statement
A good movie analysis essay should include a strong thesis statement that summarizes the main point of your essay.
This thesis should be arguable, meaning it should be something that someone could reasonably disagree with.
For example, if you’re writing about the use of color in the film The Wizard of Oz, you could argue that the use of color represents the different emotions that Dorothy feels throughout her journey.
You could also argue that color is used to symbolize the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire.
Part 3: Intro Paragraph
A good movie analysis should include the following: an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Introduce your topic in the first sentence of your essay. The next two sentences should be your thesis statement: what you will be discussing in your essay.
The last two sentences of your paragraph should give an overview of the film you will be discussing.
It is also helpful to include some basic background information about the director or screenwriter as well as any awards or accolades that it has received.
Your intro paragraph should conclude with a brief summary of your argument; this is usually done in one sentence.
Part 4: Body Paragraphs
Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph.
The rest of the paragraph should support the topic sentence with evidence from the movie.
In your movie analysis essay, you’ll want to include at least three body paragraphs.
The first paragraph is typically used to introduce the film and give some background information about it.
In your second paragraph, you can discuss the general theme or major issue in the film.
In your third paragraph, you might describe how this theme affects specific characters or if there are any important events in the film that relate to this theme.
The final body paragraph can be used for a conclusion where you might briefly summarize what happened in each of these three paragraphs.
Part 5: Conclusion
In your conclusion, you want to wrap up your argument and remind the reader of what they have just read. You also want to leave them with something to think about.
Here are some final tips:
- Restate your thesis statement in different words.
- Summarize the main points of your paper.
- Discuss the implications of your findings.
- Make sure you end on a strong note.
- Leave the reader with something to think about.
Part 6: Formatting Your Final Product
In order to format your final product correctly, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
First, your title should be centered and in bold font. Second, your paper should be double-spaced and have 1-inch margins.
Third, you should include a header that includes the title of your paper and the page number. Fourth, each paragraph should be indented five spaces.
Finally, your essay should end with a Works Cited page that lists all of the sources you used in your paper.