Developing a Thesis

1
Developing a Thesis
2
Original Thesis

• Thesis
• The treatment of racism in movies reflects the
  racism in society at the time.
• Problem Not too interesting. Seems
  self-evident

3
Be more Specific

• Revised Thesis As racism changed over time in
  America, racism within the justice system in
  movies changed with it.
• Still a bit vague
• Does changed mean increased or decreased?

4
More Specific and Detailed

• To Kill a Mockingbird
• A Soldiers Story
• 12 Angry Men
• Philadelphia
• Okay.what do these movies have in common?
  whats different?

5
Try Broadening

• Discrimination
• What about women?
• Working Girldid that have a trial in it?
• Other movies?

6
Take Stock

• I could do more research
• Based on what I know now, lets try to
• formulate a new thesis
• Key terms - discrimination,
• courtroom dramas, justice

7
New Thesis

• Hollywood has used courtroom dramas to model
  the ideal of equal justice for all as a means of
  overcoming discrimination.

8
Compare

• Original Thesis
• The treatment of racism in movies reflects the
  racism in society at the time.
• More Developed Thesis
• Hollywood courtroom dramas model the
• ideal of equal justice for all as a means of
  overcoming discrimination.