EWRT 211 / J. Quigley / Winter 2012
Essay #1: Life in a Day, Film Analysis
After watching the multitude of YouTube clips all from one day in the world (7/24/10) in
the 2011 documentary Life in a Day, you have witnessed many stories. Your ideas about
the stories—both individual and collective—will build your argument for this essay. The
THESIS is your main opinion, argument, or central idea about the film. All of your ideas
and examples in the essay will work in direct support of the thesis. Since the essay is
analysis of the film based on your own opinions and observations, choose a topic (and
thesis) that is most interesting to you. Essay #1 is a film ANALYSIS, not a summary.
Remember to engage in the WRITING PROCESS to build your thinking. Pre-writing
(free-writing, list, cluster/map), Outline main ideas/thesis, Draft, Revision, Editing.
Essay #1 (Process Writing Schedule):
Monday 1/23: First Draft Due (1 page typed with thesis) / Peer Review (class)
Wednesday 1/25: Final Draft Due (2-3 pages, introduction paragraph, thesis, 3 PIE
paragraphs, 1 quote, conclusion paragraph, typed, size 12 font, double-spaced.
*Note: failure to participate in all the Process Writing assigned above will impact the
results of your grade.
Sample THESIS Statements:
Use the below examples as models…or you can combine/revise ideas and rephrase in
your own writing.
Although the documentary Life in a Day illustrates the culturally diverse experiences from all
over the world, the message is that we’re all similar, not different.
In the documentary Life in a Day, images of the natural world serve as a metaphor for how we’re
all connected.
The collage format of the film is the only way to capture the diverse and varied versions of life.
Perspective is everything.
The film Life in a Day taught me something that my grandmother always told me: everyone has a
story.
Images of food, weather, and the human body illustrate how the human experience is similar
despite major cultural and geographical differences.
Fear and love are the two most prominent ideas throughout the film Life in a Day.
In the film Life in a Day the images of children are reminders of both hope and the unknown
future.
The documentary Life in a Day shows that the human experience is a collage of both love and
loss, and most importantly, the everyday moments that happen in between.
Okhwan Yoon—the man who is biking around the world—is an important central example of the
power of persistence important in life in the film Life in a Day.
The film communicates that all the everyday details of life are the most interesting. And every
single person on the earth has something to say. We just need to be compassionate and listen.
Other THEMES to consider as you develop your THESIS:
Family, food, sleep, moon, home, natural world, animals, birth, death, money, poverty, love,
community, shelter, children, religion, work, contradictions, cycles, feelings, sensory
experiences, fear, water
________________________________________________________________________
Elements of a Successful Essay:
1. Engaging Title
2. Introduction Paragraph
A. Has an interesting and creative opening paragraph that draws in your audience,
including the opening “Hook” (quote, question, dialogue, or brief story are
“Hook” strategies)
B. Leads the reader smoothly into the thesis (general to specific) providing any
necessary context for essay, including the book title (in italics) and the author’s
name.
3. A Thesis Statement / Controlling Idea
A. Makes a position that can be developed
a. Is narrow and focused
b. Is clearly stated
c. Is analytical and demonstrates cause and effect
B. Developed Body Paragraphs
C. Follows the PIE paragraph structure
a. Has enough specific examples in each paragraph (examples can come
from the details in the film or from your own experiences and how you
connect—or don’t connect—with the ideas)
b. Exemplifies and illustrates with lots of detail
c. Develops all ideas fully
D. Organization
A. Contains a Point (also referred to as a topic sentence) in each body paragraph that
directly supports the thesis
B. Uses examples and ideas in each body paragraph that directly supports the Point.
C. Strong connection between examples, ideas, and thesis
D. Conclusion
a. Finishes the essay with a concluding strategy (point to the future, call for
awareness, challenges the reader, or asks “so what?” to the thesis)
b. Doesn’t start anything new or give any more support.
c. Doesn’t simply re-word the thesis