QUEST FOR A THEME STATEMENT
*DGP – Week 5
*Binders
*NO textbooks
ON A SHEET OF PAPER…
Make a list of Universal Ideas/Big Ideas that show up in
all three Tim Burton movies that we have viewed in class.
Choose 2 or 3 of those Big Ideas that Tim Burton uses to
send a message (don’t list them if they are a stretch…)
In groups of 2, write a theme statement for each.
Simple is better…
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Greed leads to destruction.
ESSAY RUBRIC
Keep this rubric in your binder behind Project Guides and
Rubrics
Use it as a guide when you are writing your essay
Attach to the front of your essay.
DECISION TIME…
Time to decide on a theme statement for your essay.
Write your theme statement on a piece of paper.
Share it with a neighbor.
 Ask your neighbor if they think you will be able to support your theme
statement with evidence from three movies.
 Is it too complex?
 Your neighbor should give you constructive feedback as to the
workability of your theme statement.
 Suggestions to make it better/more appropriate for the task at hand
If making changes, write the final draft on your paper and
turn in. (for a 15 point grade)
THESIS STATEMENT
Topic + Claim + Universal Idea + Direction (order may be changed)
Topic = Subject of your essay, for literary analysis, it’s the __author and
title______
Claim = the _____verb__________
Universal Idea = the abstract idea (can’t touch this!), for literary analysis,
it’s the ___theme__________
Direction = the __evidence from the text you will be using______
THESIS: EXAMPLE
Topic - In his movies, Tim Burton
Claim (verb) - celebrates
Universal Idea – social outcasts possess unconventional
beauty
Direction 1 – low-key lighting (or lighting)
Direction 2 - low-angle framing (or framing)
Direction 3 - and foreshadowing
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER NOW…
In his movies, Tim Burton celebrates the fact
that social outcasts possess unconventional
beauty through his use of low-key lighting, lowangle framing, and foreshadowing.
How would you move some of the parts
around?
WRITE YOUR OWN THESIS…
Choose three cinematic techniques that Tim Burton uses to
develop the narrative of his film. Write an essay that
analyzes how Tim Burton uses these techniques across films
to convey a theme.
You need to select three cinematic techniques to create
your thesis statement.
Topic + Claim + Universal Idea + Direction (you may
change the order of these parts)
QUEST FOR A BODY PARAGRAPH
*DGP – Week 5
*Binders
*NO textbooks
IN HIS MOVIES, TIM BURTON CELEBRATES THE FACT THAT SOCIAL OUTCASTS POSSESS
UNCONVENTIONAL BEAUTY THROUGH HIS USE OF LIGHTING, LOW-ANGLE FRAMING,
AND FORESHADOWING.
Body Paragraph:
Topic Sentence: Burton uses lighting to lead the audience to an impression of goodness or
suspicion.
Example: For example, in Edward Scissorhands, there is low-key lighting on Edward when
the audience first meets him in the attic of the old castle. Commentary: The low-key
lighting makes the audience realize that Edward is not a typical human and is socially
awkward in his looks and his actions, making the audience wary of him.
Example and Commentary: Throughout the movie, Burton switches to high-key lighting on
Edward. For example, when Edward is in Peg’s backyard at the barbeque, the high-key
lighting lets the audience know that his unique qualities are actually beautiful.
Example & Commentary: In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, high-key lighting is used on
Charlie in the candy store to show that, although he is poor and powerless, he possesses
unconventional beauty through his innocence and joy.
Sentence of closure: Throughout Burton’s films, lighting creates the understanding that
characters are beautiful in their own unique, odd ways.
ESSAY TIMELINE
Friday: turn in Body Paragraph #1
Monday: Turn in body Paragraph #2 and #3
Monday Homework: Write Conclusion
Tuesday: Type on laptops in Library
Wednesday: confer with Mrs. Spies and type in library
Thursday, December 11: Turn in essay at the beginning of class