The Pursuit of Happyness
After viewing The Pursuit of Happyness, you need to analyze one major theme that the film conveys. Below
is a list of topics that are presented in the film; you need to pick a topic and develop that topic into a theme.
Your essay will focus on proving this theme by using examples from the movie.
You will use one of these topics to develop your theme and thesis statement.
-
Perseverance
Forgiveness
Homelessness
- Poverty
- Determination
- Success
- Family
- Education
- Competition
Your essay will be a five paragraph hand written essay.
Introduction Paragraph:
 Brief summary of the film
 A thesis statement: identify the theme you are analyzing
o Sample thesis: The Pursuit of Happyness conveys the important message that with
perseverance, anything is possible.
3 Body Paragraphs:
 Each body paragraph should focus on one example of an event that happens in the film that
helps show the theme you are analyzing.
o For example, if you are using the thesis statement written above, you will focus on one
event (in each body paragraph) from the movie that shows with enough perseverance
anything is possible. Thoroughly summarize the situation in the movie and how it helps
illustrate the theme.
Conclusion:
 Restate thesis without repeating the words verbatim
 Summarize the main points in the body paragraphs
 Answer the “So what” question your reader may have after reading your essay
o Why is this theme important? How can it connect to the outside world?
Thesis Statement: (claim)
Body Paragraph 1:
Plot summary of event (What happened?) How does this event prove your thesis?
(evidence)
(warrant)
Body Paragraph 2:
Plot summary of event (What happened?) How does this event prove your thesis?
(evidence)
(warrant)
Body Paragraph 3:
Plot summary of event (What happened?) How does this event prove your thesis?
(evidence)
(warrant)
Conclusion (how does this all fit together?):