How to Write a Thesis
Seminar on Expression
What is expected from the Thesis
• PROCESS AND RESULT
• Evidence of the candidate’s capacity to
carry out independent research under the
guidance of supervisor and demonstrate the
result of that work.
Process
• Find and watch films - films to be discussed and
films related to those
• Analyse them and discover the possible issues that
you can take up for your thesis - MAKE A LIST
• Find and read articles and books - those directly
on the subject of your thesis and those related to it.
• TAKE NOTES and discover what is discussed,
particularly, what is the matter of critical debate.
• Do you agree or disagree the discussion: What
you disagree to will help you find your own
argument.
Process
• What should you do with the information on the
internet?
• Extremely useful to search the source of
information and database
• imdb.com, senseofcinema.com, filmref.com,
bfi.org.uk, kinejun.com, JSTOR
• On line information and database will send you
to written sources.
• You should use internet sources, only when they
are not available in written forms.
Process
• Keep clearly what you gathered - everything that
you want to keep - in ‘CLIPS Research Record
Files’ - detachable cards which can be
reassembled.
• Can be lengthy or repetitive
• Keep records where appears the scene which we
take note of. Hour, Minute, Second with
comments
Result
• THINK - PLAN - WRITE - REVISE
• Think about what you watched and read; go
through your cards and records
• Reassemble and group the cards according to
themes
• ex. Lighting: Card A, Card D, Card N, Card Q …
Pan: Card B, Card H, Card J, Card Z
Race (West Indians) Card E, Card F, Card N,
Card L
Result
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PLAN Plan what you are going to write
Plan what method and approach you are using
Plan what conclusion you want to draw
Plan what structure you will give
1 Introduction (incl. materials and methods)
2 Hypothesis
3 Observation and analysis (narrative and style)
4 Case Studies (2 and 3 can be combined)
5 Conclusion
6 Bibliography and References
Result
• Write with the reader in mind - me: avoid writing
too much obvious facts and lengthy summary of
stories
• Write following academic writing conventions
• Italicize the title of the film, Godfather; For titles
(book, article, film, thesis, chapter etc), capitalize
words except articles and prepositions ‘One
Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’; Footnote at the
bottom of the page if there are many, but place
footnotes at the end of the chapter, if there are a
few.
• Follow MLA Style Sheet
Film Studies Thesis
Studies
• Film Analysis
• Genre studies
• Director studies
• Film History
• Film Theory
• Technical Analysis
• Sociology of (through) Film
• Star Studies
• Studies on an individual aspect of filmmaking