Did you know that it was possible to plan ANY essay in the first paragraph (the essay’s introduction)?

Did you know that writing a good introductory paragraph gives your essay direction?? Miss Barnes had not, until her
Year 12 teacher – Mr Pearsall – taught her this strategy at Ocean Reef High School in 1989. This can work for MOST
subjects.

Example:
The purpose of Michael Moore’s Bowling For Columbine (2002) is to convince his audience that
the easy access to weapons in America is ridiculously easy. One scene that demonstrates this view
is that, in America, even banks issue guns. The footage of Chris Rock’s comedy routine shows that
the ammunition is too cheap and the Kmart scenes highlight this. Moore wants his viewers to be
horrified that weaponry is so easily available to the people.

1. Blue = topic sentence / THESIS (=ARGUMENT) - DOES IT ANSWER THE QUESTION?

2. Red = outlines topic of first body paragraph.
3. Green = outlines topic of second body paragraph.
4. Purple = outlines topic of third body paragraph.
5. Black = restates (says again, the main argument / answering of question.

LOOK AT THE QUESTION IN THE BOOKLET. Does that opening sentence ANSWER the question? If so, the rest of the
essay is just proving it (AND DISCUSSING HOW DOCUMENTARY CODES are USED).

Step 1. Look at the question: What will your answer / argument be?
Step 2. Given your argument / answer, what PROOF in terms of scenes do you have? What are the best scenes to
write about? See the three different colours?

Step 3. Within each of your PROOF scenes: What documentary codes are used? Why are they used / how do they
add to your answer / argument? Have you identified documentary techniques that are used in the scene? Have you
collected quotations / descriptions of the scene to support your argument? ONLY STICK TO ONE ARGUMENT. Have a
crack at writing about HOW that scene uses documentary codes and conventions so that the film-maker can
influence the audience.

(Conventions = how/why these codes are usually used, e.g. camera angles low = person being filmed has power;
voice over = makes us interpret a scene how film-maker wants us to; note also, typically or conventionally,

voice over is a middle aged white guy = authority)

Skills teacher needs to teach: (this list will grow)

How to ‘embed’ a quotation in a sentence
How to describe the location of a scene or piece of text: e.g. “At 2.10, during the (FILL BLANK)
scene, viewers see (SHORT DESCRIPTION – which could come from your scene headings in your
notes)
Concluding or linking sentences… I prefer mini-concluding sentences that constantly refer back to
the thesis statement.

Today, write THREE opening paragraphs as options. Be prepared to share your favourite one. It’s modelled for you
in the first box. Once you have written your paragraph ask yourself
1. Would someone who has seen the film think that my topic sentence is true?
2. Do the 3 scenes I have outlined prove that my topic sentence is right?