28 Sep introductory paragraph and thesis on the following topic: How does Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard comment on the culture of Hollywood?

Write the introductory paragraph for an essay on the following topic: How does Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard comment on the culture of Hollywood? (What does the film say about the people who want to be successful in Hollywood?)

You do not have to write the entire essay, only the first paragraph. But this paragraph must set up the essay effectively and include a thoughtful, well-defined thesis statement that takes an arguable position on the question posed. The thesis statement must be detailed and specific enough to serve as a blueprint for the body of the essay.

An empty generalization like the following is not an acceptable thesis: “Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard provides a controversial observation of Hollywood movies and stardom.” This statement needs to be fleshed out by defining more specifically what “controversial observation” means. One way to do this is to mind map and then list or itemize several specific comments that Sunset Boulevard makes on Hollywood.

For example: “Sunset Boulevard reveals the complexity of the movie business by dramatizing how important X, Y, and Z are to the movies that Hollywood creates.” X, Y, and Z would then be developed in more depth in the body of the paper. You could also use the film technique, style, and/or dialogue to talk more specifically to Wilder’s intent in storytelling. Or, balance comparisons in your explanations, sample ideas could be based on failure and success, or opportunity and exploitation.

What is important is that your thesis statement takes a position on the essay question that can be explained, illustrated, and argued in the body of the paper. Writing a well-focused thesis statement for the essays assigned in this class is the single best thing you can do to formulate engaging papers!