"Blackfish" Thesis Review and Questions

Directions: review the information below regarding the composition of strong thesis statements and complete the questions about the film, Blackfish.
Eng 015 – Writing Strong Thesis Statements
The basic point or main idea of the whole essay is its thesis. A thesis is often an assertion that you argue or support in the essay. Having a thesis is useful to both the writer and the reader as it links the main ideas of the essay and explains the writer's opinion on those ideas. If you have problems with your thesis, try to follow these two conventions:
A thesis statement is often (but not always) one sentence and is most often placed at the end of the introductory paragraph.
A thesis statement is an arguable assertion that can be proven with evidence and opinions.
WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
A thesis helps you narrow down a more general topic and find your own angle on the issue, expressing your opinion.
A thesis lets the reader know what to expect or look for in the essay.
A well-formed thesis helps you develop and cover all parts of an assignment, helps you know when you are "done," and keeps you organized, helping you determine if you are wandering off in unrelated directions.
WHAT DO EFFECTIVE THESIS STATEMENTS LOOK LIKE?
An Effective Thesis: An effective thesis should be an argument, not a fact; it should be limited, not too broad; and it should be sharply focused, not too vague.
Too Factual: The first polygraph was developed by Dr. John A. Larson in 1921.
Revised: Because the polygraph has not been proved reliable, even under controlled conditions, its use by private employers should be banned.
Hint: If it sounds like a Wikipedia or Encyclopedia entry, it is too factual.
Too Broad: Being overly materialistic will cause many problems.
Revised: Being overly materialistic will cause many problems because you lose sight of what matters to you.
Too Vague: Many of contemporary songs are disgusting.
Revised: Many contemporary songs are sexist because they make women look like pretty pictures with no substance.
Direct Practice: Blackfish
Directions: Below you will find a series of questions that you must answer in connection with your viewing of Blackfish. Your answers need to be complete and comprehensive, demonstrating that you paid attention to the film and thought about what was shown on the screen. All responses should be in complete sentences using proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation; note, that you must type your responses and submit them to Canvas.
State the title of the film and the year it was released. Then, briefly describe what the film is about and the position that it advocates.
Describe the progression of the film: how it begins, what stages it passes through, and how it concludes.
List five facts described in the film that impressed you and explain how each fact relates to the film’s premise or theme.
How did the filmmakers try to convince you of the position that the film supports? Look for appeals to logic, emotion, and prejudice.
Did any of the reasoning given in support of the position advocated by the film seem to be weak or misleading? If so, describe the concept put forward in the film and why you thought the reasoning was flawed.
Did the film change your mind about any aspect of the subject that it presents? What information, argument or persuasive technique caused you to change your mind?
Finally, using the above information as a guide, translate the filmmaker’s argument into a thesis statement appropriate for use in a formal essay.