Writing Seminar: A Century of Science Fiction Dr. Pogo
Short Assignment #3
Assigned: Monday, September 18, 2006
Due: Friday, September 22, 2006
Submission: Pogo’s inbox only
Filename: movie####.doc
Format: Word document, 10 point times roman font, double spaced.
Requirements: Write a one page movie review of any science fiction movie
you’ve seen, as if for a newspaper.
Your thesis will be either to persuade people to see it, or to
persuade people to not see it.
In a movie review, the thesis usually comes at the end of the
review. Also, movie reviewers need to be careful to not reveal
too much of the plot.
Also, remember that in good persuasive writing, you are
communicating with people who do not necessarily share your
own personal tastes. You need to try to anticipate the
preferences of the potential moviegoers who will read your
column for advice, rather than just focusing on your own likes
and dislikes.
Finally, please be aware that the “two thumbs up” cliché
requires at least two separate reviewers.
For examples of professional reviews, see:
http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/archive/
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
