Some of the themes we started with this unit . . .

loneliness

status

free will

social conformity

peer pressure

inequality

fear of rejection

surveillance

social media

authenticity

perfection

performative behavior

herd mentality

looking

narcissism

transactional relationships

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State your topic. It helps you think clearly.

• I’m writing about ________ in “Nosedive” and _________.

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• I’m writing about social media in Black Mirror’s “Nosedive” and “Be Right Back.”

Phrase it as a question to help you focus

• Articulate your topic as a question you’re trying to explore. It will help you understand what you trying to find out.

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• What do we learn about social media’s impacts from “Nosedive” and “Be Right Back”?

Some of what I’ve noticed in my texts:

• Both Lacie and Ian are hyperfixated on their online lives, to the detriment of relationships they really have. (She has no real friends; he is dismissive of his girlfriend Martha, etc.)
• Both Lacie and Martha seem to get hyperfixated on social media–like it will solve everything. (Lacie looks terrible but keeps going. Martha uses social media to talk to Ian after he dies—all time spent with AI Ian.)
• Both show us the deep immersion of social media/tech use but offer different outcomes and feelings. (Lacie seems to be free, sort of—she lets go and is happier because of it. Martha still trapped. The AI/synthetic Ian is in her attic. She can never finish her grieving process; he is anchored to her forever.)

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My example

Now you try:

These can help you pull your thoughts together. Given your topic, what can you pull together so far? You will likely have some similarities that are relevant to capture, followed by a key difference that shows us how each text explores your theme uniquely.

• Both A and B ________________.
• Both A and B ________________.
• However in A _____________ and B ________________.

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What about a thesis?

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• You might have different kinds of answers to your question, but those separate points aren’t a thesis.
• Your question itself is not a thesis, either.
• So what will the thesis be?
• Think of it as a one-sentence answer to your question.
• Think of it as a kind of summary of your points, as the MAIN discovery.
• Should be interesting, significant, surprising to readers.
• It shouldn’t prompt a “So what?” response.

Which States a Good Working Thesis?

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What do we learn about social media’s impacts from “Nosedive” and “Be Right Back”?

• There are many similarities and differences between “Nosedive” and “Be Right Back.”
• “Nosedive” and “Be Right Back” both show us the power of social media.
• Both “Nosedive” and “Be Right Back” show us the ways that social media obsession can worm itself in our minds, distorting our perceptions of identities, relationships, and world.

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Where to Go from Here . . .

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• Create an opener that sets up a context for your theme and the fact that �you’re exploring “Nosedive” and your other text. Find a way to lead up to your question and thesis.
• Develop the points you want to make (see my handout). In the paragraphs,
• Explain the point.
• Bring in “proof” from the text so you can show us your ideas have validity and credibility.
• Explain your proof so we can understand your thinking. Repeat!