the thesis statement in french

Write an essay in French

Beyond the fact that writing an essay in French can be a good practice to improve your writing, you may also be asked to write one during your schooling. So, it is important to study the topic of French essay writing and get some useful tips..

» Tips and tricks for your French essay » The structure of a French essay » Sample French Essay

Tips and tricks for your French essay

When writing a French essay for school, you should always use a structured approach and good French skills to present your arguments in a focused way. Beyond French skills, there are also important formal requirements for a successful French essay. We will come back to this in detail later. First, you will find some useful tips and tricks that will help you write more compelling and better French essays in the future.

• Have a clear thesis and structure
• Do sufficient research and use reliable sources
• Use examples and arguments to support your thesis
• Avoid plagiarism and cite correctly
• Always check structure, grammar and spelling

When you write your essay at school or university, you need to make sure that the general structure of your essay, the presentation of the arguments and, above all, your French language skills play a role in the mark you will get. This is why you should definitely take a closer look at the structure of an essay as well as the most important grammar rules and formulations for French essays.

The structure of a French essay

In an essay, you deal at length and in detail with a usually given topic. When you write an essay in French, you must follow a certain structure. Below we show you what this structure looks like and give you some tips for writing the most important parts of your essay.

The Introduction

The introduction prepares the main body of your essay. You think of a meaningful title for your essay, you describe your thesis or your question, you give general information on the subject and you prepare your argument by giving an overview of your most important arguments.

Below are examples and phrases that you can use to write the introduction to your essay in French.

The title should be meaningful, concise and reflect the content of the essay.

Introductory paragraph

The first paragraph of your French essay should briefly introduce the topic and engage the reader. Here are some examples to help you write your essay:

Proposal or question

The central proposition or question of your French essay should be a clear and concise definition of the purpose of the essay. Use these examples to get a clearer idea of ​​how to write theses in French:

Overview of Arguments and Structure

At the end of your introduction, describe the structure of the main part of your essay (your outline) and outline your argument. Here are some French expressions that will certainly help you write your essay:

The body of your essay

The main part of your French essay deals with the given topic in detail. The subject is studied from all angles. The main body of your essay follows a thread of argument and discusses in detail the main arguments of your thesis previously made in the introduction.

In the body of the text, you should discuss the subject of your essay in clear and concise language. To achieve this, we give you some wording aids as well as vocabulary and phrases that you can use to write your essay in French.

Formulation tools:

French vocabulary for essays.

In the conclusion of your French essay, you address the thesis of your essay, summarize the main points of your discussion in the main body, and draw a conclusion. On the basis of the arguments and the resulting conclusions, you formulate in the conclusion of your dissertation final thoughts and suggestions for the future. It is important that you do not add new information or new arguments. This should only be done in the body of your text.

Here are some wording guides to help you write your essay in French:

Sample French Essay

Les avantages des voyages linguistiques

Malgré les difficultés potentielles, les voyages linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour leur développement personnel et académique.

Les séjours linguistiques sont des voyages organisés dans le but d'améliorer les compétences linguistiques des participants. Ces voyages peuvent se dérouler dans le pays ou à l'étranger et durer d'un week-end à plusieurs semaines. L'un des principaux avantages des séjours linguistiques est l'immersion. Entourés de locuteurs natifs, les apprenants sont contraints de pratiquer et d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques dans des situations réelles.Il s'agit d'une méthode d'apprentissage beaucoup plus efficace que le simple fait d'étudier une langue dans une salle de classe.

Un autre avantage des séjours linguistiques est l'expérience culturelle. Voyager dans un nouveau pays permet aux apprenants de découvrir de nouvelles coutumes, traditions et modes de vie, et de se familiariser avec l'histoire et la culture du pays. Cela enrichit non seulement l'expérience d'apprentissage de la langue, mais contribue également à élargir les horizons et à accroître la sensibilisation culturelle.

Cependant, les séjours linguistiques peuvent également présenter des inconvénients. Par exemple, le coût du voyage et de l'hébergement peut être élevé, en particulier pour les séjours de longue durée. En outre, les apprenants peuvent être confrontés à la barrière de la langue ou à un choc culturel, ce qui peut être difficile à surmonter. Le coût et les difficultés potentielles des séjours linguistiques peuvent sembler décourageants, mais ils offrent des avantages précieux en termes d'épanouissement personnel et scolaire.

Les compétences linguistiques et les connaissances culturelles acquises peuvent déboucher sur de nouvelles opportunités d'emploi et améliorer la communication dans un cadre professionnel. Les bourses et les aides financières rendent les séjours linguistiques plus accessibles. Le fait d'être confronté à une barrière linguistique ou à un choc culturel peut également être l'occasion d'un développement personnel. Ces avantages l'emportent largement sur les inconvénients et font des séjours linguistiques un investissement qui en vaut la peine.

En conclusion, malgré les difficultés potentielles, les séjours linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour le développement personnel et académique. Qu'il s'agisse d'un débutant ou d'un apprenant avancé, un voyage linguistique est une expérience à ne pas manquer.

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What’s The Problem? – Writing A Thesis In French Posted by John Bauer on Aug 31, 2016 in Culture , Vocabulary

These past few weeks I’ve been hard at work on mon mémoire (my thesis). The last big project for un diplôme (a degree) is always hard, and writing un mémoire in another language makes the whole process even more of un casse-tête (a headache).

“ Place de la Sorbonne ” by Alan on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

I came to France to do mon master (my Master’s), and it has been an interesting exeprience learning how nobody’s perfect and what a CM and TD are . Now hard at work on mon mémoire , I’m struggling to find enough café (coffee) to keep me going.

Writing more than cinquante pages (fifty pages) en français has been tough. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve mixed up the words une mémoire (a memory) and un mémoire (a thesis). Not to mention all the other dual gender nouns .

To make things easier, le mémoire should follow le plan (the outline), but sometimes il est difficile de savoir par où commencer (it’s hard to know where to start).

“ Plan de dissertation ” by dicophilo on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Figuring out une problématique is a big part of writing un mémoire . Once you have une idée (an idea) you have to fix not just le grammaire (the grammar), but le raisonnement et la logique (the reasoning and logic) as well.

C’est quoi une problématique ? What is une problématique?

Une problématique is a thesis statement to some people. In my experience, they are used in the same general educational contexts. Cependant (however), they do not mean exactly the same thing.

The word for a thesis statement is une thèse principale or un énoncé de la thèse .

It’s a subtle difference, but la problématique is more about defining the research problem or outlining the research problem rather than a summary of the main point or presenting un point de vue (a point of view) and making a claim.

It can be difficult to understand how to succeed in the French education system without understanding this difference. Surtout (especially) because in the classroom you’ll hear le professeur (the professor) talk about the importance of la problématique in the same way you would hear le professeur talk about the thesis statement in aux États-Unis (in the United States).

There is also a lot to learn about les travaux universitaires (academic writing). All the nuances of specific wordings can easily get lost in translation. The main ideas of writing clearly, citing your sources, creating a bibliography, and proper formatting are all the same, but the details can be different enough that figuring out how to write correctly is un casse-tête .

De plus (what’s more), if you went to school in the US, you are probably familiar with MLA or APA formatting and it’s hard to realize that those are American guidelines.

Ne vous inquiétez pas ! Don’t worry!

In France, all the information you need is in le guide de mise en page (the style guide) provided by le professeur .

Maintenant (now), the biggest problem I have is that with la canicule it’s too hot to drink du café !

Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.

About the Author: John Bauer

John Bauer is an enthusiast for all things language and travel. He currently lives in France where he's doing his Master's. John came to France four years ago knowing nothing about the language or the country, but through all the mistakes over the years, he's started figuring things out.

Welcome to the world of a French-loving, American couple

How to Write a Stellar Mémoire (French Master’s Thesis)

Pursuing graduate studies in France entails mastering all sorts of assignments, but perhaps none as daunting as the notorious mémoire , or master’s thesis. Writing and defending a master’s thesis is the cornerstone of many, though not all, French graduate degrees, making it a rite of passage for degree-seeking students in France. As part of my French master’s degree in Droit Public parcours Intégration Européenne et Gouvernance Globale , I was required to take on the infamous mémoire alongside my regular coursework during the final year of my studies.

Since I’m an international student at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne , I had to contend not only with the base-level difficulties of putting together a master’s thesis, but also with the reality of writing fully in my second language and following the unforgiving methodology and writing norms of French law school to a tee. Needless to say, my year-long research project entailed late nights spent reading, countless trips to the library, typing until my fingers were sore, and shedding a few more tears than I’d like to admit!

My master’s thesis experience wasn’t all bad, of course. I genuinely enjoyed learning everything I could about my topic, discussing my progress with my classmates, refining my French-language skills , and presenting a piece of work that reflected my academic rigor. To my delight, at the end of my defense, the jury awarded me an 18/20 for my mémoire , entitled Associer les inégalités sociales et le changement climatique : Une étude comparative des contextes et approches aux États-Unis et dans l’Union européenne . The jury highlighted the following assets of my work:

• Qualité de recherche (Research quality)
• Qualité rédactionnelle (Writing quality)
• Qualité de français (French-language quality)
• Problématique innovante (Innovative research question)
• Posture épistémologique intéressant (Interesting epistemological posture)
• Bon cadrage théorique (Good theoretical framework)
• Limitations justifiées (Justified limitations)
• Structure impeccable (Impeccable structure)

Managing to receive the highest honors on my mémoire as an American studying law in France was no easy feat. Throughout the lengthy process of crafting my master’s thesis and defense, I discovered what worked well for me and what held me back – that’s why, in this post, I’m sharing my expert tips to help you write an outstanding French master’s thesis.

Honor Your Interests

Completing a mémoire takes months of daily research, reading, and writing, so you can imagine how painful the whole operation can become if your topic doesn’t inspire you! For a certain amount of time, your master’s thesis content will likely be all you can think about as you attempt to find and consume every piece of relevant literature ever written about it. To avoid misery and increase your motivation, you need to reflect upon the subjects within your degree field that excite you, the themes you’d be delighted to learn more about, and the concepts you truly want to call yourself an expert in come the day of your defense.

• My research topic combined my enthusiasm for the themes of public policy and governance, social justice issues, environmental protection, the United States, and the European Union.

Favor Innovation

The goal of producing a master’s thesis is not to reiterate the conclusions that other researchers have already drawn, but to pull from existing knowledge in order to demonstrate something new. To elevate your mémoire and impress your jury, innovation is indispensable. Creating a research question that hasn’t already been exhaustively answered will also prevent you from simply regurgitating what you read and will allow you to write a master’s thesis that relies on the important work of those before you, but is, ultimately, entirely your own.

• In my case, the concept of linking social inequality and climate change is relatively new on the whole. Moreover, my comparison of the United States’ and the European Union’s approaches for dealing with this phenomenon is something that hadn’t been done before.

Survey Your Sources

Because a finished mémoire is the culmination of in-depth research and analysis, you’ll need to choose a topic that you can thoroughly explore. For example, if your desired subject is too cutting-edge, you may struggle to find sufficient existing material upon which to build your master’s thesis. If essential documents that you need to read are confidential, located far away, or otherwise inaccessible, you won’t be able to use them for your work. It is therefore essential to consider whether adequate sources are available before you set your heart on a specific theme.

• When finalizing my topic, I ensured that the sources I would need to study were either located online, at my university , or in libraries near me.

Create a Timeline

You know that you should start working on your master’s thesis at the beginning of the school year , and that you need to have it finished by the end, but what happens between those two events is much less clear! With the help of a trusted professor or independently, you should make a realistic schedule with self-imposed deadlines to help you conceptualize the amount of work that needs to be done by each date. Your timeline should include targets for things like finalizing your research question, gathering sources for your bibliography, writing the various sections of the manuscript, submitting your mémoire for review, and preparing for your defense.

• Using a holistic timeline helped me to know when I was on track, when I could take breaks, and when I needed to speed things along. It also enabled me to beat procrastination, as delaying tasks for too long would have thrown me completely off schedule.

Chat About Your Research

While a master’s thesis is definitely an individual project, you shouldn’t keep your thoughts and questions to yourself! Your professors, classmates, friends, and family are all valuable resources as you go through the mémoire process. Speaking with your professors (who have already successfully completed challenging research projects) and with your classmates (who are currently working on their own mémoires ) about things like methodological difficulties and research hardships can lead to helpful problem solving and sincere moral support. Moreover, explaining your research to friends and family (who are likely unfamiliar with your subject) will help you gauge how well you understand it yourself and how clearly you’re able to express your ideas.

• I personally checked in regularly with my classmates who always offered useful words of advice and encouragement. I also talked with my significant other, Jalen , frequently to get his feedback on my work.

Choose the Right Advisor

Selecting a directeur·rice de mémoire , or master’s thesis advisor, isn’t a decision to make lightly. To find the perfect fit, you need to be familiar with your potential advisors and know your own preferences very well. For example, asking a professor whose specialty has nothing to do with your research question is likely to be as uninteresting for them as it is unhelpful to you. Furthermore, if you’re a student who likes frequent and detailed feedback, choosing a professor with a tightly-packed schedule might not be the best idea. Take the time to weigh your options carefully before asking a professor to become your advisor.

• I made sure to pick an advisor who was familiar with the broad strokes of my topic and had a hands-off attitude so that I could work autonomously and at my own pace.

Write Meticulously

The quality of the content of your master’s thesis is crucial, but so is the quality of your writing. The most brilliant of ideas will still fall flat if your text is riddled with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Attempting to avoid all language blunders is especially vital when you’re writing in your second language – and even more so in a country like France where such mistakes are not looked upon kindly. If your manuscript is hard to understand, readers won’t be able to appreciate your analysis. Additionally, it’s tough for readers to take a piece of work seriously if they’re constantly distracted by careless errors. Try to compose every sentence with care in order to avoid these pitfalls.

• When writing my mémoire , I never hesitated to look up a word, phrase, or grammar rule when I was even the tiniest bit uncertain. I also double-checked for errors that I commonly make, like accidentally including a serial comma when I’m writing in French.

Perfect Your Formatting

You shouldn’t organize your master’s thesis like you would a novel, an essay, or a report. Depending on your field of study and your degree program’s requirements, you’ll likely have specific norms to apply and rules to follow for structuring your mémoire . Your acknowledgements, dedication, abstract, abbreviations, table of contents, references, and appendices can’t be placed just anywhere! You should also ensure that your work is pleasing to the eye, with an appropriate cover page, sensible headings, proper font sizes and line spacing, logical page breaks, and accurate citations. These details are what make the difference between a good master’s thesis and a great one.

• In French law school, for example, writing to a detailed, hierarchical outline, known as a plan , is often an absolute must. As such, the final version of my master’s thesis manuscript consists of an introduction, two chapters with three sections and eight sub-sections each, and a conclusion.

Prepare Your Defense

When you’re finally done writing your master’s thesis, it can be tempting to put it completely out of your mind. But once you conquer this first step, you still have one more challenge to tackle: your soutenance , or master’s thesis defense. To pass your defense, you need to do more than just prepare to present your research and findings to the jury. A quality presentation will also include explaining the reason you chose your topic, the sources you used, the problems you faced , the limitations of your work, any updates on your subject since you finished writing, and future research possibilities. Don’t forget to reread your mémoire with a critical eye to anticipate the jury’s critiques in advance. Going the extra mile to prepare your defense to the best of your ability is a recipe for triumph.

• I prepared for my defense one week in advance, and it consisted of a 20-minute presentation, a 25-minute question and answer session, and a 10-minute jury deliberation.

Take Your Work Seriously

It’s no secret that some degree programs are more rigorous than others, just as it’s true that some students take their studies more seriously than others. However, if you decide that writing a solid master’s thesis demonstrating your academic talents and integrity isn’t worth your time because you know that your program will accept work of lower calibre, you’ve effectively proven your degree to be a second-rate credential and yourself to be a substandard student. Would you rather throw together a mediocre mémoire that you’ll stuff away the moment it’s over, or compose a meaningful piece of work representing the best of your capacities that you’ll be excited to share with others for years to come? Taking your work seriously won’t steer you wrong, especially when it comes to an assignment as noteworthy as a master’s thesis.

• I know that my decision to do my absolute best played a large role in the jury’s attribution of my final grade, and I’m proud of myself for having done so.

Everyone’s master’s thesis journey is unique, but implementing these tips will put you on a path to success. Is writing a French mémoire in your future? Have you ever carried out a significant research project? Do you want to know more about my experience? Let me know in a comment!

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The Dissertation: Writing in French

Dissertation is a very specific way to write what we call a “paper.” In France, this style is used in academics and the professional world alike.

The Necessities

• Personal reaction: Be sincere, though not informal.
• Use examples to affirm your point. Using examples limits verbiage, generalities, and banalities.
• Be clear and coherent : A good paper should resemble a mathematical proof more than a lyrical flood of words. Be understandable and operate by the Law of Occam’s Razor (the simplest explanation tends to be the best one.)
• Outline : Getting your ideas on paper is harder than coming up with them in the first place. In order to convey your ideas effectively to the reader, outline!

The Schema of a Dissertation

In order to write a dissertation, you need a problem or problématique. Situate that problem within your topic or subject. Do not begin to write without these ideas in mind.

Introduction

• The introduction must rapidly situate and introduce the problem. Cite briefly.
• Give an idea of the movement of the paper, but do not announce each step of your work.
• Define key words.
• Attract the reader!  

The Body 

Separated into parts and paragraphs, where each part is a main point in the problem and each paragraph is one idea or one aspect of an idea.

• Thesis – often the predominant point of view (the most common analysis)
• Synthesis: Establish some nuanced truth in between the two arguments or overcome of the initial contradiction by bringing in additional information.
• “Problem-Cause-Solution” Plan: Introduce and define a problem, pinpoint its causes, and propose a solution.
• Separate your argument into parts (in this case, two: benefits and pleasures)
• Order your arguments within each part
• first element of comparison (one point of view on an issue, for example)
• second element of comparison (an opposing point of view)
• Meditation on the facts presented in the first two parts
• Explanation of the formula (definition, par ex.)
• Commentary on the formula, for example, expansion of a definition, comments on appropriateness

The Conclusion

A conclusion must be written in the spirit of synthesis and with logical rigor. Coming to the end of an argument, a conclusion must be concise and strong. If desired, it can situate the results or thesis a more general sense.

(Desalmand, Paul and Tort, Patrick. Du plan à la dissertation. Paris : 1977) 

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French Language and Literature: Dissertations and theses

French dissertations and theses.

There are a number of different resources available for finding French dissertations. 

• Atelier national de Reproduction des thèses Also known as tne National Center for the Reproduction of PhD theses
• SUDOC Le catalogue du Système Universitaire de Documentation
• Thèses en ligne (TEL): serveur de thèses multidisciplinaire Although multidisciplinary the majority of theses are in scientific disciplines.
• thèses.fr This research tool is maintained by ABES (Agence bibliographique de l'enseignement supérieur) and records titles of theses in preparation in French universities and higher education institutions

Belgian dissertations and theses

• Répertoire commun des thèses électroniques des universités de la Communauté Française de Belgique Portal to access French-language theses through relevant University repositories

General resources for dissertations and theses

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global The world's most comprehensive collection of full-text dissertations and theses. As the official digital dissertations archive for the Library of Congress and as the database of record for graduate research, PQDTGlobal includes millions of searchable citations to dissertations and theses from 1861 to the present day together with over a million full-text dissertations that are available for download in PDF format. Over 2.1 million titles are available for purchase as printed copies. The database offers full text for most of the dissertations added since 1997 and strong retrospective full-text coverage for older graduate works. It also includes content from PQDT UK & Ireland (aka Index to Theses).
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) an international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination and preservation of electronic analogues to the traditional paper-based theses and dissertations.
• DART-Europe E-theses Portal DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia who are working together to improve global access to European research theses.
• Top 100 Dissertation and theses references on the web
• << Previous: Databases
• Last Updated: Jan 23, 2024 3:50 PM
• URL: https://libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/frenchresources

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Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Theses and dissertations.

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If you are writing a graduate thesis ( mémoire  or thèse) don't forget to consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies' guide on   Dissertation and Thesis Preparation 

For further information about theses and dissertations, take a look at the Theses and Dissertations Guide. 

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• Center for Research Libraries (CRL) Foreign Dissertation Database Search 800,000 doctoral dissertations (including those of Albert Einstein, Dag Hammarskjold, and other Nobel laureates) from universities outside the U.S. and Canada. CRL acquired the majority of the collection through deposit from member libraries. CRL continues to acquire about 5,000 titles per year from major universities through demand purchase and deposit.
• Dart e-Portal DART-Europe is a partnership of research libraries and library consortia who are working together to improve global access to European research theses. DART-Europe is endorsed by LIBER (Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche), and it is the European Working Group of the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
• Catalogue SUDOC (Système Universitaire de Documentation) The French collective catalogue created by libraries and resource centres in higher education and research. To find dissertations and theses, click Advanced .... Material selection... Dissertations [or in French: Recherche avancée ... Type de publication ... Thèses].
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How to Say “Thesis Statement” in French

When it comes to academic writing, formulating a clear and concise thesis statement is crucial. Whether you’re working on an essay, research paper, or any other scholarly endeavor in French, it’s important to know how to express the concept of a thesis statement effectively. In this guide, we’ll explore both formal and informal ways of saying “thesis statement” in French, providing you with numerous tips and examples along the way.

Formal Ways to Say “Thesis Statement” in French

If you’re working on an academic paper or a formal French essay, you’ll want to use more precise and refined vocabulary to convey the concept of a thesis statement. Here are a few formal ways to express this idea:

• Énoncé de thèse : This is the most literal and direct translation of the term “thesis statement” into French. The word énoncé means “statement” and thèse corresponds to “thesis.” So, using “énoncé de thèse” accurately captures the essential meaning of a thesis statement.
• Exposé de la thèse : Another formal way to express a thesis statement is by using the term “exposé de la thèse.” Exposé means “exposition” or “presentation,” and la thèse conveys the notion of “the thesis.” This phrase emphasizes the act of presenting the thesis statement in an academic context.
• Proposition de thèse : A slightly different formal term for a thesis statement is “proposition de thèse.” This phrase suggests that the thesis statement is a proposed or suggested idea that will be explored or argued throughout the paper. It emphasizes the notion of a hypothesis or theory.

Informal Ways to Say “Thesis Statement” in French

If you’re engaging in a more casual discussion or writing context, you may want to use less formal language to convey the concept of a thesis statement. Here are a few informal ways to express it:

• Idée principale : In informal settings, it is common to refer to a thesis statement as the “idée principale,” meaning “main idea” or “central idea.” This phrase is less specialized but still conveys the essence of a thesis statement in a more relaxed manner.
• Message clé : Another informal term for a thesis statement is “message clé,” which can be translated as “key message” or “essential message.” While this phrase is not specific to the academic context, it is often used to describe a central argument or point of focus.
• Problématique : This term refers to the “problematic” or “issue” that your thesis statement aims to address. While it doesn’t directly translate to “thesis statement,” it is often used in informal discussions as a synonym or substitute for the concept. It can be effective to use “problématique” when you want to emphasize the problem or question you are tackling in your writing.

Examples of Using the Terms

To provide you with further clarity, let’s explore some examples of how to incorporate the above terms into sentences:

Dans cet article, l’ énoncé de thèse sera exploré en profondeur afin de démontrer la validité de cette affirmation. Je vais maintenant vous présenter mon exposé de la thèse afin que vous puissiez comprendre ma position. La proposition de thèse avancée dans ce mémoire se base sur une analyse approfondie des données empiriques. L’ idée principale de cet essai est de démontrer que l’éducation a un impact significatif sur le développement des individus. Mon message clé dans cette présentation est que le changement climatique nécessite une action immédiate et collective. Dans cette étude, la problématique abordée est celle de l’inégalité des genres dans les milieux professionnels.

By incorporating these terms into your French writing, you can effectively communicate the idea of a thesis statement in both formal and informal contexts.

A strong thesis statement is the foundation of any academic writing, and knowing how to express it accurately in French is essential. In formal settings, “énoncé de thèse,” “exposé de la thèse,” or “proposition de thèse” are appropriate terms to use. For more informal discussions, consider using “idée principale,” “message clé,” or even “problématique.”

Remember that the choice of term may depend on the specific context and your audience. So, always consider the appropriate level of formality required in your writing or conversation. By integrating these French expressions effectively, you’ll be able to convey your thesis statement with clarity and precision.

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How to Say "Thesis" in French

Welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to say "thesis" in French. Whether you're a student preparing your academic work or simply interested in expanding your vocabulary, this guide will equip you with the French equivalents of "thesis" in both formal and informal contexts. So, let's dive in and explore the various ways to express this concept in French!

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• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Represents the work of authors from over 1,000 North American and European universities on a full range of academic subjects. Includes abstracts for doctoral dissertations beginning July 1980 and for Master's theses beginning Spring 1988. All dissertations published since 1997, and some from prior years, are available for free download; others may be requested via Interlibrary Loan.
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Chapter 03: Thesis Statements

To write a good thesis statement, you must know what a good thesis statement is. Recent research tells us that the most effective way of learning to identify a good thesis statement is to practice discriminating between real thesis statements and non-thesis statements—and, even more importantly, between real thesis statements and near misses, which can look good at first glance but on further inspection fall short.

“Discrimination training” is essential because all composition is a process of writing and revising, and writing and revising again, until you are satisfied with the results. If you cannot readily tell the difference between a good thesis statement and even a close approximation, you will stop work too soon.

Discrimination training

These exercises develop your ability to discriminate a genuine thesis statement from a non-thesis, or a stronger thesis from a weaker one, in your own work —to know whether you have arrived at a good thesis statement or whether you need to keep working.

To help you discriminate, consider what distinguishes a Non-Thesis , a Near-Miss , and a genuine Thesis Statement .

• A Non-thesis is a statement of fact that no reasonable person could deny.

Example: The French Revolution was a major political phenomenon .

Explanation : People can argue over what caused the French Revolution, or over whether its outcomes made things better or worse, but it is undeniable that the Revolution constituted a major political phenomenon.

• A Near-miss is statement showing a relationship or correlation between two things, without explaining how and why the connection exists.

Example: The French Revolution led to a series of wars .

Explanation : Here, the writer claims that the revolution and war are connected but does not explain how and why one led to the other.

• A Thesis Statement makes a claim and also says why the claim is true. A thesis statement will often include the word “because.”

Example : The French Revolution led to a series of wars because its republican ideology threatened Europe’s monarchs, who wanted to restore the old regime.

It might help to think of thesis statements in terms of “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and ‘how.” Both a non-thesis and a near-miss will include who, what, when, and/or where, but they lack the all-important why or how. In general, a good thesis statement will answer the questions why or how.

*Non-thesis :

During the 17th century, Europe experienced both a mini ice-age and a large number of political eruptions.

This is a statement of fact. There is no claim that can be justified or disputed.

*Near miss :

During the 17th century, Europe experienced a mini ice age that was one of many reasons for the period’s large number of political eruptions.

This statement makes a claim (the mini ice age was related to political eruptions) but fails to explain why the claim is being made. Why was the mini ice age one of the reasons for the large number of political eruptions, and how did the extreme weather patterns shape political developments? 

*Thesis statement

Although many other factors were involved, a key reason Europe experienced a large number of political eruptions during the 17th century was a mini ice age that caused massive hardship and, with it, widespread discontent.

Here, there is a distinct claim about the relationship between the mini ice age and the large number of political eruptions, and there is also an explanation of whyand how the two are related—namely because the mini ice age caused unprecedented hardship, which manifested itself as political strife. A reader who disagreed with this thesis could try to show that hardship and political eruptions were unrelated.

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▾ dictionary english-french, statement noun ( plural: statements ) —, déclaration f ( plural: déclarations f ), relevé m ( plural: relevés m ), affirmation f ( plural: affirmations f ), communiqué m ( plural: communiqués m ), mission statement n —, method statement n —, opening statement n —, written statement n —, general statement n —, statement of defence n —, false statement n —, political statement n —, clear statement n —, media statement n —, introductory statement n —, brief statement n —, expense statement n —, detailed statement n —, interim statement n —, full statement n —, strategy statement n —, core statement n —, presidential statement n —, concise statement n —, statement made n —, original statement n —, basic statement n —, withdrawal statement n —, semi-annual statement n —, ▾ external sources (not reviewed).

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The French Revolutions: Causes and Impacts Essay

Introduction, origin and experience of the 1789 revolution, origin and experience of the 1848 revolution, similarities.

Bibliography

France has had many major revolutions that changed the country’s face, politically, socially and economically. By the 1700s, it had a full strength monarch system of government in which the king held absolute power also known as an absolute monarchy, most typified by Louis XIV. The nobles that were allowed to make legislations were corrupt and often enriched themselves leaving the poor or the so-called third estates to lavish in poverty 1 . This paper will attempt to compare and contrast the two revolutions, which occurred in 1789 and 1848, focusing on their causes as well as the impacts associated with their occurrences.

The 1789 revolution took place at a time when the French monarchy had absolute power, governing the whole country and implementing high tax due to massive debt caused by wars that King Louis XVI had participated in including the American war of independence. Its causes were mainly the hard social, economic and political cataclysm that they had and were worsening each day 2 . The country was heading into bankruptcy, making life much more difficult; people died daily and were buried in pauper graves, privileges were given to the nobles and the church. This led to a surge in protests involving mainly of the public and their sympathizers in various French cities like Paris, Lyon, Marseille, among others. The monarch’s symbol of power was the Bastille jail in Paris that had been in place for the past 400 years and its attack signified the beginning of a republican government. This saw execution of King Louis amid protest from other European countries that supported the rule of monarchy, and duped France into wars with other states like Britain, which had a constitutional monarchy, Spain and the Netherlands as well as Belgium.

The impacts of this ‘terror’ were worsened by the soaring prices with the devaluation of French currency due to unprecedented war that was in existence. This prompted price control in almost all foodstuffs as the Jacobins seized power in a reign of terror. The national assembly that was constituted mainly by the third estate constituted a committee of public safety, whose days were numbered with the escalating famine and shortages that faced the country. Besides, workable laws were still in the process of making as they fought to install a feasible constitution. Tax levied by the Catholic Church, which owned the largest land in the country added more injury to already soaring economic problems. The effects were realized but at a price since even though rights of citizens were instilled, ravaging famine, wars and terror consumed the population 3 . This revolution took new shift as power changed hands from monarchy, through to the Robespierre, Jacobins, in 1794 then to Directory through to 1799 when Napoleon took over under Consulate. Secularism became rampant; innovations, wars, and the restoration of monarchy are some of the results that surfaced 4 . For instance, After the King’s execution, Revolutionary tribunal and public safety committee were instituted; this saw a reign of terror, with ruling faction brutally killing potential enemies irrespective of their age, sex or condition. Paris alone recorded about 1400 deaths in the last six weeks to 27 July 1794, when it was replaced by Directory in 1975. This brought together 500 representatives, in a bicameral legislature consisting of two chambers, which lasted about 4 years to 1799 when it was replaced by Consulate.

This revolution took place in Europe at a time when reforms were the main activity. This ended the reinstated monarchy that had replaced the earlier revolution 5 . A second republic was instituted and later saw the election of Louis Napoleon as its president although he went on to establish an empire that lasted another 23 years. The Orleans monarch had been put in place following a protest that saw the July monarch, Charles abdicate his throne and flee to England in 1830. This new monarch stood among three opposing factions, the socialists, legitimists, and the republicans. With Louis Philippe at the helm of Orleans’s rule, mainly supported by the elites, favors were given to the privileged set; this led to disenfranchisement of the working classes as well as most of the middle class. Another problem that caused this revolution was the fact that only landowners were allowed to vote, separating the poor from the rich. The leader never cared for the needs of his subjects as some people were not permitted in the political arena. He also opposed the formation of a parliamentary system of government. Furthermore, the country was facing another economic crisis, and depression of the economy due to poor harvest 6 Poor transport system affected aid efforts during the depression and the crushing of those who rebelled.

It started with banquets as protests were outlawed, resulting in protests and barricades once Philippe outlawed banquets forcing him to abdicate and flee to England as well. Provisional government was formed, in what was called a second republic. Unemployment relief was incorporated in government policies and universal suffrage enacted, which added 9 million more voters. Workshops were organized which ensured the ‘right to work’ for every French citizen. Other impacts included reduced trading and luxury as the wealthy fled and this meant servicing credits was a problem. Conservatism increased in the new government with struggles emerging between the classes. Eventually, politics tilted to the right and this revolution failed once again, ushering in the second empire.

The two revolutions had very many similarities in their origins; the first was started out of social and political problems like, unemployment, which was widely prevalent. Similarly, the second was also aimed at establishing the right to work. In both cases, forced protests were used to ensure that revolutions took place and they all failed; the first, giving way to emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and the second ushering emperor napoleon III. In both cases, corruption was rampant as could be seen in the nobles of the first monarchy and the elite who were favored in the second monarch. Financial crisis and expected economic depression was significant in causing the two revolutions. The impacts were also similar in some ways as there were no stable governments during the two revolutions.

The first revolution was more radical as it caused terror and war as compared to the second, which was less violent; this is evident in the assault on Bastille. The causes of the first revolution were more founded on the basic rights of the people as compared to the second. The first revolution occurred when there was limited freedom to the public with their rights restricted to one vote by the third estate, while in the second revolution, there were provisional governments that had liberated some of the restrictions like the universal suffrage and characterized by struggles between classes. The first revolution was the initiation of the revolutions that followed and was characterized with heavy loss of lives during the reign of terror, while the second was characterized by more political and social systems that enforced changes.

The two revolutions failed to fulfill all their goals although they made several crucial changes such as universal suffrages, which added 9 million new voters. Many thoughts have considered the revolutions to make a huge impact on British Philosophical, intellectual and political life, having a major impact on the Western history. Some of the sympathizers of the revolution like Thomas Paine among other English radicals shared their sentiment at first, as they believed it was a sign of liberty, fraternity and Equality. However, when it turned into exterminations and terror, it gave second thoughts to the earlier supporters. In the end, after the second revolution’s failure, a second state was put in office, led by Napoleon III; he purged the republicans, thereby dissolving the National Assembly, and then established a second empire, restoring the old order. It is imperative to note that the revolutions made great significance in the developments of Europe as a whole.

• Betts F. R., 2000. Europe In Retrospect: A Brief History of the Past two hundred years. Britannia,LLC .
• Cody D.2007. French Revolution. The Victorian Web .Doyle W.1990
• The Oxford history of the French revolution . (3rd Ed.). Oxford: Oxford UniversityPress . ISBN 0192852213 . Web.
• Emmet K.1989. A Cultural History of the French Revolution. New Haven: Yale University Press . Print.
• Rappot M. 2009. 1848: Year of Revolution . Basic Books . Web.
• Smitha E. F., 2002. The French Revolution. Macrohistory and World Report. Web.
• Walker L.H. 2001. Sweet and Consoling Virtue: The Memoirs of Madame Roland. Eighteenth-Century Studies, French Revolutionary Culture .
• E. F. Smitha, 2002, The French Revolution. Macrohistory and World Report . P. 1-8.
• D. Cody 2007. French Revolution. The Victorian Web .
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• L.H. Walker 2001. Sweet and Consoling Virtue: The Memoirs of Madame Roland. Eighteenth-Century Studies, French Revolutionary Culture . Pg. 403-419.
• M. Rappot 2009. 1848: Year of Revolution. Basic Books .
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IvyPanda . (2021) 'The French Revolutions: Causes and Impacts'. 26 December.

IvyPanda . 2021. "The French Revolutions: Causes and Impacts." December 26, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-french-revolutions-causes-and-impacts/.

1. IvyPanda . "The French Revolutions: Causes and Impacts." December 26, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-french-revolutions-causes-and-impacts/.

IvyPanda . "The French Revolutions: Causes and Impacts." December 26, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-french-revolutions-causes-and-impacts/.

• The French and Russian Revolutions of 1789 and 1917
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• Napoleon Bonaparte and Its Revolutions
• “Invisible Cities” by Calvino
• "Renaissance and Reformation: The Intellectual Genesis" by Anthony Levi
• Economic Situation of the Later Roman Empire
• Intellectual, Scientific and Cultural Changes in Europe Towards the End of 19th Century
• The History of European Expansion From the 14th Century - During the Age of Discovery

Cannes Film Festival 2024: the 11 films set to cause a splash on the French Riviera from Furiosa to Bird

Cannes , the impossibly glamorous film festival on the French Riviera, opens today, bringing glitz and glamour – and a line-up of hugely anticipated films – from around the world.

The 77th edition of the festival promises dozens of illuminating and thought-provoking films, including sci-fi, thrillers, dark comedies, meditations on womanhood, explorations of marginalised lives, and various love stories.

Disappointingly, there are just four films directed by women competing for the Palme d’Or, against 18 by men, down from six last year. Those hoping to cause an upset in 2024 are Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance (starring Dennis Quaid, Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley), Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light, Andrea Arnold’s Bird and Agathe Riedinger’s Wild Diamond.

Still, women’s voices are expected to make noise: French actor and author Judith Godrèche, one of the most outspoken advocates for #MeToo in France (where the campaign didn’t make as much impact as it did elsewhere) will be sharing Moi Aussi (Me Too), a short film documenting hundreds of women’s stories of sexual abuse. It will be screened during the opening ceremony of Un Certain Regard.

Also sparking interest is Yolande Zauberman’s documentary The Belle from Gaza, which was written and filmed before the war and tells the story of a trans woman who chose to move from Gaza to Tel Aviv. There’s the extraordinarily well-timed The Apprentice, a biopic about Donald Trump, starring Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, and directed by Ali Abbasi – the director behind the phenomenal 2022 thriller Holy Spider.

This year’s jury of nine includes actors Lily Gladstone and Eva Green, director Nadine Labaki and script writer Ebru Ceylan. It is being led by Barbie director Greta Gerwig.

To celebrate the advent of the festival, here are 11 of this year’s most exciting films – one for each day of the competition.

In competition

Kinds of kindness.

Following hot on the heels of Oscar-winning Frankenstein comedy Poor Things, Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos is releasing another thought-provoking and challenging project – one that’s also starring Emma Stone , Margaret Qualley and Willem Dafoe . This time the film is a "triptych fable" set in the modern day, which promises, like all Lanthimos’s projects, to disturb and delight. The trailer alone, with shots of the starry cast cackling, licking, dancing, slapping and kissing to Eurythmics’s Sweet Dreams, sets the tone for the three chapters which are titled The Death of R.M.F, R.M.F. is Flying and R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich.

Paolo Sorrentino hit gold in 2013 with The Great Beauty, his opulent, cynical, Oscar-winning meditation on ambition and beauty. Ever since, fans of the Italian director have embraced his subsequent films, even if none have managed to hit those exalted heights. Perhaps Parthenope, a “feminine epic” set in Naples, following the life of a girl from 1950 till today, will mark that return to form.

All four of British director Andrea Arnold’s feature-length films have told stories of women; three specifically of young women. Now she once again applies her glorious, vivid filmmaking style to the story of 12-year-old Bailey (Nykiya Adams) who is squatting with her single dad Bug ( Barry Keoghan ) and brother Hunter (Jason Buda) in Kent. The one British representative in competition this year.

Megalopolis

It’s been 13 years since Francis Ford Coppola released a film, 27 since The Rainmaker, his last celebrated release and 50 since The Godfather Part II. It means all eyes are on Megalopolis, a five-decade-long passion project written and directed by the 85-year-old legendary filmmaker (who, reportedly, spent $120 million of his own money making it happen). Adam Driver is Cesar, an architect with the power to control time, who is rebuilding a destroyed metropolis. He stars alongside Aubrey Plaza , Dustin Hoffman , Talia Shire, Jon Voight and Jason Schwartzman.

The Shrouds

Cronenberg, the master of body horror, brings another spine-tingling thriller to Cannes, this time telling the story of widower Karsh (a silver-haired Vincent Cassel) whose technology allows the dead to be monitored by their loved ones. Things go from sinister to truly dark when several graves on his land – including that of his wife – are desecrated, and he sets out to find the perpetrators.

Emilia Pérez

Starring Selena Gomez and billed as a musical-crime-comedy about a Mexican cartel leader who undergoes sex reassignment surgery, Jacques Audiard’s latest certainly has a strong hook. The French director’s record precedes him; his stellar CV which includes The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005), A Prophet (2009), Rust and Bone (2012) and Dheepan (2015), have won numerous César Awards , the Palme d'Or and the Grand Prix at Cannes.

The acclaimed American Gigolo director, who also wrote Taxi Driver and co-wrote Raging Bull, presents Oh, Canada, an adaptation of a Russell Banks novel. Schrader’s first film in two years, it stars Richard Gere , Uma Thurman , Michael Imperioli and Jacob Elordi , and tells the story of a celebrated Canadian documentary filmmaker giving a confessional interview on camera to one of his students.

Out of Competition

Installation artist, director and screenwriter Guy Maddin, one of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers, and his frequent collaborators Galen and Evan Johnson, present a bit of light relief. Set during a G7 summit, world leaders get lost in a wood together while preparing a joint statement. Cate Blanchett , Alicia Vikander and Charles Dance star.

Furiosa, A Mad Max Saga

George Miller ’s fifth Mad Max instalment is a revenge tale. The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor Joy is Furiosa, a girl snatched from her verdant childhood home by some biker warlords, who then spends the following years in the desert wasteland both plotting her escape and planning retribution. Also starring Chris Hemsworth , this is a much-anticipated return to Miller’s world for the origin story of the character played by Charlize Theron in Fury Road: fans will be thrilled to see more of the same aesthetic – orange sand, steampunk vehicles, shouty bald people, eccentric make-up, and lots and lots of explosions. 

Le Deuxième Acte

Simply say the words Louis Garrel and Lea Seydoux and the crowds will come running. The fact that the director is Quentin Dupieux, the director of the strange Deerskin (2019) and the joyfully silly Incredible but True (2022), still perhaps best known for his massive contribution to electronic music as Mr. Oizo, is the icing on the cake. Le Deuxième Acte is a screwball-esque scene: a girlfriend, a boyfriend, a spanner-in-the-works friend, and a dad and all go for dinner.

Cannes Premiere

C’est pas moi.

Leos Carax’s films are a blast of ideas and emotions; nearly always a thesis on love, nearly always bonkers. His last film, rock opera Annette, won Carax Best Director at Cannes in 2021; his 2012 film, Holy Motors, was described as “a lunatic odyssey” and “pure pleasure”. It means that this 40-minute self-reflective film, in which Carax looks over his oeuvre and reflects on key moments in his stellar career, has piqued a lot of interest.

Cannes Film Festival , May 14-May 25; festival-cannes.com

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Ogden Honors College junior named 2024 Udall Scholar

May 10, 2024

The LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College is proud to announce that Peter Kelly has been named a 2024 Udall Scholar by the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The Baton Rouge native was one of 55 students selected from a pool of 406 candidates. Of the 55 students selected, Peter is the only scholar from Louisiana. An 18-member independent review committee selected this year’s group of Udall Scholars on the basis of commitment to careers in the environment, Tribal public policy, or Native health care; leadership potential; record of public service; and academic achievement.

Kelly, an Ogden Honors College student majoring in geography and philosophy, is a Louisiana Service and Leadership (LASAL) Scholar and Stamps Scholar.

Kelly hopes to pursue a career of societal and environmental service by developing sustainable trail infrastructure that stimulates environmental conservation, improves non-motorized transportation networks, enhances quality of life through outdoor recreation, and includes historically underserved communities. 

Kelly envisions himself leading a national effort that recognizes the value of a strong outdoor trail infrastructure. “Walking, biking, and hiking trails in urban and natural settings offer a wide array of benefits that address urgent social and environmental concerns. Trails provide alternative transportation pathways, which decrease traffic congestion and related greenhouse gas emissions while increasing pedestrian safety. They also provide valuable access to community services, employment opportunities, and exercise for those without vehicles. Outdoor recreation is a popular social and community activity, and it is associated with increased mental health. Trails simultaneously enhance conservation efforts by growing awareness of natural areas and increasing interest in environmental protection.”

LSU has given Kelly the opportunity to pursue this career and continue thinking and researching the importance of outdoorsmanship and sustainability. “In my undergraduate geography classes I frequently study sustainable development, which has encouraged me to consider the broad environmental and social implications of trail creation. I also study environmental thought in my philosophy classes, including deep ecology, environmental justice, and indigenous philosophy theories,” Kelly states.

Kelly is responsible for growing an outdoor community at LSU by organizing trips to places like Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest and the Buffalo River in Arkansas. He makes this possible by fundraising and cultivating a sense of appreciation for nature within his fellow students.

As a student researcher, Kelly has been working under Dr. Michael Pasquier to address Louisiana’s continual loss of wetlands due to industrial exploitation and climate change. Kelly is confident that his analysis and critique of environmental policies will help conserve Louisiana’s natural wetlands.

When asked about his future as a Udall Scholar, Kelly responded, “I applied for the Udall Scholarship to showcase the work I’ve done promoting sustainable outdoor recreation and environmental policy in Louisiana. I owe a lot to the LSU Honors College, especially the LASAL curriculum, for having received this award. I look forward to meeting other students from around the country who are passionate about serving the environment and learning from their examples. I also hope to use this recognition to more effectively advocate for the environment, both in Louisiana and elsewhere.”

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SDSU international student secures coveted spot in Stanford’s Art History doctoral program

Kehinde 'Kennii' Ekundayo faced tumultuous path to fund her education, but her resiliency paid off

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Kehinde “Kennii” Ekundayo laughs with ease these days, a levity that belies having to work multiple jobs, sell her blood to pay for college in her native Nigeria, or sometimes not be able to afford groceries during her graduate studies at San Diego State University.

Her high spirits stem from an email this spring from Stanford University, accepting Ekundayo into its Art History Ph.D. program.

Ranking among the top in the country, Stanford’s program is extremely selective. It typically admits fewer than eight candidates per year, according to its website.

“Certainly, I could say people who have a degree from an Ivy League institution regularly do not get admitted because it is so competitive,” said Gillian Sneed , assistant professor of Art History and area coordinator for Art History and Foundations. “We are very proud of Kennii for her achievement.”

Stanford is providing Ekundayo with a fellowship that pays her tuition and living expenses for five years. For her research, she also received a supplemental award through the university’s Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) Fellowship.

 This is uncharted territory for Ekundayo, who will graduate this month from SDSU’s interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences (MALAS) program.

“Since starting my undergrad at 16, when I left home, I’ve had to fund myself,” she said. “And now at Stanford, I get this amazing opportunity to focus on my education and my research without having to focus on where my tuition is going to come from.”

Her SDSU community of faculty mentors, classmates and friends expects big things.

“Look out world,” said SDSU English and Comparative Literature Professor William Nericcio , who heads the MALAS program. “Her support package is extraordinary. For this brilliant woman who has been scrabbling together monies to cover living expenses, it could not have happened to a better person.”

Hustling for Art

Raised by a single mom, Ekundayo paid her way through college in Nigeria working as a courier, cosmetics salesperson, and other odd jobs.

She began freelancing for a local artist friend, helping curate events. Prior to that, she had rarely visited a gallery or museum. Her major was French. 

During an exhibit at a hotel, Ekundayo recognized a Nigerian state governor and his entourage in the lobby.

“I ran after him, and the security was like, ‘Go away girl,’” she recalled. “I said I am trying to invite you to a show that just opened. I made a spectacle and he said, ‘OK, I am going out now, but I will stop by when I return.’”

The official kept his word. “He bought so many works that day. We had never sold anything like that before,” she said.

That got Ekundayo on the artist’s payroll and hooked her on the vibrant creative scene in Lagos where she began meeting people and learning all she could about contemporary African art and curating shows.

Coming to San Diego

Looking for freedom to pursue her ideas, Ekundayo quit her job. She had built relationships with prominent gallery operators and Nigerian artisans. As a newcomer to the art scene, she occasionally felt the sting of elitism. But she persisted.

“The thing about me is I say yes to everything,” she said. “And even if, at the end of the day, I say I do not want to do this again, at least I did something.”

At a film festival in Lagos, Ekundayo met SDSU Professor Niyi Coker , director of the School of Theater, Television, and Film. The encounter led to a plan for a retrospective at SDSU of works from iconic African artist Bruce Onobrakpeya , accompanied by Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka . 

She had previously worked with both men, and CNN’s African Voices Changemakers featured her retrospective of Onobrakpeya’s career.  

Ekundayo curated the show and spent her life savings shipping art to the U.S. The exhibit opened in February 2022 in the SDSU University Art Gallery.  

“For 20 years, I took students to London for a study abroad program, and this show was of a quality that I was accustomed to in London, where the museums are amazing,” said Nericcio.

Sneed also was impressed. “I felt like this older generation, Bruce and Wole, had identified Kennii as being this bright star for their country.”

After the show, Ekundayo flew back to Nigeria. But she wanted to further her education. She had applied to a prestigious art college in the United Kingdom but could not afford to go.

Nericcio lobbied her to apply to SDSU. “I asked for funding,” said Ekundayo. “He said sorry, there is no funding. I was like, well, this is a dead end.”

She recalls Nericcio saying, just start with the application and everything will work out.

Next Chapter

Ekundayo enrolled in August 2022. She is a paid research assistant for Nericcio, works as managing editor of SDSU University Press, grades papers for professors, is a teaching assistant, and makes time to participate in campus activities.

“She is very active, knows everybody, gets out there and goes to all these events, just works her butt off,” said Sneed.

Ekundayo received a scholarship to travel to Brazil last summer for research on her master’s thesis, a comparative analysis of how Brazilian and Nigerian artists are shining light on climate change and flooding.

“She did a tremendous job of expanding her network on that trip in a short amount of time,” said Kristal Bivona, an SDSU assistant professor of classics and humanities and associate director of the Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies. “It is impressive how she can contact people she has never met before, make plans and just get in there.”

Ekundayo is still wrapping her head around her academic journey to Stanford, where she plans to research recent refugee artists in the U.S. She is grateful to all her mentors and supporters, especially Nericcio, who is the reason she came to SDSU.

“When people are kind to you, you are able to perform at your peak,” she said. 

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