How to Write a Critical Essay About Documentary Supersize Me? 6 Key Tips With Examples

Writing a critical essay on documentaries demands reading, analysing, and critiquing the content to present your particular context engagingly. Among such pieces of art, writing a critical essay about the documentary Supersize Me (2004) provides the best opportunity to evaluate the effects of fast food on human health.

According to The New York Times, Super Size Me is a masterpiece documentary film directed by Morgan Spurlock that grossed over $22 Million. Also, Spurlock’s documentary was nominated for an Academy Award, which helped him handle the backlash from the fast food industry.

If you're wondering how to write a strong essay on Super Size Me, this guide will walk you through six essential tips, complete with examples, to help you write an engaging and insightful analysis.

6 Effective Tips to Write a Critical  Essay About Documentary Super Size Me

Writing a critical essay on a documentary can be challenging, as it requires keen attention to detail and strong analytical skills. However, you can simplify the process and write a compelling analysis with the right approach. For expert assistance, avail yourself of the best essay writing service. Professional writers at these platforms provide valuable insights, help you refine your analysis, and ensure your essay is well-structured and persuasive.

The following are the six valuable tips to help you write a critical essay about the documentary Supersize Me.

1. Understand the Documentary’s Purpose and Thesis

You should comprehend the main idea or thesis of the documentary before going deep into writing, as it is very essential to write an essay. An essay like Supersize Me shows the negative impact of fast food on public health, including the part played by big businesses like McDonald's in encouraging bad eating habits.

The following are some points that you should consider here.

●     Look for the purpose: As this documentary focuses on obesity rising all over the world, you should keep this in mind to criticise the role of fast food industries,

●     Think about the director's approach: You should consider the director's method of using himself as an object in his experiment. Spurlock continuously ate only fast food from McDonald's for 30 days to point out its risks to health.

●     Identify the message: Spurlock wanted to showcase that it is your personal responsibility to keep a check and balance on your health but also criticises their marketing strategies.

For example:

You can begin your critical essay with a summary of the thesis of Super Size Me, whose sole focus is on the goal of the documentary, or you can pick one perspective to build your thesis for the essay.

2. Focus on the Documentary’s Structure

A thoughtful essay should discuss the decision of the writer rather than merely providing a summary of the documentary. You must note the documentary's format and how it shapes your understanding of the topic.

Your essay should discuss how the documentary's thesis is shaped by its structure, such as the expert interviews, the experiment itself, and the graphics. You should also determine how beneficial these strategies are to convey the message.

The following are some points that you should consider here:

●     The experiment: The documentary's backbone is Spurlock's adventure daily. The experiment, divided between daily journals and interviews, shows how his health gradually decreased.

●     Interviews with experts: He gets opinions from experts like psychologists, dietitians, and physicians to present a comprehensive analysis of the effects of fast food.

●     Visual techniques: You should look at the images or graphics that Spurlock uses to support its points. The emotional effects are increased by the use of dramatic music and humour.

For example:

The documentary illustrates the psychological and physical impacts of a fast-food diet using Spurlock's own experiment, expert interviews, and visuals.

3. Evaluate the Filmmaker's Objectivity

It is difficult for you to understand the objectivity of Spurlock when presenting his findings, even if you are a critical thinker. Does the documentary show a fair analysis of the problems with fast food, or is it biased? In your essay, you should critically evaluate the director's professionalism. You may also identify any scenes in which Spurlock appears to have a biased viewpoint and then think about how this affects the overall theme of the documentary.

IMDb presents some points of his objectivity that you must consider while designing your essay about the documentary Supersize Me. The following are some points that you should consider here:

●     Personal bias: Spurlock does not include any personal favours in his experiment. He builds queries about his objectivity as he actively includes himself in the experiment to make his objective.

●     Selection of experts: Does the movie just include professionals who agree with Spurlock, or does it also provide opposing viewpoints?

●     Film techniques: You should also observe the questions regarding this experiment, such as Does Spurlock allow the facts to speak for themselves, or does he try to influence viewers with comedy or emotional appeals?

4. Analyse the Ethical Implications of the Experiment

The experiment on Spurlock is outstanding, but it may raise many ethical concerns. For instance, it can create questions like, Did he have the right to actively damage his health to make a point? For the sake of entertainment and education, should filmmakers take such chances? You should talk about the moral issues of the experiment in your critical essay so that it can leave a good impression and save you from failure.

The following are some points that you should consider here:

●     Health consequences: Throughout the experiment, Spurlock suffers from many experiences, such as emotional changes, weight gain, and liver damage. Did he violate moral standards in trying to make his point?

●     Audience impact: You should observe the effects of the movie on the audience about the consumption of fast food. Is it informational or manipulated?

●     Filmmaker’s responsibility: in this section, you can see that the director should take extraordinary precautions before attempting a risky experiment.

For example:

Whether it was necessary to put his life at risk just for the sake of a documentary or to make a point to make people understand.

5. Assess the Impact of Documentary on Society

You should talk about the broader effects of the documentary in a thoughtful essay. A critical essay about the documentary Super Size Me helps you to generate questions about public health, the fast food business, and obesity.

However, did the documentary bring about long-lasting change? You can also add the movie's impact on the fast food business and public perspective in your essay. You must consider whether the movie fulfilled its inspiring and instructing action objective.

The following are some points that you should consider here:

●     Cultural impact: In what ways did Super Size Me shape discussions around obesity and fast food? Has it motivated individuals to modify their diets?

●     Corporate response: After the movie, McDonald's and other fast-food restaurants changed their menus to eliminate super-sized servings.

●     Public reaction: You should also observe the public reaction by writing these types of questions, was the movie a temporary trend or a change in public opinion on fast food?

6. Provide Your Own Critical Perspective

Lastly, a thoughtful essay can also include your personal opinions about the documentary. You can discuss how well a movie conveyed its message after evaluating it. Do you agree with the findings of Spurlock? What adjustments or enhancements would you recommend? You have to write both the positive and negative aspects of the documentary in your conclusion. You should provide your ideas to improve the movie in the future.

The following are some points that you should consider here:

●     Your view: Share your opinion on whether Spurlock's experiment was too drastic or a good approach to generate awareness.

●     Find out what is missing: You should look for the limitation points or what was the point that the film could not cover.

●     Add recommendations for growth: Present your arguments to highlight how this movie could become more balanced and what your suggestions are for its improvement.

For example:

Although the documentary successfully increased awareness, providing a fairer view of the fast food sector would be a better option.

What Was the Documentary Super Size Me About?

According to NIH, Morgan Spurlock is the director and the lead role in the documentary Super Size Me (2004). In this film, he performed a 30-day experiment in which he continuously ate fast food from McDonald's to evaluate its harmful effects on his health. It was not only a single food in a day. Instead, he used to eat every meal 3 times a day from only McDonald's.

His only goal was to examine his mental, emotional, and physical changes over the month. Especially in regard to obesity, heart disease, and other health problems, the documentary emphasises the risks of fast food intake. Using his extreme experiment, Spurlock seeks to increase public knowledge of the effects of fast food culture on public health and industry marketing tactics.

Final Thoughts

Writing a critical essay about the documentary Supersize Me ​not only demands presenting the film concisely, but it is more than that. It begins by understanding the concept of the film and its implications and then providing your analysis and impact. To assist you in writing a compelling Supersize Me documentary essay, here are a few tips, key points to consider and examples.

By reading this article, you will be able to write an engaging essay on such a well-performing documentary. However, if you still need support to make your essay error-free and impactful, consult professional essay writing firms in the UK. Their team of experts assists students in effectively working on their projects and earning distinct grades. So, use both these methods to overcome your weaknesses and start your journey towards writing a successful essay on Supersize Me.

Author Bio

Ellen Watson is a skilled essay writer and dedicated researcher specializing in documentary film analysis. With five years of experience in film studies, she provides in-depth evaluations of a film’s impact, themes, and storytelling techniques. Her expertise helps students develop strong critical analysis skills, craft compelling essays, and build persuasive arguments.