Inferring Theme

• Use explicit and implicit details to infer a story's deeper meaning.

• Identify the themes of a story based on evidence.

• Determine universal themes that multiple stories share.

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​ - Inference and Theme

​Inferences (educated guesses)

• ​found using explicit and implicit details

​Implicit vs. Explicit Details

• Explicit - Exactly said

​

• ​Implicit - Implied or guessed

Match

Read the sentences below and label each detail as explicit or implicit.

Mark wore his bright red baseball cap like a crown. He wouldn't even let his brother touch it — not that his brother wanted to get his fingers that dirty.

• Mark's hat is bright red.

• Mark is proud of his hat.

• Mark does not let his brother touch the hat.

• Mark does not keep the hat clean.

Explicit

Implicit

explicit

implicit

• Explicit

• Implicit

• explicit

• implicit

Multiple Choice

Every day after work, Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. What can you infer about the job Paul might have?

• A doctor

• A teacher

• A construction worker

• A basketball coach

Multiple Choice

What logical inference can be made from this sentence: Illegible handwriting does not indicate weakness of character, as even a quick glance at the penmanship of George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, or John Kennedy reveals.

• The author believe Washington, Roosevelt and Kennedy were weak leaders

• Handwriting is an important part of a person

• All presidents have poor handwriting

• Washington, Roosevelt, and Kennedy all had handwriting that was difficult to read.

Multiple Choice

Turner almost wished that he hadn’t listened to the radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella. He would feel silly carrying it to the bus stop on such a sunny morning.

• Turner was afraid of falling radio parts

• Turner heard a weather forecast that predicted rain

• Turner was going to trade his umbrella for a bus ticket

• Turner promised himself he would do something silly that morning

Match

​Read the passage. Then note whether each inference is supported by evidence in the passage.

• The golden chest is safe, and the party easily gets the treasure inside.

• The golden chest is trapped or cursed, and Gragnof is in great danger.

• Gragnof, the most experienced adventurer, will save the whole party.

YES

YES

NO

• YES

• YES

• NO

Match

Which statements are themes and which are topics?

• People often have a hard time escaping the past.

• A college student returns home for her sister's graduation.

• Bruce builds a robot that ends up stealing all his money.

• The elderly can teach us a lot about life.

Theme

Topic

topic

theme

• Theme

• Topic

• topic

• theme

Think about the Three Little Pigs

A: Hard work pays off

B: Shortcuts can cost you

Multiple per Story!

A theme is the message an author wants a reader to understand through inference. Themes are very general and don't mention specific characters or events from the story.

Themes

Finding the Theme!

Match

​Read the passage. Then note which detail supports which theme.

Theme A: Even the strong are vulnerable in certain circumstances.

Theme B: Hardship brings people together.

• The soldiers contract a disease.

• The soldiers have nothing in common with anyone except each other.

• The soldiers wake up in a society that is unfamiliar to them.

A

B

b

• A

• B

• b

Multiple Choice

Which universal theme is shared by these stories?

• Parents who love their children give them opportunities.

• Some people resist the expectations others have for them.

• Many children have unseen skills and talents.