Identifying the Theme in a Reading Passage

Theme/Main Idea - 9th

Topic

• All texts have a topic and can have more than one.

• The topic is thing or idea that a text is about

• Topics are usually pretty clear and are one or two word answers

• Identifying the topic is the first step in reading a text

  
  

• Text features like the title, graphics, headings, and sub headings will help you to quickly identify a topic

  
  

Main Idea

• The main idea is what the author says about the topic

• A main idea is explained in a sentence

• The main idea can be DIRECTLY stated or you may need to make INFERENCES to decide what it is

• The main idea is text dependent -- it only applies to the text you are working with

Multiple Choice

Main Idea is _____________________.

• the beginning, middle, and end of a story.

• what the text is mainly about (topic).

Multiple Choice

IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA

Sometime in December of 1891, Dr. James Naismith was teaching gym at the YMCA College in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was raining, and Dr. Naismith was trying to keep his students active. He wanted them playing a rough game that would keep them moving. He didn't like a few ideas that were too rough. Then Naismith had his breakthrough. He wrote out the rules for a game with peach baskets fixed to ten-foot elevated tracks. Naismith's students played against one another, passing the ball around and shooting it into the peach baskets. Dribbling wasn't a part of the original game. Also it took a while to realize that the game would run more smoothly if the bottoms of the baskets were removed. But this game grew to be one of the most popular sports in America today. Can you guess which one?

• The most popular sport in America

• Dr. James Naismith's career in teaching

• The invention of Basketball

• How to get students active

Theme

• The theme is the overall message the author is sending about the topic

• A theme is explained in a sentence

• The theme in NOT directly stated. You will need to make INFERENCES based on what the characters do and say

• Themes are usually universal -- you will see similar themes in texts

• There can be more than one theme in a text

Multiple Choice

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?

• You should cheat to win.
• Always work hard.
• It pays to be honest.
• Teamwork is best.

Multiple Choice

When determining the theme, do consider the following:

• The topic about life the story touches on.

• The lesson readers or characters learn.

• The idea or message an author might be sharing.

• All of the above.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of THEME?

• Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.
• Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.
• How much wood a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
• Life is short; make the most of it.