Thematic Statements

In a piece of narrative text, what is the theme?

• What the story is about
• The topic of the text
• A message the author is trying  to get across to the reader; universal truth
• Where and when the story happens

Two young children went up a hill to get some water and they had an accident.

• Theme
• Main Idea

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

A young boy planted some magic beans which lead him on an incredible journey.

• Theme
• Main Idea

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

Money doesn't create happiness.

• Theme
• Main Idea

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

Hard work will always pay off in the end.

• Theme
• Main Idea

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

Kim had gone through her closet with her mom over the weekend.  She remembered a new girl at school who always seemed to wear the same pants over and over.  Kim wondered what she could do with the clothes.  She handed the new girl a bag as she passed her in the hallway.

• sacrifice is difficult sometimes
• it's better to give than to receive
• friendship is the most important thing in life
• it's important to be honest

Read the passage: What is the theme?

I need detention. I really need detention. See, there's this girl... I know, I know, it always starts with a girl ... But this girl is special... I mean it this time... Really special. Her name is Harmony... But she goes by Harm. Cute huh? She can harm me any time she wants. And she has, too. A couple of times. But I deserved it…

Cause I touched her once. I didn't touch her anywhere bad. Just on the shoulder. And she broke my finger. So I guess we kind of have held hands. I was just gonna ask to borrow a pencil. One of those ones she sharpens with her pocket knife and then throws in the ceiling all over school. She even got one in the gym ceiling. You know how high that is? Like 5000 feet. And I just stand under those pencils, hoping one will fall down and I can have one of them for my very own. Something to remember her by.

Until I get in to detention. I gotta figure out some way to get detention because I wanna see her more... Be with her more... And turn Harm into Harmony again... Cause I see that beautiful harmony under all that black and gloom. She just needs a reason to smile, and I want to be that reason. So I have to get detention. What's something good... I mean I want it to be really really good so I get thrown in there a long time... Plus I have to make it worth it... Something great that she can respect... How about giving the principal a wedgie? That would do it... A good old up the back over the head mega wedgie. Let's do this.

• Harmony is mean and violent

• Love makes you do stupid things

• Getting detention makes you cool

• Don't touch people or else they will break your finger

The author’s purpose in writing this selection is to:

I need detention. I really need detention. See, there's this girl... I know, I know, it always starts with a girl ... But this girl is special... I mean it this time... Really special. Her name is Harmony... But she goes by Harm. Cute huh? She can harm me any time she wants. And she has, too. A couple of times. But I deserved it…

Cause I touched her once. I didn't touch her anywhere bad. Just on the shoulder. And she broke my finger. So I guess we kind of have held hands. I was just gonna ask to borrow a pencil. One of those ones she sharpens with her pocket knife and then throws in the ceiling all over school. She even got one in the gym ceiling. You know how high that is? Like 5000 feet. And I just stand under those pencils, hoping one will fall down and I can have one of them for my very own. Something to remember her by.

Until I get in to detention. I gotta figure out some way to get detention because I wanna see her more... Be with her more... And turn Harm into Harmony again... Cause I see that beautiful harmony under all that black and gloom. She just needs a reason to smile, and I want to be that reason. So I have to get detention. What's something good... I mean I want it to be really really good so I get thrown in there a long time... Plus I have to make it worth it... Something great that she can respect... How about giving the principal a wedgie? That would do it... A good old up the back over the head mega wedgie. Let's do this.

• Emphasize that Jimmy really loves Harmony

• Describe how cool you can be when you get detention

• Portray that desperation can make you do foolish things

• All of the above

Read the passage: What is the theme?

I don’t know if I will have the time to write anymore letters

because I might be too busy trying to participate.

So if this does end up being the last letter,

I just want you to know that I was in a bad place before I started high school

and you helped me.

Even if you didn’t know what I was talking about

or know someone who’s gone through it.

You made me not feel alone.

Because I know there are people who say all these things don’t happen.

And there are people who forget what it’s like to be sixteen when they turn seventeen.

And know these will all be stories someday

and our pictures will become old photographs

and we’ll all become somebody’s mom or dad.

But right now these moments are not stories.

This is happening.

I am here and I am looking at her

and she is so beautiful.

I can see it.

This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story,

you are alive.

And you stand up and see the lights on buildings

and everything that makes you wonder,

when you were listening to that song

on that drive with the people you love most in this world.

And in this moment, I swear, we are infinite.

• Life should be lived to the fullest

• Being 16 has a lot of challenges

• Writing letters can help you get out of a bad place

• None of the above

The author’s purpose in writing this selection is to:

I don’t know if I will have the time to write anymore letters

because I might be too busy trying to participate.

So if this does end up being the last letter,

I just want you to know that I was in a bad place before I started high school

and you helped me.

Even if you didn’t know what I was talking about

or know someone who’s gone through it.

You made me not feel alone.

Because I know there are people who say all these things don’t happen.

And there are people who forget what it’s like to be sixteen when they turn seventeen.

And know these will all be stories someday

and our pictures will become old photographs

and we’ll all become somebody’s mom or dad.

But right now these moments are not stories.

This is happening.

I am here and I am looking at her

and she is so beautiful.

I can see it.

This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story,

you are alive.

And you stand up and see the lights on buildings

and everything that makes you wonder,

when you were listening to that song

on that drive with the people you love most in this world.

And in this moment, I swear, we are infinite.

• Emphasize that life should be lived, not viewed

• Describe how Charlie has problems

• Portray that being 16 is hard

• All of the above