Theme

The message or lesson that the author wants you to learn from the story is called the

• central idea

• summary

• theme

• plot

One way you can determine the theme of a story is-

• find the definition of theme

• read the character dialogue

• figure out the narrator of the story

• compare and contrast

Another way you could determine the theme is to...

• Skim through the story and write a summary

• Just read the beginning of the story

• Think about how the character reacted to a situation

• Read the ending of the story only

Another way to determine theme is...

• how the setting is described

• how the characters are described

• how the central idea is described

• how the topic is described

Why can't "trust" be a theme?

• There's nothing to learn about it.

• Trust is a central idea.

• It's only one word, which is a topic.

If the topic is love, which of the following would be an acceptable theme statement?

• Friendship lasts forever.
• Unconditional love withstands any obstacles.
• Money is the root of all evil.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.4.2

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.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5B

CCSS.L.5.5B

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.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

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

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

There was a ragged old woman following behind me as I walked down each aisle.  She had a strange look on her face, as her missing teeth distorted her smile.  I rushed to try to avoid her, as I was a little nervous about what she might do.  Come to find out, I dropped some money and she was trying to return it to me.

• Old people are always mean
• don't judge a book by its cover
• you should be aware of others
• it takes courage to stand up to bullies

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.4.2