Theme Practice

True/False: A story can have MORE THAN ONE theme. In other words, there is NOT one right theme answer.

• True

• False

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which of the following is NOT a FULL THEME STATEMENT (lesson/message)?

• Acceptance

• People have to work hard to get what you want in life.

• Greediness can cause problems with relationships.

• Some tasks are better completed using teamwork.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Theme + _________ = theme development

• characterization

• literary element

• topics

• literary setting

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

A theme is never _______

• good

• one topic

• one word

• a universal message

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What would be a possible literary element in The Odyssey to use within a theme development statement?

• characterization

• theme

• figurative langauge

• conflict

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the story and decide the theme:

Katie invited Missy to her house to work on their biology project, but Katie had no idea what a visit from Missy entailed. First of all, it was raining and Missy neither bothered to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. Then, Missy ate a bag of Cheetos on Katie's white bedspread without asking. Missy is a sloppy eater, so Cheeto powder got all over the bedspread. Katie tried to be polite and ignore Missy’s sloppy behavior, but then Missy took all the books off the Katie's shelf to look at without permission, after Katie had spent weeks alphabetizing them. Angry at the messes Missy had created, Katie pretended that she was sick and asked Missy to leave. The next day Katie asked the teacher if she could work by herself. After explaining her situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone. Missy had to finish the assignment by herself, despite having spilled grape soda all over her project papers, making them impossible to write on.

• You should not eat in someone's house without permission.

• Being messy has many negative consequences.

• It is better to work on projects alone, than with a partner.

• If you are angry at someone, you should tell them.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the story and determine the theme:

It was Sean's first day at a new high school. Most of the students had been nice to him, until he got into gym class. The coach had assigned two captains, Mike and Malik, and they were picking teams from the boys in Sean's class. As Mike and Malik made their picks, it became pretty clear to Sean who was popular and who was not. Since Sean was short for his age, Mike and Malik just assumed that Sean could not play basketball. As Mike and Malik's choices dwindled, Sean still remained amongst an ever-slimming pool of struggling athletes. Now there were only two students left: Sean and another kid who seemed nice but was reading a book. Mike and Malik joked about who was going to get stuck with whom, and then Mike made his last pick. It was not Sean. Sean sighed and reluctantly joined Malik's team. As soon as the game began, Mike became aware of the error that he had made. Sean quickly stole the ball from him and ran it back for a layup. "The new kid got lucky," Mike remarked, but it soon became clear that Sean had more going for him than luck. What Sean lacked in height, he made up for in speed, and he continued to dominate the action on the court for the remainder of the game. With Sean's blazing speed and crazy crossovers, Malik's team devastated Mike's, and that was the only time that Sean would be last pick at that high school.

• Do not judge someone's abilities based on how they look.

• Short people are faster than tall people.

• Always choose your PE basketball teams based on skill, not height.

• Ask new students to be on your team first, before choosing kids you already know.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the claim and the supporting evidence.Claim: Spaying and neutering is the appropriate thing for pet owners to do.Evidence: Spayed and neutered pets don't produce offspring that may end up in shelters or become strays.Why does the evidence support the claim? Choose the analysis that better explains the connection.

• Pet  owners have a responsibility not to burden shelters or the community at large.
• On average, spayed and neutered pets live longer, healthier lives.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Read the claim and the supporting evidence.Claim: Tori is an exceptionally organized person.Evidence: Last month, Tori flawlessly prepared and served a meal for thirty guests.Why does the evidence support the claim? Choose the analysis that better explains the connection.

• Tori also takes cooking courses at the community college
• Only an organized person can successfully manage such a project

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Read the claim and the supporting evidence.Claim: Jonah should not be allowed to babysit his younger sister.Evidence: Jonah easily loses patience with her.Why does the evidence support the claim? Choose the analysis that better explains the connection.

• Jonah is only twelve and has virtually no experience with babysitting
• Patience is a crucial characteristic in someone providing childcare

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1