Identifying Themes in Fiction

What does 'theme' in a story refer to?

• The plot of the story

• The moral or lesson to be learned

• The main characters in the story

• The setting of the story

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What does it mean to 'infer' the theme of a story?

• To ask the author directly

• To guess without any evidence

• To deduce from clues within the story

• To see it explicitly stated in the text

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

In the story example given, what is a deeper theme beyond 'don't steal'?

• Hard work is the key to achieving desires

• Baseball is a valuable sport

• Stealing can lead to unexpected consequences

• Always listen to your parents

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Why are themes considered 'bigger than the story'?

• Because they only concern the main character

• Because they apply to real-world situations

• Because they are explicitly stated

• Because they are always about adventures

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the first step in finding a theme according to the video?

• Choosing your favorite part of the story

• Looking at the topic sentence of your plot paragraph

• Identifying the main character

• Writing a summary of the plot

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How many quotes should Honors students find to support their theme?

• 5 or more

• At least 1

• 2 to 3

• Exactly 4

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the 'name it for a bit big picture strategy'?

• A method to summarize the plot

• A technique to identify the theme

• A strategy to write the conclusion

• A way to introduce characters

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What does 'ICE' stand for in writing about themes?

• Identify, Compare, Evaluate

• Introduce, Cite, Explain

• Infer, Conclude, Elaborate

• Imagine, Create, Express

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Why is it important to cite quotes when discussing themes?

• To focus on minor details

• To disagree with the author

• To make the essay longer

• To avoid plagiarism

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What does the video suggest if you're struggling with understanding themes?

• To give up

• To only focus on the plot

• To continue working on it throughout the year

• To switch to a different story

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2