Theme Statements
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Transcript of Theme Statements
These are not themes, these are TOPICS.
• Love• Family• Good vs. Evil• Friendship• Trust• Courage• Survival• Identity• Death
• Justice• Freedom• Dreams• Oppression• Change• Growing Up• Acceptance• Guilt• Seeking Truth
These are not themes, these are TOPICS.
• Love• Family• Good vs. Evil• Friendship• Trust• Courage• Survival• Identity• Death
• Justice• Freedom• Dreams• Oppression• Change• Growing Up• Acceptance• Guilt• Seeking Truth
But, a topic can TURN ITNO a theme!
Step 1: Topics turn into themes, so after you
finish a text, make a list of topics you believe the
text focused on.
“Being true to yourself"
“Friendship”“Overcoming adversity”
“Honesty”
Step 2: Pick ONE of the topics and write
one sentence that answers this question:
What is the author trying to show us about this topic?
If you pick “being true to yourself” as the topic,
your sentence might look something like this:“The author shows that being
true to yourself is the only way to find happiness with people who
accept you.”
Step 3: Optionally, take off the “the
author shows that” part of the sentence.
“The author shows that being true to yourself is the only way to find happiness with people who
accept you.”
Step 3: Optionally, take off the “the
author shows that” part of the sentence.
“Being true to yourself is the only way to find happiness with people who accept you.”
Step 4: Make sure your statement is
not vague!“The author shows that family is
good.”
Too vague! (Why is family good?)
Step 4: Make sure your statement is
not vague!“The author shows that family
will support you even when they don’t agree with you.”
Step 4: Make sure your statement is
not vague!“The author shows that if you
don’t stay close with your family, you will end up missing out on
meaningful relationships.”
Remember! Themes are about life and
what it means to be human.
“The author shows that small fish tend to be eaten by larger fish.”
Bad!
Remember! Themes are about life and
what it means to be human.
“The author shows that even the smallest and weakest people can overcome great obstacles with the
help of friends.”
Good!