6th Grade - Finding Theme & Writing a Theme Statement - EpicEd

Turn your sound on to hear a teacher talk you through this lesson!

Theme vs. Topic:

Writing a Theme Statement

Grab those guided notes before you start and follow along!

What is the difference between a topic and a theme?

TOPIC

THEME

A topic is the subject of a piece of writing. Love Prejudice Greed Friendship Courage Survival War Pride

A theme is the message or insight about life or human nature that a writer presents to the reader.

• Love, if taken to extremes, can be destructive.
• Poverty has the ability to transform honest people into criminals.
• People rarely change their beliefs unless influenced by a traumatic event.

A Theme IS

A Theme is NOT

A Thoughtful Inference A theme statement makes an observation about what the author is trying to say about life and human nature. We do this by making inferences based on the behavior of the characters in the story. A good question to ask is, “What did the main character learn throughout their journey?” About the Human Experience A theme uses more general terms like “leaders” “society” and “young people” rather than character names.

A Cliche Statement “Actions speak louder than words.” “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” “Love hurts.” A Command A theme statement doesn’t tell the reader to behave by using words like “should”. Specific to the Text It doesn’t refer to the specific characters and plot from the story. Absolute It doesn’t use words like “all” “none” “everything” or “always”.

Why can’t I write one word for the theme?

A theme is the message of a story. Can the message be love? Hate? Greed? Not quite. Those are just topics. For example, if love is a topic of two novels, a major theme in one of them could be “Love, if taken to extremes, can be destructive.” However, in the other, it could be “Love can conquer even the greatest obstacles.”

How do you find the theme?

Finding the Theme

• What has the main character learned by the end of the story?
• How does society react to your character?
• How does your character react to the conflict in the story?
• What is the author trying to say about human nature?
• What is the author’s message about life?

Theme Statement Formula

(author’s name) (type of writing - article, short story, poem, novel) (story title) reveals how (topic) can result in (idea about human nature).

Theme Statement Example

Daniel Keyes’ science fiction short story “Flowers for Algernon” reveals how intelligence does not necessarily result in happiness.

Feel free to play with the formula to make your writing flow!

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Examples of Theme Statement Flops

In War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, it is revealed that crime doesn’t pay for anyone. This statement is cliche and you can’t prove that crime doesn’t pay for ANYONE. Unfortunately, it does pay for some people.

In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury reveals that Montag learned to not trust others around him. This is too specific to the text. It needs to be about humans in general.

Wanda Vlasko’s romance novel Dangerous World reveals that you shouldn’t fall in love with someone who is taken. This is a command. It addresses the reader with “you” and says “shouldn’t”.

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Let’s practice writing theme statements!

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Sora

Choose a short story from your SORA app in Clever. Carefully read your selected story. Feel free to jot down words and phrases in your GUIDED NOTES that come to mind as you read to help you write your theme statement.

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Sora

Analyze the Theme: Carefully read or listen to the short story and identify the central theme or themes. Consider the characters, their motivations, the plot, and the overall message or meaning of the work.

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Sora

Once you think you have identified the theme, support your ideas with evidence from the text.Use the Sora library's annotation and note-taking features to capture your thoughts and insights about the theme.

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Sora

Share your interpretations and insights about the theme with someone close by. Make connections between the theme and your own experiences or other texts you have read.

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Check Your Work

• Make sure your theme statement is free of “you” statements
• Does your theme statement contain any cliches?
• Is your theme statement free of absolutes like “all” “never” “everything” and “always”?
• Does your theme statement describe what the author reveals about human nature?

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Great Job!

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