Theme
The message that the author wants the
reader to understand about life
The 4 Clues
• TITLE
-What ideas does the title emphasize?
• PLOT
-How are the conflicts resolved?
• SETTING
-How does the setting affect the conflict
• CHARACTER
-What lesson does the character learn?
Don’t forget the difference between a
topic and a theme
TOPIC
A topic is 1 to 2
words
THEME
A theme makes
some revelation
about the subject
and should be
expressed in a
complete sentence.
A theme must deal
with the entire
work!
Thinking about theme in
“The War of the Wall”
Let’s work together to create a Theme statement about
“The War of the Wall”.
Let’s use the 4 Clues to create a solid theme.
Group Work:
Using the graphic Organizer fill in your assigned
Questions and answer on your chart paper.
Be ready to jot down the ideas of the other
groups.
Now let’s use this information to
create an overall theme
Tips for Writing Theme Statements
DO’s
• Make sure it is a
complete sentence.
• Be Clear
• Elevate your
language
• Use the author/title
in your sentence.
Dont’s
• Focus only on a topic
• Make your sentence
so “crafty” that your
sentence is unclear
• Focus on a vague
idea
Everyone will write their own theme
statement:
1. Using all of the ideas presented from the 4 clues think of a
theme statement and write it down.
2. You may need to make a couple of attempts until you feel it
is write. Do NOT put your name on it!
3. Fold your paper in half and put it in the middle of your
group.
4. Everyone will take out a theme statement and read it aloud
back to the group.
5. Once you have read them all, decide as a group on one that
you feel best expresses the theme.
Now on your own!
• Return to your seats and read the 2 poems
• Answer each of the questions to help you
arrive at a theme statement!
Remember the Do’s and Don’t’s
Use the 4 clues!
Now we need to support our
statements!
1. Make sure your theme statement does all the
things that we discussed yesterday. Re-write
it a couple of times if necessary.
2. We need to find evidence that backs up our
“Claim” or theme statement about “judging
too quickly”.