Inferring themes and writing theme statements:
Step 1: Before we jump into theme, please re-read the ending of “American History” (p.300 –
301) and, in your writer’s notebooks, interpret the importance of these key details:
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The mention of Verde-Esperanza and the image of the green door.
Eugene’s mother’s rejection of Elena.
The imagery of the final paragraph.
Question: What hard lesson in American history, and in her own life, does Elena learn?
Predict how this realization will affect her in the future.
Step 2: What is theme?
Theme: Theme is a central, underlying idea in a text--story, play, poem, essay, movie, etc. It
conveys what the author sees as important truth or lesson about life, human nature, or the
world we live in. Theme is usually implied rather stated explicitly; the reader must infer theme
from the evidence and details of the text.
Step 3: Writing theme statements
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Theme statements are complete thoughts and thus must be stated in complete
sentences, not a one or two word phrase.
A theme should be state as a universal idea, not just an idea true for a single character
within a story.
A theme should be more than a simple fact or cliché. It should state an interesting and
valuable idea—not simply an overworked cliché.
To be valid, we must be able to support a theme with many details and craft tools
used in a story. The more evidence we can find to support the theme, the more central
it is to the story.
Step 3: Model: Writing theme statements
These models are based upon “A Quilt of a Country.” Using the guidelines we just went over for
writing good theme statements, let’s evaluate each of these examples. Write your evaluation in
the space provided beneath each statement.
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America’s diversity
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America is a diverse nation.
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America is the melting pot of the world.
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America’s diversity is part of its strength.
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America consists of groups of very different people and though diversity can cause
conflicts, it’s what makes our country unique and great.
Step 3: Now it’s your turn
Write a theme statement for “American History.” Beneath the theme statement, list details and
craft tools from the story that help develop and support the theme
Theme statement:
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Details and craft tools that help support and develop the theme:
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