Theme Statements vs. Topics
• Theme= a lesson the reader learns from the
text; a universal truth; always written as a
statement.
Ex: Life decisions can be hard.
Life has many roads
Regret can stifle a life.
Courage can be seen in unlikely people.
• Topics= one or two broad words
Ex: Choices, regret, journeys, adventure, love,
happiness, empathy, isolation, courage
TKM Thematic Statements
1. Work with your seat partner and write on one
sheet of paper.
2. Discuss the various theme topics from To Kill a
Mockingbird (racism, hatred, family, choices, etc.)
3. Write 3 original thematic statements on a chosen
topic. Be prepared to share.
-For example: I chose the topic of courage, and I
wrote this thematic statement: Courage can be
seen in unlikely people.
My TKM Thematic Statements
1. Look at the two theme topics you
highlighted for in your book and write 2
original thematic statements (one for each
topic).
2. Everyone will compose one on social
inequality. The 2nd one will come from your
topic list: innocence, education, tolerance,
courage, or family relationships.
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement clearly states the topic of a
composition. It not only helps focus the main point of
the essay by stating what you will PROVE in your
paper, but it gives the reader an exact understanding
of what will be covered.
*A thesis statement declares your OWN unique
perspective, your “take”, on the subject.
EX: Australia is the best country for a vacation.
Literary Thesis Statements
A literary thesis includes the author’s name and title of
the work along with what you are going to prove
(thematic statement).
Literary thesis statement examples:
1. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles portrays jealousy as an
element of friendship.
2. In the novel A Separate Peace, John Knowles illustrates how
a person creates his or her own peace.
3. A Separate Peace by John Knowles illustrates the
destructive results caused by distrust.
Thesis Statement
1. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses
characters’ actions to show that courage
can be seen in unlikely people.
2. Characters’ actions show that courage can
be found in unlikely people in Harper
Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
Now write your own original thesis
statement.
Thematic Analysis Intro. Paragraph
1. You will now write your introductory paragraph of
your essay.
2. Include relevant background info. on setting,
specific characters, plot summary, etc.
3. The last sentence of this paragraph should be
your thesis statement.
4. Look at my example on another literary piece.
Example Intro. Paragraph for Thematic
Analysis Essay
Empathy is a virtue that not all people have.
To be able to understand other people’s feelings,
motives, or situations takes a lot of effort since
we live in such a judgmental society. Anne Frank,
who was a young Jewish girl, went into hiding for
three years trying to escape being killed by the
Nazis during World War II. Under dire
circumstances, Anne showed empathy in her many
diary entries. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young
Girl by Anne Frank shows that empathy can exist in
horrific conditions. **(thesis statement including my
thematic statement)
Assertions (topic sentences of body
paragraphs)
1.
2.
3.
War brings out the best and worst of people.
Empathy can be a struggle for teenagers.
Understanding yourself is important for
understanding others.
***These are your reasons that will prove your thesis
statement to be true. Each assertion will be developed
into a well-written body paragraph using text evidence to
support your claim.
Now, write down 3 assertions that will prove your thesis.
Your Theme Analysis Outline
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
A. Intro. paragraph (catch interest & provide any relevant
background info.)
B. State your thesis statement
A. Assertion #1
B. Prove your assertion with examples (text evidence) and
explanation.
A. Assertion #2
B. Prove your assertion with examples (text evidence) and
explanation.
A. Assertion #3
B. Prove your assertion with examples (text evidence) and
explanation.
Conclusion (wrap up your essay by showing your theme in
our society today & restate your thesis in a different way)
MLA Documentation
• You need to place the lines that you use from the
book in “quotation marks” and write the (author’s last
name and pg. # ) in parenthesis with the period after.
• My Example:
• Atticus is the epitome of courage in this novel. “I wanted you to
see what real courage is… it’s when you know you’re licked before
you begin but you begin anyway and see it through no matter
what” (Lee 112). He selflessly defends Tom even though he
knows the whole town will hate him and his family. He knows that
he would not win Tom’s case, but he has the moral integrity to do
what is right.
• 2nd paragraph requirements: Assertion (topic sentence), relevant
“text evidence”, and insightful explanation/ analysis.
Conclusion Example
As you can see, courage is a quality that is
evident is many characters in To Kill a Mockingbird.
This quality is not just important in a famous novel
written in the 1930s, but is seen everyday in our
world today. The soldiers who have fought for our
country through all the wars in history have shown
a great amount of courage. They choose to put
their life in danger for all Americans who are total
strangers to them. Courage is within everybody,
and it can appear at the most unlikely time.