Theme Essay Outline Due 11.10.11

Theme Essay Outline

The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people behave. In fiction, the theme is not intended to teach or preach. In fact, it is not presented directly at all. You extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, you must figure out the theme yourself. For example, one of  the themes in “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” is about the value and worth of a prized possession, in “Kitty and Mack: A Love Story” one of the themes is about love and sacrifice and in Street Pharm, Snitch and Homeboyz you probably can see themes of street survival and trust. I am confident that in all books you have read, there are much more. In your fictional novels that you are reading, try to figure out ONE theme that the author wants you to understand. When you figure that out, support your opinions with three pieces of evidence from the text.

Introduction

• Opener/Attention getter:   Select a quote from a favorite song, a line from a book, or a quote you found online, that represents the theme that you believe the author wants you to understand.
• Explain the quote in two complete and well thought out sentences.
• Thesis:  Using the author’s name and title of their book, briefly state why the theme you have identified is important. Please do not give away too much information. Leave the rest to be further explained in the body paragraphs.

Body paragraph:

• Topic sentence:  Name the first story, give a brief summary, and suggest the theme.
• Concrete detail: Offer a detail from the story that will begin to suggest the theme.
• Commentary: Explain how the detail sets up the theme.
• Concrete detail:  Offer a detail that helps the theme become clear.
• Commentary:  Explain how the detail makes the theme clear.
• Concrete detail: Offer a detail that helps the theme become clear.
• Commentary: Explain how the detail makes the theme clear
• Closure: Be very clear here about the story’s theme and why/how it might be of use of a reader

Conclusion

• Return to theme of the story—restate what you said about your theme in the introduction here.
• Discuss why this is a strong theme—tell why by making connections to your own life experience, something you know happening in our world today, or to another book you have read.
• Attention Grabbing Closing: try to connect the theme you have identified by closing the essay with a thought provoking question related to your theme.