Creative and Critical Thinking

ASSIGNMENT 4: Theme

Learning Target (Curricular Competencies):

  • Think critically, creatively, and reflectively to explore ideas within, between, and beyond texts
  • Respond to text in personal, creative, and critical ways
  • Express and support an opinion with evidence

Task:

There are many literary terms associated with a focused literary study.  Let's take a look at one of them, for now. Theme.

The theme of a literary work is its underlying central idea or the generalization it communicates about life. The theme expresses the author's opinion or raises a question about human nature or the meaning of human experience. At times, the author's theme may not confirm or agree with your own beliefs. Even then, if skillfully written, the work will still have a theme that illuminates some aspects of true human experience or the life lesson it exposes. It is NOT a one-word idea; rather it is a complete statement or sentence.

Watch this video on theme that accurately summarizes the definition of theme, how to uncover it in text, and how to write about it. There is also a handout in Class Handouts at the top of the course.

Assignment:

Once you have watched the video on theme, practice your active reading strategies by uncovering the theme of the following reading ("Chee's Daughter") and writing a brief paragraph that explains its theme. Write a succinct theme statement (one sentence). Then write a 200 word paragraph explaining the theme of the story. Make reference to the story in your paragraph. As you are forming your opinion, keep in mind the impact setting, plot, characters, and point of view have in presenting the "whole picture."

Chee's Daughter by Juanita Platero and Siyowan Miller.

Here are some ways to uncover the theme in a story:

  1. Check out the title. Sometimes it tells you a lot about the theme.
  2. Notice repeating patterns and symbols (motif). Sometimes these lead you to the theme.
  3. What allusions are made throughout the story?
  4. What are the details and particulars in the story? What greater meaning may they have?

Remember that theme, plot, and structure are inseparable, all helping to inform and to reflect back on each other. Also, be aware that a theme we determine from a story never completely explains the story. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole.

Also remember that there are many resources available on the internet on this story, but your teacher is looking for YOUR interpretation of theme, not the Internet's. Do your own critical thinking. You can't go wrong so long as you defend your opinion well.

Trick:

Try to give the story a topic. What would the topic of this story be? eg. LOVE Then ask yourself, what statement is the author trying to make about the topic? eg. Love is only possible at an older age.

Assessment:  Below you will find the exemplary criteria used to assess the assignment.  

Learning Target: (Exemplary 6/6): Exemplary comprehension of the task and clear accomplishment of the objective. Student demonstrates critical, creative, and reflective thinking to express an opinion with evidence.

Written Expression:  Exemplary (6/6):  Sentence structure and vocabulary are varied, skillfully written, and carefully chosen.  Work has been proofread and there are few or no errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar.  Content contributes to the central idea and makes insightful connections with logical organization.

Submission:

Use the "1.4 Theme" link on the main page of this section of the course to upload your assignment to your teacher for marking.