Theme & Culture Value
What is a theme?
The message or lesson about life in a story.
What is textual evidence?
Details or quotations from a text that support an answer.
Which point of view uses I and me?
First-person POV
What is a character trait?
A quality that describes a character's personality.
You get paid to sleep in a fancy bed and test mattresses. What's your job?
Mattress tester! (A real job exists, though openings are rare.
What are cultural values?
Beliefs about what is important to a community.
What is an objective summary?
A brief account of the main ideas or events without personal opinions.
Which point of view often uses he, she, and they?
Third-person POV
What is a plot complication?
An obstacle that makes the main problem harder to solve
Your job is to taste ice cream all day and give opinions. What might you be called?
Ice cream taster or food sensory tester.
Two stories show characters helping strangers. What recurring theme might they share?
Kindness and helping others matter.
Which better supports that a character is brave: their shoe color or rescuing a friend? Explain.
Rescuing a friend, because it demonstrates bravery
What is one difference between first-person and third-person narration?
First person uses pronouns such as "I, we, my, our, etc." Third person uses "he, she, they, or names."
What is a multiple-meaning word?
A word that has more than one meaning.
You get paid to hug pandas, but the pandas keep ignoring you. What is your biggest workplace problem?
The pandas are terrible coworkers! (Any funny answer that makes sense earns points)
A character shares food with a family in need. What value does this show?
Generosity or caring for others.
Why should an objective summary leave out personal opinions?
To report the text accurately without the writer's feelings or judgments.
Why might two characters using different points of view describe the same event differently?
They have different perspectives, feelings, or experiences.
What is connotation?
The feeling or association a word suggests beyond its literal meaning.
You apply for a job as a professional video game player. What skill should you put on your résumé besides 'I play all night'?
Game strategy, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
How can a reader figure out a theme?
Examine important events, character choices, and lessons learned.
What should a strong objective summary include?
The main characters or ideas, central conflict, key events, and resolution without opinions.
How might a story change if the villain told it?
Readers might understand the villain's motives and see events differently.
Compare the words "slender" and "scrawny". How do their connotations differ?
Slender is often positive or neutral; scrawny usually sounds negative.
Your dream job is getting paid to do absolutely nothing. The boss asks, 'Why should we hire you?' Give the funniest professional answer you can.
Any creative, funny response that sounds like a job interview answer wins!