Identifying Theme in Literary Texts
The message or lesson that the author conveys through the interaction of story elements, such as plot, setting, conflict, and characterization.
What is theme?
the text surrounding an unfamiliar word
An author's main argument
What is Claim?
The narrator of The House on Mango Street
Who is Esperanza?
What is setting?
An idea that is a single word, such as Friendship or Determination.
What is Topic?
Allow the reader to infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word
What are context clues?
Authors have to provide this to support a claim
What is evidence?
This person asks the narrator, "You live there?"
Who is the nun at Esperanza's school?
You must do this with the sources you use in your writing to avoid plagiarism
What is cite?
Be careful about who you trust
What is a theme?
One type of context clue is this - a word with a similar meaning
what is a synonym?
This sentence usually appears at the beginning of a paragraph, and tells what the paragraph will be about.
What is a topic sentence?
This person is the narrator's younger sister, and her behavior can be annoying at times
Who is Nenny?
A concluding idea based on reasoning, or a conclusion you can draw from your reading
What is an inference?
Love.
What is a topic?
This type of context provides a definition or an________.
What is an example?
A claim is well supported if the evidence used to support it is this (one of two answers)
What is relevant? OR
What is credible?
This person offers a dollar for a kiss
Who is the creepy old man on the corner?
This evidence is drawn from sources that are trustworthy and competent.
What is credible?
One theme of The House on Mango Street
What is Home is where the heart is?
Or- any other applicable theme
Writers frequently use this type of language, which includes metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and symbolism.
What is figurative language?
The part of the writing where the author explains the evidence used to support their claim. This was a section on your Book Journal.
What is analysis?
The author of the book
Who is Sandra Cisneros?
The act of using another author’s words or ideas in your writing without properly and clearly indicating their sources
What is plagiarism?