Theme
What is the definition of theme?
a universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of literature.
This point of view uses pronouns like I and me and tells the story through the narrator’s own eyes.
What is first-person point of view?
Tone is created by the author’s choice of these.
What are words (or word choice/diction)?
What can you do to determine the meaning of an unknown word?
Context Clues
Use the Dictionary
What is a summary?
A summary is a short retelling of the most important ideas and details from a text, written in your own words.
BME
What was the Overall theme of the Hopi Origin Story?
It is important to take care of the earth.
As a people we need to focus on living in peace, harmony, and balance with those around us.
“You walk into the room and immediately notice the silence.” This sentence is written in this point of view.
What is second-person point of view?
What does an author’s purpose refer to?
An author’s purpose is the reason they write a text and make the decisions they make.
Why is text evidence so important to add into our SCR's?
Text evidence is important in a short constructed response (SCR) because it proves your answer is correct, shows that your thinking is based on the text (not just opinion), and makes your response stronger and more convincing to the reader.
What are key elements to include in a good summary?
A good summary should include the main idea, the most important supporting details, the central characters (if it’s a story), the setting (if relevant), and the overall outcome or conclusion—all written briefly and in your own words.
BME
Analyze how the protagonist's development contributes to the theme of the story.
The protagonist’s growth from struggle to understanding highlights the story’s central theme by showing how personal change reveals deeper truths about life.
This type of third-person narration reveals the thoughts and feelings of only one character.
What is third-person limited?
“The wind howled through the empty streets, rattling broken windows as shadows stretched across the deserted houses.”
What is the tone of this passage?
What is eerie (or ominous, suspenseful) tone?
What makes for a strong piece of evidence?
A strong piece of evidence is specific, directly supports your answer, and clearly connects to the question or claim.
How can summarizing a text aid in understanding its themes?
Summarizing helps identify a text’s theme by focusing on its main ideas and key events that reveal the author’s message.
A theme is revealed through a story’s characters, setting, and these crucial events.
What are the plot or conflicts?
An author can reveal a character by showing what they say, think, and do—these are called this.
What are character traits/characterization?
What is the author’s purpose in this passage?
"The soldiers who fought in the Civil War faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion. Yet their courage and sacrifice shaped the nation we live in today. We must remember and honor their bravery.”
What is to honor and inspire respect for the soldiers’ sacrifices?
What is our A.C.E strategy?
Answer
Cite
Explain
Theme is to fiction and poetry as _______ is to nonfiction.
What is main idea?
Maria stared at her report card, her stomach sinking at the string of low grades. Instead of giving up, she asked her teacher for extra help and spent her evenings studying. Weeks later, she proudly held up a new report card filled with passing marks.
Question for Students: What is the theme of this story?
Hard work and perseverance lead to success.
This point of view creates closeness with one character by revealing only their thoughts and feelings, while keeping other characters’ inner lives hidden.
What is third-person limited?
The tone of the paragraph is _______________.
The children trudged home through the rain, their soaked shoes squeaking with every step, as the streetlights flickered dimly above.”
What is gloomy (or dreary, somber)?
What are you doing in the E part of our A.C.E strategy, and why?
In the E (Explain) part of the A.C.E strategy, you explain how your answer is correct, making sure you leave no room for the reader to wonder what you mean It helps your reader understand your reasoning behind your answer/evidence.
Write a summary over the Hopi Origin Story
In the Hopi origin story, people first lived deep inside the earth in darkness. They climbed up through the different levels of the world until they reached the surface. Once they emerged, the people were taught how to live in balance with nature, care for the land, and honor the Creator through rituals and traditions. This journey explains not only the origin of the Hopi people but also their deep connection to the earth and responsibility to live in harmony with it.