Theme
Theme can be defined as...
the message, lesson, or moral the author wants the reader to learn
"Stars are massive, luminous spheres of plasma, primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, held together by their own intense gravity. These celestial bodies act as gigantic engines, creating heat and light through nuclear fusion in their cores, with colors indicating their surface temperatures—ranging from cooler reds to hotter blues. Ranging from a few million to trillions of years in lifespan, they are born in dense molecular clouds and often exist as part of complex constellations or systems. "
What is the type of text structure used in this paragraph?
Description
"He was sharp as a tack, raising his hand to answer every single question."
What type of figurative language is used in the sentence?
Simile (comparing two things with like or as)
This type of point of view (POV) is where the narrator is not in the story, and uses pronouns like "he", "she", or "they".
3rd Person Point of View
"Grandpa didn't know that Suzie was coming along on the fishing trip, and now he had to alter his plans."
What does the word alter mean as it is used in the sentence? Use evidence to support your answer.
To change, adjust, or accommodate
"Katie invited Missy to her her house to work on their biology project, but Katie had no idea what a visit from Missy entailed. First of all, it was raining and Missy neither bothered to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. Then Missy ate a bag of hot chips on Katie's white bed spread without asking, and she is a sloppy eater, so hot chip powder got all over the bedspread. Katie tried to be polite and ignore Missy's behavior, but then Missy threw her chip wrapper on the floor. Offended, Katie pretended she was sick and asked Missy to leave. The next day, Katie asked the teacher if she could work by herself. After explaining her situation, the teacher allowed Katie to work alone. Missy would have finished the assignment by herself, but she spilled grape soda all over her paper."
What is the theme of this story? Provide text evidence in your answer. (Hint: there is not one right answer)
Potential Answers:
Respect other people's property.
Choose your partners wisely.
Stand up for yourself and your boundaries.
Be mindful of others.
"Most mobile phones sold today have an operating system that was either designed by Apple or Google. Apple makes the iOS operating system powering their iPhones and Ipads. Google makes the Android operating system that can be found on many different mobile phones and tablets. Both of these operating systems allow users to connect to app stores and download applications. To launch these applications, users press small square buttons that appear on their home screens. One major difference between these two operating systems is that Apple makes all of its own hardware. That is to say, the iOS operating system only appears on products created by Apple. On the other hand, many different manufacturers, like Samsung, Sony, and LG use the Android operating system. Which one do you like better: Android or iOS?"
What is the type of text structure used in this paragraph?
Compare and Contrast
"She was the apple of her parents' eyes, a beautiful child who could do no wrong."
What type of figurative language is used in the sentence?
Metaphor (comparing two things without like or as)
This type of point of view (POV) is where the narrator is in the story, and refers to themself with pronouns like "I", "me", or "we".
1st Person Point of View
"Unlike Jim, who treated others rudely and kept to himself, Bobby was jovial, friendly, and outgoing."
What does the word jovial mean as it is used in the sentence? Use evidence to support your answer.
A cheerful and welcoming person, someone who is pleasant to be around
Mark was born rich. He never had to work a day in his life, and he got everything handed to him on a silver platter. When Mark turned 13, he wanted to start a band. His father hired famous musicians to play music with him every Saturday at the family's private concert hall, though his family was never there to watch him. By the time he was 21, Mark was bored with life. He was surrounded by many possessions that he didn't appreciate, and could find nothing new or exciting about his life. Despite his vast wealth, Mark never found happiness.
Penny, on the other hand, was born poor. Her family hardly had anything to eat, but they love each other. Penny's family taught her to apppreciate every thing she got. When she was 13, Penny learned how to play the drums. She was an extremely talented musician, a natural percussionist, and everyone on the block loved the rhythms that poured from her palms. By the time she was 21, Penny was a successful businesswoman. Now she had everything she had ever dreamed of, and she truly loved to share her wealth and happiness with her family who supported her through all of the hard times.
What is the theme of this story? Provide text evidence in your answer. (Hint: there is not one right answer)
Potential Responses:
Money does not buy happiness.
You can't fully appreciate the things you don't work with.
Being loved and cared for by your family is what brings true happiness.
"A smart phone is a mobile phone with built-in computer system that can send emails, view websites, or download applications. The first use of the term smart phone was in 1997, when Ericson described its GS 88 as a "smart phone". In 2003, phones got even smarter when Andy Rubin launched the Android mobile operating system. It would take years for the first Android powered phone to reach the marker, but today over 80% of the all mobile phones are powered by Android. Yet, perhaps the biggest development in the histroy of smart phones occured in2007, when the original iPhone was released. The first iPhone didn't even have an app store, but it set many of the standards that people have come to expect from smart phones."
What type of text structure is used in this paragraph?
Chronological Order/Sequence
"The ship danced over the waves, eager to return to Ithaca" (Homer's Odyssey).
What type of figurative language is used in this sentence?
Personification (giving animals and/or objects human characteristics)
This type of point of view (POV) puts the reader in the story, using pronouns like "you".
2nd Person Point of View
"As Tommy walked home with the money from the church he had stolen in his pocket, powerful feelings of remorse bubbled in his stomach."
What does the word remorse mean as it is used in the sentence? Use evidence to support your answer.
Feelings of guilt or regret
Tammy and Sammy were both students in Mr. Morton's reading class. Mr. Morton wasn't too strict about deadlines, and Sammy took advantage of that. He did all his homework in other classes, but never bothered to complete his reading assignments, figuring that he could complete them later. Tammy, on the other hand, completed each assignment Mr. Morton assigned the night he assigned it. She had to stay up a little later, but she didn't want to get a penalty for turning her reading work in late. Tammy knew that reading was a core subject and that she had to keep a "C" average for the entire year, or she would have to go to summer school. When the end of the quarter came, Tammy and Sammy had both planned on going to the amusement park. But one call from Mr. Morton disrupted his plans, and Sammy's mother grounded him until he turned in all of his work. That weekend was horrible for Sammy. He has to stay up til 2:00 A.M. each night, and still couldn't complete all of the assignments. Meanwhile, Tammy had a great time eating pizza at the amusement park, watching movies late at night, and enjoying her weekend free of stress and pressure. At the end of the quarter, Sammy was lucky to squeak by with a "C-" in reading, while Tammy earned an "A".
What is the theme of this story? Provide text evidence in your answer. (Hint: there is not one right answer)
Potential Responses:
It is better to do things right away than to put them off.
It is better to do things right the first time. Work hard, play hard!
Thinking ahead can benefit you in the long run.
"A mobile phone is lost every phone by some estimates. A 2011 survey shows that about 22% of Americans have lost a mobile phone. When a person loses their phone, they don't just lose a device that may have cost as much as $600, they lose phone numbers, photos, and sensitve information. If the phone isn't locked and it gets lost or stolen, someone may use it to commit identity theft. Perhaps the worst part about this is that it can be prevented. Today's smart phones have free applications that allow you to find your lost phone using GPS signals. Even if you cannot retrieve your phone, you can use these applications to delete your data so you are less likely to become a victim of identity theft. Losing your phone becomes horrible, but if you take the time to install a phone-finding happen app, you'll be much better prepared to deal with it."
What type of text structure is used in this paragraph?
Problem and Solution
"The sand at the beach was so hot, it felt like they were walking on lava."
What type of figurative language is used in the sentence?
Hyperbole (an exaggeration)
What is a limited point of view?
The book only shows the thoughts and feelings of one character.
"After Jason broke Lea's heart this last time, he would have to make serious amends if he ever wants to win her back"
What does the word amends mean as it is used in the sentence? Use evidence to support your answer.
To make it up to someone, to pay someone back for wronging them
Pig and Dog were having lunch together. Pig was eating a huge feast of pizza and drinking a large jug of fruit punch, all while Dog watched him eat, having no food of his own. Eventually Dog asked, "Hey Pig, if you give me one slice of your pizza, I'll let you have the next bone I find." Pig declined, even though it hurt his stomach to eat the last three slices of pizza. "I'm sorry, Dog, but I paid for this pizza and it's all mine to eat." Dog only sighed and waited for Pig to finish, then they both left together. As they were leaving, a hunter spotted them and started to chase the two animals. Normally, Pig could have escaped, but because he was so full, he was slow and exhausted. The hunter easily caught and killed him. Dog, on the other hand, escaped easily. Later that night while returning to the scene, Dog caught the scent of something delicious and began digging around a trash can. He found a large bone with lots of meat, and happily ate it.
What is the theme of this story? Provide text evidence in your answer. (Hint: there is not one right answer)
Potential Answers:
Share with your friends, and don't be greedy.
"For better or worse, mobile phones are changing the world; however, one place where phones are definitely making things worse is on the road. Today, it is commone for motorists to play with their phones while driving. Drivers may get bored or impatient while waiting in traffic and use their smart phones to pass the time by changing sports scores, stock numbers, or news stories. Worse still, they may engage in text messaging. Some drivers are so used to receiving and responding to comunications immediately that it does not occur to them to wait until an apporpriate time to respond. As soon as they get a message, these drivers will try to read and repeat this. There are many reasons why people use cell phones while driving, but none of them are good reasons."
What is the type of text structure used in this paragraph?
Cause and Effect
"Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag," her friend smiled sheepishly, as she pushed the cake towards her and lit the candles."
What type of figurative language is used in the sentence?
Idiom (a figure of speech, a phrase or sentence that doesn't mean exacty what it means)
What is an omniscient point of view?
The book showcases all of the characters' thoughts and feelings.
"Stanley tried to determine the meaning of the final vocabulary word, but there were so few clues in the sentence, all he could do was hopelessly conjecture as to what the word might mean."
What does the word conjecture mean as it is used in the sentence? Use evidence to support your answer.
To guess, to make a conclusion or opinion based on incomplete information or guesswork