Theme
Define Theme
-The lesson the reader learns
-It is universal message
What type of text structure is being utilized in the paragraph below?
The old lighthouse perched on the rocky cliff like a watchful guardian of the sea. Its weathered white paint peeled away in strips, revealing patches of rusty red brick underneath. Seagulls circled its peak, their cries echoing across the misty morning air. The brass bell at its base swayed gently in the salty breeze, creating a soft, melodic chime that mixed with the rhythmic crash of waves below. Through the cracked windows, spiral stairs wound their way to the top, where a massive beacon still cast its faithful beam across the churning waters every night.
Descriptive
Reasoning for the answer:
1. Sensory details include:
2. Descriptive words: weathered, watchful, churning, faithful, melodic
3. The mood is peaceful yet mysterious, with a sense of age and history
What are the three types of point of view?
1st Person
2nd Person
3rd Person
What are the two main poems that you are tested on?
Sonnets and Villanelles
Define central idea
-The main concept of a passage
How do you find theme?
What type of text structure is being utilized in the paragraph below?
The school cafeteria was generating way too much food waste, with nearly half of all lunches ending up in the trash. Jamie, the student council president, noticed younger students were throwing away whole apples and oranges because they struggled to peel or cut them. Working with the cafeteria staff, Jamie proposed a simple solution: a fruit-cutting station where cafeteria workers would slice apples, oranges, and other fruits into easy-to-eat portions. They also added a share basket where unopened drinks and packaged snacks could be left for other students. Within a month, food waste decreased by 60%, and more students were eating their fruits and vegetables. The success of Jamie's program inspired other schools in the district to create similar initiatives.
Problem/Solution
Reasoning for the answer:
What is the difference between point of view and perspective?
Point of view refers to who is telling the story - it's the narrator's position from which the story is being told. This is about the technical aspect of storytelling, using pronouns like "I," "you," or "he/she/they.
Perspective is how a character views or understands a situation based on their personal experiences, beliefs, and background. It's their unique way of seeing the world.
How many lines does a sonnet and a villanelle have?
Sonnet: 14 lines
Villanelle: 19 lines
How do you find the central idea or what text features can you use to help find the central idea?
You can find the central idea within the first few paragraphs.
Text Features:
-Illustrations, graphs, charts, captions, titles, subtitles, bold/italic words, index, glossary, bullets/numbers, sidebars, and font changes.
Which one is used to test theme, fictional or nonfictional passages?
Fictional
What type of text structure is being utilized in the paragraph below?
When Max forgot to charge his phone last night, a chain of unexpected events followed. Because his phone died, his morning alarm didn't go off, causing him to oversleep by thirty minutes. Since he woke up late, he had to skip breakfast and rush to catch the bus. In his hurry, Max accidentally grabbed his sister's math notebook instead of his own. During math class, he discovered his mistake and couldn't complete the in-class assignment, which resulted in him having to stay after school to make up the work. As a result of staying late, he missed basketball practice and had to run extra laps at the next practice. That evening, Max put a sticky note on his phone that read "CHARGE ME!" and plugged it in before going to bed.
Cause & Effect
Reasoning for answer:
What point of view(s) is this paragraph written in? Identify 1-3 different perspectives of the same carnival.
The abandoned carnival looked different to everyone who passed by that afternoon. From behind his camera lens, James snapped photos of the rusty Ferris wheel, seeing beauty in its decay. "This will make a perfect addition to my photography portfolio," I thought, carefully framing each shot. But my little sister Emma kept close to my side, trembling as she looked at the shadows cast by the old rides. To her, every creaking sound meant danger. Meanwhile, Grandpa Joe stood at the entrance, his eyes gleaming with joy as he told us stories about working there during the summers of his youth. "That cotton candy stand over there," he said, pointing to a faded blue booth, "that's where I met your grandmother fifty years ago."
What is the rhyme scheme of a sonnet and a villanelle?
Sonnet: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG (Shakesperean) ABBA ABBA CDC DCD (Petrarchan/Italian)
Villanelle: ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA (Englsih Poetry)
Which one is used to test central ideaa, fictional or nonfictional passages?
nonfictional
What is the theme of this paragraph?
Sarah had always been afraid to speak up in class, even when she knew the answers. One day, when her best friend Jenny was blamed for breaking a window during recess, Sarah knew the truth - it had been an accident caused by someone else. Despite her racing heart and shaking hands, Sarah raised her hand and told the teacher what really happened. Jenny was so grateful, and their friendship grew stronger. From that day on, Sarah found it easier to share her thoughts in class, and her teachers noticed her growing confidence. Other students started coming to her when they needed someone to stand up for what was right.
Standing up for what is right builds courage and confidence" or "Speaking the truth can have positive effects beyond the immediate situation.
Evidence: Sarah overcoming her fear to tell the truth, her growing confidence afterward, and others seeking her help
What type of text structure is being utilized in the paragraph below?
Although both basketball and soccer are popular team sports, they have several key differences in how they're played. Basketball takes place on a hardwood court where players dribble with their hands and shoot into elevated hoops, while soccer unfolds on a grassy field where players use their feet to move the ball and score in ground-level goals. In basketball, players can score frequently, often reaching points in the 80s or higher, whereas soccer matches typically end with only a few points per team. Despite these differences, both sports share important similarities: they require teamwork to pass the ball effectively, demand excellent conditioning from players, and feature strategic offensive and defensive plays. Both games also have similar team sizes on the field, with basketball playing five per side and soccer using eleven
Compare & Contrast
What is the difference between a reliable and unreliable narrator?
Reliable Narrator:
A reliable narrator is one who tells the story accurately and honestly. They present events as they truly happen and can be trusted by readers. This type of narrator:
Unreliable Narrator:
An unreliable narrator is one who can't be completely trusted to tell the story accurately. They might:
How many quatrains and couplets does a sonnet have? How many lines are in a quatrain stanza and a couplet stanza?
How many quatrains and tercets does a villanelle have? How many lines are in a quatrain stanza and tercet stanza?
Sonnet: 3 quatrains (4- line stanza), 1 couplet (2-line stanza)
Villanelle: 1 quatrain (4-line stanza), 5 tercets (3-line stanza)
What is the central idea of this paragraph?
Social media can have both positive and negative effects on teenagers' friendships. While platforms like Instagram and Snapchat help teens stay connected with friends who live far away and share important moments in their lives, these apps can also create problems. Many teenagers feel pressure to always look perfect in photos or get a certain number of likes on their posts. Some students become anxious when they see photos of friends hanging out without them, while others spend so much time on their phones that they miss out on real-life conversations. Although social media can be a useful tool for communication, it's important for teenagers to find a healthy balance between online and face-to-face interactions.
Central idea: social media has both benefits and drawbacks for teenage friendships, and balance is necessary.
What is the theme of this paragraph AND explain how came to your theme?
Marcus stared at his math homework, feeling overwhelmed by the complex equations. Instead of asking for help, he crumpled up his paper and shoved it in his backpack. For weeks, he pretended to understand, nodding along in class while falling further behind. When his grade dropped to a D, his teacher noticed and asked him to stay after class. Though embarrassed, Marcus finally admitted he was struggling. His teacher arranged extra help during lunch, and slowly, his understanding grew. By the end of the semester, Marcus not only raised his grade but also began helping other students who were too afraid to ask for help.
Theme: asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness" or "Being honest about our struggles leads to personal growth.
Evidence: Marcus hiding his struggles, the positive outcome when he finally asked for help, and his transformation into someone who helps others
What type of text structure is being used in Example A and Example B?
Example A: Making the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich requires following specific steps. First, gather two slices of bread, peanut butter, jelly, and a butter knife. Next, spread peanut butter evenly on one slice of bread, making sure to cover it from edge to edge. Then, on the other slice, spread an equal amount of jelly, being careful not to use too much. After that, carefully place the two slices together with the spreads facing each other. Finally, cut the sandwich diagonally to create two triangles.
Example B: In 1903, the Wright brothers made their historic first flight at Kitty Hawk. Twenty-four years later, in 1927, Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. By 1947, Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 aircraft. Later, in 1969, Neil Armstrong took humanity's first steps on the moon, marking a giant leap in aviation history. Finally, in 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia made history as the first reusable spacecraft, beginning a new era of space exploration.
Example A. Sequence
Example B. Chronological
Reasoning for answer:
What type of narrator is being used in Example A and Example B?
Example A: "Everyone says I pushed my brother during the basketball game, but that's not true at all. Sure, he fell down right after I walked past him, and yes, I was mad that he scored more points than me. And okay, maybe Mom saw the whole thing from the bleachers, but she always takes his side anyway. Besides, he didn't even get hurt that badly. He only cried a little bit, and the referee was clearly wrong to take me out of the game."
Example B: During our walk home from school yesterday, I spotted my friend Maya drop her wallet near the crosswalk. I called out to her, but she couldn't hear me over the traffic noise. Even though I was already running late for my dentist appointment, I picked up the wallet and jogged to catch up with her. Maya was really grateful, and my mom wasn't too happy about me being five minutes late, but I knew returning the wallet was more important than being exactly on time.
Example A: Unreliable Narrator
Example B: Reliable Narrator
Reasoning for answers:
Example B:
Evidence of reliability:
Shows honesty by:
Not trying to be heroic:
Trustworthy because:
Example A:
Which example is a sonnet, and which one is a villanelle? Determine the rhyme scheme of each example.
Example A:
Within these pages, worlds of wonder wait,
Through ancient tales and stories yet untold,
Each chapter holds the power to create
Adventures wrapped in letters made of gold.
Through distant lands and seas of stormy might,
Past dragons fierce and kingdoms long ago,
The heroes battle darkness through the night,
While wisdom fills each line from top to toe.
What magic lies between these dusty sheets,
What treasures hidden in each printed word,
In silence here, my racing heart still beats
With every new discovery occurred.
So let me stay, just one more chapter, please,
For books have set my searching spirit free.
Example B:
The morning bell begins the day,
As students rush through crowded halls,
While books and papers go astray.
Some walk, some run, some stop to sway,
Some answer urgent phone-call calls,
The morning bell begins the day.
At lockers, friends have much to say,
Before the next loud signal falls,
While books and papers go astray.
Five minutes left to find their way,
Past groups that cluster near the walls—
The morning bell begins the day.
"We're late!" they cry in mild dismay,
As through the door each student crawls,
While books and papers go astray.
Yet somehow all find where to stay,
Before the final warning calls—
The morning bell begins the day,
While books and papers go astray.
Example A: Sonnet (14 lines) Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Example B: Villanelle (19 lines) Rhyme Scheme: ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA
What is the centra idea of this paragraph AND explain how came to your central idea?
Sleep is just as important for academic success as studying. When students get enough sleep, usually eight to ten hours per night, their brains process and store information from the previous day. However, many middle school students stay up late finishing homework or playing on their phones, then struggle to wake up for school the next morning. This lack of sleep makes it hard to focus in class, remember important facts, or control emotions. In fact, students who regularly get less than seven hours of sleep often see their grades drop and find it difficult to participate in after-school activities.
Central Idea: Getting enough sleep is crucial for students' academic performance.
Evidence: