LA11: American Literature and Composition
Today’s Agenda:
Writing a Theme Statement
You all should have a decent idea about what a theme is.
Can someone define it?
Now you need to determine how to work that theme into a theme statement. First, you need to come up with some themes in Catcher… (we already did this--write down the list from the board)
Possible Themes in �Catcher in the Rye
We are now finished reading (or close to finishing) this novel.
You will need to choose a theme to write your essay thesis statement about. Use the quotes and ideas you wrote in your journal to do this.
Writing a Theme Statement
-importance of childhood innocence
-depression, loneliness and isolation (relation between them)
-insecurity and confidence
-reality and illusion --perceptions of reality
-sanity and insanity/mental illness
-finding a purpose or meaning in life
-education systems--how do they work/not work for individuals
-teenagers and the choices they make
Writing a Theme Statement
Now, transform that message into a statement:
Take for example, a theme statement from The Kite Runner, which some of you have read.
Theme: father-son relationships.
Theme statements:
Father/Son relationships are crucial in determining what kind of man a boy turns out to be.
If a person does not atone for his mistakes, he will live a life burdened by guilt.
Choose a theme from the Catcher list
Once you have your idea, think about what it is you are supposed to learn. What might the message be that Salinger wants to communicate about human kind?
When you add the elements of the story that exhibit this teaching, you will have a thesis statement.
Writing Your Own Theme Statement
Pick one of the themes from the list you just brainstormed and write your own theme statement.
Remember, a theme statement is not just a single word (ambition), but is the lesson about human kind that is supposed to be gained throughout the text (without restraint, ambition can lead to total destruction).
Sharing Your Theme Statement
Let’s to do a quick whip-around!