1. What is a THEME?

2. The theme is the THE MESSAGE of the story

3. Supporting your THEME • MUST be able to support your THEME • DIRECT QUOTES if you have the book or passage in front of you • PARAPHRASE if the book or passage is not available to you

4. Steps to determining a THEME • Read the passage • Pick 2 characters to compare Or………………………. • Determine a turning point and compare how the character’s traits before and after the turning point (major event) • Determine the THEME and support with evidence

5. PRACTICE

6. Text

7. Venn Diagram Tacky Other penguins Same • Unorganized • Loud • Happy • Did not care what others thought • Organized • Did everything the same • Quiet • Penguins • Helpful • Look out for each other

8. Character Chart Unorganized Loud Tacky Tacky did not bring equipment that was meant for camping. Some items he brought: TV and junk food. When singing, Tacky was the loudest of all the penguins. In fact, the other penguins held their flippers where their ears would be. ********************************************************************* Other Penguins Did everything the same Organized The other penguins brought equipment that was meant for camping. The brought sleeping bags and backpacks. The penguins were all dressed alike in neat uniforms and small name tags. The penguins also participated in senquinized swimming.

9. Put is all together DETAILED paragraph! • Write about the characters’ similarities • Write about the characters’ differences • Use evidence from the text to explain your thinking process • Hint: Try to answer each segment in sequence order to make sure you have given me all that you know

10. Last Step What is the THEME? • Reread the Venn, character chart, and your paragraph • Determine what the THEME of the story is • Provide evidence to support your thinking • Write about what the THEME means to you • Has it pertained a past event in your life? • Has it pertained to a present event in your life? • or – How can you use it in a future event in your life?