Theme vs. Main Idea Get to the Point!

Can you find it? See if you can find the main idea in the following paragraph…

Exercise can help the body in various ways. To begin with, daily exercise can help keep the body at a healthy weight. More importantly, exercise can help reduce stress levels in the body. When you have a difficult test or quiz coming up, a great way to relax is to…move! Exercise is great stress relief.

Exercise can help the body in various ways. This is the main idea. What details did you see that support that main idea? How did you know it was the main idea? This is the main idea. What details did you see that support that main idea? How did you know it was the main idea?

Prentice Hall Literature says… Central point that a speaker or writer wants to communicate In essays, the main idea is usually seen in the thesis statement Main ideas are general statements that need supporting details to explain them Central point that a speaker or writer wants to communicate In essays, the main idea is usually seen in the thesis statement Main ideas are general statements that need supporting details to explain them Main Idea

Connection to Self What was the main idea of your piece of writing? “Master of My Fate” What were your supporting details? What was the main idea of your piece of writing? “Master of My Fate” What were your supporting details?

Can you find it? Think about some of the stories from your childhood What were the themes in those? Think about some of the stories from your childhood What were the themes in those?

Red Riding Hood What is the theme in this children’s story? Stranger Danger Don’t walk alone How do you know? What is the theme in this children’s story? Stranger Danger Don’t walk alone How do you know?

Goldilocks Don’t take things that are not yours How do you know? Don’t take things that are not yours How do you know?

Prentice Hall Literature says… A theme is a central message, concern, or insight Usually expressed in a 1 or 2 sentence statement about human beings or life Usually not stated directly Can be multiple A theme is a central message, concern, or insight Usually expressed in a 1 or 2 sentence statement about human beings or life Usually not stated directly Can be multiple Theme

Connection to the Text What is the theme (central message) in the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost? The Road Not Taken What is the theme (central message) in the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost? The Road Not Taken

The Necklace What are the theme(s) in “The Necklace”?