1. THEME STATEMENTS
The theme statement must have a subject and a predicate. A work’s theme cannot be just “mothers and daughters”; it must say something about the conflict or plot event (“The obligations of family often supercede the…”). It may contain more than one sentence. Theme statements are often wordy because they attempt to encapsulate complex ideas succinctly. But not too succinctly.

2. THEME STATEMENTS
It should be stated as a generalization about life. Don’t use characters’ names or specific events from the novel as part of the theme statement. If relevant, however, limit the setting or scope.

3. THEME STATEMENTS
Avoid overgeneralizations; use “often” instead of “always”, “may” instead of “will”, especially when defining resolutions.

4. THEME STATEMENTS
The theme is the central or unifying concept. It must account for all major details; it must not be contradicted within the text; it must never rely on the readers’ suppositions.

5. THEME STATEMENTS
Themes may be stated in a variety of ways and complex works may have several main themes. Only occasionally is there a direct quotation that functions as a complete theme statement; it is useful, however, to use terms or quotations as part of your theme statement. The best statements sum up the majority of the work and address its most prominent conflicts and their resolutions. Again, don’t be reluctant to be a bit wordy at first.

6. THEME STATEMENTS
Themes are not morals; avoid limiting the work to a cliché or trivializing the depth of the work.

7. THEME STATEMENTS
Your statement should identify one of the key issues or central questions that pervades the novel and should suggest the depth of the perspectives on that issue.
Okay. Now take a deep breath. Seriously. Deep Breath. Ready?

8. THEME STATEMENTS
“When <define protagonist> comes in conflict with <define antagonist(ic forces)> in a situation in which <define relevant circumstances, setting, conditions…> the result may be <define the outcomes, the dynamic change in character or lack thereof, epiphanies realizations>”