1. Theme
The insight about human life that is revealed by the literature. Theme is not the same as the subject. Subject might be one word or a phrase like “growing up.” The theme is stated in at least one sentence or more. “For most young people, growing up is a process that involves the pain of achieving self-knowledge.”

2. Theme is not a moral
A moral tells how to behave or what to do. Theme is an observation.
Incorrect theme: The theme of “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” is that you shouldn’t hurt other people.

3. A theme is not a bumper sticker statement or a cliché
Incorrect theme: The theme of “A Life You Save May Be Your Own” is that what comes around goes around.

4. Themes do not refer to the specific names or the events of the plot
Incorrect theme: The theme of “The Life You Save” is that Mr. Shiftlet is a con artist and will be punished.

5. Wording to use
Avoid shallow words like “anyone” “all” “none” “everything” “everyone” “you”
Use terms that suggest a more realistic view of human experience like “we” “us” “society often” “people sometimes”

6. Vocabulary to use in your sentences
Alienation
Ambition
Appearance/ reality
Custom/ tradition
Betrayal
Courage/ cowardice
Women/ feminism
Cruelty/ violence
Defeat/ failure
Chance/ fate/
Search for identity
Scapegoat/ victim
Innocence/ illusion
Prejudice
Social status
Persistence
Repentance
Revenge
Journey
Heart vs Reason
Law/ justice
Free will/ will power
Greed
Guilt
Falsity/ pretense
Dreams/ fantasies
Loyalty
Materialism
Mob psychology