1. Inference A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
Reading between the lines

2. Example:
You are in a store and you see someone run into the store with a ski-mask on. The person immediately rushes up to the check-out counter.
What is going on?
How do you know?

3. Dr. Seuss
On a blank piece of paper labeled: “Zax” Theme, answer these questions while I read.
What (not who) is the story about? State it in one word.
What is the conflict?
What are the characters’ motivations?
Why do they do what they do?
Do the characters change?
What does this say about the author’s feeling about the characters or subject of the story?

4. Think of some themes that could go with the subject: LOVE
The theme of a story is what the author is saying about the subject of the story.
Example:
Subject: growing up (one word)
Theme: Growing up is hard. (one SENTENCE)
Think of some themes that could go with the subject: LOVE

5. Elements of Literature, p. 208-209, © 2005
What theme looks like…
It is a “truth” about human behavior according to the author.
The author wants us to recognize something about life or our lives
Theme is usually not stated directly —  we must infer it
Elements of Literature, p , © 2005

6. authors often express similar themes
Universal Themes
Because a theme is a generalization about life or human nature, and because certain experiences are common to all people everywhere…
authors often express similar themes
These universal themes deal with subjects about general human experience.
good and evil, life and death, love and loss
Elements of Literature, p , © 2005

7. Elements of Literature, p. 208-209, © 2005
How to find theme
Find the subject (topic of story, one word).
What are the motivations of the protagonist and other characters?
Does the protagonist change?
How is the conflict resolved? (i.e., happy or sad ending)
Elements of Literature, p , © 2005

8. (theme must be stated as a complete sentence)
How to find theme
THEN:
infer what the author is saying about the subject/life?
...and write it in one sentence
(theme must be stated as a complete sentence)
Elements of Literature, p , © 2005

9. How do we know our theme is good?
It must be complete sentence.
It is explaining what the author/story is saying about the subject.
Ex:
Subject: Rain
Theme: Rain is good.

10. Dr. Seuss
What is the theme of ‘The Zax?’

11. Elements of Literature, p. 208-209, © 2005
How to find theme
Find the subject (topic of story, one word).
What are the motivations of the protagonist and other characters?
Does the protagonist change?
How is the conflict resolved? (i.e., happy or sad ending)
Elements of Literature, p , © 2005

12. (theme must be stated as a complete sentence)
How to find theme
THEN:
infer what the author is saying about the subject/life?
...and write it in one sentence
(theme must be stated as a complete sentence)
Elements of Literature, p , © 2005

13. Dr. Seuss Let’s try another one.... “The Sneetches” Theme
What (not who) is the story about? State it in one word.
What is the conflict?
What are the characters’ motivations?
Why do they do what they do?
Do the characters change?
What does this say about the author’ attitude towards the characters or subject of the story?

14. Dr. Seuss What is the theme of ‘The Sneetches?’
(make sure it applies to the entire story)

15. Elements of Literature, p. 208-209, © 2005
How to find theme
Find the subject (topic of story, one word).
What are the motivations of the protagonist and other characters?
Does the protagonist change?
How is the conflict resolved? (i.e., happy or sad ending)
Elements of Literature, p , © 2005

16. (theme must be stated as a complete sentence)
How to find theme
THEN:
infer what the author is saying about the subject/life?
...and write it in one sentence
(theme must be stated as a complete sentence)
Elements of Literature, p , © 2005

17. Theme: Why bother?
Wouldn’t it be easier just to come right out and say it?

18. Theme A message has a greater impact if we explain it through a story
...particularly if you, the reader, have to do a little bit of work to figure it out
This is particularly true of ideas that are very difficult to understand
Human beings are storytellers: and stories can mean different things to different people.

19. “Souvenir” Key Vocabulary:
Pawnbroker: Someone who offers loans to people as long as they provide items as collateral.
Prisoner of war: Soldiers that are captured during war by the opposite side. They are held in prisons, usually until wars are over, or some sort of agreement is made.
Liberators: People who free a place

20. Preview: All of these images represent things in the story

21. ‘Souvenir’ Find the subject (topic of story, one word).
What are the motivations of the protagonist and other characters?
Does the protagonist change?
How is the conflict resolved? (i.e., happy or sad ending)

22. ‘Souvenir’
Infer what the author is saying ABOUT THE SUBJECT. (See your answer to #1)
What is the theme of “Souvenir?” Write it in a complete sentence

23. Paragraph assignment
You are writing an introduce explain pertain paragraph with 2 pieces of evidence due by the beginning of class on Friday.
This is your end of unit assessment (it’s worth a lot!)
You will be graded on your claim, your 2 pieces of evidence, and your use of IEP to support your claim.

24. 2: Approaching Standard
Rubric
Grade:
4: above and beyond
100% A+
3: Meets the standard
85% B
2: Approaching Standard
70% C-
1: Not Yet
55% F
What it looks like:
*Establishes creative and credible claim clearly based on evidence.
*Uses 2 or more pieces of evidence that strongly prove claim.
*Introduce/Explain/Pertain is used correctly and creatively. (May use sentence frames or may use own sentences in an effective way)
*All Citations are correct.
*Establishes credible claim based on evidence.
*Uses 2 pieces of evidence that clearly proves claim.
*Introduce/Explain/Pertain is used correctly (with sentence frames) to prove claim.
*Citations are correct.
*Establishes claim based on evidence, but may be unclear.
*Uses 2 pieces of evidence that may prove claim, but connection is sometimes unclear.
*Introduce/Explain/Pertain is mostly correct (with sentence frames) to prove claim.
*Citations are correct
*Claim is unclear or not based on evidence.
*Uses 2 pieces of evidence that may prove claim, but connection is unclear.
*Introduce/Explain/Pertain is incorrect and/or does not use sentence frame and/or connection to claim is missing.
*Citations are incorrect

25. The theme of Vonnegut’s “Souvenir” is _________ because _______ .
Paragraph Assignment
CLAIM: use one of the wonderful themes we just went over and put it into a ‘claim frame.’
The theme of Vonnegut’s “Souvenir” is _________ because _______ .
THEN: Gather evidence (quotes) to support your claim before you begin writing your IEP.

26. How to find your evidence
Look back at your CSR notes and your Theme notes.
Remember that in order to find theme we looked at:
Subject
Character motivation and change
Resolution
Therefore, look for quotes that show those things!

27. Introduce Explain Pertain
When _____ is talking to _____ about _____ he/she says, “_________” (Vonnegut p#).
When ________ happened, the story describes, “______” (Vonnegut p#).
Explain:
In other words__________.
This quote is saying __________.
Pertain:
This proves my claim because________.
This proves my point because ________.