1. Focusing Question Focusing Question | Mini Lesson | Writer’s Work Time | Lesson SummaryMini Lesson Writer’s Work Time Lesson Summary Objective: To identify big ideas and themes in a piece of literature. Focusing Questions: –What is a big idea? –What is a theme? Strategy: To create a thesis statement about a story by analyzing an author’s message, big ideas and themes. Explore Big Ideas and Themes

2. Focusing Question Focusing Question | Mini Lesson | Writer’s Work Time | Lesson SummaryMini Lesson Writer’s Work Time Lesson Summary Stories usually contain “big ideas” and themes about issues in the world. Big ideas are general concepts like FORGIVENESS or FRIENDSHIP. Review read aloud text. –Who are the characters in the story? –What is the story about? –What are the big ideas in this story? Themes are statements about big ideas, such as: –Betrayal can change your life. or –True friends are loyal. What theme or thesis statements come from the big ideas? Mini Lesson

3. Focusing Question Focusing Question | Mini Lesson | Writer’s Work Time | Lesson SummaryMini Lesson Writer’s Work Time Lesson Summary 1.Review the class list of big ideas from the read aloud text. 2.Select three or four that best reflect the author’s message. 3.Turn these big ideas into thesis/theme statements. 4.Each theme statement should be: Based on a big idea Related to the story About life in general Written as a complete sentence. Writer’s Work Time

4. Focusing Question Focusing Question | Mini Lesson | Writer’s Work Time | Lesson SummaryMini Lesson Writer’s Work Time Lesson Summary What theme statements did you find in the read aloud text? We will continue to look for big ideas and themes in other stories. Lesson Summary