Fiction and Nonfiction Standard for Reading Literature 2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text including its relationship to the ID: 263224
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Slide1
Determining Themes and Central Ideas
Fiction and NonfictionSlide2
Standard for Reading Literature
2.
Determine
a
theme
or central idea of a text and
analyze
its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the
characters
,
setting
, and
plot
; provide an objective
summary
of the text.Slide3
Determining Themes in Fiction
A theme is a message about or an insight into life.
In other words, it is the main idea of a work of fiction.
It is expressed in a statement, meaning a complete sentence.
Themes are developed through characters—their decisions, experiences, and insights.Slide4
2 Types of Themes
Stated themes
are expressed directly in the text by the writer.
Implied themes
are revealed gradually through elements such as plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbol, and irony.Slide5
Implied Themes
Implied themes are more frequent.
READERS must determine the theme through examination of characters and story patterns.Slide6
ExampleSlide7
Your Turn
For the following example passage, determine the following information:
How is this a before-and-after story pattern? Fill in the details that support the pattern.
What generalization can we make from this pattern?
What then, is the implied theme of this text?Slide8
Before-and-After Pattern
A man went to a fancy party where he, along with several other guests, was to be honored. Dressed in ordinary clothes, the man was overlooked—no host greeted him, no guests chatted with him, no servants served him. The man went home, put on his best clothes, and returned to the party. Now the host introduced himself and commanded the servers to bring food to the man. When the man offered the food to his dress coat, the host was puzzled. The man explained that his clothes should have the food, since the host was actually honoring
them
.Slide9
ExampleSlide10
Standard for Reading Informational Text
2.
Determine
a
central idea
of a text and
analyze
its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to
supporting ideas
; provide an objective
summary
of the text.Slide11
Determining Central Ideas in Nonfiction
Nonfiction works develop central ideas through the use of supporting details.
A central idea is a key point the author wants to make.
All the details in the text develop and support the central idea by:
Proving it
Explaining it
Illustrating it
Giving further detailsSlide12
Determining Central Ideas
In most cases, the author directly states the central idea near the beginning of the text.
In other cases, the central idea is implied by the points the author makes.
We readers can infer the central idea by determining what point all of the details combine to support.Slide13
The Role of the Paragraph
Each paragraph in nonfiction develops its own main idea.
This main idea is used to support the main idea of the whole text.
The main idea of a paragraph is often stated in a topic sentence.
The topic sentence is then supported by reasons, examples, and other details in the paragraph.
All details in each paragraph, as well as each paragraph itself, serve the larger purpose of developing the central idea of the whole work.Slide14
Central Idea
: Our town should build a skate park for skateboarders.Slide15
Central Idea
How a text’s central idea is developed is directly related to the author’s purpose, or reason for writing.
Example Purposes: To inform, to persuade, to entertainSlide16
Rock climbing is dangerous.
Purpose
To
inform
To
persuade
To
entertain
Angle
Include facts about accidents.
Add arguments about the need for safety.
Include comical details about a rock climbing experience.Slide17
In summary:
We readers determine themes in fiction, central ideas in nonfiction.
Themes can be directly stated or implied through careful examination of characters and story patterns.
Themes are expressed in a statement, or a complete sentence.
Central ideas are the main ideas identified and developed in nonfiction.
Usually, central ideas are directly stated by the author at the beginning of a text.
Each paragraph in a nonfiction text contains a central idea with supporting details, and each paragraph serves to support the central idea of the work as a whole.
An author’s purpose for writing determines how a central idea will be developed.
Both themes and central ideas will be supported through details in the text, and it is our job as readers to figure out what the theme/idea is. It’s the “so what?” of our reading.