Theme and Main IdeaPreparing for the CRT

Topic

First off, how do you determine a “topic”?› Topic is basically the subject or what the

text is about. › Here are some topics:

Recycling Mammals Weather patterns Names

Topic Continued

So, let’s practice. Look at the cover of the famous book below and tell me what the “topic” is…

Topic

In Goodnight Moon, what is the entire book’s subject?

What does the book want to discuss? Here are some possible topic answers:

› Bed time› Sleep› End of the day

Topic

Let’s look at one more example. Watch the following video & consider the “topic.”

Think about what the commercial is advertising. That is generally your “topic”.› In the clip, Chevy Chase is just looking for

what? A hotel room A place to spend the night

Topic in What We’ve Read…

Now think about what we’ve read in class:› Les Miserables–What was the topic?

French Revolution Jean Valjean Poverty and Injustice

› “Dry Your Tears Africa” –What was the topic? Africa Africa’s people Africa today

Main Idea

Now let’s take it one step further and think about what the “Main Idea” or “Central Idea” would be.

The main idea is just the point the author is trying to make.› What do you think is the point the author was

trying to make in the Chevy Chase commercial? Rent a home, not a hotel room. Hotels have hidden costs. Hotels are not as good as rental homes.

Main Ideas

Main ideas are usually expressed as a sentence.

Where the topic was just a word or two, the main idea needs to be expanded to include the point behind the topic.

Main Idea

Let’s now practice finding the Main Idea!

Watch the Pixar Short clip called “For the Birds” and let’s see if you can figure out the Topic and Main Idea.› Topic: Birds on a wire, Sitting Birds, Birds

Main Idea

What were some of the main ideas you gathered from the video?› The birds didn’t like the bigger bird sitting

with them.› The birds didn’t want the new bird to

disturb them.› The birds only wanted to sit with the other

birds like them.› Do you notice that these are all saying the

same thing, basically?

Main Idea

The main idea just helps us identify the point behind something.

Maybe, next time you ask a teacher, “What’s the point” of doing something, you might say, “Hey, what’s the main idea here?”

Main Idea in What We’ve Read…

Les Miserables—What’s the main idea?› A man changed his life for the good.› People chose how to live their lives in hard

situations.› People react to difficult times in their lives.

“Dry Your Tears Africa” –What’s the main idea?› Africa’s slaves are returning today.› Africa is beautiful and has a lot to love.› Africa’s “children” are okay and see how great

Africa really is.

Theme

Theme takes it to a completely different level!

If Topic is the general subject, and main idea is the point, then theme is…› The overriding message, moral, or

meaning.

Theme

Let’s go back to “For the Birds” and think about the theme.› What was the message behind those birds?› What moral or meaning were we supposed

to get out them?

Theme

“For the Birds”› When you laugh at others, the last laugh

might be on you.› Being mean to those who are different is

pointless. (It comes back around.)› It’s easy to feel comfortable with a crowd

of others like you, but picking on the outsider can be silly. We all can be outsiders at some point.

Review…

Topic: The subject or what the text is about. (One or two words)

Main Idea: The point the author is trying to make about the topic. (A sentence)

Theme: The overriding message, moral, or meaning the author wants us to get. These can be repeated throughout the piece. (A sentence or two)