Theme Paragraph
Terms to Know
“Catch the
Moon” Theme Paragraph Planning and Assignment
Theme Statement:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Topic Sentence:__________________________________________________________
Evidence:_______________________________________________________________
Directions: write a paragraph that explains how the work you have experienced
presents a truth about life and/or humanity. You need to include a well-written
topic sentence, two examples of evidence, commentary (explanation), and a
concluding sentence.
Topic Sentence + Theme Statement: name the author and title and present the theme.
Use the sentence frame below to begin your topic sentence:
“In [his/her] work _____________, [author] illustrates the idea
that_____________________________ (your theme goes in the blank).”
v Evidence: two examples from the work (character’s words and/or actions,
plot events) that prove the theme you have chosen PLUS
commentary explaining how each explains/proves your theme.
v Concluding Sentence: this should tie the theme of the story to life in the
real world. It should be thought-provoking and insightful (go beyond the obvious
to show that you have thought about how this theme connects to life). It should
also effectively sum up your paragraph.
v
Scoring Guide
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Exemplay
Ideas & Content
Clear and complete
with author & title
Uses well-chosen
evidence to support
Commentary makes
clear connection
Shows insightful
understanding of
author’s intent
Clear and organized
with strong transitions
Appropriate &
interesting vocabulary
for academic essay
Correct use of
sentences with variety
Few or no errors in
grammar or
conventions
•
•
•
•
Proficient
Clear and complete
with author & title
Uses evidence that
supports
Commentary makes a
connection
Shows good
understanding of
author’s intent
• Organized with clear
transitions
• Appropriate
vocabulary for
academic essay
• Correct use of
sentences
• Some errors that do
not distract from
meaning
•
•
•
•
Emerging
Not all complete
Uses adequate
evidence
Commentary attempts
connection that may
not be strong
Shows some
understanding of
author’s intent
•
•
•
•
Incomplete
Not complete
Lacks adequate
evidence
Commentary does not
make a connection
Does not show
understanding of
author’s intent
Scales:
this is how you will be scored
Con te nt:
4 3 2 1
• Does it clearly present the theme? Does it name the author and short story?
• Does it show a perceptive understanding of the author’s intent and the effect upon the audience
• Does it use the best and most precise evidence from the text?
O rganiz ation:
4 3 2 1
• Is the piece well organized in a clear and coherent manner?
• Does the structure of the paragraph effectively develop and substantiate the ideas being expressed?
• Are all distinct reasons/examples (not too much like other reasons/examples? Do they relate to/explain the theme
chosen?
Sty le s & L angua ge : 4 3 2 1 0
• Does the piece use a wide range of vocabulary that evokes emotion?
• Is the audience obvious?
• Is the spelling and punctuation appropriate?
SCORE ON THEME PARAGRAPH:______________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Theme Paragraph Planning and Rough Draft
Step 1: On the lines below write a full sentence theme for the story.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 2: Write your topic sentence here (make sure you look back at directions for writing topic
sentence):_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 3: Proofs: Now, you need to prove that this theme is, in fact, proven by the story. So, find examples
of situations, character’s words, and/or character’s actions that support your theme. For example, if
you think a story’s theme is “Love can give us the courage we need to face difficult emotions,” you must
find examples in the story that show this: someone finding love and then facing his/her problems, etc.
Come up with two proofs (examples) from the story.
• Place them in time order (in the order that each example happens in the story)
• Filling in the blanks below, you do not need to write complete sentences; you do, however, need to
express ideas clearly
Proof 1:
Example (from the story) _________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Explanation (of how it supports the theme)________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Proof 2:
Example (from the story) _________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Explanation (of how it supports the theme)________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 4: write your rough draft on a separate sheet.
Topic sentence
Transition, Proof 1
Explanation of how proof one supports theme
Transition, Proof 2
Explanation of how proof 2 supports theme
Concluding sentence
This planning sheet and paragraph rough draft are BOTH due ________________________.