Recurring Theme Essay Checklist

Checklist

Introduction

 Hook

 Thesis statement: identify the common theme in both texts (use titles and authors)

 Sentence Summary of each text (show characters’ growth/change)

Tip: Use the format of Somebody/Wanted/But/So

Body Paragraph 1

 Restate title of first text and the theme

 Quote from text that shows theme (could be from beginning/middle of text)

 Explain how this quote shows the theme (one to two sentences)

 Second Quote from text that shows theme (could be from end of text)

 Explain how this quote shows the theme (one to two sentences)

Sentence frames to get you started

Sample Hook frames:

  • Have you ever…
  • Can you imagine a world where…

Sample Thesis frames:

  • Both “ “ by ______and “ “ by ______share the recurring theme of ______.
  • In “ “by ______and “ “by ______the recurring theme is ______.

Sentence Summaries:

  • In “ “ the author discusses what happens when…., whereas in “ “ the author deals with the issue of….
  • Both works [or stories/ poems] involve someone who…

How to: Form a topic sentence [use only one]:

  • In the story “ “ by______, a theme is ______.
  • The theme of ______is shown in the story “ “ by______.

How to: Introduce a quote:

  • In the beginning, the character is ______[descriptive statement], as shown in this quote: “ .”
  • At first the character of _____ feels _____, as demonstrated in the quote, “ .”
  • Later the theme is shown in the quote “ .”

How to: Explain a quote’s connection to theme

  • This quote shows the theme because ______[explanation of how this shows theme through the character’s journey].
  • The importance of the theme of ______is shown in this quote because.
  • This quote effectively presents the theme because it shows ______.

Theme Essay Checklist continued

Body Paragraph 2

 Restate title of second text and the theme

 Quote from text that shows theme (could be from beginning/middle of text)

 Explain how this quote shows the theme (one to two sentences)

 Second Quote from text that shows theme (could be from end of text)

 Explain how this quote shows the theme (one to two sentences)

Conclusion

 Restate what theme is in both texts (thesis)

 Summarize main points of essay (characters' growth through the theme)

 Why does this theme matter to the larger world? Why should we care?

Your conclusion should end strong, inspire your reader, and answer the question, “So What?”

How to: Form a topic sentence [use only one]:

  • In the story “ “ by______, a theme is ______.
  • The theme of ______is shown in the story “ “ by______.

How to: Introduce a quote:

  • In the beginning, the character is ______[descriptive statement], as shown in this quote: “ .”
  • At first the character of _____ feels _____, as demonstrated in the quote, “ .”
  • Later the theme is shown in the quote “ .”

How to: Explain a quote’s connection to theme

  • This quote shows the theme because ______[explanation of how this shows theme through the character’s journey].
  • The importance of the theme of ______is shown in this quote because.
  • This quote effectively presents the theme because it shows ______.

How to: Connect to the larger world

The theme of ______is important to us all because….

This story teaches the reader that… because…

We all should remember the importance of ... because…