Theme Statement Think of a theme statement as a message we see in the text and it can be applied to our own lives.

Example for Social Injustice Theme Statement: People in society tend to treat each other unequally and judge. Example One: How Aunt Alexandra treats the Cunninghams, and Walter in particular (Lee 301). Need two more examples.

Beginnings of the Graphic Organizer Thesis Statement – add author and title to your theme statement: Harper Lee clearly shows in To Kill a Mockingbird that people in society tend to treat each other unequally and judge. In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the author shows that people in society tend to treat each other unequally and judge.

Graphic Organizer – Body Paragraphs Then you need main ideas – look to your evidence. What does it show/prove? That’s your claim/topic sentence. Paragraph One Topic Sentence/Claim: Some people judge no matter what the situation. Evidence – Even though Aunt Alexandra knows that it was a Cunningham who almost found Tom innocent; she still won’t let Scout play with Walter (Lee 301). Paragraph Two Topic Sentence/Claim: Even people who do not seem judgmental at all will sometimes judge. Example – Calpurnia judging Mr. Radley as he passes the house (Lee 15). Paragraph Three Topic Sentence/Claim: Initial judgments can be incorrect. Kids first think Boo is scary and monstrous, based on Stephanie’s gossip (Lee 15-16), but he saves their lives because he thinks of them as his own kids (Lee 369-370, 374). Notice that the theme statements (claim, topic sentence) does not name any people or things from the book. It is a general statement that can be applied to all of life. Note how I just give a quick bit of evidence – you don’t need the direct quote or complete paraphrase. You will do something better in your draft.

Graphic Organizer – Preview Statement Once you know your body paragraphs, then you can write the preview statement. This is one sentence that previews the three body paragraph ideas in order. Example: While some people judge others no matter what the situation, others rarely judge and still others find that their initial judgment was incorrect.