 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

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

 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

 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

 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

 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 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.

 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

 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?

 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?”

 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 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.

 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?

 “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.

 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)