1. Main Idea V Theme

2. Can be expressed in a one sentence summary of a piece of writing.
For fiction, it would be an extremely short summary of the plot (what happened).
You can express main idea with a “somebody-wanted-but-so” statement (SWBS)
Main Idea

3. Main Idea (SWBS) Somebody-Who? Wanted-What did they want?
Napolean Dynamite
Somebody-Who?
craved acceptance from others, and was trying to get his friend, Pedro, elected class president,
Wanted-What did they want?
but Pedro was up against the most popular girl, Summer, and did not have a skit planned for the campaign speeches,
But-What obstacles did they face?
so Napolean performed a dance in his place, received a standing ovation from his classmates thereby helping Pedro win the election and himself, the respect he had craved.
So-What was the outcome?
Main Idea (SWBS)

4. Theme An idea about life revealed in a work of literature.
NOT merely a topic (friendship, love, death)
Has to be expressed in a full sentence
Usually not directly stated in the text
A statement of theme will not mention the characters, plot, or setting of a story – it is what can be learned about LIFE from the story.
Theme

5. How do you determine theme?
What did the character(s) learn?
How did the character(s) grow or change?
Why did the character(s) act this way?
Do not use cliché’s (“Don’t judge a book by its cover” for example)
The whole story itself should point to the theme – not just one little part.
How do you determine theme?

6. How are the main idea and theme different?
Restate plot
About the story itself
Literally WHAT happens
Theme
Statement of a lesson about life
Not about the story itself
Interpreted from the story – not usually stated in the story
How are the main idea and theme different?