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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 , 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.

5. 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.