1. 8th Grade Literary essay

2. Literary Essay prompt-
After reading a text, study and consider the themes presented by the author throughout the text. After making inferences about what the author wanted readers to understand, determine how the author reveals a theme through character development. Then, determine a relationship between theme and character development to create an arguable claim about the theme. Use textual evidence to support the claim(s) as you construct a literary essay.

3. Theme-
When we refer to the theme of a book, we are talking about a universal idea, lesson, or message that stretches through the entire story. A theme may show up in a pattern (such as reoccurring examples of beauty in simplicity) or a theme may come through as the result of a buildup (like the gradual realization that war is tragic, not noble). It is often a lesson that we learn about life or people.

4. Theme Examples Circle of Life Coming of Age Dangers of Ignorance
Emptiness of Attaining False Dream
Faith versus Doubt
Good versus Evil
Greed
Immortality
Loyalty
Love
Self-sacrifice & Honor
Empathy
Individual identity
Preserving Childhood Innocence

5. Making a Claim-
In Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver, Jonas discovers the emptiness of the utopian society as he learns about everything the community is missing.
**Notice how the claim shows the relationship between the character development & the theme.