1. Yearbook Theme Create a theme to help tell the story of this year of TCU high school.

2. Theme is a broad idea or message conveyed by a work. It is usually a message about life, society or human nature. Subject and theme are not the same.

3. Theme is… The attitude or personality of the year for your school A perfect medium to tell the story that will be remembered by everyone A way to record the events and remember the milestones of the year Different for every year and for every book

4. Theme should… Relate to the school There should be an obvious tie between the school and the theme. For example if school morale is low - DO NOT choose a pride theme.

5. Relate to the year Major school events and/or circumstances that occur during the year provide logical and appropriate theme choices. Theme should…

6. Be verbal The catch phrase should be memorable and flexible so that it can be adapted to theme copy, captions and mini-themes or spin-offs. Theme should…

7. Be visual A theme look is created by using fonts, graphic elements and colors that are consistent with the message. Theme should…

8. Where do we see theme? Cover Catch phrase may be actually stated, but at the least, the cover sets up the mood/tone reflected in the theme.

9. Pleasant Valley High School Valkyrie

10. Where do we see theme? End Sheets This promotes a unifying idea, either with color choice or through use of headlines, copy, photos, artwork, captions and/or graphics.

12. Where do we see theme? Title Pages The content and design reflects the theme idea. The title of the book is the most important type element.

14. Where do we see theme? Opening Pages usually two or three spreads that relates theme to school in general, but with specific facts and details.

16. Where do we see theme? Closing Pages last spread(s) and final page serves as a wrap-up to theme and school year.

18. Where do we see theme? Division Pages show how each section relates to theme idea.

20. Your job… Use a yearbook from a non-area school

21. Determine… What is their theme? What mood are they trying to convey?

22. Determine… What is the visual representation of their theme? What graphic elements are repeated? What shapes, patterns and colors are used to define the different sections? How does the font reflect the theme?

23. Determine… For each of the sections we discussed, determine how the theme relates to the year and the school. For each of the sections we discussed, determine how the theme is visual and verbal.

24. Determine… What message or idea do you think is being conveyed by the theme? What can we deduce from the yearbook of that school?