G21.3 Short Answer Exercise: Specific Theme as Answer to Story Question
Literary Core Skill:
Grammar Level 21: Explain the specific theme of various titles.
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Elements of Fiction:
Assignment Type:
Description:
This worksheet asks for a sentence- or paragraph-length answer to Socratic List question 13b, “How does the story answer a problem associated with its general theme?”
The “specific theme” of a story is the case, point, or argument that the author is making about a universal idea, topic, or question. It is distinct from “general theme,” which is the universal idea itself. Every story thus has both a general theme (topic) and a specific theme (thesis).
Grading Rubric:
Equal parts credit for a) clean grammar/syntax/punctuation, b) plausibility, and c) reference to events in the current title. Paragraph- and page-length answers may also be graded on the 5-fold rubric, which is explained at www.centerforlitschools.com/5fold-grading-rubric.
Completed Example Assignments:
