Determine whether the following statements about THEME are true or false.
1. The theme is sometimes a life lesson.
2. The theme is directly stated in at least one sentence in the story.
3. The reader should look for text evidence to support a theme he or
she believes is implied.
4. The theme is static and cannot be debated.
5. The theme is the topic the story is about.
6. If two readers determine two different themes, one of the readers must be wrong.
7. There is no right or wrong answer when determining a theme if there is evidence to support it.
8. By reading carefully, the reader can determine an implied theme.

For each passage below, identify a theme, and text evidence that supports the theme you’ve identified:
Despite being twin brothers, Martin and Mason couldn’t be more different. Martin loved computers and building things, while Mason couldn’t stand doing anything inside and loved playing outdoor sports. Martin clamored to watch action movies, while Mason grew angry if they didn’t watch history documentaries. They fought about everything and their mother worried that they’d never get along. One day on the way home from school with the report cards, Martin and Mason both noticed that the other was unusually quiet. They realized that both of them had D’s in a subject, Martin in history, and Mason in math, and they were both worried about what their parents would say. Before they got to their front door, they devised a plan. They would tutor each other in those subjects so that they both could improve. Within three weeks, both boys had brought up their grades, and they were closer than they’d ever been.
9. What are the theme topics of this story?
10. What is the theme of this story?
11. What details from the text support this theme?

For the past two years, Beth had been the best player on the city’s twelve-and-under basketball team. Trying out was just a formality, as she was certain she’d get a spot on the team. What would they do without her? While the other girls practiced passing, dribbling, and shooting in the days before the try-outs, Beth stayed at home and watched television. While the other girls got up early to run and exercise, Beth sat on her porch eating ice cream and flipping through magazines. On the day of the try-outs, Beth struggled to keep up with the other girls running from one end of the court to the other. She frequently had to stop to catch her breath, and missed almost all of the shots she took. When the coach put up the list of girls who’d made the team, Beth was surprised to find her name was missing.
12. What are the theme topics of this story?
13. What is the theme of this story?
14. What details from the text support this theme?

Kyle had a crush on a girl named Matilda who was in his class. Every day at school he called her funny names, hoping to get her attention. Kyle knew that Matilda was sometimes angry about the name calling, but he liked that she paid attention to him. Sometimes he hid her things, like her backpack or her textbook, just so she would have to talk to him. Once, he scribbled all over her homework just before she turned it in. Wow, did she spend a lot of time talking to him that time! When it was time for Kyle’s birthday party, he decided, of course, that he would invite Matilda. Matilda received the invitation, and assuming that Kyle invited her so that he could continue to make fun of her, she threw it away and never said a word to Kyle about it.
15. What are the theme topics of this story?
16. What is the theme of this story?
17. What details from the text support this theme?