SO we know will read through the lens of finding the theme in each text. That is our main focus. Since we know that the theme is the lesson the author wants us to take away, then as we read we will be looking for that message. We will chunk our thinking in short summaries to help us remember what we have read as well as to help us know where to go to find evidence for our quotes.
Let s take a close look at the directions Read the passage from The Count of Monte Cristo, in which Edmond Dantes has been imprisoned for over four years and has recently stopped eating the prison food. It s important to read this because it sometimes gives us clues that help us better understand what we read. Edmond Dantes is in prison, he is also no longer eating food. That means he must feel hopeless and wants to no longer live.
What do we think the theme is of this excerpt? Well, as I was reading with the lens of theme, I kept looking for what it was Dantes was needing. I felt he wanted hope more than anything. Actually, hope was mentioned several times, and that helped me figure out a starting point! So, I am going to start with the topic of hope and ask- What did I learn about hope? I learned that hope is powerful enough to want to make a man live even when he is miserable. I say that because after Dantes heard the noise, he wanted to know exactly what it was and to do that he had to stop abstaining, or giving up, from eating food in order to help him think better. Dantes helped to develop this theme through his actions. He heard the noise and he wanted to know what it was. He didn t want the jailor to hear it, so even though he had not spoken to the jailor in a long time, he spoke to him so the jailor wouldn t hear the noise. He needed to hear the noise because it gave him hope that a prisoner is escaping. I am thinking that if he knows another prisoner can escape then one day he can also. When he started questioning where the noise came from, he started to worry about if the noise was really a prisoner or a worker. He needed it to be a prisoner. This was when he decided he should eat so that he would know for sure. He ate and came up with a plan. When the plan helped him figure out that it was a prisoner and he was full of hope!
Your Turn! Dazzle me with your brilliance.
Our fancy new organizer (aka paper) The Count of Monte Cristo Blessing
Blessings This is a scene from a play. When we are just given a scene, there are LOTS of things we don t know. So, let s look at what we do know. Lights up on the looking spot lets me know that the setting is very important. Reading with the lens of finding the theme means I am going to have to really search out the overall lesson or idea I am supposed to take away. I think this one might require two readings. Why don t you read it one time-no annotating-just read it. Then you can read it and see if you and a partner can determine a theme.
What do we think the theme is of this excerpt? Ok I am thinking that what sticks out to me is that Jesse at first didn t want these people living with him. It seems like change is pretty hard for him. I feel like that is the lesson I am supposed to take away, that change is sometimes hard. Now, it feels like both of the characters have difficulties with parts of change, so I think they both are helping to develop the theme. Jesse by learning to accept these people in his house and Rene seems to like it best when she is by herself and she is having to learn to be around others as well. Towards the end, they seem to be better with each other and it makes me think that even though it is different, they may get used to the change. When Rene asks if Jesse was eating dinner with them, she seems to really want him to.
What s the PCR? ****You have read a passage from The Count of Monte Cristo and a scene from Blessings. Think about the similarities and differences in how the two authors developed the themes in each text. Well, since they mentioned this I feel like it needs to be in there so we add this to the essay. Write an essay in which you identify a theme from each text and analyze how each theme is developed. Be sure to include specific details from both selections. Ok, so it doesn t say they have to have the same theme, it just says that we have to identify a theme from EACH text and then analyze how that theme was developed in each text.
Refer to your summary chunks so you will be able to know where to go to pull your evidence. The Count of Monte Cristo Blessings
Use your thinking from earlier this week! Well, as I was reading with the lens of theme, I kept looking for what it was Dantes was needing. I felt he wanted hope more than anything. Actually, hope was mentioned several times, and that helped me figure out a starting point! So, I am going to start with the topic of hope and ask- What did I learn about hope? I learned that hope is powerful enough to want to make a man live even when he is miserable. I say that because after Dantes heard the noise, he wanted to know exactly what it was and to do that he had to stop abstaining, or giving up, from eating food in order to help him think better. Dantes helped to develop this theme through his actions. He heard the noise and he wanted to know what it was. He didn t want the jailor to hear it, so even though he had not spoken to the jailor in a long time, he spoke to him so the jailor wouldn t hear the noise. He needed to hear the noise because it gave him hope that a prisoner is escaping. I am thinking that if he knows another prisoner can escape then one day he can also. When he started questioning where the noise came from, he started to worry about if the noise was really a prisoner or a worker. He needed it to be a prisoner. This was when he decided he should eat so that he would know for sure. He ate and came up with a plan. When the plan helped him figure out that it was a prisoner and he was full of hope! Ok I am thinking that what sticks out to me is that Jesse at first didn t want these people living with him. It seems like change is pretty hard for him. I feel like that is the lesson I am supposed to take away, that change is sometimes hard. Now, it feels like both of the characters have difficulties with parts of change, so I think they both are helping to develop the theme. Jesse by learning to accept these people in his house and Rene seems to like it best when she is by herself and she is having to learn to be around others as well. Towards the end, they seem to be better with each other and it makes me think that even though it is different, they may get used to the change. When Rene asks if Jesse was eating dinner with them, she seems to really want him to.
Make sure you gather evidence! So, you are talking through how the character(s) developed the theme. It is developed through what they say and how they act. So, when you pull your evidence ( a specific part in the text that backs up what you are writing) you need to make sure your evidence supports how the character developed the theme!
Next part ****You have read a passage from The Count of Monte Cristo and a scene from Blessings. Think about the similarities and differences in how the two authors developed the themes in each text. Well, since they mentioned this I feel like it needs to be in there. 1 st text-think about What was the source of hope in the first text? What did it make the character want to do? How did the author use the character to develop the theme? 2 nd text-think about What was the source needing change? How did the author use these characters to begin to want to change? So what is different about these two texts that affected the theme? Setting, amount of characters. How did the authors approach the theme differently? Find evidence!!!!
Put your evidence and why that evidence works on the back of this page! That way you don t lose it. Yes, you will need it tomorrow. The Count of Monte Cristo Blessings
What s the PCR? You have read a passage from The Count of Monte Cristo and a scene from Blessings. Think about the similarities and differences in how the two authors developed the themes in each text. Write an essay in which you identify a theme from each text and analyze how each theme is developed. Be sure to include specific details from both selections. Ok, so it doesn t say they have to have the same theme, it just says that we have to identify a theme from EACH text and then analyze how that theme was developed in each text.
How to organize our writing! Possible way to organize your essay Intro paragraph-name the stories and do a quick theme identification for each text. Paragraph 2-How the first text (be sure to name it) developed the theme. Need evidence! Paragraph 3-How the second text (name it) developed the theme. Need evidence! Paragraph 4-what was the same and what was different how the authors developed the theme. **See it won t be that hard!
(intro) Both texts taught a lesson to the reader. In The Count of Monte Cristo we learn about hope. In Blessings we learn about change. (this is short and to the point, but it uses the words from the prompt) (par 2) In The Count of Monte Cristo the main character, Edward Dantes, is in prison. He feels hopeless. When he hears a noise that he thinks could be a prisoner escaping, he suddenly begins to have hope. This is where the theme begins to develop. The theme of hope gives a man a reason to live was shown when.. (you get the idea) **Now, you finish and make sure you pull evidence for each paragraph. When you are doing paragraph 3 remember to name the text, the character a SHORT SHORT summary of the text, the theme and how the character developed it. (par 4) In The Count of Monte Christo, the author used a noise to be the source of hope. It was one character that developed the theme and his surroundings made him him feel hopeless. The noise is what made him keep wanting to live. (get another piece of evidence) The theme was developed different in Blessings. The need to change was developed between two characters. It was through their conversations that they began to understand each other and even get used to being around each other (get another piece of evidence).
Today s Writing Challenge! Possible way to organize your essay Intro paragraph-name the stories and do a quick theme identification for each text. Paragraph 2-How the first text (be sure to name it) developed the theme. Need evidence! Paragraph 3-How the second text (name it) developed the theme. Need evidence! Paragraph 4-what was the same and what was different how the authors developed the theme. PCR Think about the similarities and differences in how the two authors developed the themes in each text Write an essay in which you identify a theme from each text and analyze how each theme is developed. Be sure to include specific details from both selections.