Writing a Good Theme Statement

Remember what makes a good theme statement?

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Remember This?

Theme Statement

People with an honest and sensible understanding of masculinity are healthier and create more peace and connection with others.

Thesis Statement

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men shows that people with an honest and sensible understanding of masculinity are healthier and create more peace and connection with others.

What About They Say / I Say Stuff?

YES!

Not ALL of IT All At Once

Let's take a thesis:

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men shows that people with a sensible understanding of masculinity are healthier and create more peace and connection with others.

Entering the Conversation and Starting With What Others Are Saying

For too many people, masculinity means being tough, stoic, and dominating. Some have identified unhealthy ideas about masculinity and have labeled those attributes as "toxic masculinity." Readers of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men can likely identify many forms of toxic masculinity and the novel argues that people with a sensible understanding of masculinity are healthier and create more peace and connection with others.

Let's take another thesis:

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men asserts that people don’t ever really understand each other and this causes serious problems.

Entering the Conversation and Starting With What Others Are Saying

What does that mean?

You are not the first person to think of your idea and apply it to the novel. What kinds of ideas do you think are out there? Talk about them a bit.

Some people believe that we can, in fact, understand others with enough time and honesty. They believe that if we make connections with others, we will fully "get them." Others believe that it is simply impossible to truly know each other. People are just too guarded and insecure to reveal themselves. This idea is at the center of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck asserts that people don’t ever really understand each other and this causes serious problems.

Now let's add a So What / Who Cares

Some people believe that we can, in fact, understand others with enough time and honesty. They believe that if we make connections with others, we will fully "get them." Others believe that it is simply impossible to truly know each other. People are just too guarded and insecure to reveal themselves. This idea is at the center of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck asserts that people don’t ever really understand each other and this causes serious problems. Understanding how impossible it is to really know each other can help people avoid making assumptions and hurting others or themselves.

Better?

What Three Types Of Authorial Choices Have Led You To This?

Types of Conflict

Types of Authorial Choices

Of course, the plot and what the characters say and do are authorial choices, but they are included in these things.

So the list should be your options.

Good Luck!