Understanding Subject, Topic, Theme and Central Idea, Lecture notes of Technical Writing

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Subject vs. Central Idea

4 3 2 1. I can identify an appropriate theme/central idea, choose the most important events/details, explain how they develop the theme/central idea, and connect the theme/central idea to another text. I can identify an appropriate theme/central idea, choose the most important details/events and explain how they develop the theme/central idea I can choose the most important details/events. I am not yet able to identify an appropriate theme/central idea and explain how it is developed. I can choose some of the most important details. Note: 3.5 - I can identify an appropriate theme/central idea, choose the most important details/events, explain how they develop the theme/central idea, and partially connect the theme/central idea to another text. 2.5 - I can identify the theme/central idea and choose important details/events that develop the theme, but my explanation of how they develop the theme/central idea is inadequate. 0.5 and 1.0 require teacher’s help. 0 = no important details or evidence of an appropriate response.

II. Theme and central idea mean the same thing, therefore theme = central idea. Theme exists in fiction; central idea exists in nonfiction. Note: Another term that means the same as central idea is main idea. A) Theme/central idea is the author’s message to the reader. B) Theme is usually a generalization about life or about human beings; the central idea is what you’re supposed to learn about the topic. C) They are what you’re supposed to learn from the author, so they must be more than a one- word answer. D) Theme is NOT about a story’s characters, but a main idea CAN be about a specific person since it is nonfiction. Let’s read the short story again to find examples. Examples: 1 ) People can overcome their fear with practice is a possible theme for “A New Pitcher”. 2 ) It’s hard to be successful if you’re not prepared for it is another possible theme for “A New Pitcher”. Non-examples:

1. Matthew is nervous to pitch.
2. Matthew can be successful if he keeps practicing. What’s wrong with the Non-examples?

Is it a subject or a theme/central idea?

1. A subject is one word; a theme/central idea is a statement
2. A subject is who or what ; a theme/central idea is why How do you match a subject with its theme?
3. Look for the subject’s word in the theme Example: subject = love; theme = love can conquer anything. Example: subject = Frederick Douglass; central idea = Douglass’s Narrative shows how white slaveholders perpetuate slavery by keeping their slaves ignorant.
4. Look for the description of the subject inside the theme Example: subject = respect; theme = treat others how you would like to be treated.

Match the subjects and themes that best go together. Subject Theme

Danger “There are many victories worse than

a defeat.” – George Eliot

Kindness “As soon as there is life there is

danger.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Laughter The world is a better place when we

can act for more than ourselves.

Success and

Failure

“A day without laughter is a day

wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin

Which is the best central idea for “My Mother, the Scientist”? Which is the best subject for “My Mother, the Scientist”? a) Science b) Inequality c) Due to inequality, it was odd for a woman to be a mother and a scientist in the 1960’s. d) The narrator was afraid of Mrs. Weddle, his first grade teacher.

Which is the best theme for “The Smallest Dragonboy”? Which is the best subject for “The Smallest Dragonboy”? a) Keevan was chosen by the bronze dragon even though he was small. b) The underdog c) Victory is not always achieved by those who expect it, but sometimes it is awarded to those who deserve it. d) Keevan doesn’t like being teased by others.