Theme Synthesis Teaching Assignment

Overview: Create a thesis that answers the guiding question, using support from Cats Cradle and
two independently-researched articles. This is a formative assignment that will build into a
summative assignment for next week.
Step One: Pick a theme
Human pursuits are futile
Human actions and behaviors as hypocritical, stupid, or flawed
The Rejection of Truth as Innately Good
Salvation in Lies
Religion and Science as Panaceas
The Danger of Technological Advancement
Individual Destiny and Control
Desire and Happiness
Step Two: Conduct outside research: Find at least two outside, professional-grade articles that can be
used as examples of your chosen theme.
Step Three: Collect quotes: Identify quotes from Cats Cradle and your two articles that demonstrate
your chosen theme.

Guidelines:
Have a complex (multi-part) thesis. Formula should be observation, explanation!
Must be specific (not general)
No facts should be arguable!
Should be interesting to you and the reader
Cause/effect is good: by or because or due to are good stems.
Find four relevant, connected, and specific examples (related to your question) that exist in
Cats Cradle and your chosen article.
You will be teaching others in your class expect to use a full five minutes of class time for your
lesson.

YOUR ESSAY PROMPT: ANSWER YOUR ESSENTIAL QUESTION!

Why does the theme you choose keep appearing in mainstream culture and what does
this suggest about society/us?
CONSIDER LITERARY ELEMENT + OBSERVED THEME + HOW IT FUNCTIONS IN DIFFERENT WORKS

= CONCLUSION ABOUT THEME IN YOUR PRESENTATION/ESSAY

IDENTIFY
THEME IN
CATS
CRADLE

IDENTIFY THEME IN
NONFICTION (news story
or editorial)

COMPARE (AND CONTRAST) HOW THE THEME IS PRESENTED IN EACH WORK

DRAW A CONCLUSION: ANSWER THE ESSAY QUESTION!

Rubric
Arguable thesis that answers the guiding question: (5)
Research from legitimate sources (2 articles) (2)
Theme Connection to article 1 (2)
Theme Connection to article 2 (2)
Quotes & Analysis from Cats Cradle (3 examples) (3)
Collaboration: Building on others ideas (feedback) (3)
Collaboration: Expressing own ideas clearly and persuasively (3)