Theme Development | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	Teamwork (or Cooperation, Collaboration) The story is about working together, so any of these one-word topics are acceptable.
2	Working together and valuing others' strengths leads to greater success than working alone. Accept any theme statement that captures the idea that collaboration/teamwork leads to success.
3	Marcus changes from wanting to work alone and control everything to accepting help and valuing what others contribute. His change shows that working with others is better than working alone.
4	C. "Working together made us all stronger." This is a stated theme - Marcus directly says the lesson he learned.

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	Perseverance (or Resilience, Determination)
2	B. Failure and perseverance lead to greater success than easy wins.
3	Mia changes from someone who won easily and thought about quitting after her first failure, to someone who worked hard through challenges and valued the struggle as much as winning. Her change shows that overcoming failure is more meaningful than easy success.
4	C. "The next morning, Mia was at the track before sunrise." This shows her determination and choice to persevere rather than quit.
5	The plot creates a conflict (Mia falls and loses) that leads to a choice (quit or keep trying). The resolution (she practices harder and eventually wins) proves that working through failure leads to success. The journey from easy wins to failure to hard-earned success develops the theme.
6	Art AND Perfection (or Creativity, Expression)
7	C. True art combines skill with authentic expression and meaning.
8	Devon represents technical skill/perfection and Simone represents expression/meaning. By contrasting them, then showing Devon learning from Simone, the passage shows that both skill AND expression are needed. Their decision to work together reinforces that combining different strengths creates the best results.
9	B. People spend more time looking at Simone's sketches and she wins Best in Show. This event challenges Devon's belief that perfection is most important.
10	B. The harsh winters create conditions where survival requires community cooperation.
11	Communities survive and thrive when people help each other, sharing what they have when others are in need.
12	Kai's father starts out refusing to share, believing his family should only rely on themselves. After the community helps his family when they need it, he changes and becomes the first to help others. His change from selfish to generous shows that community sharing is essential for everyone's survival.
13	C. "When you have extra, you give. When you need, you receive. That's how we survive." This is a stated theme - Elena directly explains the village's philosophy.
14	SIMILAR: Both themes involve characters learning and growing through difficult experiences. Both show that challenges lead to positive change. DIFFERENT: "The Storm" is about individual perseverance and self-improvement, while "The Mountain Village" is about community interdependence and helping others. One focuses on personal achievement, the other on collective survival.

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question	Answer
1	C. The qualities that make us different can also be what connect us to others.
2	A. It creates Emma's loneliness and feeling of being different, which is resolved when her bravery connects her to the community.
3	C. Emma's bravery saves the sailors, and the community recognizes and embraces her. This event is the turning point where Emma's "difference" becomes her connection to others.
4	A. She goes from feeling lonely and different to understanding that her unique role connects her to others.
5	C. Self-discovery While spelling is the activity, the story is really about Marcus discovering his own abilities.
6	B. Hard work and perseverance can reveal abilities you never knew you had.
7	B. It directly names the quality that helped Marcus succeed and discover his potential. The word itself embodies the theme - a perfect example of stated theme through symbolism.
8	C. Facing difficult situations can reveal your true strengths and change how others see you.
9	See rubric and sample response below.
10	See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric

Score	Criteria
2	Identifies TWO story elements (character, setting, or plot), provides specific evidence for each, AND clearly explains how each contributes to theme development
1	Identifies two elements but with weak evidence or explanation, OR thoroughly discusses only one element
0	Does not identify story elements clearly, provides no evidence, or response does not address theme development

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
The setting and character work together to develop the theme. The setting of the isolated lighthouse creates Emma's loneliness - she says "I wish I could have friends like other kids" because she's separated from town. This makes her feel different. The character development shows Emma going from feeling lonely and doubting herself ("I'm just a kid") to being brave and saving the sailors. When the community comes to thank her, her isolation becomes her connection - the same lighthouse that separated her also made her special. The setting created the problem, and Emma's growth solved it, proving that what makes us different can connect us to others.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric

Score	Criteria
2	Correctly identifies topic AND theme (as a complete statement), clearly explains how the main character changes, AND connects that change to the theme
1	Identifies topic and theme but gives a weak explanation of character change OR explains change but doesn't clearly connect to theme
0	Confuses topic and theme, does not explain character change, or response is off-topic

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
In the movie "Finding Nemo," the topic is family (or fear). The theme is that parents have to learn to let their children take risks and grow, even when it's scary. At the beginning, Marlin is overprotective of Nemo because he lost his wife and other children. He won't let Nemo do anything. By the end, Marlin learns to trust Nemo and let him face challenges on his own. This change develops the theme because Marlin's journey from fear to trust shows that holding on too tight can hurt the ones we love, and sometimes the bravest thing a parent can do is let go.

Quick Reference: Topic vs. Theme