Assignment


1.5 Six-Word Theme Statement: Part 1


Step 1:  Watch this video about Smith’s Six-Word Memoir project.  Examples shown aren’t quite theme statements, but they provide inspiration for your six-word theme.

Step 2:  Read these example theme statements written by your virtual classmates to get you thinking.  Notice that a couple of the theme statements have seven words.  Yours can, too.

 Sample Theme Statements 
 Tyrone  Courage and education are ingredients for success.
 Lola  Quiet rebels can change the world.
 Sabah  Love can transform life into magic.
 Riley  Listen to that voice in your head.

Step 3:  Write a theme statement for your life following these guidelines:

Your theme MUST. . .

  • be 6 to 7 words in length
  • be based on your own life
  • express either a complex statement about the human condition OR an insight into life
  • NOT use “I,” “you,” or any specific names.  (Theme statements are general and can apply to others.)
  • avoid over generalizations such as “all” or “always” 
  • avoid clichés

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Step 4:  Submit your theme to the Moodle Forum discussion board. 

  1. Locate the Moodle Forum by clicking on the link in Step 4 or go to the top navigation bar under Communication.  Select Forum and scroll to the thread called Six-Word Theme Statement.  Post your statement there.

  2. Respond to the post before yours and after yours.  Aim for a one to three-sentence comment for each classmate’s theme statement you responded to.  Write one specific positive comment and one specific constructive criticism for each. 

A sample response to Riley’s previous theme statement might be, “Great theme statement, Riley.  Sounds like you are saying that listening to our instincts will set a person on the right path, which is a great insight into life.  You might just want to reword your sentence slightly to remove the word “you,” since that’s not allowed in a theme statement.  You could write something like, ‘Pay careful attention to gut instincts.’”
NOTE:  To be eligible to write your English 30-2 exams, you must complete all assignments, quizzes, and Moodle Forum posts.