Question

identifying theme
directions: determine what the theme is for each story and explain your answer. remember, a theme is a lesson or message in the story. write in complete sentences.

1. when katie clean invited messy missy to her house to work on their biology project, she had no idea what a visit from messy missy entailed. first of all, it was raining and messy missy neither bothered to take her boots off nor thoroughly wiped them on the doormat. then messy missy ate a bag of hot chips on katie cleans white bedspread without asking. messy missy is a sloppy eater too, so hot chip powder got all over the bedspread. katie clean tried to be polite and ignore messy missys sloppy behavior. but then messy missy threw her chip wrapper on the floor. offended, katie clean pretended that she was sick and asked messy missy to leave. the next day katie clean asked the teacher if she could work by herself. after katie explained the situation, the teacher allowed katie to work alone. messy missy almost finished the assignment alone, but she spilled grape soda all over it and quit.

what is the theme of the story?

what happens in the story that leads you to believe this?

1. money mark was born rich. he never had to work a day in his life and he got everything handed to him on a silver platter. when he was six, money mark wanted to go to a basketball game. his father paid the starting five of the bulls and celtics to play a private game of nerf - ball in money marks bedroom. when money mark turned thirteen, he wanted to start a band. his father hired the mountain boys to play with him every saturday at the familys private concert hall, though his family was never there. by the time he was twenty - one, money mark was bored with life. he was surrounded by a bunch of possessions that he didnt appreciate. nothing was new or exciting to him. despite his vast wealth, money mark never found happiness. penny petal was born poor. her family hardly had anything to eat, but they loved each other. penny petal appreciated everything she got. when she was six, her father walked her around the united center before the bulls played the celtics. she was excited by the crazy fans and feeling in the air. she looked forward to the day that she could see a real game. when she was thirteen, she learned to play the buckets. she was an extremely talented musician, a natural percussionist. everyone on the block loved the rhythms that poured from her palms. by the time she was twenty - one, penny was a successful businesswoman. soon she had everything that she had ever dreamed of having. she loved to share her wealth and happiness with her family, who had supported her through the hard times.

what is the theme of the story?

what happens in the story that leads you to believe this?

Explanation:

1. In the first story, Katie Clean has a negative experience with Messy Missy due to the latter's untidy and inconsiderate behavior. This shows that one should be respectful and tidy in others' spaces. Evidence: Messy Missy doesn't wipe her boots, eats messily, and litters, which offends Katie Clean.
2. In the second story, Money Mark, despite being rich, is unhappy as he doesn't appreciate his possessions, while Penny Petal, though poor initially, is happy and successful because she appreciates what she has and has family - support. This shows that true happiness doesn't come from wealth but from appreciation and family - love. Evidence: Money Mark is bored and unhappy with his life full of possessions, while Penny Petal is excited about simple things and achieves success with family support.

Answer:

1. Theme: Respect and tidiness in others' spaces. What leads to this: Messy Missy's untidy and inconsiderate actions like not wiping boots, making a mess with food, and littering.
2. Theme: True happiness comes from appreciation and family - love, not wealth. What leads to this: Money Mark's unhappiness despite wealth and Penny Petal's happiness and success with family support and appreciation for simple things.