Let's solve this worksheet step by step. The goal is to
determine whether each sentence is a theme or a summary.
Definitions:
-
Theme: A central idea or message the author wants to convey about life, human nature, or society. It’s usually broad and universal (e.g., "Love conquers all").
-
Summary: A brief statement that outlines the main events or plot of a story (e.g., "A girl adopts a dog and learns a lesson").
Now let's go through each sentence:
---
1. A woman who thinks the best part of her life is behind her adopts a dog who changes her perspective and her life.
- This describes what happens in the story — a woman adopts a dog, and her life changes.
- It tells us the
plot and key events.
-
✔ Answer: Summary
---
2. Happiness comes from within you, not from things outside of you.
- This is a general idea about happiness — it's a
universal truth or message.
- It's not describing events; it's expressing a belief.
-
✔ Answer: Theme
---
3. A dog who gets separated from his family finds his way back to them despite running into many obstacles on the way.
- This describes a sequence of events: separation, journey, overcoming obstacles, reunion.
- It's a
plot summary.
-
✔ Answer: Summary
---
4. The most successful businesses are about mission, not money.
- This is a
general idea about business success.
- It's stating a value or principle, not recounting a story.
-
✔ Answer: Theme
---
5. A friendship grows when two strangers spend the night together in a broken-down car.
- This is a
brief description of events — two people meet, get stranded, and form a bond.
- It's a
plot summary.
-
✔ Answer: Summary
---
6. Courage means being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway.
- This is a
definition of courage, a deep idea about human behavior.
- It's a
message or insight, not a story.
-
✔ Answer: Theme
---
7. A girl invents a machine that makes teachers obsolete.
- This describes an event: invention, consequence (teachers become obsolete).
- It's a
plot point, not a moral or message.
-
✔ Answer: Summary
---
Final Answers:
1.
summary
2.
theme
3.
summary
4.
theme
5.
summary
6.
theme
7.
summary
✔ All correct answers circled as per directions.
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Explanation Recap:
-
Themes are abstract ideas or messages (often philosophical or emotional).
-
Summaries describe what happens in a story — characters, actions, outcomes.
This helps students distinguish between *what the story is about* (theme) vs. *what happens in the story* (summary).
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of theme practice worksheet.
