Building a Universal Concept Into a Truism &

Text-Specific THematic statement

Step 1: Choose a relevant universal concept.
Step 2: Consider either ways that concept works negatively and/or positively in the
novel & craft a universal truism that could work in multiple situations.
Step 3: Translate the universal truism into a text-specific thematic statement.
Step 4: Discuss how the novel worked from beginning to middle to end to reveal that
statement.
Step 1 : Choose a relevant universal concept connected to the novel(dreams, escape, true identity,
hope, etc). ex Escape

Step 2 : Consider either ways that concept works negatively and/or positively in the novel; craft a
universal truism that could work in multiple situations.
Negative Positive
ex. Flying too far from home can create distance that can never truly be ex. It takes courage to escape--but through escape, we find freedom and
recovered. possibility.

Step 3 : Translate ONE of the universal truisms into a text-specific thematic statement related to
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. ex. For positive: Because he had the courage to escape, Arnold “Junior”
Spirit found both freedom and possibility.

Step 4 : Discuss how the novel worked from beginning to middle to end to reveal that statement.

Grading Criteria

10: insightful + detailed 8: thoughtful + detailed 7: responds to prompt adequatel 6: partially responds to prompt 5: minimally responds to prompt
with fragments of ideas