Theme & Summarizing Graphic Organizer for Middle School ELA

This graphic organizer bridges the gap from simply filling out a plot diagram with recall information to actively ANALYZING a short story in order to identify the theme. Don't be fooled by the pretty colors. Pay attention to all those HOT verbs! Follow the learning progression on the organizer: identify, investigate, analyze, develop and finally summarize. The final box requires students to dig deep while critically thinking about how plot elements create a theme.

This graphic organizer can be used as a printout, in Google Classroom, short stories, picture books, standards-based grading (NC CC RL2&3), independent work, and small groups. It can also be differentiated based on how much writing is required and the level of text used with the organizer.