Thinking about Themes

On the test, you will be asked to write a response to literature about a theme for Island of
the Blue Dolphins.

Your three choices will be: courage, transformation, or perseverance.

Writing this response will be a LOT like the responses you have been writing throughout
this book. Your response will include the same three parts plus one new part:
1. State your point. (Say what theme you chose.)
2. Choose two examples that you will use to support your point.
3. Explain WHY the examples prove your point. (This is the part where you write the
most.)
4. What is the author trying to teach me? (How does this theme jump into my life?)

So, what should it look like?

Check out the example below:

I think a good theme for Island of the Blue Dolphins is forgiveness.

Your opinion

In this book Karana hates and fears the Aleuts who killed many of her people.
But she chooses to become friends with Tutok, an Aleut girl.

Reason 1
Karana is afraid of the Aleuts who killed her father and most of her tribe. When
they arrive on the island she hides from them fearing they will kill her. When
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the girl Aleut, Tutok, tries to befriend her by giving her a necklace, she raises her
Convincing spear to kill her. But, in the end she puts down her spear and makes friends
with her. She chooses to forgive and trust Tutok even though she is an Aleut.
Also, Karana has a good reason to hate all the wild dogs but she saves one dogs
life and becomes friends with him.
Reason 2

Karanas brother, Ramo, is killed by the wild dogs. She is devastated by this
because she loves her brother with all her heart. She vows she will have revenge
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and will kill every wild dog on the island! But when she wounds the pack leader,
Convincing she somehow cant bring herself to kill him. She stands above the wounded dog
and has to choose between revenge and mercy. When she decides to take him
home and make friends with him instead of killing him, she is choosing
forgiveness.
When I read this book, it makes me think about the power of forgiveness.
Sometimes forgiveness is more important than revenge. The next time I dont
Author is feel like forgiving someone, I am going to think about how Karana forgave and
Teaching hopefully I will try to forgive like she did.

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