Overarching themes
OBJECTIVE: The brain is a pattern-seeking device, and year-long, overarching themes and/or questions can help students see patterns in the prolific literature being read and genres being written. It is important to note that, usually and often, these overarching themes and questions will be devised by the students themselves. For example:
stories worth telling
perseverance
greed
ambition vs. greed?
does money buy happiness?
racism, prejudice and subjugation
perseverance
man's inhumanity to man
defiance
are bystanders just as responsible?
tradition
democracy
tolerance
etc.
The Brain—is wider than the Sky—
For—put them side by side—
The one the other will contain
With ease—and You—beside.
~Emily Dickinson