Writing Thematic Statement - Intro, Steps & Examples

One of the most important parts of academic writing and literature is a thematic statement. This one or two-sentence description expresses what themes are explored in this work, but it's not always an essay task.

To compose good statements, you need to have a sound understanding of literary works that can't be found by reading this blog post!

What is a Thematic Statement?

Thematic statements are sentences that express a central message of the writing. They can come as one sentence, but often they will span to two or more sentences because there is usually so much information about the theme in any given work. It needs time for all points to be raised before concluding with what stands out most from reading.

A thematic statement is a way to plot characters and tell what you will say about your essay.

Themes have been found in literature before, but not always. It means that one person might find something a second person doesn't.

Thematic Statement Definition

“It is a central message of a literary work that the author wants to convey about the subject.”

Purpose of Thematic Statement

The thematic statement is a summary of the whole work. It aims to give readers an idea about what this literary piece will be like before they read it in full while also giving insight into its main message and theme.

It provides some background information on how exactly the writer has constructed their text so that you can understand where I'm coming from with my argumentation when reading aloud later at your destination.

Thematic Statement vs. Theme

Theme and thematic statement are two fundamental concepts in literature.

The theme is the message a writer wants to convey through their work, while the thematic statement provides context for understanding what this means (i.e., it tells you about the theme).

A theme is a thought or idea that the writer wants to say. A thematic statement tells you what that theme is or gives you more info about it if you did not know it already. It might have more than one theme, but there's always something behind those themes without it being said outright.

That means don't just read the surface-level information!

How to Write a Thematic Statement?

There is no specific way to write a thematic statement, but there are some important steps that you must follow. These guidelines will help you write a strong one.

1. 1. Design a List of Theme Topics

   Collect different ideas from your book and make a list of them. Check to see which one you can support with evidence, like facts or examples. Then, choose the idea that you can best support using the text in your book.

2. 2. Conduct Extensive Research

   To get a good idea for your writing, start with research! First, look through the books and articles that are relevant to your topic. Then, think about what message you want readers to take away from it or how they might feel after reading it.

3. 3. Read Thematic Statements of Other Writers

   A literary work can reveal a person's thoughts on many issues. One could say it is the author's interpretation of life that they wrote to share with others. So, when you are writing your thematic statement, always read other writers’ statements.

   And evaluate how they are crafting their thematic statements.

4. 4. Identify the Conflict Areas

   Conflicts are important to understand the theme. The conflict is what makes the theme so interesting.

   If you know the conflict, you can better understand the central concept of your work and will be able to figure out motives and values that help you understand what motivates people in conflicts.

5. 5. Focus on the Goal

   The thematic statement is the most important part of your work. It should be brief and say everything you want to convey in one sentence, so focus on getting it right rather than detail other aspects such as what or how?

   Thematic statements are critical because they communicate a message quickly without losing meaning. Make sure you get this done before writing anything else!
6. 6. Avoid Moral Edict

   A theme statement is good. It observes and considers ideas and actions, but it does not say what people should or should not do. So avoid words that tell someone what to do like "ought," "should," and "must."

7. 7. Avoid Clinches

   Cliches have already been used a lot, so they don't sound unique. It is better to come up with an original statement for your work.

Thematic Statement Examples

What are the literary elements of a thematic statement? An author's overarching message for their work is often stated in one sentence.

Here, we'll explore some examples from famous writers that demonstrate what you might see when reading any good theme statements:

Thematic Statements Example for Love

• Love taken to extremes can become dangerous.
• Loving yourself, despite your flaws, can lead to a happier life.
• Love can help us to be our best selves.
• Deep love can protect us even after they leave this Earth.
• Love has the power to alter us in positive and negative ways.

Thematic Statements Example for Identity

• Finding acceptance in yourself leads others to accept you as well.
• Staying true to yourself can lead to possibilities in life you didn’t expect.
• It takes faith in yourself to thrive in a harsh world.
• Faith in yourself and your ability is a scary but essential lesson to learn.
• Your identity isn’t static but grows with you as you discover more about yourself.

Thematic Statements Example for Fear

• Fear is something more dangerous than the danger itself
• Fear is nothing more than just a state of mind
• The biggest thing to fear about is fear itself
• You can’t stop being afraid just by pretending everything that scars you isn’t there
• No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.

Thematic Statements Example for Racism

• Racism is often held under the pretext of “us vs. them.”
• In order for racism to exist, there must be oppression and hostility in power.
• Societies utilize racism to systematically repress a culture and gain an advantage (social, political, or economic) over that population.
• Racism is being replaced by fear; it is driven less by belief in superiority but fear in inferiority.
• When political power is defined by racism, control and influence are inevitably derived from segregation, oppression, and malevolence.

Thematic Statement Template

Check out the detailed template of writing a thematic statement to get a better idea.

Thematic Statement Format

This guide will help you if you are stuck. We have everything you need to know about thematic statements. Follow the guidelines and start writing a theme statement now. If you get stuck, we can help.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the requirements of a thematic statement?

Following are the requirements of a thematic statement:

• It’s not a moral or command
• No cliches, maxim or Aphorisms
• Avoid referring to particular things or persons
• Don’t make it advice
• Don’t be obvious about anything

Caleb S.

Literature, Marketing

Caleb S. derives the most satisfaction from helping students reach their educational aspirations. With a Master's degree from Oxford University, Caleb has ample experience in writing that he can use to aid those who request his assistance. Focusing on his client's necessities, he always goes the extra mile to deliver first-rate service.