State the idea you had about the text (if you are responding to a specific question, be sure your idea restates the question). Now give supporting evidence from the text. To cite explicitly, paraphrase or use quotes from the text.
A theme is something an author is trying to teach us. It’s conveyed through lessons characters learn, character development, etc. The author can tell you the themes themselves or they can give you enough clues to determine the theme on your own.
