Description
Help students analyze themes in poetry and song lyrics with this engaging lesson for “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes. Using an interactive slideshow, curated song lyrics, and structured writing outlines, students will compare themes and perspectives between literature and music. Includes digital resources for Google Drive®!
Included with this Analyzing Themes Lesson:
- Poetry and Song Lyrics Slideshow – Google Slides®, Powerpoint, and PDF
- Song Lyrics for “Thank You, Ma’am” Thematic Analysis – Digital & Print
- Paragraph Writing Brainstorming Outline – Digital & Print
- Paragraph Writing Assignment Outline – Digital & Print
- Paragraph Template Graphic Organizer – Digital & Print
- Differentiated Paragraph Writing Outlines – Digital & Print
- 4-Level Writing Rubric – Editable & Ready-to-Print
- Student Example to Model Writing and Analysis
- Teacher Instructions for using these resources
How to Use this Analyzing Themes Resource:
Begin with the Poetry and Song Lyrics Slideshow, which introduces students to the connection between poetry, song lyrics, and literature. This interactive presentation explains how themes in music mirror those found in classic texts, helping students recognize universal messages and deeper meanings. The slideshow also lays the foundation for analyzing themes by helping students identify recurring ideas and motifs across various forms of creative expression, reinforcing the idea that theme is central to understanding both poetry and prose.
Next, distribute the Song Lyrics for “Thank You, Ma’am” Thematic Analysis, which includes curated lyrics from various artists. Students will examine recurring themes such as second chances, kindness, and redemption, drawing connections between Hughes’ story and modern music. This stage of the activity invites students to begin analyzing themes through lyrical parallels, encouraging them to reflect on how similar messages are conveyed in different mediums and cultural contexts.
Then, guide students through the Paragraph Writing Brainstorming Outline, where they will identify key themes from “Thank You, Ma’am,” gather textual evidence, and reflect on how the story conveys its message. This guided brainstorming session is an essential step in analyzing themes, as it trains students to connect textual evidence with thematic interpretations and prepares them for a well-supported written response.
After brainstorming, students will use the Paragraph Writing Assignment Outline to compare themes between “Thank You, Ma’am” and a song of their choice. This structured outline walks them through the process of selecting a theme, finding textual evidence, and analyzing different perspectives. This outline is especially effective for analyzing themes across texts, providing a clear path for students to draw meaningful comparisons and deepen their understanding of how different authors and artists explore similar ideas.
Provide additional support with the Paragraph Template Graphic Organizer, which helps students structure their analysis step by step. This tool is especially useful for visual learners, ensuring clarity and organization in their writing. By helping students organize their thoughts logically, the graphic organizer enhances their ability to effectively engage in analyzing themes and form coherent arguments based on evidence.
For differentiated instruction, use the Differentiated Paragraph Writing Outlines, which offer modified scaffolding options for students who need extra guidance in crafting their responses. These outlines support all learners in analyzing themes by breaking down complex thinking processes into manageable steps, ensuring that students of varying skill levels can access the material and demonstrate their understanding.
To evaluate this activity, a 4-level rubric has been provided. This rubric is provided in both editable and ready-to-print formats; you can modify the success criteria in order to meet the needs of your unique classroom and curriculum expectations. The rubric is aligned with the key goals of analyzing themes, assessing students on their ability to articulate theme, support it with evidence, and make insightful connections between texts.
To model writing and analysis, a student example is also included. This example serves as a concrete model for analyzing themes, offering students a clear reference point for how to structure their own responses and elevate their writing with strong textual support and thoughtful interpretation.
✨ Kindly note that due to copyright restrictions, this resource is not editable. This is a common practice within the TPT marketplace in order to protect the clipartists and software providers that have authorized their intellectual property for the development of this resource.
⭒ For classrooms utilizing Google Classroom® ⭒
To access the digital version of these worksheets, simply follow the instructions within the resource to copy the files directly to your Google Drive®.
