Interpretive Theme Writer's Field Guide
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Home > Reference > Library and information sciences / Museology > Museology and heritage studies > Interpretive Theme Writer's Field Guide: How to Craft Strong Themes from Big Idea to Presentation(National Association for Interpretation)
Interpretive Theme Writer's Field Guide: How to Craft Strong Themes from Big Idea to Presentation(National Association for Interpretation)

Interpretive Theme Writer's Field Guide: How to Craft Strong Themes from Big Idea to Presentation(National Association for Interpretation)


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About the Book

The interpretive theme is the most important sentence an interpreter inks on paper. Despite its centrality to thematic interpretation, no single work has dedicated itself entirely to the art and craft of strong theme writing until now. The Interpretive Theme Writer's Field Guide builds on Sam Ham's 30-year thematic interpretation research legacy. While leaving communication theory to his books, this companion offers writers strong theme examples, updated theme writer´s worksheet, inspirational quotes, technique highlights, and exercises, including the use of AI generators to craft themes. The second edition also includes new chapters on development psychology, presentation structures, a glossary, an essay on ChatGPT and theme writing, and much more. With contributions from Ham, Ted Cable, Shelton Johnson, Thorsten Ludwig, Don Enright, Judy Fort Brenneman, Kylie Christian, Michael Glen, and other voices from around the English-speaking world, this Field Guide serves at the desk, in the museum exhibit hall, on the park trail, or at an archeological site. It recognizes that teams, even communities, create natural-cultural heritage themes, and introduces the Interpretive Framework methodology to facilitate consensus community-based theme writing.

Table of Contents:
Contents Foreword by Sam Ham: “Why I agreed to support this Field Guide” Pre-Tour Warmup: This Field Guide Originates in the 1990s Natural-Cultural History of the Second Edition Acknowledgments Trailhead: This Is How You Use This Field Guide Stop 1: The Theme that Lurks Behind Thematic Interpretation There Are Different Branches on the Communication Tree Interpretation, like All Other Branches, Has Its Own Purposes Stop 2: We Write Themes for Primary and Secondary Audiences Which primary themes should I write? And Then There Are Sub-themes Stop 2 Big Ideas Stop 2 Exercise Crafting Themes Guided by Indigenous and Traditional Cultures Stop 3: Strong Interpretive Themes Embody Big Ideas and Vehicles to Deliver Them Provocation Is Central to Thematic Interpretation Don't Forget How to Write a Complete Sentence Stop 3 Big Ideas Stop 3 Exercises Stop 4: Interpreters Must Ignite Their Inspiration for the Big Idea, Not Just Write It The Meaning-Making Mind Never Sleeps A Big Idea is Critical Researching Your Topic Is a Good Place to Start Different Approaches Can Ignite Inspiration Grammatical Approach Five Whys/So What (Socratic Questions) Approach Mind Mapping Approach Irony Revelation Approach Freewriting Approach Contemplation-Meditation Approach Chatbot Approach Multiple Perspectives Approach Community-based Interpretive Framework Approach Big Ideas Have Several Qualities One complete idea and sentence Declarative sentence Exciting for the primary audience Logical, makes sense Interpretation, not description Clear, but not necessarily quickly understood Universality Stop 4 Big Ideas Stop 4 Exercise Stop 5: The Big Idea Develops within the Audience's Mind via a Vehicle Do not Postpone the Big Idea Increase Vehicle Provocation by Connecting to the Audience Connect to audience background Use the audience's language Provocative Themes Are Easy to Process Readability Clarity Person Experience through Mental Imagery Other Spicy Literary Ingredients Object Appropriateness Power positions Stop 5 Big Ideas Stop 5 Exercises Stop 6: Themes Are Written for and by People Growing Up Developmental Psychologists Study People Growing Up Practical takeaway Themes Also Grow Up Practical takeaways Growing Up Influences Various Factors Perspectives Object Awareness Thought Complexity Time Practical takeaway Think about Your Thinking Stop 6 Big Ideas Stop 6 Exercises Stop 7: Construction of a Presentation Structure Begins with a Theme Who Reads Your Theme Influences Your Structure Presentation Structures Come in Diverse Forms Chronological Non-Chronological Scientific Argument Categorical Parallel Enigma Revealed Cognitive Dissonance Sub-Themes and Sub-Plots Are Different Theme Dissection Technique Slices a Theme into Different Stops Stop 7 Big Ideas Stop 7 Exercises Stop 8: Theme Writing Can be Individual, Team-, or Community-Based The Professional Writer Has a Role in Theme Writing Convene a Theme Team Theme Teams Write Themes, Too Stop 8 Big Ideas Stop 8 Exercise Stop 9: Interpretive Frameworks Leverage the Power of Community for Interpretation Meanings and Heritage Are Central to Community Development We Use Interpretive Frameworks for 12 Reasons These Are the Major Steps to Facilitate Interpretive Frameworks Prepare the Workshop Set the Context Brainstorm Heritage Attributes Grouping Relationships Naming Clusters/Emerging Themes Resolving Greater Meaning Distilling Universal Processes Revealing Place Essence Small Committee to Refine Workshop Results Interpretive Framework Proceedings Theme Descriptions Interpretive Framework Formats Can Reflect Additional Meanings Stop 9 Big Ideas Stop 9 Exercises Stop 10: To Be with or Not to Be with AI Theme Writing Generators, That Is the Question Testing a Trained ChatGPT to Write Stronger Themes Field Notes Suggested Answers to Exercises Verbs for Stronger Themes and More Engaging Commentaries Field Inventory of Strong Themes in this Field Guide Themes of Best-selling Novels of All Time Figure. Interpretive Theme Writer's Worksheet Critique of Themes from Real Webinar Participants Oh My Box! Field Guidelines for Interpretive Theme Writing Prompts Glossary Guidelines Purposes and Audience Big Idea Vehicle 30 Strong Interpretive Themes References Quote Sources Glossary Index Voices from the Field 1 Floating the Tigris: Harnessing the Light of Thematic Interpretation by Shelton Johnson 2 Crafting Themes Guided by Indigenous and Traditional Culturales by Kylie Christian and Leanne Redpath 3 Voices from the Field by Thorsten Ludwig 4 I Want to Create Brilliant Big Ideas and Compelling Themes but… by Judy Fort Brenneman 5 A Grand Theme Doesn't Ensure a Great Program-or Even a Good One by Don Enright 6 Themes Contribute to Traveler Transformation atop Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs by Colby Brokvist 7 Thematic Zone of Tolerance in a Theater Setting by Angela Pfenniger 8 Tablets of Stone or Statements of Accord by Michael Hamish Glen 9 Colombia Is the First Country to Adopt the Interpretive Framework by Clara Osorio and Carlos Rosero 10 Theme Writing: A Trail that Never Ends by Ted Cable Theme Spotlights Theme Spotlight Pre-Tour Warmup. Message vs. Theme Theme Spotlight Natural-Cultural History of the Second Edition: Why Evolution Permeates this Field Guide Theme Spotlight Trailhead: Themes of Themes Theme Spotlight 2.1: Secondary Themes vs. Sub-Themes Theme Spotlight 3.1. Theme = Object + Big Idea Theme Spotlight 3.2. Big Idea vs. Interpretive Theme Theme Spotlight 4.1. Connecting Unlike Points to Cast New Light Theme Spotlight 4.2. Themes Should Present an Argument Theme Spotlight 5.1. Can a Theme Have More than One Sentence? Theme Spotlight 5.2. Transformative Themes Tap Deep Truths Theme Spotlight 5.3. Adding Humanity to Non-Human Phenomena Theme Spotlight 8.1. All Three Levels Can Interact Theme Spotlight 9.1. Historical Scan Supports Theme Identification

About the Author :
Jon Kohl has worked as an interpretive trainer, professor, writer, planner, and theorist. He has taught interpretation at the University of Costa Rica and founded the PUP Collaboratory. His publications include a Spanish university textbook with Dr. Marisol Mayorga, a book on holistic heritage planning with Dr. Stephen McCool, and nearly 300 articles. He's done editorial work for NAI's Legacy, Journal of Interpretation Research, and Interpreting World Heritage. He lives in Costa Rica and has degrees from Yale and Dartmouth.


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Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9798881867577
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
  • Publisher Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
  • Language: English
  • Series Title: National Association for Interpretation
  • ISBN-10: 8881867575
  • Publisher Date: 19 Feb 2026
  • Binding: Digital (delivered electronically)
  • No of Pages: 272
  • Sub Title: How to Craft Strong Themes from Big Idea to Presentation


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