Maya Angelou's 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings': Study Prompts

This 13-page resource consists of a set of short writing tasks, and formal essay questions in the style of AP and IB examinations. The initial tasks focus student attention on significant aspects of each chapter, and build up a full understanding of what Maya Angelou is trying to achieve, how she is trying to achieve it, and how successful she has been. Overall, the resource helps students develop a whole range of reading and critical skills and provides practice in writing coherent responses to probing questions on works of literature. The chapter-based questions can, additionally, be used as a basis for class discussion, and the essay topics as an invaluable tool for pre-examination revision and rehearsal. At a time-saving level, teachers will be relieved of the need to develop their own units of study for the work, and to seek out relevant questions from past examinations. The resource effectively promotes the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6.