Promote active engagement with fiction and evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz on the science fiction short story “The Fog Horn” by Ray Bradbury. An answer key is included. All materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: Point of view Setting McDunn’s thoughts on the ocean A strange incident involving a million fish The sound of the fog horn The characters’ nickname for the ocean The narrator’s thoughts on the sea creature McDunn’s theory about the sea creature An experiment involving the fog horn The sea creature’s reaction to the experiment The narrator’s life one year later The lesson McDunn thinks the sea creature learned The narrator’s feelings toward the sea creature

This file contains two Word documents. The first is a 13-question, multiple-choice quiz designed to measure plot recall. The second is the corresponding answer key. Questions pertain to the following details: • The North Crawford Mask and Wig Club • The avoidance of social gatherings • The narrator's wish for Harry Nash • The narrator's invitation to an auditioning woman • The town's reaction to Harry's acting • The narrator's first impression of Helene's acting • Efforts to improve Helene's acting • Helene's fantasy when viewing movies in the past • Helene's difficulty in establishing relationships • Lydia's impressions on who will direct • Lydia's prediction for Helene • A gift from Harry • "The luckiest girl in town"

This worksheet features 62 common roots and formatives. Students will define each root or formative, using context and available resources (e.g., dictionaries, internet). Also, students will form words by combining roots and formatives. LEARNING TARGETS: 1. Students will determine the meanings of common word roots. 2. Students will apply knowledge of word roots by combining word roots and creating new words. 3. Students will discern meanings of common formatives using context clues.

Evaluate reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and save valuable time with this printable quiz on “Dark They Were and Golden Eyed” by Ray Bradbury. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The setting of the narrative The story’s inciting incident Mr. Bittering’s nighttime experiences The general characterization of Mr. Bittering Bizarre discoveries on Mars Mr. Bittering’s fear-fueled beliefs Mr. Bittering’s work in the metal shop Simpson’s role Dynamic character traits Mr. Bittering’s thoughts as he swims The resolution

Promote active engagement with fiction and evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz on the short story “Geraldine Moore the Poet” by Toni Cade Bambara. An answer key is included. All materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: Mr. Watson’s dog Geraldine’s lunchtime habits The eviction Geraldine’s mother The reason for Anita’s return home Geraldine’s personal and emotional struggles during classes Geraldine’s response to her English teacher’s assignment Mrs. Scott’s reaction to Geraldine A surprising realization

Engage middle and high school students with a classic example of horror and supernatural fiction, “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs, and use this multiple choice assessment to promote homework accountability and evaluate general reading comprehension. An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the public domain short story. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Weather conditions Interactions among family members The visitor’s background Herbert’s initial reaction to the object Strange observations in a dying fire The effects of a strange object The reason Mr. White is reluctant to make subsequent wishes Ominous sounds Conflicting motivations of characters The resolution

For many high school readers, psychological fiction and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a stream-of-consciousness technique, the intensification of an irrational fear, tales of being buried alive, and more. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English teachers will help students extend beyond basic reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing quality and rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explore dominant character traits Examine how complex characters think and behave Analyze diction to make logical inferences about the author’s intent Articulate the greater significance of a given detail Apply knowledge of various literary devices including eye dialect, onomatopoeia, allusion, dramatic irony, situational irony, and more Discern the meaning of an idiom as it is used in the text Explain how a particular word or expression is considered a pun Investigate the intended effect of narrative techniques such as the liberal incorporation of em dashes Discern the function of a particular detail Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a word used in the story Explore nuances in words with similar denotative meanings Examine narrative structure Evaluate whether the narrator’s thinking is rational Draw parallels between the narrative and a featured nonfiction passage Defend claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of high-order analysis questions on Virginia Woolf’s short story “A Haunted House.” The narrative makes a fitting inclusion to a Halloween-themed short story unit at the high school level. A detailed answer key and a copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Analyze the author’s narrative technique to discern how she emphasizes multiple presences in the house Infer why the author incorporates references to second-person you Discern the significance of active present participles in the text Analyze the effect of sibilant phrases on the reader Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text, with emphasis placed on personification, anaphora, and symbolism Discern and articulate the significance of the window Analyze a passage in the text to discern the author’s intent as it relates to characterization Analyze character actions and dialogue to discern their primary intent Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims Write with clarity and precision

Help high school students develop a greater understanding of how Hans Christian Andersen used descriptive language, characterization, figurative language, and other literary devices to establish a fairy tale atmosphere and empathetic protagonist in “The Little Mermaid.” This resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions. Through such discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.

Save time without sacrificing rigor in the high school Creative Writing classroom with this Common Core-aligned unit plan and these comprehensive materials for engaging students fully in the narrative writing process. Included are the following: A detailed, standards-based unit plan articulating the unit’s transfer goal(s), essential question(s), enduring understanding(s), learning target(s), academic vocabulary, formative assessment(s), summative performance task(s), and learning plan(s). A PowerPoint presentation addressing the conventions of the fantasy genre. Representative fantasy narratives. Worksheets to facilitate analysis of representative literature. Detailed project directions. A comprehensive outline for student planning. A document to facilitate the editing process. A comprehensive rubric for evaluating student writing. By engaging with these materials, students will do the following: Develop greater understanding of the conventions of the fantasy genre. Analyze how John Collier used figurative language (simile, metaphor, and euphemism), characterization, direct description, and foreshadowing to generate a compelling fantasy narrative in “The Chaser.” Analyze how Ursula K. Le Guin used characterization and grammatically improper language to develop an anthropomorphized protagonist in “The Wife’s Story.” Organize initial ideas in a coherent manner. Engage the reader with a compelling exposition that establishes setting, characters, and conflicts Use many appropriate narrative techniques (dialogue, dialect, description, pacing, etc.) to enhance a plot that is consistent with the fantasy genre Draft a coherent, cohesive, and appropriate narrative that builds toward a particular tone and outcome (a sense of mystery, suspense, etc.) Use precise words and phrases, active verbs, and sensory language to convey a compelling story Draft a reasonable and unrushed conclusion that resolves conflicts and conveys a theme Show mastery of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet. With a focus on Act 4, scene 5, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. More specifically, students will do the following: Discern what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Determine the function of a given passage Analyze character statements and behaviors to draw logical inferences about character development and motivations Discern the tone of a given passage Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text Analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context to determine meaning and intended effect Locate textual evidence in support of claims Compare and contrast Hamlet and Ophelia Compare and contrast Hamlet and Laertes Articulate ideas with clarity and precision

Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet. With a focus on Act 4, scene 6, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. More specifically, students will do the following: Discern what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Analyze character statements and behaviors to draw logical inferences about character development and motivations Analyze how characters interact Determine the primary purpose of Hamlet’s letter to Horatio Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text Analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context to determine meaning and intended effect

Help high school students develop a greater understanding of how Richard Connell used descriptive language, direct and indirect characterization, and figurative language to generate a distinct protagonist and compelling piece of adventure fiction in “The Most Dangerous Game.” Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions. Through such discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included.

Go beyond reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions on chapter 1 of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A variety of question types facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this resource, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices including personification, simile, and onomatopoeia Analyze the author’s craft to articulate the intended effect of language and imagery Infer what is foreshadowed by a given detail using reasoned thinking Determine the most appropriate synonym for a given word in context Contrast Simon with his peers in the context of a given passage Conduct brief research on the mythological figure Triton and compare him to Ralph Identify relevant textual evidence in support of claims Write with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions on chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A variety of question types facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this resource, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices zoomorphism and metaphor Discern the tone of a given passage in context Discern the significance of the boys’ allusions to adventure fiction Discern the significance of the group’s not bringing the conch shell to the mountain Analyze a character’s behavior to infer what is revealed about his mindset Analyze the author’s craft to articulate how Golding achieves a particular effect Identify relevant textual evidence in support of claims regarding Jack’s defiant nature and Piggy’s leadership potential Write with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions on chapter 3 of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A variety of question types facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this resource, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact and develop Determine the meaning of complex words or phrases as they are used in the text Apply knowledge of various literary devices hyperbole, simile, metaphor, and imagery Determine the primary function of the chapter Analyze the author’s craft to better understand how Jack is becoming more savage Analyze Ralph’s behavior in a given passage to infer what it reveals about his psychological state Identify textual evidence that reinforces the idea of being disconnected from modern society Write with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions on chapter 5 of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A variety of question types facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with this resource, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices (slang and invective) Articulate the situational irony associated with Ralph’s assembly Explain what a given passage implies about Ralph’s psychological state Articulate the potential error in Ralph’s judgment in terms of the assembly’s timing Identify the qualities that make Jack successful in garnering larger scale support Infer the author’s social commentary associated with Jack’s manner of leadership Write with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions on chapter 4 of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A variety of question types facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with this resource, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact and develop Analyze the author’s craft to identify language and details that contribute to Percival’s distinct characterization Isolate a falsehood from among several true statements Discern the function of a given passage Apply knowledge of various literary devices (neologism and onomatopoeia) Articulate the internal conflict Simon experiences Contrast Jack’s behavior toward Ralph versus Piggy and evaluate what it indicates about Jack’s mindset Identify specific textual details from this chapter that reinforce the claim that Simon is compassionate and thoughtful Write with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions on chapter 7 of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A variety of question types facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with this resource, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices (metaphor and personification) Determine the function of a given passage Analyze the author’s craft to articulate what literary technique is applied and what purpose it serves Determine the function of the entire chapter Analyze how Ralph becomes a dynamic character and connect Ralph’s transformation to the author’s theme on human nature Write with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions on chapter 6 of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. A variety of question types facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with this resource, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters interact and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices (personification, sibilance, simile, meiosis, allusion, and idiom) Articulate the situational irony associated with Jack’s criticism of Ralph Analyze the greater significance of the air battle and dead pilot Analyze the author’s craft to explain how juxtaposition is applied in a given passage Articulate Simon’s internal conflict in the context of the chapter Write with clarity and precision