Incorporate narrative nonfiction into the English Language Arts classroom and help high school students practice their close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions covering an excerpt titled “Loophole of Retreat” from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs. This text addresses an enslaved woman’s paradoxically empowering decision to hide from her master in a confined space. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. Additionally, a bonus PowerPoint providing more context on the author’s background is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Summarize key details from the text Use context to make logical inferences about the author’s beliefs Explore the symbolism attached to an object (the gimlet) Apply knowledge of various literary devices including invective, metaphor, paradox, and more Examine nuances in words with similar meanings in order to choose the most appropriate synonym for a given term Make logical inferences about the author’s intent based on stylistic choices Discern the tone of a given passage Support claims and ideas with relevant textual details Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many high school readers, age-appropriate fantasy and fairy tale fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. With this worksheet composed of rigorous questions on “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen, English teachers will help students extend beyond reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative (estimated Lexile Range 810-1000) 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 Identify textual evidence in support of claims Write with clarity and precision Identify examples of various literary devices including alliteration, consonance, sibilance, situational irony, dramatic irony, metaphor, personification, inversion, and hyperbole Discern author’s intent Analyze the author’s incorporation of multiple similes to discern and explain what they have in common and what purpose(s) they serve Discern tone in context Identify and explain an example of situational irony in a given passage Articulate why mermaids suffer sadness more strongly than humans Articulate why there is a merry atmosphere aboard the prince’s ship Identify and explain an example of dramatic irony in a given passage Analyze the mermaid’s character to discern how she is naïve Articulate factors that contribute to the little mermaid’s strife Analyze how the little mermaid undergoes dynamic transformation Isolate a factual statement about plot from falsehoods Articulate the obstacles facing the little mermaid, according to her grandmother Make logical inferences about the mermaid’s psychological state given her statements, thoughts, and actions Infer why the little mermaid is most disturbed by the discovery of a mermaid’s skeleton in the sea-witch’s home Analyze the character of the sea-witch to discern how she is portrayed as an antagonist Define words and phrases in the context of a passage Verify interpretations of language using reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus Articulate the personal sacrifices the little mermaid will make in order to have a chance at gaining love and an immortal soul Explain what makes a given scenario ironic Analyze the relationship between the little mermaid and the prince to discern and articulate how it is unhealthy Articulate the significance of a given detail or details Analyze the little mermaid’s actions the night before the prince’s wedding to determine which virtues she exhibits Articulate an internal conflict facing the little mermaid Identify what the Daughters of the Air say about the effect of heat on human psychology Explain the irony of the story’s resolution

Conclude a unit on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein with this summative assessment delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. An answer key with a Common Core-aligned rubric for evaluating essay writing is included. This assessment is divided into three sections and breaks down as follows. In the first part of the exam, students will demonstrate comprehension of character development, setting, and general plot. In the second part of the exam, students will apply knowledge of literary devices to a variety of excerpts from the novel: metaphor, simile, hyperbole, aposiopesis, antithesis, assonance, allusion, situational irony, and more. In the final part of the exam, students will respond to a prompt thoroughly and thoughtfully, making reference to relevant textual details in support of claims. Included is a Common-Core aligned rubric for evaluating student writing in response to the following prompt: Alienation from society is a subject Mary Shelley addresses in the novel Frankenstein. What textual details develop and maintain an alienated tone throughout the novel? Focus on the characters of Victor and his creation specifically, though other characters may be referenced. You may also consider how the author uses language to achieve tone.

For many high school readers, horror and supernatural fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe features elements consistent with both genres: a Gothic mansion, psychological deterioration, heightened emotions, grim imagery, 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 and motivations Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact Determine the greater significance of a given detail Apply knowledge of various sound and literary devices including alliteration, personification, euphemism, foreshadowing, situational irony, hyperbole, epiphany, juxtaposition, and more Articulate the intended effects of various sound devices, literary devices, and figurative expressions Analyze Poe’s use of descriptive language to infer the author’s intent Conduct brief research on Swiss painter Henry Fuseli to develop greater understanding of Poe’s allusion to him Explore the connection between the plot of the short story and the content of the poem titled “The Haunted Palace” Examine how the author successfully intensifies suspense in the context of a passage Analyze the connotative significance of the narrator’s labeling Roderick a hypochondriac Identify details that contribute to a dreamlike or nightmarish atmosphere Discern the functions of particular details Make logical inferences about the resolution Defend claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

This low-prep, end-of-unit creative writing project is an engaging alternative to a traditional summative test on Animal Farm by George Orwell. Students will write ten journal entries from Benjamin’s point of view, exploring the character’s internal state throughout the course of the novel. This assessment requires more than basic plot summary; it encourages students to analyze a character’s relationships, emotions, fears, motivations, and more. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Included are the following: Detailed directions, which include a rationale for the project, a rundown of student expectations, and a list of learning standards emphasized A thorough, standards-based rubric for grading student writing, which aligns evaluative criteria to Common Core standards and includes a section for written teacher feedback A set of prewriting documents, which may be completed while or after reading each chapter, to facilitate planning for the end-of-unit project An “Important Quotations” document to help students explore style and tone

Conclude a unit on The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood with this printable summative assessment. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this test includes 55 multiple choice questions. In addition to objective questions on character, plot, literary devices, and quote/passage analysis, an essay section is featured, requiring high school students to explore the author’s warnings about totalitarianism and its influence on ordinary people. An answer key and sample essay response are provided. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate an ability to: Correctly identify characters based on given details and descriptions Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, allusion, dramatic irony, portmanteau, pun, and more Analyze passages and make logical inferences in the context of those passages Write a brief essay in which students convey ideas with relevant textual evidence and adhere to the standard conventions of written English