Save time without sacrificing rigor by utilizing this bundle of analysis worksheets designed to promote close reading skills associated with Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. A variety of high-order question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, examining how word choices influence a reader’s interpretations, applying knowledge of literary devices, and articulating ideas in writing with clarity and precision. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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. Students will be able to do the following: Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern point of view Analyze character motivations Analyze how complex characters interact Clarify cause-and-effect relationships Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices including situational irony, hyperbole, simile, alliteration, assonance, metaphor, oxymoron, and others Articulate the intended effect of metaphorical language Analyze the author’s craft to determine intent Make logical inferences about how Tom perceives Myrtle Demonstrate awareness of how social status influences behavior Compare Myrtle to the puppy she is gifted Discern a primary function of a given chapter Analyze the effect comparing Gatsby to Belasco has on the reader Infer why the author may have intended to wait to introduce Gatsby until chapter three Analyze what Nick’s dialogue and behavior at the party reveals about his psychological state Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text Articulate how Nick’s expectations of Gatsby are violated Articulate the cultural significance of the white chauffeur transporting people of color Discern what Nick finds astonishing about Wolfsheim’s behavior Identify the primary function of Wolfsheim’s character in the context of the plot Articulate the technique Fitzgerald uses to spark a significant shift in tone Identify textual evidence that best supports a claim Explore the symbolism of an object or objects Clarify and elaborate on a concern Nick has for Gatsby in a given passage Explore how Tom sees himself in the context of the tragedies of Gatsby, Myrtle, and Wilson Write with clarity and precision

Embrace the Halloween season (no matter what time of year), evaluate general reading comprehension, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the dark Grimm’s fairy tale “The Juniper Tree.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a literary craft analysis activity, the short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Isolate examples of compelling sensory description Infer the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices including allusion, black humor, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, onomatopoeia, personification, and more Make connections between elements of the story and aspects of the modern-day Halloween season Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Doris Lessing’s coming-of-age short story “Through the Tunnel.” A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, craft analysis exercise, vocabulary application activity, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in printable, editable Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may facilitate 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 these activities, students will: Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the function of a given paragraph Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile, metaphor, personification, and oxymoron Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the science fiction short story 'There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury. A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. This resource may facilitate 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 these materials, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Isolate numerous examples of sensory language Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques Draw parallels to currently existing technologies Consider themes in context Support claims and inferences with relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching John Collier’s short story “The Chaser.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. This resource may facilitate 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 these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Apply knowledge of satire to the plot Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, metaphor, simile, situational irony, and foreshadowing Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

With this bundle of high school resources for teaching “The Wife’s Story” by Ursula K. Le Guin, educators may conveniently measure general reading comprehension with a quiz on character and plot. Additionally, teachers will be able to support their students through the process of analyzing the author’s craft, helping readers identify textual details that evoke the reader’s sympathy and examples of literary devices that contribute to a tense mood and surprising outcome. Lastly, teachers will be able to support high-order thinking with analysis questions. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. This resource may facilitate 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. By engaging with these materials, students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Apply knowledge of anaphora to the text Articulate how anaphora contributes to the narrator’s characterization Analyze the narrator’s statements to infer details about her husband Discern meaning in less familiar words and phrases, taking into consideration the context of the passage Analyze an excerpt to discern tone in context Analyze an excerpt to discern and articulate the narrator’s internal conflict Apply knowledge of simile to the text Articulate the significance of the narrator’s “grief howl” Analyze character statements and actions to discern and articulate character motivations Analyze the term “blessed dark” to discern and articulate what it conveys about the narrator’s mindset Cite and explain textual details that evoke a sense of sympathy within readers Revisit the text to identify details that foreshadow the major revelation near the story’s conclusion Analyze the author’s craft to explain how language contributes to the major revelation near the story’s conclusion Write with clarity and precision

For many middle and high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize relatability and engagement with literature. “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes is a short story involving socioeconomic struggles, social pressures, the importance of second chances, and the power of empathy and forgiveness. Included in this bundle are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions; a craft analysis activity; the public domain narrative; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging in this exercise, students will… Discern what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly Articulate character motivations Analyze how a character’s behaviors reveal their life principles Apply knowledge of metaphor to the text Analyze the author’s choice of words conveys subtle meaning Analyze how complex characters interact Explore Roger’s emotional and psychological state Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims Write with clarity and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering W. W. Jacobs’ short story “The Monkey’s Paw.” Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading questions, a craft analysis activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, a word search, a crossword puzzle, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices Explore the role of setting in terms of developing characterization Examine how the tone of the narrative shifts as the plot develops Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Analyze how Mr. and Mrs. White’s marriage is affected by grief Identify specific details that contribute to the vampiric characterization of Mrs. White Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, situational irony, and euphemism Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Promote active engagement with fiction, support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school, and evaluate general reading comprehension with this bundle of resources for teaching the science fiction short story “The Fog Horn” by Ray Bradbury. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a rigorous close reading worksheet, a craft analysis activity, and answer keys. By engaging with these materials, students will perform the following tasks: Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly Identify several examples of personification and/or anthropomorphism in the narrative Identify several textual details that contribute to a sense of isolation Discern the intended meaning of figurative language Discern the function of a given excerpt Apply knowledge of sonic literary devices including consonance and assonance Analyze the author’s craft Identify stylistic changes in a given excerpt Articulate the intended effect of stylistic changes in a given excerpt Analyze relationships between complex characters Articulate how a given detail is an example of foreshadowing Make logical inferences about character motivations Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims Write with clarity and precision Develop a greater understanding of how Ray Bradbury used descriptive language, characterization, setting, and various literary devices to establish an eerie mood that is consistent with the supernatural fiction and science fiction genres.

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a craft analysis exercise, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in a zip file as Word Documents and PDFs. This resource may facilitate 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 these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the tone of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on foreshadowing Determine the author’s intent, as well as its effect on readers Support claims and inferences with relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literature