Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 1 of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Lucentio’s studies
Tranio’s role
Baptista’s terms for Bianca’s being married off
Gremio and Hortensio’s intentions
Katherine’s general demeanor
Baptista’s academic hopes for Bianca
Gremio’s perception of Katherine
Lucentio’s strategy for getting closer to Bianca
Petruchio’s reason for visiting
The quality Petruchio most values in a potential spouse
Lucentio’s disguise
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 2 of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Katherine’s treatment of Bianca
Bianca’s conformity to societal expectations of women
The true identities of disguised people
Katherine’s treatment of her supposed teachers
Baptista’s feelings toward Petruchio
Petruchio’s belief concerning how Katherine should behave
The standard by which Baptista will select Bianca’s husband
Baptista’s preference in terms of who should be Bianca’s husband
Tranio’s intentions at the end of the Act
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 3 of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Who first identifies himself to Bianca
Hortensio’s changing perspective on Bianca
Petruchio’s conduct on his wedding day
Katherine’s emotional reaction to Petruchio’s behavior
Gremio’s perceptions of Petruchio and Katherine
Petruchio’s defiance of custom
Petruchio’s perception of his wife
Bianca’s assessment of the relationship between Petruchio and Katherine
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 4 of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
An accident involving a horse
Petruchio’s reaction to the accident
The reason for Petruchio’s frustration with his servants
The techniques by which Petruchio will try to tame his wife
Biondello’s willingness to participate in a charade
Background information about the merchant
Petruchio’s refusal to let Katherine do certain things
Hortensio’s admiration of Petruchio
Petruchio’s bizarre behavior
Evaluate general reading comprehension with this multiple choice quiz covering Act 5 of Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The fake Vincentio’s reaction to meeting the real Vincentio
The interactions between the real Vincentio and Biondello
Baptista and Vincentio’s forgiveness of their children
Petruchio’s getting Katherine to kiss him
Hortensio’s marriage
Tranio’s teasing of Petruchio
A bet among men
The content of Katherine’s major speech
Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and promote the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions to complement Act 2, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. 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 completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as metaphor and anaphora
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Conduct brief research on the Roman goddess Diana and articulate the similarities between her and Katharina
Evaluate Baptista’s attitude toward arranged marriage and articulate how it is both morally sound and unsound
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
This summative test covers William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge significant characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events throughout the play
Identify the context of meaningful quotations in the play
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the play including hyperbole, metaphor, malapropism, oxymoron, hyperbole, personification, invective, and pun
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to explore the complexities of Benedick’s character
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 2, of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
More specifically, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Discern the intended effect of Shakespearean language in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Determine the tone of a given excerpt
Consider autobiographical parallel, drawing an informed inference about Shakespeare’s philosophy on the purpose of dramatic performances based on details provided in this scene
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, five close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Discern tone in context
Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s choices related to characterization
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast characters in the play
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, metaphor, simile, personification, oxymoron, hyperbole, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 2, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Describe tone in context
Discern the intended effect of figurative expressions in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Discern the main function of a given passage
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 3, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Consider nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Describe the nature of the relationship between Antonio and Sebastian
Apply knowledge of literary devices including paradox and hyperbole
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 3 of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, four close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
Materials in this bundle may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources 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 do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the main function of a given passage
Discern the intended effects of Shakespeare’s stylistic choices
Discern tone in context
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, situational irony, dramatic irony, ambiguity, paradox, hyperbole, and more
Explore the text for thematic significance
Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 4, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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 in this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of an oxymoronic phrase
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including oxymoron, situational irony, dramatic irony, ambiguity, and alliteration
Explore the text for thematic significance
With this summative test covering the entirety of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night, English teachers will evaluate students’ essay writing skills and comprehension of characters, plot, and craft. A test prep study guide, answer key, and standards-based essay rubric are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that take place throughout the novel
Evaluate substantive excerpts for deeper meaning
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, allusion, assonance, euphemism, hyperbole, metaphor, oxymoron, personification, and simile
Generate an essay about the influence of love on three characters
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night (Act 4) with this bundle featuring a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Apply knowledge of dramatic irony, situational irony, and paradox
Determine the significance of Feste’s participation in the newest plot to make a fool out of Malvolio
Consider the intent of character actions
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Analyze the author’s craft to determine how the audience is supposed to feel as a result of character development
Explore the psychological state of Toby in the context of the scene
Apply knowledge of allusion
Identify an excerpt from the scene that features an example of oxymoron
Identify an excerpt in the scene that conveys Feste’s confidence
Write with clarity and precision
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night (Act 5) with this bundle featuring a plot-based quiz and a rigorous close reading activity. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze what character dialogue reveals about the character’s mindset
Analyze the author’s word choice in order to determine the most suitable synonym
Apply knowledge of personification, hyperbole, situational irony, personification, metaphor, allusion, and oxymoron
Analyze the greater implied meaning of a given statement
Analyze how complex characters behave and interact
Analyze the author’s application of figurative language for greater meaning
Isolate a falsehood from factual statements about plot
Write ideas with clarity and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 4, scene 2, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the significance of given details
Discern the intended effects of Shakespeare’s choices in terms of characterization
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, allusion, dramatic irony
Isolate the best evidence in support of a claim
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 5, scene 1, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided.
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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore nuances in words with similar meanings
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, hyperbole, situational irony, personification, metaphor, allusion, and oxymoron
Measure reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s Othello (Act 5) with this bundle, which includes a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading worksheets. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable 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:
Articulate what the text says explicitly and implicitly
Write with clarity and precision
Cite specific, relevant textual evidence in support of a claim or idea
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, situational irony, caesura, allusion, epiphany, assonance, and double denotation
Articulate character motivations
Discern the best description of Roderigo’s characterization
Analyze and articulate how the setting contributes to a sense of uncertainty
Articulate how dialogue contributes to the development of suspense
Analyze character interactions
Define complex words or phrases in context
Articulate what Othello’s dialogue reflects about his psychological state
Articulate how Othello rationalizes his decision to murder Desdemona
Articulate how Desdemona is different from a candle, according to Othello
Analyze the text to discern how Othello demonstrates some degree of mercy on Desdemona
Verify interpretations using reference materials including a dictionary or thesaurus
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this set of plot-based quizzes covering the entirety of William Shakespeare’s Othello. These assessments may double as guided reading handouts to facilitate active reading experiences. Answer keys are provided. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Roderigo’s affections for Desdemona
Iago’s fury toward Othello
Brabantio
The Turks’ plan to attack Cyprus
Othello and Desdemona’s relationship
Desdemona’s internal conflict
Othello’s departure
Desdemona’s arrangement to stay with Iago
Brabantio’s warning to Othello
Iago’s manipulation of Roderigo
The end of the war with the Turks
Iago’s emphasis on Cassio’s friendliness toward Desdemona
Cassio’s weakness
Iago’s taking advantage of Cassio’s weakness
The consequences of Cassio’s actions
Othello’s ironic perspective on Iago’s character
Cassio seeking advice from one he considers his closest friend
Iago’s next manipulative move involving Desdemona
Cassio’s verbal exchange with Desdemona
Iago encouraging Othello’s suspicions toward Desdemona
Desdemona’s requests for Othello to forgive Cassio
Othello’s insistence that Iago tell him everything he knows
Iago’s underhanded behaviors and statements
Othello’s statements on marital trust and jealousy
The retrieval of Desdemona’s handkerchief
Othello’s mounting suspicions
Othello’s ultimatum to Iago
Desdemona’s frustrations
Othello’s rage-fueled trance
Iago’s conspiracy to make Othello think Cassio loves Desdemona
Iago’s barbarous suggestion regarding Desdemona’s fate
The letter from Venice
Lodovico’s witnessing Othello’s abusive behavior
Emilia’s verbal exchange with Othello
Othello’s confrontation with Desdemona
Desdemona turning to Iago for help
Roderigo’s frustration with Iago
The arrangement Iago makes for Roderigo
Desdemona’s foreshadowing fear
Iago’s concern that Roderigo could expose him
Iago’s irrational jealousy of Cassio
Cassio’s injury
Fatal wounds
The arrest of Bianca
Othello’s verbal exchange with Desdemona
The subsequent killing
Emilia’s news
The brief revival of a character
The ensuing stabbings, one fatal
Othello’s subsequent perception of himself
The fatal flaw of the hero