Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 2, scene 4, of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the Shakespeare’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

Evaluate general reading comprehension with this editable quiz covering the short story “The Crop” by Flannery O’Connor. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. 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: Miss Willerton’s interests Miss Willerton’s general disposition Lucia’s personality Willie’s struggles The subject of a piece of fiction Miss Willerton’s tendency to daydream Miss Willerton’s observations at the grocery store Miss Willerton’s decision to switch her subject And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning responsibilities with this multiple choice quiz covering the short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. Additionally, a short answer option is provided for re-assessment purposes. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking these assessments, students will demonstrate: A knowledge of characters A knowledge of the lottery’s procedural aspects A knowledge of how foreshadowing An ability to make reasonable inferences about plot An ability to discern relevant details in response to a question An ability to write with clarity and precision And more

Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions on Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery.” A variety of question types facilitates the process of analyzing character development, examining how word choices influence a reader’s interpretations, applying knowledge of literary devices, and more. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in 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. In addition to helping students gain deeper understanding of the material and greater confidence in their ability to read and comprehend complex texts, this resource helps prepare students for ACT reading question types. By engaging with this resource, students will… Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define unfamiliar or challenging vocabulary terms in context Determine the tone of a particular passage Determine the author’s intent and its effect on readers Apply knowledge of literary devices (foreshadowing)

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 15 through 18). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: John’s behavior prior to his arrest John’s confession to Mustapha Mond The Controller’s comments about censorship Mustapha Mond’s philosophy on an ideal society Mustapha Mond’s personal history The cause of Bernard’s emotional breakdown The contents of the Controller’s safe The most important right from John’s perspective Where John will be isolated John’s fate And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 12 through 14). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Why partygoers are upset with Bernard How the partygoers express their dissatisfaction Helmholtz Watson’s personal history Helmholtz Watson’s comments about Shakespeare Mustapha Mond’s motivations John’s confession to Lenina Lenina’s reaction to the topic of marriage John’s erratic behavior The reason for John’s visit to the hospital And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 9 through 11). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Lingering effects of the ceremony on Lenina Bernard’s travels Bernard’s motivations John’s nosy behavior The Director’s insults toward Bernard John’s reaction to meeting the Director The crowd’s reaction to watching the interaction between John and the Director A doctor’s grim prognosis John’s reaction to his tour John’s appreciation of Shakespearean drama And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 1 and 2). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Setting The World State motto How conformity is perpetuated Philosophies on maintaining a stable society The caste system The distinguishing characteristic of “freemartins” The objective of sleep teaching Techniques used to stunt intellectual development And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 6 through 8). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Interactions between Lenina and Bernard The Director’s travelling to New Mexico Lenina’s reaction to the ceremony she witnesses How Linda is perceived by others Interactions between John and Pope John’s personal motivations Bernard’s personal motivations And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 3 through 5). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Mustapha Mond Bernard Marx The friendship between Lenina and Fanny The name of an emotion-regulating drug Helmholtz Watson “Big Henry” The Solidarity Service And more

For many reluctant readers, science fiction helps to maximize student engagement. “Robot Dreams” by Isaac Asimov is a cautionary short story involving humanity’s commitment to developing artificial intelligence. This plot-based quiz covering the short story helps English teachers promote homework accountability and evaluate general reading comprehension—while eliminating take-home assessment planning responsibilities. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Susan Calvin’s disposition Linda Rash’s profession The nature of the relationship between the two professionals The name of the robot Linda’s efforts to improve the robot’s brain The reason Linda kept her work private The means by which the robot re-awakens The duration of the robot’s dreams The First, Second, and Third Laws of Robotics Alarming details of the robot’s dreams Susan’s motive for destroying the robot

Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Alicia and I Talking on Edna’s Steps.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in 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. Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the greater significance of a given detail (“I like Alicia because once she gave me a little leather purse with the word GUADALAJARA stitched on it”) Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare two characters in the novel (Esperanza and Alicia) Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and paradox

Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “Games at Twilight” by Anita Desai, a short story about a young boy whose youthful determination and immaturity lead to a difficult outcome he is not prepared to process emotionally or intellectually. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Discern the function of given detail Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, personification, foreshadowing, imagery, paradox, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more Consider themes in context 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

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and minimize assessment planning responsibilities with this close reading analysis worksheet covering George Orwell’s essay titled “Shooting an Elephant.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Articulate the dominant internal conflict Determine the function of a given anecdote Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony Infer the message that the narrator’s inaction would have sent to the community Consider how the author achieves specific effects with emphasis on how the resolution provides a sense of relief Investigate autobiographical parallels, conducting brief research on the author’s life Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Incorporate more science fiction into the high school classroom and evaluate general reading comprehension with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: The protagonist’s job Relationships between the protagonist and various characters How the protagonist works to improve his intelligence The effects of a medical experiment The protagonist’s inferences about the learning process The resolution And more

Help middle and high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapters 3 and 4 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This worksheet is delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, and it eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning while upholding the need for 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 challenging words and phrases as they are used in the text Explore nuances in words with similar meanings Discern the greater significance of given details Determine the intended effect of the author’s stylistic choices Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Discern the tone of a given excerpt Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on slang, personification, metaphor, and simile Explore themes in context

Help middle and high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapters 14 and 15 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This worksheet is delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, and it eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning while upholding the need for 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 Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Discern the greater significance and intended effects of given details Make logical inferences about the author’s thinking in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Consider the symbolism associated with Mazer Rackham Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on situational irony Explore themes in context

Help middle and high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapters 9 and 10 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This worksheet is delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, and it eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning while upholding the need for 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 Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Discern the greater significance of given details Make logical inferences about the author’s thinking in context Consider historical context when answering questions about plot Discern the intended effects of given details Determine the function of a given detail Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany, dramatic irony, situational irony, and more Explore themes in context

Help middle and high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapters 11 through 13 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This worksheet is delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, and it eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning while upholding the need for 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 Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Discern the greater significance of given details Make logical inferences about the author’s thinking in context Consider historical context when answering questions about plot Discern the intended effects of given details Determine the function of a given character or chapter Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, pun, ambiguity, foreshadowing, rhetorical question, dramatic irony, and verbal irony, Explore themes in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help middle and high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapters 1 and 2 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This worksheet is delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, and it eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning while upholding the need for 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 Discern the greater significance of a given detail Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast characters (Ender and Peter) Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on simile, metaphor, and invective Determine the intended effect of the author’s stylistic choices