This close reading assessment bundle features text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and deeper analysis of 1984 by George Orwell. Brief excerpts from the novel are included in accordance with fair use regulations. Answer keys are included, as are Word Document and PDF versions of each resource. By completing these exercises, students will: Discern what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Define complex words and phrases in context Determine and analyze the development of key ideas and themes, including the effects of mob mentality Analyze how the author’s word choices add to the text’s complexity Apply and articulate knowledge of literary devices and techniques including consonance, assonance, simile, euphemism, onomatopoeia, aposiopesis, and situational irony Activate background knowledge on Nazi Germany’s treatment of the Jews and articulating historical parallels to the Two Minutes Hate Conduct brief research to discern and articulate historical parallels to media manipulation and the falsification of records Analyze textual details to make logical inferences about character fears, behaviors, and motivations Analyze the emphasis on sports impedimenta and articulate how sporting events promote modes of thinking sanctioned by the Party Analyze how the description of setting contributes to the author’s warning on the effects of totalitarianism on the masses Analyze the author’s word choices to discern and articulate how they contribute to the development of plot Analyze an excerpt to discern its primary function Analyze the Party’s behaviors to discern and articulate the Party’s motivations Make logical inferences about the Party’s reasoning for restricting access to razor blades Identify textual evidence in support of the claim that Syme and Winston have grown desensitized to the brutalities of the Party Identify textual evidence in support of the claim that Syme is described like an animal Analyze why the author may have chosen to describe Syme in an animal-like manner Analyze a brief portion of the passage, which features scare quotes, to discern the author’s intent Articulate why the proles could pose a formidable threat to the Party Articulate why the Brotherhood is comparatively and profoundly less powerful than the proles could be Paraphrase what the narrator means by “[r]ebellion meant a look in the eyes, an inflexion of the voice, at the most, an occasional whispered word.” Analyze the symbolic significance of reverberating bells and inferring why the author made reference to them in context Analyze and articulate Winston’s internal conflict(s) Analyze how Winston is personally affected by the singing of the thrush Apply knowledge of assonance and sibilance and analyze how literary devices contribute to text complexity Analyze the characterization of the thrush and compare its situation to that of Winston and Julia, articulating what these characters share in common Identify textual details that contrast the harshness and abruptness typically associated with totalitarian Oceania Analyze the significance of weather conditions in terms of the Party’s goals for Hate Week Analyze textual details to infer the purpose(s) of atrocity pamphlets and the Hate Week theme song Analyze figurative language (“happy as a lark”) to discern and articulate implied meaning as it relates to Parsons Articulate what makes it impossible for Winston or any other individual member to take down the Brotherhood Identify textual evidence to support the claim that Winston admires O’Brien Compare aspects of the Party’s inner-workings to aspects of the Brotherhood’s inner-workings Articulate what a passage reflects about George Orwell’s attitude toward rebellion against dictatorships Articulate the circumstances under which institutions of the past would uphold truth and logic Articulate the purpose of newspapers and other media, as well as why that purpose is significant Articulate the consequences of interminable war Articulate the narrator’s perspective on who the real victims of contemporary war are Articulate Parsons’s beliefs concerning what makes thoughtcrime so dangerous Articulate how Parsons evaluates his effectiveness as a father Identify and explain textual evidence that contribute to Parsons’s pitiful characterization Articulate how an excerpt illustrates the Party’s success in terms of restricting human emotions and complicating human relationships Explain why reality only exists in the collective mind of the Party, according to O’Brien Identify where anaphora is present in the given passage Identify words, phrases, and details that contribute to Winston’s baby-like characterization Infer why the author wished to characterize Winston like a child given the context of the passage Identify textual evidence in support of a claim Use logic and/or textual evidence to support an argument Write with logic, clarity, and precision

This close reading assessment bundle features text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and analysis of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost. By completing these activities, students will: Discern and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly Isolate a factual statement about the passage from false statements Examine cause-and-effect relationships Analyze Shakespearean language to discern and articulate meanings of words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative definitions and connotative associations Analyze Shakespearean language to discern and articulate tone in context Gain deeper insight into character modes of thinking by analyzing dialogue Analyze a portion of text to discern which literary device is applied in context (anaphora and simile) Demonstrate knowledge of Biron’s criticisms of those who are obsessive in their pursuit of knowledge Make reasonable inferences about why the quickness of Moth’s responses frustrates Armado Articulate Armado’s internal conflict in the context of an excerpt Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern what is implied about women who wear makeup Analyze Moth’s asides to discern and articulate what they reveal about his true feelings Conduct brief research on the topic of Humorism Analyze Costard’s use of malaprops and explain why Shakespeare had him speak in such a manner Interpret figurative language with emphasis on metaphor (“love is a devil”) Make an inference about what Armado finds reassuring about the tale of Samson Apply knowledge of situational irony by explaining what is unexpected about Cupid’s powers Articulate the significance of of Armado’s closing soliloquy Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text including alliteration, simile, hyperbole, and stichomythia Articulate the intended effect of hyperbole in the context of the passage Articulate the intended meaning of a given simile Define complex words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative meanings and connotative associations Identify the Princess’s motivation for choosing Boyet to be a spokesperson Identify textual evidence that serves to justify Maria’s judgment of Longaville Analyze Rosaline’s dialogue to discern tone in the context of her conversation with Biron Determine and articulate the primary purpose of a passage Explain why Longaville grows impatient with Boyet’s responses Identify the evidence supporting the claim that Ferdinand is lovesick, according to Boyet Articulate the intended meaning of a given metaphor Analyze Armado’s dialogue to discern and articulate what it reveals about his mindset Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern and articulate his intent Identify the most synonymous word or phrase to replace a given word in the text Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern tone in context Contrast Costard’s characterization with that of Biron and Armado Apply knowledge of epiphora to the text Analyze Biron as a dynamic character, identifying textual evidence in support of the claim that he is dynamic Analyze Biron’s diaogue to discern and articulate what he believes is Cupid’s motivation for plaguing him with feelings of love Analyze Armado’s letter and articulate the function of an excerpt Analyze Rosaline’s dialogue and actions to argue how she defies standard conventions of femininity and what her motivations are Analyze Shakespeare’s craft to identify which literary devices he employs and what their intended effects are (emphasis is placed on rhyme, innuendo, diacope, metaphor, and irony) Write with clarity, logic, and precision