Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 2, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context Discern tone in context Define challenging words as they are used in the text Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Consider the symbolic meaning of sleep in context Apply knowledge of various literary devices including hyperbole and simile Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 2, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. 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 as well as implicitly Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern the primary function of an excerpt Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Articulate flaws in a character’s logic Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, and situational irony 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 Shakespearean drama

Looking for a high school horror story resource for the Halloween season? Looking for a text to pair with “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe or a similar narrative? Use this plot-based quiz to evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities. The quiz may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate student engagement with the short story. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: What the protagonists do with the artifacts they collect The conditions under which the protagonists prefer to do their work Setting Surprising discoveries inside a coffin A physical description of the amulet The effect the amulet seems to have on the protagonists The manner of St. John’s death Details of an assault against the narrator The narrator’s epiphany An ironic turn of events The disturbing visual of the corpse inside the coffin The fate of the narrator

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 8, 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 Apply knowledge of various literary devices including invective, juxtaposition, and hyperbole 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

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 9, 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 Determine the function of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, allusion, and more Conduct brief online research (if necessary) to determine the symbolic value of a particular object 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

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

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 3, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. 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 Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the Shakespeare’s word choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including idiom 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

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 3, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. 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 Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the Shakespeare’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of the scene Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion and situational irony 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

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 3, scene 4, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. 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 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 Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, personification, and oxymoron Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

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 1, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, 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 Determine the function of the scene Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices such as pun and metaphor Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

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 1, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. 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 Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the Shakespeare’s word choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and situational irony 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

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 3, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. 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 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 Apply knowledge of literary devices such as metaphor, paradox, and personification 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

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 1, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. 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 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 Apply knowledge of literary devices such as personification, simile, and hyperbole Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

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 2, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. 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 Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the Shakespeare’s word choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Determine the function of the scene Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on situational irony Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

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 5, of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. 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 Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the Shakespeare’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the function of the scene Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices such as metaphor and situational irony 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

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 As You Like It. 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 Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the Shakespeare’s word choices and narrative techniques Infer the function of a given character Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices such as hyperbole, allusion, and prosthesis Consider themes in context Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works

Go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet to complement chapter 4 of Dracula by Bram Stoker. An answer key and copy of the chapter, which is in the public domain, 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 completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context Consider the greater significance of given details Discern the primary function of a particular journal entry Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on epiphany, situational irony, personification, alliteration, and diacope Conduct brief research on gypsies in order to to explain why Harker believes they may be helpful to him Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Gothic literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet to complement chapter 3 of Dracula by Bram Stoker. An answer key and copy of the chapter, which is in the public domain, 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 completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly Discern the primary purpose of a given paragraph Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on epiphany, oxymoron, and dramatic irony Explain how gender norms of 19th Century England are broken Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Gothic literature 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 1, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in 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 with this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words/phrases as they are used in context Verify interpretations of language using reference materials Explore nuances in words with similar meanings Describe tone in context Consider the greater significance of given details Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration and situational irony Conduct brief research on mythological and historical subjects 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 general reading comprehension and promote the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions to complement Act 5, 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 Evaluate behavior to determine which character is most committed to their role in the charade Apply knowledge of literary devices including sibilance, idiom, and dramatic irony Discern the tone of a character’s remarks