Help students go beyond general comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 1 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. The variety of question types may also help prepare learners for standardized testing scenarios. 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 to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern the function of a given passage Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and verisimilitude Conduct brief research on the beliefs of German philosopher Karl Marx Articulate whether Major’s speech reflects a belief in Marxist ideology Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help students go beyond general comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 3 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. The variety of question types may also help prepare learners for standardized testing scenarios. 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 to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern the function of a given passage Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Determine which character is likeliest to challenge leadership and take interest in the world outside of Animal Farm Articulate why the pigs in particular would favor the incorporation of slogans and mottos into Animal Farm’s culture Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help students go beyond general comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering chapter 10 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. The variety of question types may also help prepare learners for standardized testing scenarios. 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 to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Reflect on the greater significance of Animal Farm’s name change Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Defend the claim that the animals are collectively worse off than before Napoleon’s rule Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

For many high school readers, horror and psychological fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Birds” by Daphne du Maurier features elements consistent with both genres: an isolated setting, killings without clear motivations, the suggestion of humanity’s imminent extinction, and more. With this challenging worksheet composed of high-order questions, English Language Arts teachers will help students extend beyond basic reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and save valuable time at home without sacrificing quality and rigor in the classroom. A detailed answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze the author’s choice of title in order to articulate its intended effect on readers Examine how elements of setting contribute to the development of suspense Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others Determine the functions of characters Infer character motivations Make logical inferences about the author’s intent Apply knowledge of various literary devices including personification, amplification, onomatopoeia, simile, epiphany, foreshadowing, and more Conduct online research to answer a question about historical context Paraphrase the author’s words (“You had to endure something yourself before it touched you”) Examine what a given passage implies about humanity’s relationship with Nature Identify narrative techniques used in a given passage to convey an unsettling mood Articulate the irony associated with imagery in a given passage Explore relevant themes Discern the significance of the protagonist’s final actions Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of quiz questions on Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (chapters 1 through 3). An answer key is provided. The materials are delivered in a zip file as both Word Documents and PDFs. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: How Huck came into possession of money The current arrangement for managing Huck’s money Huck’s dissatisfaction with living under others’ rules Tom’s behavior in contrast to Huck’s The location of the gang’s initiation meeting The pledge each gang member makes to guarantee secrecy The illness that afflicts Huck’s father The situational irony related to the gang’s decision not to meet on Sundays Huck’s scrutiny of prayer The speculation surrounding a corpse in the river Huck’s feelings about the possibility that his father is dead The influence of literature on Tom’s thinking Huck’s scrutiny of Tom’s imagination

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 2, 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 Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of various literary devices including oxymoron, onomatopoeia, allusion, personification, symbolism, invective, and more 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 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 Compare the characters of Antonio and Shylock Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, personification, and more 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

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 close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking—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 the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Explore cause-and-effect relationships Define complex words as they are used in the text Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, pun, and personification Analyze sentence structures with emphasis on the use of an appositive phrase Analyze the author’s stylistic choice to capitalize common noun phrases Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write ideas 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 4, scene 1, of Much Ado About Nothing 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 Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Discern the tone of dialogue in context Discern the intended effect of narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Articulate the internal conflicts of two characters (Beatrice and Benedick) Apply knowledge of literary devices including pun, hyperbole, oxymoron, allusion, metaphor, imagery, and more Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 7 of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: abounding, abyss, affront, dart, earnestly, elude, gibberish, inviolate, keenly, portentous, presumptuous, relinquish, sagely, sneer, tangible, truculent, weary, and whimper. By engaging with these activities, students will: Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Book 1 of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Two crossword puzzles, two word search activities, a vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: atrocity, bough, clamor, conspicuous, contempt, dingy, dissemble, feeble, furtively, genially, heretical, incredulous, inscrutable, interminable, murmur, nebulous, obsolete, odious, procure, reproach, strident, subtlety, tedious, treachery, and tremulous. By engaging with these activities, students will: Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences

Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, explore literary devices, and improve critical thinking skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Act 1, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Consider using this resource as an in-class group activity; it may facilitate deeper conversations about characters, plot developments, and literary craft. By engaging with this close reading analysis activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the tone of the scene Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, explore literary devices, and improve critical thinking skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Act 1, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Consider using this resource as an in-class group activity; it may facilitate deeper conversations about characters, plot developments, and literary craft. By engaging with this close reading analysis activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Determine the tone of the scene Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile and metaphor Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, explore literary devices, and improve critical thinking skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering the soliloquy in Act 2, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Consider using this resource as an in-class group activity; it may facilitate deeper conversations about characters, plot developments, and literary craft. By engaging with this close reading analysis activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Discern tone in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students go beyond basic comprehension, explore literary devices, and improve critical thinking skills with this close reading inference worksheet covering Act 3, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Consider using this resource as an in-class group activity; it may facilitate deeper conversations about characters, plot developments, and literary craft. By engaging with this close reading analysis activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Consider the greater significance of given details 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 Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on dramatic irony, simile, and metaphor Determine the tone of a given passage Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual 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 literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 4, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Consider using this resource as an in-class group activity; it may facilitate deeper conversations about characters, plot developments, and literary craft. 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 Discern the tone of a given passage Apply knowledge of literary devices including verbal irony, sibilance, personification, consonance, and inversion Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision