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.
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 4, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Indicate the purpose of a given set of lines
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings (“deal double with her” and “fool’s paradise”)
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
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 literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 2, scene 6, of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings
Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and imagery
Choose an applicable theme in the context of the scene
Support claims or 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 craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 1, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. 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 explicitly and implicitly
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Determine the primary function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast two characters (Cassius and Casca)
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on 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 develop critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. 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.
Students will perform the following tasks:
Make a logical inference based on the narrative’s title
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of the author’s language in context
Determine the function of the narrative’s point of view
Consider the effects of the author’s narrative techniques
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Contrast the characterizations of the protagonist and the police
Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on red herring and symbolism
Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Doris Lessing’s coming-of-age short story “Through the Tunnel.” A plot-based quiz, close reading analysis worksheet, craft analysis exercise, vocabulary application activity, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in printable, editable 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.
By engaging with these activities, students will:
Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences
Discern the function of a given paragraph
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile, metaphor, personification, and oxymoron
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this self-grading quiz covering the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. The resource may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot:
The identities of the individuals who share devastating news with Louise
The apparent manner of Brently’s death
Louise’s medical concerns
The effect of the news on Louise’s mental, emotional, and psychological states
Louise’s assessment of her husband upon reflection
Brently’s general demeanor toward Louise
The author’s incorporation of imagery
A surprising discovery
The consequence of the surprising discovery
The doctors’ judgment of what happens to Louise
Evaluate comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of resources covering chapters 22 through 24 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. A plot-based quiz, close reading worksheet, vocabulary application activity, crossword puzzle, word search game, copy of the relevant chapters, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
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
Describe tone in context
Consider the greater significance of given details
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Analyze the treatment of Elizabeth and other female characters in the novel
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, metaphor, situational irony, and symbolism
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about 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 5, scene 4, 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
Discern the intended effect of figurative language as it is used in the text
Define complex words and phrases in context
Verify the meanings of words and phrases using reference materials as needed
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on invective and callback
Articulate an unanswered question related to the plot
Make rational predictions about future events using context clues
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
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 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
Discern the tone of dialogue in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including paradox and situational irony
Isolate the best evidence in support of claims
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello (Act 2) with this bundle that features a quiz and close reading activities. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in 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.
By engaging in these exercises, students will:
Discern the intended meaning of various complex words and phrases
Analyze actions and statements to discern character motivations
Discern the tone of a passage
Analyze the author’s craft, demonstrating knowledge of how Shakespeare’s language shapes the audience’s perception of Iago
Apply knowledge of various literary devices to the text including metaphor, simile, situational irony, and more
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language
Locate textual evidence in support of claims
Write 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 1, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. 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 with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words/phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on hyperbole
Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement chapter 3 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: credulity, implore, indifferent, melancholy, notorious, permeate, poignant, scamper, skeptically, swoon, tinny, unintelligible, urbane, vacuous, vague, vehemently, veranda, and wan.
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 the development of close reading skills with this comprehensive bundle of worksheets composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic drama The Tempest. With an activity for each individual scene, this bundle saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. All materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents. Answer keys are provided.
Students will be able to do the following:
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 with emphasis on hyperbole
Articulate the responsibilities of a boatswain
Cite textual evidence in support of the claim that the king’s loyalists are arrogant
Define complex words or phrases in context
Verify interpretations using reference materials including a dictionary or thesaurus
Identify what dialogue reveals about characterization
Articulate why Gonzalo is less concerned about dying than others onboard the ship
Analyze Gonzalo’s dialogue to discern his philosophical perspective on life
Articulate how Nature influences class systems based on this scene
Articulate what Miranda and the audience (or readers) have in common
Analyze what is revealed about Miranda through her interactions with Prospero
Demonstrate knowledge of Prospero’s emotional state as it relates to his past with Antonio
Analyze what is revealed about Gonzalo’s psychological state through his actions
Articulate a primary function of a given excerpt
Articulate why Gonzalo’s bringing up Claribel is a mistake
Identify what Alonso believes is the cause of his misfortune
Articulate Gonzalo’s opinion of what constitutes an ideal society
Articulate what Caliban assumes about the reason for Trinculo’s appearance
Identify the means by which Stephano and Trinculo derive some of their courage
Articulate the conditions under which Caliban will revere Stephano and Trinculo
Articulate how Stephano came into possession of a cask of wine
Articulate how Caliban entices Stefano to participate in his plot
Articulate how Ariel complicates matters for Trinculo specifically
Determine the part of speech of a given word in context
Articulate what causes Stefano and Trinculo to be afraid
Analyze how Antonio and Sebastian demonstrate cowardliness
Identify textual details that contribute to the surreal tone of the scene
Identify whether Ariel believes the king’s party may avoid eternal damnation
Articulate the effect Ariel’s speech has on the king’s party
Conduct brief research on the mythological harpy and analyze what the creature has in common with Ariel
Analyze Shakespeare’s craft to discern and explain how humor is incorporated into the scene
And more
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this quiz covering Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The quiz may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the play. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Gonzalo’s interactions with King Alonso
Sebastian’s interactions with King Alonso
The reason for King Alonso’s emotional distress
Ariel’s effect on the shipwrecked crew
Antonio’s planned betrayal of King Alonso
Caliban’s feelings toward Prospero
The role of Trinculo
Trinculo’s reaction to Caliban
The characterization of Stephano
Caliban’s assumption about Trinculo and Caliban
Caliban’s decision to serve Stephano
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 4, scene 2 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
Determine the function of a particular character in the context of the scene
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, simile, oxymoron, and callback
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 1, of Hamlet by William Shakespeare and emphasizing the protagonist’s internal conflict as expressed in his famous soliloquy: “To be, or not to be?” 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
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor
Determine the function of a given excerpt
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 1, 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
Compare and contrast two characters
Determine the function of the scene
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on situational irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this complete bundle of worksheets composed of inference questions covering every individual scene in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. These resources will encourage students to analyze how complex characters develop, explore character motivations, interpret figurative expressions, apply knowledge of literary devices, develop greater confidence in decoding Shakespearean language, and much more. Answer keys are included. All materials are delivered in a zip file containing printable Word Document and PDF versions.
Use these resources for independent or small group engagement with the text; they may lead to thoughtful discussions that contribute meaningfully to a culture of active learning in high school English classrooms. With these instructional materials, students will demonstrate the following:
An ability to define complex vocabulary in context
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations
An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character relationships
An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as foreshadowing, situational irony, dramatic irony, theme, symbolism, dynamic character, and more
An ability to identify the function of a particular passage
An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim
An ability to analyze context clues to discern and articulate the significance of a given detail
An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly
An ability to write with clarity and precision
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello. With a focus on Act 1, scene 1, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents.
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.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Analyze what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make logical inferences in context
Explore character motivations
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Discern the meaning of complex words and phrases in context
Explore theme
Write with clarity and precision
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello. With a focus on Act 1, scene 2, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents.
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.
More specifically, questions pertain to the following:
Analyzing the phrase “He comes to bad intent” for meaning.
Analyzing the phrase “Come, sir, I am for you” for meaning and synthesizing it with knowledge of Iago’s characterization.
Analyzing text for meaning: why Othello claims that Brabantio is worthy of respect.
Analyzing text to determine character motivations (why Brabantio thinks Othello is a thief).
Analyzing text to isolate true statements from unfounded statements.
Locating textual evidence and annotating text to make comprehension visible: identifying all references to supernatural forces and all indications of Brabantio’s prejudiced mentality.
Paraphrasing dialogue.