Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Chinua Achebe’s short story “Dead Men’s Path.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: Character motivations General description of Obi’s colleagues Nancy’s emotional and psychological states The length of time Obi has been married The nature of the conversation Obi has with a priest The meaning behind a proverb The cultural significance of the path The reason Obi wants to close the path A tragic situation Retribution The resolution

Help 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 Chinua Achebe’s short story “Dead Men’s Path.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Determine the narrative’s dominant conflict Analyze how complex characters interact and develop Explore character motivations Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and situational irony Determine the function of a particular passage Make an inference about the author’s point of view Articulate the intended effect of the author’s diction in context Cite textual evidence in support of claims Write with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Morley Callaghan’s “All the Years of Her Life,” a short story focusing on how a young son’s behavior influences the psychological state of his loving mother. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: Setting Conflict The background of the protagonist How complex characters interact

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Jorinda and Jorindel.” Alternatively, the assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The antagonist’s physical form in both the daytime and the nighttime What happens to both men and women when they approach the antagonist’s house The source of mournful singing The nature of the relationship between the titular characters Abrupt changes in Jorindel’s life The content of Jorindel’s dreams The length of time it takes Jorindel to find an item with magical properties The resolution

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Leslie Marmon Silko’s short story titled “The Man to Send Rain Clouds.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: Setting Character relationships Actions consistent with a ritual Character motivations A complication associated with burial The priest’s reluctance Resolution

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Clever Gretel.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the short story. An answer key and copy of the text are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Objects that intensify Gretel’s self-esteem Gretel’s tendencies while she cooks Gretel’s preparations for cooking Gretel’s belief on what constitutes a sin The purpose for Gretel’s visits to the cellar The problem that exists when the master returns What the master does with a knife How Gretel gets herself out of an awkward situation The resolution

Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering a classic Grimm’s fairy tale titled “Jorinda and Jorindel.” An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are 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. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Consider how words and phrases may have dual interpretations in context Discern the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Determine the greater significance of given details Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including symbolism and situational irony Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Frog King.” The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the short story. An answer key and copy of the text are provided. All materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: The cause of the princess’ sadness The frog’s negotiations with the princess The princess’ betrayal of the frog The princess’ reaction to the frog’s sudden appearance The king’s response to his daughter’s explanation of events The frog’s conduct in the castle The princess’ reaction to the frog’s conduct The reason for the prince’s transformation into a frog The personal wellness of Faithful Henry The cause of cracking noises

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Twelve Huntsmen.” Alternatively, the assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with the narrative. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The protagonist’s personal tragedy An internal conflict the protagonist experiences The maiden’s personal desires The special quality of the lion Incidents characterized by dramatic irony The maiden’s medical incident The significance of a ring The resolution

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering “The Tomb” by H.P. Lovecraft, a short story with elements of Gothic fantasy that evokes the works of Edgar Allan Poe. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative, which is especially fitting for the Halloween season, are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The narrator’s confinement The protagonist’s self-image The name of a long-gone family The legend surrounding the long-gone family The protagonist’s interest in the legend from a young age The protagonist’s attempts to gain access to a tomb The reason the protagonist stops trying to access the tomb Aspects of the protagonist’s characterization that astound his family The protagonist’s ancestry A discovery in the attic A discovery inside the vault How the narrator’s parents demonstrate concern for their son Events that seem to transpire when the protagonist enters the cellar The protagonist’s intensifying phobia The contents of an antique box A servant’s actions to help the narrator

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 “Old Rinkrank,” a classic Grimm’s fairy tale. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Evaluate the protagonist’s positive attributes and how they benefit her as the plot develops Compare and contrast two characters (Old Rinkrank and the king) Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on situational irony Analyze the author’s craft to determine what the name Mother Mansrot suggests about the antagonist’s thinking Consider themes in context Defend claims and ideas with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary material

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The setting of the narrative The duration of time covered in the narrative The general disposition of the protagonist, Dexter, as a teen The protagonist’s business endeavor The speculation concerning the protagonist’s romantic interest, Judy The nature of the relationship between Dexter and Judy Dexter’s significant life events as an adult The resolution An interpretation of “winter dreams” And more

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter twenty-one journal entry dated March 17, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. 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 Analyze nuances in word meanings and choose the most appropriate definition for a word as it is used in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Determine the purpose of a given passage Apply knowledge of various literary devices including personification, assonance, symbolism, and juxtaposition Write about literature with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter twenty journal entry dated February 24, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. 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 Analyze nuances in word meanings Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of various literary devices including hyperbole and epiphany Determine the tone of the diary entry Explain how the author incorporates juxtaposition in the diary entry Write about literature with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter nineteen journal entry dated January 30, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. 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 Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Determine the tone of a particular passage Analyze nuances in word meanings Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims Use valid reasoning to justify claims and ideas Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Hans Christian Andersen’s short story “Grandmother,” a narrative centering on themes of appreciating the elderly and the fleeting nature of physical life. The brevity of the narrative helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule, while the supporting activity maintains rigor in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the text (estimated Lexile range of 1000-1100) are 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. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Determine the function of a given excerpt Describe the tone of the complete text Discern the intended effects of figurative language and other narrative techniques Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, sibilance, irony, symbolism, imagery, metaphor, and more 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 general reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills while they engage with The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin. Highlighting a significant passage from chapter fifteen (“Nausicaa”), this resource features a line of rigorous questioning to promote active engagement with the text. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable 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 engaging with this resource, students will: Identify the purpose of a particular paragraph Discern the best explanation of the dominant conflict in the context of the passage Identify character motivations Discern the best description of Alcinous’s character Identify the tone of Arete’s dialogue Discern the intent of Arete’s dialogue Analyze the symbolism of snakes in the context of Nausicaa’s dream Apply knowledge of literary devices including assonance

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter nine journal entry dated August 15, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. 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 Explore how complex characters develop and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, anaphora, alliteration, and allusion Analyze an expressions to articulate its deeper meaning Articulate Megan’s internal conflict Identify and explain an example of situational irony in the passage Explore the greater effect of Miranda’s conversation with Megan Identify the most relevant textual evidence in support of a claim Write ideas with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter ten journal entry dated August 29, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. 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 Explore how complex characters develop and interact Discern the greater significance of a given detail Explain an example of situational irony in the passage Identify several narrative techniques that contribute to the development of suspense Determine the function of the journal entry Identify the most relevant textual evidence in support of a claim Write ideas with clarity and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter eleven journal entry dated August 31, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. An answer key is included. 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 Analyze how complex characters develop and interact Explore character motivations Apply knowledge of literary devices such as metaphor Determine the most applicable theme to the passage Make logical inferences in the context of the passage Analyze differences between and nuances of a set of adjectives Defend a claim with sound reasoning and textual evidence Write ideas with clarity and precision