Incorporate more science fiction into the high school classroom and evaluate general reading comprehension with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: The protagonist’s job Relationships between the protagonist and various characters How the protagonist works to improve his intelligence The effects of a medical experiment The protagonist’s inferences about the learning process The resolution And more

“The Night Came Slowly” by Kate Chopin is an complex narrative packed with symbolism, yet it is short enough to compensate for awkward gaps in teaching schedules. With this plot-based quiz covering the short story, teachers will be able to evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. An answer key is provided, as well as a copy of the public domain text. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The narrator’s perspective on humanity The narrator’s perspective on nature The narrator’s perspective on literature The narrator’s personal reflections The narrator’s spirituality The setting Personifying details And more

“A Strange Story” by O. Henry is a narrative packed with situational irony, yet it is short enough to compensate for awkward gaps in teaching schedules. With this plot-based quiz covering the short story, teachers will be able to evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. Additionally, the brevity of the narrative helps to fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule. An answer key is provided, as well as a copy of the public domain text. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Setting The family’s last name A character’s medical condition The reason for a character’s departure The effects of a character’s disappearance Similarities between characters Ironic coincidences The resolution

Help middle and high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapters 14 and 15 of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This worksheet is delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, and it eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning while upholding the need for 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 greater significance and intended effects of given details Make logical inferences about the author’s thinking in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Consider the symbolism associated with Mazer Rackham Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on situational irony Explore themes in context

With this summative test covering the entirety of the science fiction novel Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, English teachers will evaluate students’ reading comprehension, essay writing skills, and ability to analyze key aspects of plot. Included are the following: an answer key, standards-based rubric, and test prep study guide. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will: Demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary characters and the key aspects of their lives Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that take place throughout the novel Evaluate substantive excerpts for deeper meaning Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, anaphora, dramatic irony, euphemism, foreshadowing, hubris, hyperbole, imagery, invective, metaphor, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, and verbal irony Respond to an essay prompt about the protagonist’s isolation, arguing whether he is better or worse off for having been isolated Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood lends itself to compelling research opportunities for high school students. This low-prep, standards-based project has students investigate topics related to women’s history and human rights around the world: from America (the Fourteenth Amendment, Equal Pay Act, Equal Rights Amendment, etc.) to Canada (the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, etc.), from the Middle East (Benazir Bhutto, the Taliban’s treatment of women, the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, etc.) to Mexico (Laureana Wright de Kleinhans, First Feminist Congress of the Yucatan, etc.). Thirty-nine topics are addressed. Supporting materials—including a detailed scoring rubric—are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Ultimately, students will perform the following tasks: Articulate connections between a research topic and the assigned text Conduct research using available resources Collect and classify reliable sources Develop successful methods of recording information Evaluate the credibility of nonfiction texts, taking into consideration readability, date, relevance, expertise, and bias Apply conventions of MLA formatting Correctly site resources to avoid plagiarism Organize information in a cohesive manner, using a note-taking system that includes summary, paraphrasing, and quoted material Analyze, synthesize, and integrate information, generating a thoughtfully comprehensive report, free of generalities and redundancies Present information in a formal, coherent manner

Promote student choice and facilitate the process of researching relevant topics from beginning to end with this low-prep activity to conclude a unit on The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. Students will choose from thirty research topics—addressing ideas such as real-life UFO sightings (the 1947 Roswell incident, the 1997 Phoenix Lights incident, the 2006 O’Hare International Airport incident, etc.), UFO programs and organizations (Project Blue Book, Mutual UFO Network, SETI Institute, etc.), and famous figures in ufology (J. Allen Hynek, John Mack, George Adamski, etc.)—and navigate academically appropriate sources with the goal of teaching their peers about their topics. A detailed scoring rubric is provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Ultimately, students will perform the following tasks: Articulate connections between a research topic and the assigned novel Conduct research using available resources Collect and classify reliable sources Develop successful methods of recording information Evaluate the credibility of nonfiction texts, taking into consideration readability, date, relevance, expertise, and bias Apply conventions of MLA formatting Correctly site resources to avoid plagiarism Organize information in a cohesive manner, using a note-taking system that includes summary, paraphrasing, and quoted material Analyze, synthesize, and integrate information, generating a thoughtfully comprehensive report, free of generalities and redundancies Present information in a formal, coherent manner

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 3 through 5). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Mustapha Mond Bernard Marx The friendship between Lenina and Fanny The name of an emotion-regulating drug Helmholtz Watson “Big Henry” The Solidarity Service And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 6 through 8). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Interactions between Lenina and Bernard The Director’s travelling to New Mexico Lenina’s reaction to the ceremony she witnesses How Linda is perceived by others Interactions between John and Pope John’s personal motivations Bernard’s personal motivations And more

This Creative Writing project for high school facilitates the process of drafting a first-person short story in the fantasy genre featuring personified dinosaurs who experience conflicts that are relatable to a human audience while incorporating details that hearken back to prehistoric times. An important aspect to this activity is the creation of a distinct voice that is consistent with what is known about whichever species of dinosaur is represented by the protagonist. Included are detailed, visually pleasing directions; a dinosaur research activity; a comprehensive outline for student planning; peer- and self-editing documents; and a thorough rubric for evaluating final drafts. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing both Word Document and PDF versions. By engaging with these materials, students will do the following: Conduct brief, informal research on any three of the following dinosaurs: Alamosaurus, Megalosaurus, Allosaurus, Diplodocus, Deinonychus, Indosuchus, Saltasaurus, Archaeopteryx, Coelophusis, Protoceratops, Albertosaurus, Carnotaurus, Styracosaurus, Borogovia, Ceratosaurus, Edmontosaurus, Dryptosaurus, Noasaurus, Dilophosaurus, Albertaceratops, Saltopus, Iguanodon, Utahraptor, Sinovenator, Gasosaurus, Nemegtosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Segisaurus, Bambiraptor, Ankylosaurus, Giganotosaurus, Camptosaurus, Microraptor, Suchomimus, Hesperosaurus, and more Apply knowledge of the aforementioned dinosaurs to the process of developing distinct, well-rounded characters Organize initial ideas in a coherent manner Engage the reader with a compelling exposition that establishes a prehistoric setting, characters, and conflicts Use many appropriate narrative techniques (dialogue, dialect, description, pacing, etc.) to enhance a science-fiction plot Draft a coherent, cohesive, and appropriate narrative that builds toward a particular tone and outcome (a sense of mystery, suspense, etc.) Use precise words and phrases, active verbs, and sensory language to convey a compelling story Draft a reasonable and unrushed conclusion that resolves conflicts and conveys a theme Show mastery of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 1 and 2). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Setting The World State motto How conformity is perpetuated Philosophies on maintaining a stable society The caste system The distinguishing characteristic of “freemartins” The objective of sleep teaching Techniques used to stunt intellectual development And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension with this editable quiz covering the short story “The Crop” by Flannery O’Connor. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Miss Willerton’s interests Miss Willerton’s general disposition Lucia’s personality Willie’s struggles The subject of a piece of fiction Miss Willerton’s tendency to daydream Miss Willerton’s observations at the grocery store Miss Willerton’s decision to switch her subject And more

With this summative test covering the entirety of Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, English teachers will evaluate students’ reading comprehension, essay writing skills, and ability to analyze key aspects of plot. Included are the following: an answer key, standards-based writing rubric, and test prep study guide. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will: Demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary characters and the key aspects of their lives Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that take place throughout the novel Evaluate substantive quotations for deeper meaning Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, allusion, assonance, euphemism, foreshadowing, hyperbole, idiom, metaphor, simile, slang, and verbal irony Respond to an essay prompt about the influence of family on Holden’s world views Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay

With this summative test covering the entirety of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night, English teachers will evaluate students’ essay writing skills and comprehension of characters, plot, and craft. A test prep study guide, answer key, and standards-based essay rubric are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will: Demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary characters and the key aspects of their lives Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that take place throughout the novel Evaluate substantive excerpts for deeper meaning Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, allusion, assonance, euphemism, hyperbole, metaphor, oxymoron, personification, and simile Generate an essay about the influence of love on three characters Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Black Cat.” The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. 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 W. W. Jacobs’ short story “The Monkey’s Paw.” The following are included: a crossword puzzle, a word search activity, a vocabulary application worksheet, the public domain narrative, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. 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

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 12 through 14). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Why partygoers are upset with Bernard How the partygoers express their dissatisfaction Helmholtz Watson’s personal history Helmholtz Watson’s comments about Shakespeare Mustapha Mond’s motivations John’s confession to Lenina Lenina’s reaction to the topic of marriage John’s erratic behavior The reason for John’s visit to the hospital And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (chapters 9 through 11). This assessment may also serve as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Lingering effects of the ceremony on Lenina Bernard’s travels Bernard’s motivations John’s nosy behavior The Director’s insults toward Bernard John’s reaction to meeting the Director The crowd’s reaction to watching the interaction between John and the Director A doctor’s grim prognosis John’s reaction to his tour John’s appreciation of Shakespearean drama And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension with this editable quiz covering the short story “The Hollow of the Three Hills” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The depiction of the young woman in the exposition Distinguishing characteristics of the hollow Legends associated with the setting The depiction of the crone in the exposition The young woman’s emotional state Manifestations resulting from the crone’s incantations Revelations about the young woman’s personal history The fate of the young woman The crone’s motivation And more