"Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros Close Reading Worksheet

“Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros is a coming-of-age short story involving a girl who, for the first time, experiences public marginalization and must learn to navigate an unjust world. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking. While the close reading activity upholds academic rigor and eliminates the need for take-home assessment planning, the brevity of the narrative helps teachers fill awkward gaps in their teaching schedules. 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 nuances in words with similar meanings
• Isolate the story’s inciting incident
• Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
• Identify the narrative’s antagonist
• Evaluate the significance of the teacher’s last name (Price) given the context of the plot
• Argue in support of the claim that the protagonist is smarter and wiser than a typical eleven-year-old
• Predict how Rachel will be affected by her embarrassing classroom experience
• Explore the symbolic meaning behind the phrases “big red mountain” and “runaway balloon”
• Discern the tone of a given excerpt
• Explore theme
• Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
• Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
• Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials