Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active reading experiences and subsequent class discussions. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following relevant details: Setting A king’s life-changing decision Edmund’s status as an illegitimate child and its effect on him Daughters’ expressions of love for their father Contrasting Cordelia from her two sisters Cordelia’s punishment Kent’s assessment of King Lear’s behavior An agreement with the King of France Comparing Cordelia’s two sisters to their father (identifying similar motivations) Edmund’s underhanded deeds Goneril’s feelings toward her recently moved-in father Kent’s act of self-preservation Character description of the Fool The intent of King Lear’s letter The king’s acknowledgement of a fear Kent’s loyalty

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 3, 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 Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings (“Things have fall’n out,” “We have had no time to move our daughter,” and “I will make a desperate tender of my child’s love.” 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 situational irony and dramatic irony 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 readers go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 1, scene 3, 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 Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Isolate the best textual evidence in support of a claim Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor 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 3, scene 5, 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 Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, personification, situational irony, and symbolism 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 literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 2, scene 5, 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 Determine the function of a given excerpt Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, hyperbole, and invective 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 5, scene 1, 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 Argue whether Romeo’s behavior in the scene is consistent with his characterization throughout the play Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing 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

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with Shakespearean drama. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Banquo’s psychological state Macbeth’s deception of Banquo Macbeth’s hallucination Details regarding the plot to kill King Duncan Lady Macbeth’s reason for not being able to kill King Duncan herself Macbeth’s inability to utter words of prayer Lady Macbeth’s frustration with her husband The porter’s thoughts on the effects of alcohol Macduff’s suspicions Lady Macbeth’s fainting spell The peculiar events following King Duncan’s death The reason Malcolm and Donalbain are suspected of killing their father

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 3, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. 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 both explicitly and implicitly Define challenging words as they are used in the text Determine the function of a given detail Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare characters in the play Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and situational irony Support inferences and claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering chapters 1, 2, and 3 of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the novel. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Historical context Setting Environmental conditions Tom Joad’s 4-year stay Tom Joad’s conviction The interaction between Tom Joad and the driver Tom Joad’s irritability Workers vs. owners The incident with the turtle

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 2, 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 Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbaton and simile 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 craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 3, scene 2, 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 as well as 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 Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast the speeches of Brutus and Antony with emphasis on content, language, rhetorical skills, and audience engagement Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony and verbal 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

“Spunk” by Zora Neale Hurston is a short story marked by the hubris of a self-assured man who has an affair with a meeker man’s wife—a decision that leads to his demise. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking. 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 Determine the narrative’s point of view Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Analyze the author’s word choices to articulate how they contribute to character development Select the least logical inference about characterization from among several options Apply knowledge of literary devices including hubris, juxtaposition, foil, metaphor, epiphany, and situational irony 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

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 Leslie Marmon Silko’s short story “The Man to Send Rain Clouds.” 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 explicitly and implicitly Discern and articulate Leon’s motivation to keep Teofilo’s death a secret Analyze Louise’s actions to discern and articulate what they reveal about her mindset Analyze how character interactions contribute to the development of internal conflict Locate textual evidence in support of the claim that the priest is not very familiar with his community Articulate a reason for Leon to feel content Make a claim about character beliefs in the context of the entire narrative Apply knowledge of symbolism, choosing an object that represents an abstract and significant idea Write with clarity, logic, and precision

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 the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “Clever Gretel.” 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 engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Consult reference materials to learn or verify meanings of challenging words Describe tone in context Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Articulate contradictions made evident by the protagonist’s behavior Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony and foreshadowing Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet to complement chapter 5 of Dracula by Bram Stoker. An answer key and copy of the chapter, which is in the public domain, are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable 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 says explicitly and implicitly Explain the benefits to maintaining an epistolary style Discern the primary function of a particular journal entry Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Come to class better prepared to engage in collaborative discussions Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Gothic literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet to complement chapter 7 of Dracula by Bram Stoker. An answer key and copy of the chapter, which is in the public domain, are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable 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 says explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed Discern the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, assonance, consonance, sibilance, personification, and dramatic irony Come to class better prepared to engage in collaborative discussions Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Gothic literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Shirley Jackson’s short story titled “Charles.” An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable 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 this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Determine the function of a given paragraph Discern the narrative’s dominant conflict Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, slang, situational irony, neologism, invective, and sibilance Reflect on how point of view shapes the reader’s understanding of events Consider theme in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the short story titled “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Analyze what the narrator’s dialogue reveals about her feelings toward her mother Explore character motivations Isolate an example of figurative language from among several sentences in the text Discern the intended effect of a given phrase (“one with the constant dark now”) Articulate how the author incorporates a plot twist Determine the function of a given paragraph Identify several narrative techniques used by the author to convey liveliness and urgency Determine what a character’s actions reveal about her psychological state Make logical inferences about the author’s beliefs based on the context of the story Articulate why the author chose “The Leap” as the title Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning Exercise rational thought Cite textual evidence in support of claims

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Doll’s House” by Katherine Mansfield. 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: Setting The description of the doll’s house Where the doll’s house is situated Conditions under which friends may see the doll’s house The general disposition of the Burnell parents A general description of the Kelvey sisters The characterization of Aunt Beryl The name of the oldest Burnell sister The general disposition of Else The general disposition of Kezia An object of significance The resolution

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Lie” by Kurt Vonnegut. The resource may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The Remenzels’ socioeconomic circumstances Mrs. Remenzel’s suggestions for her son’s dorm room Dr. Remenzel’s general disposition The name of the school to which Eli is taken The general history of the school Eli’s disposition on the drive to the school The parents’ inference based on Eli’s behavior The identity of Tom Hilyer The playing out of an awkward situation Mrs. Remenzel’s confession Dr. Remenzel’s surprising behavior The resolution