Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Three Brothers” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. 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 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 Determine the function of a given excerpt Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Isolate an example of figurative language Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction

Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Beautiful and Cruel.” An answer key is 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. Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Verify interpretations of language using reference materials including a dictionary or thesaurus Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Explore cause-and-effect relationships Make logical predictions based on context clues Compare and contrast two characters (Nenny and Esperanza) Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Hips.” The variety of question types also helps students prepare for standardized testing scenarios: main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. 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. 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. Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters develop and interact Analyze figurative language to discern and articulate the intended effect Articulate the internal conflict presented in a given excerpt Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism and hyperbole Identify the best textual evidence in support of a claim or idea Discern the main function of the vignette Explore the author’s craft Write with clarity and precision

Support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Sally.” The variety of question types also helps students prepare for standardized testing scenarios: main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. (Alternatively, an online version made for Google Drive is available.) 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. Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze how complex characters develop and interact Analyze a detail for symbolic value Articulate what a figurative expression is intended to reveal about Sally’s character Explore the author’s craft to discern and explain what role imagery plays in developing Sally’s character Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices and narrative techniques Analyze the effect of directly addressing Sally on the reader Discern the main function of the vignette Write with clarity and precision

Support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Bums in the Attic.” The variety of question types also helps students prepare for standardized testing scenarios: main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. 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. 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. Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. 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 dramatic irony to the vignette Apply knowledge of hyperbole to the vignette Analyze the author’s craft to discern an accurate interpretation of text Identify the best textual evidence in support of a claim Discern the main function of the vignette

Help middle and high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Wonderful Musician” by the Brothers Grimm. The brevity of the narrative, coupled with the learning objectives of the activity, helps teachers fill awkward gaps in the teaching schedule without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. 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 close reading activity, 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 Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile and foreshadowing Consider themes in context Articulate the irony associated with the narrative’s title Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction

Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and develop critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering a classic Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Singing, Springing Lark.” An answer key and copy of the short story are provided. 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 as well as implicitly Consult reference materials in order to learn or verify word meanings Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast characters Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, foreshadowing, hubris, hyperbole, metaphor, oxymoron, personification, simile, situational irony, symbolism, and more Consider a relevant theme in context 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

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 Gary Soto’s short story “The No-Guitar Blues.” A detailed answer key is provided. 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 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 dramatic irony, metaphor, and simile Consider themes in context 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

Help high school students extend beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the science fiction short story “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury. 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 Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed 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 dramatic irony, metaphor, and personification 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

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 short story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst. 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 Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Discern the function of a particular paragraph Describe the tone of a particular excerpt Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop List several similarities between Doodle and the scarlet ibis Conduct brief research to make sense of setting and an allusion Apply knowledge of various literary devices including oxymoron, idiom, personification, dramatic irony, hubris, and more Explore the traditional symbolism associated with rain in order to make sense of the phrase “heresy of rain” as it is used in the story 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

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 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. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Determine the point of view of the narrative Discern the tone of a particular passage Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast characters Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony and epiphany Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction 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 a classic Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Frog King” (also called “Iron Heinrich” and “Iron Henry”). 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 Determine the narrative’s inciting incident Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, dramatic irony, and situational irony Consider themes in context 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

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering “The Lurking Fear” by H.P. Lovecraft, a short story with elements of horror and supernatural fiction: ghosts, unsolved murders, secret investigations, and bizarre creatures. 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 are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: General description of the narrator Setting A gruesome inciting incident Preparations for an emergency escape Secondary characters and their fates Natural disasters that transpire The distinguishing physical characteristic of an antagonist The narrator’s peculiar observations Complications facing the narrator A new demonic attack A physical description of monstrous beings The beings’ horrifying behavior The resolution

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering an obscure short story by H.P. Lovecraft titled “Sweet Ermengarde,” also known as “The Heart of a Country Girl.” This piece is a surprising departure from the grotesque and fantastical characteristics typically associated with Lovecraftian fiction. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word 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 dramatic irony and situational irony Identify and articulate sexist tropes in the context of the narrative 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

Help high schoolers go beyond basic comprehension and develop critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering an obscure short story by H.P. Lovecraft titled “Old Bugs.” This piece is a surprising departure from the grotesque and fantastical characteristics typically associated with Lovecraftian fiction. It also aligns nicely to American History courses since the narrative addresses the topic of Prohibition. An answer key and copy of the narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Consider tone in context Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion and dynamic character 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 reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Feed by M.T. Anderson, a dystopian science fiction novel. Covering four brief, meaningful excerpts spanning chapters thirty-eight through fifty-eight, 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 both 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 these exercises, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Isolate an example of figurative language Express the greater significance of a given detail Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Articulate the flaw in a character’s logic Analyze the author’s use of narrative techniques such as repetition Apply knowledge of various literary devices including pun, metaphor, idiom, aposiopesis, neologism, and more Explore the connection between capitalism and the private healthcare system in America Cite textual evidence in support of ideas and claims Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Feed by M.T. Anderson, a dystopian science fiction novel. Covering three brief, meaningful excerpts spanning chapters thirty through thirty-seven, 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 both 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 these exercises, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Isolate an example of figurative language Clarify details where the author leaves information open to interpretation Articulate the greater significance of a given detail Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Discern the primary function of a given excerpt Apply knowledge of various literary devices including pun, metaphor, epiphany, onomatopoeia, invective, malapropism, alliteration, and more Evaluate an excerpt to articulate how it is a good example of satire Cite textual evidence in support of ideas and claims Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Feed by M.T. Anderson, a dystopian science fiction novel. Covering four brief, meaningful excerpts spanning chapters twenty through twenty-nine, 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 both 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 these exercises, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Determine the tone of a given excerpt Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Analyze the author’s craft to explain how repetition contributes to characterization Relate a given excerpt to the real world, identifying two relevant societal issues, conflicts, or questions Discern a relevant theme in a given excerpt Conduct brief research on the topic of cognitive dissonance in order to explain how a character experiences it in the context of a given excerpt Apply knowledge of various literary devices including simile, assonance, metaphor, and situational irony Identify textual evidence in support of claims Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

With this literature circle resource for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, high school English teachers may facilitate active participation in small-group discussions of complex literature. Included are the following: a handout outlining each role; a documentation log for each role; and a standards-based rubric for efficiently evaluating student work. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging in these literature circle activities, students will do the following: Articulate key details from the story Generate open-ended questions related to the novel in order to carry out meaningful discussions with peers Respond thoughtfully to open-ended questions and others’ contributions to the discussion Document ways in which the novel is consistent with aspects of American and/or world history Locate specific passages and/or quotations that relate to major themes and concepts—especially those relating to economic struggles, coming of age, and the pursuit of justice and fairness Artistically convey important information from the assigned reading Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Incorporate historical nonfiction into the English Language Arts classroom and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of questions covering “The First Basketball Game.” The essay addresses the origins of basketball, as well as the sport’s gradual evolution. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will do the following: Make active reading visible by annotating text Accurately restate what the text says explicitly Analyze a passage to determine tone Make sense of unfamiliar phrases and idiomatic expressions Make and support a claim using relevant and compelling textual evidence Compare and contrast Discern author’s purpose Apply a literary device to the text (situational irony) Discern meaning from nonfiction text features including graphs and charts