Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
Say hello to a platform dedicated to industrious, yet overtasked teachers like you. Say goodbye to countless hours spent developing relevant and engaging ELA lessons. Whether you are teaching the fundamentals of grammar, creative writing skills, classic literature, or contemporary fiction, you will find thousands of activities and assessments to help you achieve a healthier work-life balance without sacrificing academic rigor.
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
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
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
Facilitate research on thirty topics related to The House on Mango Street and its author, Sandra Cisneros, with this low-prep, standards-based activity. Students will navigate informational texts about historically significant women (Elvia Carillo Puerto, Adelina Zendejas, Lydia Cacho, and more), landmark events (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Equal Rights Amendment, and more), social justice organizations (American Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and more), Chicana authors (Gloria Evangelina Anzaldúa, Denise Chávez, Michele Serros, and more), and opportunities for writers (Hispanic Scholarship Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, and more). After compiling relevant details, the process culminates in the delivery of a formal presentation. 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 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
This summative test covers William Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge significant characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events throughout the play
Identify the context of meaningful quotations in the play
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the play including hyperbole, metaphor, oxymoron, allusion, personification, and more
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to explore the theme of bravery and its effects on a character in the play
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
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
This end-of-unit test covers William Shakespeare’s comedy The Tempest and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge of significant characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events throughout the play
Identify the context of meaningful quotations in the play
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the play including hyperbole, metaphor, personification, situational irony, and more
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to generate a relevant theme in the context of the play and explore its development
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
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 Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Students will choose from thirty research topics—addressing ideas such as real-life child soldiers, humanitarian organizations, Project Blue Book, the Fermi paradox, space travel, and other events transpiring as recently as 2023—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
This summative test covers William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge significant characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events throughout the play
Identify the context of meaningful quotations in the play
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the play including hyperbole, metaphor, malapropism, oxymoron, hyperbole, personification, invective, and pun
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to explore the complexities of Benedick’s character
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
This summative assessment complements a Grimms’ fairy tales unit with emphasis on application of literary devices, examination of character motivations, and synthesis of textual details to perform thematic analysis.
In addition to 50 objective questions, the test includes a writing prompt requiring students to select three texts from which to draw textual evidence in support of analytical thinking. The core objective of the essay is to demonstrate an ability to identify a common theme among three texts and synthesize textual details with clarity and precision to elaborate upon the shared theme. A Common Core-aligned rubric for evaluating student writing is included in addition to the objective portion’s answer key.
Fourteen short stories are covered, and copies of each are included (listed in order of estimated Lexile Measure):
“The Dog and the Sparrow” (700-800)
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (800-900)
“Clever Gretel” (900-1000)
“The Twelve Dancing Princesses” (900-1000)
“Cinderella” (1000-1100)
“Rumpelstiltskin” (1000-1100)
“The Elves and the Shoemaker” (1000-1100)
“The Four Clever Brothers” (1000-1100)
“The Seven Ravens” (1000-1100)
“Donkey Cabbages” (1100-1200)
“The Frog King” (1100-1200)
“The Juniper Tree” (1100-1200)
“The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage” (1100-1200)
“Sleeping Beauty” (1200-1300)
Dystopian fiction and adolescent literature are genres that appeal to the imaginations of many middle and high school students and maximize their ability to relate to literary works. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer is a representative narrative, told from the perspective of a seemingly ordinary teenage girl facing extraordinary conflicts. With this summative test covering the entire novel, English teachers will be able to evaluate students’ comprehensive text comprehension and ability to analyze key characters, plot developments, and themes. Additionally, the self-grading nature of all multiple choice questions helps teachers minimize take-home grading responsibilities. An answer key and standards-based rubric for scoring essays are provided. Materials are delivered in both 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
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the novel including hyperbole, personification, metaphor, simile, allusion, onomatopoeia, situational irony, dramatic irony, and verbal irony
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to examine the protagonist’s emotional growth and transformation into a genuine hero
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Help students better understand the historical context of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah and facilitate the process of researching topics related to Sierra Leone with this low-prep, standards-based resource. Students will choose from thirty relevant subjects—the deposing of Siaka Stevens’ government, the Revolutionary United Front, illegal diamond mining, the West Side Boys, and All People’s Congress to name a few—and navigate credible sources with the goal of teaching others about their topic. 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 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
With this summative test covering the entirety of Feed by M.T. Anderson, English teachers will evaluate students’ reading comprehension, essay writing skills, and ability to analyze key aspects of plot. An answer key and standards-based rubric for scoring essays are provided. 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
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to examine the author’s use of satire
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Help students better understand the historical context of Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers and facilitate the process of researching topics related to the Vietnam War with this low-prep, standards-based resource. Students will choose from more than twenty relevant subjects—the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the Tet Offensive, the My Lai Massacre, Tinker vs. Des Moines, and Milton L. Olive III to name a few—and navigate credible sources with the goal of teaching others about their topic. 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
This end-of-unit test covers the entirety of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. An answer key is included. With this assessment, which is delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, high school English Language Arts teachers will be able to evaluate students’ abilities to do the following:
Accurately recall details associated with characters, setting, and plot
Demonstrate awareness of historically relevant events
Apply knowledge of various literary devices such as symbolism, oxymoron, personification, hyperbole, simile, metaphor, allusion, dynamic character, and more
Analyze the greater significance of given quotes or details
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
This summative test covers A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By administering this assessment, teachers will evaluate students’ abilities to do the following:
Demonstrate knowledge significant figures in a nonfiction text
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events throughout the memoir
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to explore the concept of perseverance in the context of the memoir
Support claims made in an academic essay with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
This summative assessment measures reading comprehension of The Dead and The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It also assesses a student’s ability to write claims in an analysis of the text and its characters using valid reasoning and sufficient evidence. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. A breakdown of content follows.
Part 1. Character Identification.
This matching section features 20 total questions, all of which pertain to the characters of Alex, Briana, Julie, Carlos, Mami, Papi, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Lorraine, Kevin, Chris, Father Franco, Father Mulrooney, Sister Rita, and Harvey.
Part 2. Plot Recall.
This multiple choice section features 12 total questions. Students must demonstrate that they recall key incidents that occurred throughout the novel.
Part 3. Literary Term Application.
In this multiple choice section featuring 8 total questions, students will be presented with a textual detail that relates to a common literary device, such as foreshadowing, symbolism, metaphor, simile, antagonist, static character, dynamic character, dramatic irony, irony of result, theme, personification, complication, and more. Students must match the appropriate literary device to the given detail.
Part 4. Essay Writing.
Students must choose one of two prompts and write a thoughtful analysis of a character who demonstrates either the character trait of adaptability or perseverance. The student must use sufficient and compelling textual evidence to support their claims and may choose to relay personal anecdotes within their response.
This summative test covers William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and includes an answer key, as well as a standards-based rubric for scoring essays. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By administering this assessment, teachers will evaluate students’ abilities to do the following:
Demonstrate knowledge of aspects of drama including relevant vocabulary and historical context
Demonstrate knowledge significant characters and the key aspects of their lives
Demonstrate knowledge of significant events that transpire
Identify the context of meaningful quotations in the play
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices applied in the novel including hyperbole, metaphor, situational irony, dramatic irony, verbal irony, and more
Respond to an essay prompt requiring students to evaluate tragic mistakes characters make
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims made in an academic essay
Conclude a unit on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee with this printable summative test. An answer key is included. All materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate an ability to:
Correctly identify characters based on a given description or detail
Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, personification, allusion, internal conflict, dynamic character, hyperbole, and more
Identify the speaker and articulate the greater significance of a given quotation
Write a brief essay in which students defend a claim with relevant textual evidence and adhere to the standard conventions of written English
Mythological fiction is a genre that appeals to the imaginations of many middle and high school students. The Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin is a modern retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, written in a manner that is easier to process—even for struggling readers. With this summative test covering the entire novel, English teachers will be able to evaluate students’ comprehensive text comprehension and ability to analyze key characters, plot developments, and themes. An answer key is provided, and all materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
This assessment covers the following:
Athena’s aid along the journey
Ulysses brilliant trick
Achilles’ warrior status and weakness
Menelaus’s call to arms
Poseidon’s relationship to Polyphemus
The faithful wife of Ulysses
Helen’s reputation
The enormous whirlpool
Paris’s judgment
A faithful, old dog
A loyal swineherd
Circe’s peculiar abilities
Hyperion’s background
Morpheus and the lotus flowers
Helen’s suitors
Aeolus’ efforts to help Ulysses
Hermes’ role in Ulysses’ journey
The gullibility of Polyphemus
A blind prophet
The peculiar talents of the sirens
Eurycleia’s discovery
Telemachus
Alcinous’s assistance
Nausicaa’s revelation
Poseidon’s ire
The winner of a contest
A character’s disguise
Foreshadowing
External conflict/internal conflict
Antagonist
Situational irony
Dramatic irony
Theme
Dynamic character
And more