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.
For many reluctant readers, science fiction helps to maximize student engagement. “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut is a satirical, cautionary short story about governmental efforts to enforce equality on all citizens. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking—while eliminating take-home assessment planning responsibilities. 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
Discern the narrative’s point of view
Isolate an example of figurative language from among several options
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Define complex words as they are used in the text
Use context clues to infer the author’s intent
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, paradox, oxymoron, simile, onomatopoeia, situational irony, and dramatic irony
Explore theme
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials
Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
With this multiple choice, plot-based quiz covering the fourth chapter of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. A short answer version is also provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The purpose of Nick’s list
The apparent inconsistencies in Gatsby’s autobiography
Gatsby’s proof to assuage Nick’s skepticism
Gatsby’s interaction with a police officer
Meyer Wolfsheim’s questionable background
Nick’s new assumption concerning Gatsby’s wealth
Gatsby’s motive to move into his West Egg mansion
A revelation concerning the green light across the water
A request Gatsby makes of Jordan
With this multiple choice, plot-based quiz covering the first chapter of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, high school English teachers will be able to evaluate reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. A short answer version is also provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Nick’s personal background
Nick’s self perception
Nick’s perception of Gatsby
The setting
Nick’s career
The contrast between West Egg and East Egg
Nick’s academic background
A character description of Daisy
A character description of Tom
A character description of Jordan
The green light in the distance
This 14-slide PowerPoint covers the following:
- Several general interviewing tips
- Quotable responses (open-ended questions)
- Preparing and asking questions
- Generating stock questions
- Several listening tips
- Tips for conducting an interview
- Going off the record
- Prepublication checking
- Prior review
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 1 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and verisimilitude
Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
Identify the greater significance of a given detail
Discern the main function of a given passage
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Conduct brief research on the beliefs of German philosopher Karl Marx
Articulate whether Major’s speech reflects a belief in Marxist ideology
Articulate how the author incorporates humor into his writing
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 8 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make logical inferences about characters’ intentions and motivations
Analyze a particular detail to infer the author’s intent
Explore how Boxer is becoming a dynamic character
Isolate a true statement about plot from a set of falsehoods
Contrast the Battle of the Windmill with the Battle of the Cowshed
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as hubris
Evaluate the role propaganda plays in the world of Animal Farm
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering chapter 10 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. This worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. By completing this exercise, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make logical inferences about characters’ intentions and motivations
Analyze character relationships
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the novel
Determine the intended effect of a word as it is used in the novel
Explore the greater significance of Animal Farm’s name change
Apply knowledge of figurative language
Analyze a particular detail to infer the author’s intent
Defend the claim that the animals are collectively worse off than before Napoleon’s rule
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence
Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 3, of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing 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.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile and metaphor
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Determine the tone of the scene
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (Act 2) with this bundle that features a plot-based quiz and rigorous close reading activities. By engaging with these resources, students will identify what the text says explicitly and implicitly, apply knowledge of literary devices, interpret figurative expressions, make engagement with text visible, and more. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with these materials, students will:
Discern what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Identify a variety of functions this scene serves
Analyze character statements and behaviors to draw logical inferences about character development and motivations
Analyze complex vocabulary and phrasing in context to determine meaning and intended effect
Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text with emphasis on situational irony
Compare and contrast two characters
Articulate ideas with clarity and precision
Defend a claim with textual evidence
Analyze the factors contributing to Hamlet’s internal conflict (the contradictory nature of religious values coupled with codes of honor)
Promote homework accountability, measure reading comprehension, support the development of close reading skills, and encourage deeper analysis of fiction with this bundle of teaching resources covering chapter 10 of Animal Farm by George Orwell. A set of close reading questions and a plot-based quiz are provided, along with answer keys. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats. Students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make logical inferences about characters’ intentions and motivations
Analyze character relationships
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the novel
Determine the intended effect of a word as it is used in the novel
Explore the greater significance of Animal Farm’s name change
Apply knowledge of figurative language
Analyze a particular detail to infer the author’s intent
Defend the claim that the animals are collectively worse off than before Napoleon’s rule
Write about literature with clarity and precision
Justify written responses with reasoning and/or textual evidence
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 3, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing 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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine how characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Compare and contrast characters in the play
Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, metaphor, and simile
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 4, of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing 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.
With this close reading activity, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze figurative language to determine its effect on the reader
Discern tone in context
Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Choose the best textual evidence in support of a claim
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including allusion, oxymoron, simile, hyperbole, and ambiguity
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle of plot-based quizzes covering each part of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. These assessments may also serve as guided reading handouts to facilitate active reading experiences. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Details on Montag’s encounter with Clarisse
A lingering question in Montag’s mind
Mildred’s self-destructive behavior
The behavior of the mechanical hound
Clarisse’s concerns about school kids
Peculiarities about a particular fire call
Montag’s sneakiness
Mildred’s general disposition
Beatty’s general characterization
The campaign against books
Montag’s perception of the world
Montag’s perspective on books
A phone call between Montag and Faber
Faber’s professional background
Faber’s offerings of help
The purpose of Faber’s visit to St. Louis
Interactions among Mildred and her friends
How Montag irritates Mildred and her friends
Montag and Beatty’s interaction at the firehouse
A fire alarm
The source of the alarm call
Beatty’s striking of Montag
The nature of Beatty’s death
What Montag learns about Beatty after his death
Complicating factors in terms of Montag’s escape
Montag’s suggestions for Faber
Faber’s suggestions for Montag
How authorities get the public to help them find Montag
What Montag watches on television
How books continue to exist
What happens to the city
A new responsibility
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 2, of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing 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.
By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s narrative techniques
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Articulate the purpose of the storm from Lear’s perspective
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, metaphor, and verbal irony
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Evaluate reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and minimize take-home lesson planning with this set of instructional resources covering chapter one of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a short answer quiz for re-assessment; vocabulary development games and activities; a close reading analysis worksheet; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
Students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern point of view
Explore character motivations
Clarify cause-and-effect relationships
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices including situational irony, hyperbole, simile, and metaphor
Articulate the intended effect of metaphorical language
Analyze the author’s craft to determine intent
Write with clarity and precision
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 13 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is provided. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, these instructional materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom.
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 resource, students will do the following:
Analyze the author’s word choices and phrasing to discern what she means explicitly and implicitly about Aunt Alexandra
Draw reasonable inferences about Jem’s thinking in terms of how he perceives Aunt Alexandra
Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations
Consider synonyms that may replace a given word or phrase without changing the original fundamental meaning
Isolate factual statements from false statements
Help high school students analyze how Ray Bradbury used figurative language (personification, onomatopoeia, metaphor, and simile) and direct description to develop a compelling work of science fiction in “There Will Come Soft Rains.” Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this resource serves well for an independent learning opportunity, as well as for small-group discussions. Through such discussions, students may evaluate peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to support claims, clarifying or challenging ideas as needed. An answer key is included.
Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering Act 2 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. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Edmund’s newest methods of compromising Edgar’s reputation
A physical confrontation and its instigator’s punishment
Gloucester’s reluctance to offer help
Edgar’s decision to assume a new identity
King Lear’s reaction to Kent’s punishment
King Lear’s efforts to seek clarification on what led to Kent’s situation
An argument among father and daughters
King Lear’s isolation
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 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
Isolate examples of punning language
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word and phrase meanings (“betake him to his legs” and “we burn daylight”)
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 with emphasis on foreshadowing
Come to class better prepared to discuss dramatic works
