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.
Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 4, scene 1, of Much Ado About Nothing 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.
More specifically, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Discern the tone of dialogue in context
Discern the intended effect of narrative techniques
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Articulate the internal conflicts of two characters (Beatrice and Benedick)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including pun, hyperbole, oxymoron, allusion, metaphor, imagery, and more
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
Go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet to complement chapter 3 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
Discern the primary purpose of a given paragraph
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on epiphany, oxymoron, and dramatic irony
Explain how gender norms of 19th Century England are broken
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 basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, 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
Define words/phrases as they are used in the text
Verify interpretations of language using reference materials
Determine the primary function of a given excerpt
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony
Conduct brief research on Bethlem Royal Hospital
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Promote active engagement with fiction, support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school, and evaluate general reading comprehension with this bundle of resources for teaching the science fiction short story “The Fog Horn” by Ray Bradbury. Included are the following: a plot-based quiz, a rigorous close reading worksheet, a craft analysis activity, and answer keys. By engaging with these materials, students will perform the following tasks:
Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly
Identify several examples of personification and/or anthropomorphism in the narrative
Identify several textual details that contribute to a sense of isolation
Discern the intended meaning of figurative language
Discern the function of a given excerpt
Apply knowledge of sonic literary devices including consonance and assonance
Analyze the author’s craft
Identify stylistic changes in a given excerpt
Articulate the intended effect of stylistic changes in a given excerpt
Analyze relationships between complex characters
Articulate how a given detail is an example of foreshadowing
Make logical inferences about character motivations
Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims
Write with clarity and precision
Develop a greater understanding of how Ray Bradbury used descriptive language, characterization, setting, and various literary devices to establish an eerie mood that is consistent with the supernatural fiction and science fiction genres.
Evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this editable quiz on chapter 12 of Lord of the Flies by William Golding. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By taking this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
Ralph’s encounter with the pig’s head
The identities of the armed guards
Information the armed guards provide to Ralph
Jack’s methods of trying to capture Ralph
Ralph’s near-death experiences
The reason a naval officer is attracted to the island
Percival’s loss of identity
Claims of leadership
Ralph’s emotional state to conclude the novel
The naval officer’s reaction to Ralph’s behavior
Evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability with this set of quiz questions on Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (chapters 4 through 7). An answer key is provided. The materials are delivered in a zip file as both Word Documents and PDFs. By completing this quiz, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
How Huck knows his father has returned
The manner in which Jim tells Huck’s future
The reasons why Pap is upset with his son
The new judge’s actions and decisions in contrast to Judge Thatcher’s
The failed efforts to rehabilitate Pap
How and why Huck is taken to the cabin
Pap’s drunken behavior
Huck’s efforts at self-preservation
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 2, 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 engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Discern the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques
Define words and phrases as they are used in the text
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast Caesar and Calpurnia
Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, symbolism, and dramatic 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 Shakespearean drama
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions about Shakespeare’s Othello. Focusing on Act 3, scene 3, 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. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Analyze what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the meaning of complex words and phrases in context
Analyze how complex characters interact
Explore character motivations
Demonstrate knowledge of multiple literary devices including dramatic irony, verbal irony, situational irony, and metaphor
Make logical inferences in context
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Support claims with relevant textual evidence and valid reasoning
Write with clarity and precision
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions about Shakespeare’s Othello. Focusing on Act 4, scene 1, 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. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Analyze what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the meaning of complex words and phrases in context
Make logical inferences in context
Explore character motivations
Analyze how complex characters interact
Analyze the author’s craft to articulate the effect of an idiomatic expression
Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity and precision
Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 4, scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. 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:
Read for literal comprehension
Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings
Discern the intended effects of the Shakespeare’s word choices and narrative techniques
Describe tone in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on situational irony and symbolism
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
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello. With a focus on Act 1, scene 3, this resource saves teachers valuable time without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable PDFs and Word Documents.
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.
More specifically, questions pertain to the following:
Analyzing text for tone.
Analyzing the text for meaning: discerning Othello’s self-described weakness.
Analyzing text for meaning: how long Othello has fought in wars.
Analyzing text for meaning: Othello’s willingness to disclose the truth of his courting of Desdemona.
Analyzing text for meaning: how Brabantio describes his daughter.
Analyzing text for meaning: the type of person Brabantio thinks would believe Othello’s claims.
Analyzing text for meaning: the devil’s role in the union, according to Brabantio.
This 33-slide PowerPoint presentation introduces your students to the key characters in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. I created this PowerPoint as a means of previewing the novel with my high school students, offering them context on character traits, relationships, conflicts, and development over the course of the novel.
The following are covered:
Bilbo Baggins.
♦ Modest nature
♦ Appreciation for the simple things
♦ His reluctance and obligation to help
♦ His role along the journey
♦ His brushes with adversity
♦ His sense of justice
♦ His dynamic character
♦ And more
Gandalf.
♦ His noteworthy character traits
♦ The mentor archetype
♦ And more
Thorin Oakenshield.
♦ His leadership
♦ His bravery and his pretentiousness
♦ His family background
♦ His classification as a foil to Bilbo
♦ His fatal flaws
Dwalin.
♦ General character details (e.g., family ties)
Balin.
♦ General character details (e.g., his acceptance of Bilbo)
Gloin.
♦ General character details (e.g., his skepticism of Bilbo)
Oin.
♦ General character details (e.g., family ties)
Dori.
♦ General character details (e.g., his strength)
Nori.
♦ General character details (e.g., his appearance)
Ori.
♦ General character details (e.g., his musical talent)
Kili & Fili.
♦ General character details (e.g., their youth)
Bombur.
♦ General character details (e.g., his laziness)
Bifur.
♦ General character details (e.g., family ties)
Bofur.
♦ General character details (e.g., family ties)
Gollum.
♦ His home
♦ His miserable disposition
♦ His interests and talents
♦ His significant loss
Smaug.
♦ His greediness
♦ His vengefulness
♦ His appearance
♦ His symbolism
♦ The cultural perspective on dragons
Elrond.
♦ The Last Homely House
♦ His special, helpful traits
♦ His graciousness
♦ Foreshadowing
Beorn.
♦ His personality traits
♦ His special skills
♦ His discomfort toward visitors
♦ His pursuit of justice
♦ His help given to the adventurers
♦ And more
Bard of Esgaroth.
♦ His tremendous talent
♦ His honorable nature
♦ His leadership
♦ His response to tragedy
♦ His sense of fairness and justice
The Elvenking.
♦ His suspicion of strangers
♦ His weakness
♦ His crucial role late in the novel
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 go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 1, of Much Ado About Nothing 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.
More specifically, students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern the intended effect of figurative language as it is used in the text
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Contrast two characters (Beatrice and Hero)
Determine the function of an interaction between characters (Don John and Claudio)
Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, pun, metaphor, situational irony, symbolism, and more
Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant 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 2, 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 nuances in words with similar meanings
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Discern tone in context
Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s choices related to characterization
Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and situational irony
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 4, 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
Explain the intended effect of figurative language in context
Define complex words and phrases in context
Determine the function of the scene
Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
Compare and contrast the murders of Lady Macduff and her son to previous homicides
Compare and contrast the characters of Lady Macduff and Lady Macbeth
Apply knowledge of literary devices such as simile, paradox, invective, and hyperbole
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 Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. 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. Specifically, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:
The purpose of a chorus
A character known as a peace-maker
The reason for street-fighting in Verona
Prince Escalus’s declaration
Romeo’s cause for sadness
Lord Capulet’s attitude toward marrying off Juliet
Benvolio’s encouragement (to Romeo)
Juliet’s attitude toward marriage
Mercutio’s treatment of Romeo
A foreshadowing fear
Tybalt’s temperament
Lord Capulet’s reaction to Romeo’s presence at the party
The revelation of Juliet’s true identity
Help high school students analyze how Doris Lessing used figurative language (simile), alliteration, descriptive language, and characterization to develop a compelling narrative and a mature, emotionally intelligent protagonist in “Through the Tunnel.” 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.
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions about Shakespeare’s Othello. Focusing on Act 3, scene 1, 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. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Analyze what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Make logical inferences in context
Explore character motivations
Analyze how complex characters interact
Discern the meaning of complex words and phrases in context
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Write with clarity and precision
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this set of rigorous questions about Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Focusing on Act 1, scene 5, this resource is delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. An answer key is included. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Discern the tone of a given excerpt
Explore nuances in words with similar meanings
Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on metaphor
Defend claims with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials