Evaluate general reading comprehension and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching the short story “Early Autumn” by Langston Hughes. A plot-based quiz, a close reading analysis worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, 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 Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and symbolism Consider themes in context Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

For many high school readers, horror and psychological fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “The Sphinx” by Edgar Allan Poe features plot elements consistent with both genres: a cholera epidemic, social isolation, omens, fear of death, and more. With this bundle of high school resources covering “The Sphinx,” English teachers will save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Included are the following: a multiple choice, plot-based quiz; a worksheet composed of rigorous close reading analysis questions; the public domain narrative; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. With these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact Explore character motivations Define complex words as they are used in context Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings Choose the most appropriate synonym to replace a given word without changing fundamental meaning Paraphrase information Make logical inferences based on context clues Explain how a given detail (the fact that it was “an exceedingly warm day”) is an example of paradox Apply knowledge of various literary devices including hyperbole Identify several examples of the narrator’s self-awareness Identify several examples of the narrator’s questionable judgment Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, logic, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and sharpen critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this bundle of materials for teaching Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Ugly Duckling.” A plot-based quiz, a close reading worksheet, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, the short story, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Argue whether the mother duck is a sympathetic character Apply knowledge of literary devices including onomatopoeia, assonance, consonance, foreshadowing, simile, personification, and symbolism Consider themes in context Write about literature with clarity, precision, and accuracy Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Promote high school reading comprehension and textual analysis in classroom and distance learning contexts with close readings of “The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “The Red Shoes,” “The Old Tombstone,” “The Buckwheat,” “The Butterfly,” and “The Leaping Match,” all written by Hans Christian Andersen. A variety of question types are included to help prepare for standardized testing scenarios: vocabulary-in-context questions, main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. Copies of all short stories are included since they are in the public domain. Word Document and PDF versions of these resources will be delivered. By completing these exercises, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Identify textual evidence in support of claims Write with clarity and precision Identify examples of various literary devices including onomatopoeia, assonance, consonance, foreshadowing, simile, metaphor, inversion, personification, situational irony, dramatic irony, symbolism, and more Discern author’s intent Discern tone in context Isolate factual statements about plot from falsehoods Cite textual evidence in support of claims Analyze character interactions and motivations Verify interpretations of language using reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus Articulate the significance of a given detail or details Use the Internet to conduct brief research on the life of Hans Christian Andersen Articulate autobiographical parallels between the author and a specific story Discern the primary function of a given passage

For many high school readers, fairy tales and fantasy fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. This bundle focuses on five short stories by Hans Christian Andersen: “The Little Mermaid,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Red Shoes,” and “The Buckwheat.” English teachers may use these resources as tools for evaluating general reading comprehension, supporting the development of close reading analysis skills, and promoting homework accountability. Included are the following: multiple choice, plot-based quizzes for each narrative; close reading analysis activities for each narrative; answer keys; and copies of each public domain short story. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.

This close reading assessment bundle features text-dependent, high-order questions to promote improved reading comprehension and analysis of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost. By completing these activities, students will: Discern and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly Isolate a factual statement about the passage from false statements Examine cause-and-effect relationships Analyze Shakespearean language to discern and articulate meanings of words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative definitions and connotative associations Analyze Shakespearean language to discern and articulate tone in context Gain deeper insight into character modes of thinking by analyzing dialogue Analyze a portion of text to discern which literary device is applied in context (anaphora and simile) Demonstrate knowledge of Biron’s criticisms of those who are obsessive in their pursuit of knowledge Make reasonable inferences about why the quickness of Moth’s responses frustrates Armado Articulate Armado’s internal conflict in the context of an excerpt Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern what is implied about women who wear makeup Analyze Moth’s asides to discern and articulate what they reveal about his true feelings Conduct brief research on the topic of Humorism Analyze Costard’s use of malaprops and explain why Shakespeare had him speak in such a manner Interpret figurative language with emphasis on metaphor (“love is a devil”) Make an inference about what Armado finds reassuring about the tale of Samson Apply knowledge of situational irony by explaining what is unexpected about Cupid’s powers Articulate the significance of of Armado’s closing soliloquy Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text including alliteration, simile, hyperbole, and stichomythia Articulate the intended effect of hyperbole in the context of the passage Articulate the intended meaning of a given simile Define complex words and phrases in context, taking into consideration denotative meanings and connotative associations Identify the Princess’s motivation for choosing Boyet to be a spokesperson Identify textual evidence that serves to justify Maria’s judgment of Longaville Analyze Rosaline’s dialogue to discern tone in the context of her conversation with Biron Determine and articulate the primary purpose of a passage Explain why Longaville grows impatient with Boyet’s responses Identify the evidence supporting the claim that Ferdinand is lovesick, according to Boyet Articulate the intended meaning of a given metaphor Analyze Armado’s dialogue to discern and articulate what it reveals about his mindset Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern and articulate his intent Identify the most synonymous word or phrase to replace a given word in the text Analyze Moth’s dialogue to discern tone in context Contrast Costard’s characterization with that of Biron and Armado Apply knowledge of epiphora to the text Analyze Biron as a dynamic character, identifying textual evidence in support of the claim that he is dynamic Analyze Biron’s diaogue to discern and articulate what he believes is Cupid’s motivation for plaguing him with feelings of love Analyze Armado’s letter and articulate the function of an excerpt Analyze Rosaline’s dialogue and actions to argue how she defies standard conventions of femininity and what her motivations are Analyze Shakespeare’s craft to identify which literary devices he employs and what their intended effects are (emphasis is placed on rhyme, innuendo, diacope, metaphor, and irony) Write with clarity, logic, and precision