Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s Othello. A plot-based quiz, three close reading worksheets (one per scene), a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings Annotate text to make engagement visible Infer the intended effects of Shakespeare’s word choices and dramatic techniques Discern the tone of a given excerpt Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Consider themes in context 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 works of Shakespeare

Help students achieve more purposeful reading experiences and sharpen their note-taking skills with this reading guide covering the entirety of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In addition, this resource aims to facilitate review and future recall of plot. Students will identify what the text states explicitly, track character and plot development, articulate the context and significance of given quotations, and more. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. The following plot details are addressed: Feuding in the streets The prince’s declaration of punishment Romeo’s despair at lost love Rosaline’s decision Juliet’s refusal to accept marriage Lord Capulet’s beliefs toward the prospect of marriage Romeo’s invite to Lord Capulet’s party Paris Mercutio’s harsh, sarcastic tone toward Romeo’s heartbreak Queen Mab Romeo’s foreshadowing prediction Tybalt’s reaction to Romeo’s presence (in contrast to Capulet’s) Romeo’s discovery of Juliet’s identity Dramatic irony The rejection of names Romeo’s fear of rejection Juliet’s concern over acting hastily Juliet’s desire for Romeo to send her a message Friar Laurence’s beliefs on good and evil Friar Laurence’s concerns for Romeo Romeo’s request of Friar Laurence Friar Laurence’s optimistic view of the union of Romeo and Juliet The Nurse’s private conversation with Romeo The plan to marry Juliet The Nurse’s comic relief Tybalt’s verbal attack on Romeo Dramatic irony Mercutio’s decision to fight Tybalt Romeo’s abrupt character change Defying the prince’s orders Lady Capulet’s demand Romeo’s punishment The Nurse’s news and ensuing confusion Juliet’s immediate reaction to learning the truth Juliet’s defense of her husband The Nurse’s motivation to seek out Romeo Romeo’s feelings toward his punishment Friar Laurence’s strong words for Romeo Romeo’s potential suicide attempt Friar Laurence’s optimistic plan Lord Capulet’s arrangement with Paris Whether Romeo believes he will see his wife once more Foreshadowing Lady Capulet’s plan for Romeo after exile The Nurse’s advice to Juliet Juliet’s desire to seek Friar Laurence’s help Lord Capulet’s rush to marry off Juliet Lord Capulet’s threat to Juliet Juliet’s morbid confession to Friar Laurence The purpose of the vial Juliet’s request for forgiveness from her father Lord Capulet’s praise for Friar Laurence Juliet’s paranoia in regard to Friar Laurence’s motives The burial vault The Nurse’s terrible discovery Cancellation of the wedding Failure of Friar Laurence’s plan Romeo’s visit to the apothecary The apothecary’s concern Friar Laurence and the quarantine Friar John’s task Paris in the churchyard Balthasar’s news Romeo’s interaction with Paris Romeo’s suicide Juliet’s awakening Friar Laurence’s upsetting news Juliet’s method of suicide Lady Montague’s death The resolution And more

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 3 of William Shakespeare’s comedy The Tempest. A plot-based quiz, three close reading worksheets (one per scene), a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, 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 Demonstrate knowledge of parts of speech Determine the meanings of unfamiliar and archaic words Consult reference materials in order 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 dramatic techniques Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Contrast two characters (Miranda and Ferdinand) Conduct brief research on the mythological harpy and analyze what the creature has in common with Ariel Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, situational irony, 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 dramatic works

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 4 of William Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It. A plot-based quiz, three close reading worksheets (one per scene), a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Read for literal comprehension Determine the meanings of unfamiliar and archaic words Consult reference materials in order 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 dramatic techniques Determine the function of a given scene Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare characters in the play Apply knowledge of literary devices including double entendre, hyperbole, allusion, personification, metaphor, simile, and dramatic irony Consider themes in context 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

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It. A plot-based quiz, three close reading worksheets (one per scene), a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will: Read for literal comprehension Determine the meanings of unfamiliar and archaic words Consult reference materials in order 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 dramatic techniques Determine the function of a given scene Describe tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices to the text including foreshadowing, situational irony, 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 dramatic works

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. A plot-based quiz, three close reading worksheets (one per scene), a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, 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 Determine the meanings of unfamiliar and archaic words Consult reference materials in order 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 dramatic techniques Describe tone in context Determine the functions of various passages Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast two characters Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and situational irony Conduct brief research as needed to answer a question about a biblical allusion 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

This bundle of editable quizzes measures comprehension and holds students accountable for the assigned reading of Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. For each section of the novel, a multiple choice assessment and short answer alternative are provided. The subjective assessments may double as guided reading worksheets to encourage more active engagement with the text. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats.

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s King Lear with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a quiz on characters and plot, five close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words/phrases as they are used in context Explore nuances in words with similar meanings Choose the most appropriate synonym for a given word Verify interpretations of language using reference materials Describe tone in context Consider the greater significance of given details Determine the primary function of a given excerpt Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including alliteration, hyperbole, synecdoche, antithesis, aphorism, allusion, dramatic irony, situational irony, and double denotation Conduct brief research on mythological and historical subjects Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

For many middle and high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are genres that maximize engagement with literature. This bundle focuses on three representative short stories by Toni Cade Bambara: “Raymond’s Run,” “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird,” and “Geraldine Moore the Poet.” English Language Arts teachers may use this bundle as a tool for evaluating general reading comprehension, supporting the development of close reading analysis skills, and promoting homework accountability. Included are the following: editable, plot-based quizzes for each narrative; close reading analysis activities for each narrative; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.

Evaluate reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and support the development of critical thinking skills with this bundle of resources for teaching The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16). Four close reading analysis worksheets, a plot-based quiz, a vocabulary application activity, a crossword puzzle, a word search game, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, 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 as needed Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s diction and narrative techniques Describe the tone of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including imagery, symbolism, and dramatic irony Consider themes in context 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

Evaluate reading comprehension, facilitate vocabulary development, and support the development of critical thinking skills with this bundle of resources for teaching The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (chapters 1 and 2). Two plot-based quizzes, two close reading analysis worksheets, two vocabulary application activities, two crossword puzzles, two word search games, and answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, 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 as needed Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the author’s diction and narrative techniques Describe the tone of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices Come to class better prepared to discuss works of fiction

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle of plot-based quizzes covering Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, a dystopian novel. These assessments may otherwise serve as guided reading handouts to facilitate active reading experiences. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot, five close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text 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 Compare and contrast characters in the play Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion, metaphor, simile, personification, oxymoron, hyperbole, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this bundle of quizzes covering the entirety of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Christopher Sly’s disruptive behavior Christopher Sly’s eccentric behavior A wealthy lord’s discovery A wealthy lord’s deception A wealthy lord’s perception of Christopher Sly A visit from traveling performers A reason to attend a comedy Lucentio’s studies Tranio’s role Baptista’s terms for Bianca’s being married off Gremio and Hortensio’s intentions Katherine’s general demeanor Baptista’s academic hopes for Bianca Gremio’s perception of Katherine Lucentio’s strategy for getting closer to Bianca Petruchio’s reason for visiting The quality Petruchio most values in a potential spouse Lucentio’s disguise Katherine’s treatment of Bianca Bianca’s conformity to societal expectations of women The true identities of disguised people Katherine’s treatment of her supposed teachers Baptista’s feelings toward Petruchio Petruchio’s belief concerning how Katherine should behave The standard by which Baptista will select Bianca’s husband Baptista’s preference in terms of who should be Bianca’s husband Tranio’s intentions at the end of the Act Who first identifies himself to Bianca Hortensio’s changing perspective on Bianca Petruchio’s conduct on his wedding day Katherine’s emotional reaction to Petruchio’s behavior Gremio’s perceptions of Petruchio and Katherine Petruchio’s defiance of custom Petruchio’s perception of his wife Bianca’s assessment of the relationship between Petruchio and Katherine An accident involving a horse Petruchio’s reaction to the accident The reason for Petruchio’s frustration with his servants The techniques by which Petruchio will try to tame his wife Biondello’s willingness to participate in a charade Background information about the merchant Petruchio’s refusal to let Katherine do certain things Hortensio’s admiration of Petruchio Petruchio’s bizarre behavior The fake Vincentio’s reaction to meeting the real Vincentio The interactions between the real Vincentio and Biondello Baptista and Vincentio’s forgiveness of their children Petruchio’s getting Katherine to kiss him Hortensio’s marriage Tranio’s teasing of Petruchio A bet among men The content of Katherine’s major speech

Help high school students extend reading comprehension and analyze plot developments in Act 1 of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night with this bundle of assessments. Answer keys are included. Covering every scene in Act 1, this bundle offers a plot-based quiz and five close reading analysis worksheets designed to facilitate students’ abilities to do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define complex vocabulary in the context of a passage Examine nuances in words with similar denotations Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare and contrast two characters (Orsino and Olivia) Discern the tone of a given excerpt Determine the functions of particular excerpts Explore nuances in words with similar meanings Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and sibilance Conduct brief research on classical mythology — more specifically the tale of Arion and the dolphin — and draw parallels between the mythological figure and Sebastian Consider the text’s allusion to Elysium to infer greater meaning 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

Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (Act 1) 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: Define complex words and phrases in context Verify interpretations of words and phrases using reference materials such as a dictionary and thesaurus Discern the tone of a given passage Isolate a falsehood about plot development among factual statements Analyze character actions and dialogue to discern character motivations Cite textual evidence in support of claims and ideas Discern the most adequate characterization of Horatio Analyze plot from a historical context Analyze character dialogue to discern and articulate what is implied Apply knowledge of dynamic character to the text Apply knowledge of foreshadowing to the text Identify context clues that suggest Horatio’s opinion on supernatural occurrences is correct Explain how Denmark gained authority over Norwegian lands Make an inference about author’s intent, analyzing plot to determine what is suggested about the universe and its relationship to humankind Conduct brief research to answer a question connecting Greek mythology to the drama

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills while teaching Act 4 of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew with this bundle of formative assessments. Included are the following: a multiple choice quiz on characters and plot; five close reading worksheets addressing the author’s craft and covering each scene respectively; and answer keys. 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. By engaging in these exercises, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text Consider how a particular excerpt advances the plot Examine the greater significance of a given detail Discern the tone of given excerpts Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Determine the function of a particular character in the context of a scene Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, allusion, oxymoron, hyperbole, anaphora, consonance, callback, oxymoron, hyperbole, and situational irony Express the function of a given excerpt Conduct brief research on the four humours and articulate the findings Analyze research findings to make a logical inference about Petruchio’s mindset Support claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 5 of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. A plot-based quiz, five close reading worksheets, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these materials, 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 Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including 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

Frontload assigned readings with these vocabulary games and activities to facilitate comprehension of Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World. Alternatively, stash these materials in an emergency sub folder to keep students meaningfully engaged in the book during unexpected teacher absences. Included are six vocabulary application activities, six crossword puzzles, six word search games, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. A total of 79 challenging words are addressed: anguish, apoplectic, apprehension, bleakly, clamber, concede, conspicuous, continual, continuous, crude, curtly, deferential, derisive, earnestly, eccentricity, effect, emaciated, emphatic, exasperated, exultant, feebly, ferocity, flare, furtively, gaudily, genial, haggard, heretical, illicit, implore, importunately, impudent, incessant, indefatigable, indignation, inexorable, infamous, ingratiating, innocuous, irrepressibly, irresolute, keen, languish, melancholy, menial, mirth, morsel, multitudinous, obstinately, pallid, persecution, plaintive, portentously, precipitous, proffer, propagation, propitiatingly, quaint, reminiscence, respectively, reverently, scurry, shrill, shudder, sibilant, solemn, solidarity, solitude, sonorous, stealthy, suffuse, superfluous, tangible, timid, tremulous, undulate, vague, venerable, and weary. By engaging with these activities, students will: Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences

Evaluate comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this bundle of resources covering chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Dracula by Bram Stoker. A plot-based quiz, close reading worksheets, vocabulary activities, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in printable 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. By engaging with these materials, students will: Identify what the text says both explicitly and implicitly Determine the meaning of unfamiliar and complex words Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Discern the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Determine the function of a given excerpt Explore how setting contributes to mood Discern the intended effects of the author’s narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Explain how gender norms of 19th Century England are broken Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, verbal irony, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, metaphor, oxymoron, epiphany, and more Read a portion of Emily Gerard’s “Transylvanian Superstitions” to make sense of a character’s actions and thinking Conduct brief research on gypsies to explain why Harker believes they may be helpful to him Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Gothic literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision