This bundle of 20 assessments promotes analytical thinking, measures and extends reading comprehension, and offers flexibility of choice to differentiate and satisfy the academic needs of students of varying proficiency levels in classroom and distance learning settings. Included are close reading activities, answer keys, and copies of public domain texts. Short story selections include the following: “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin * “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell * “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe * “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving * “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield * “The New Dress” by Virginia Woolf * “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane * “The Open Window” by Saki * “The Oval Portrait” by Edgar Allan Poe * “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett * “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry * “The Businessman” by Edgar Allan Poe * “The Legend of the Christmas Rose” by Selma Lagerlof * “The Old Tombstone” by Hans Christian Andersen * “The Wind Blows” by Katherine Mansfield * “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen * “The Stolen Farthings” by the Brothers Grimm * “Slave on the Block” by Langston Hughes “The Wives of the Dead” by Nathaniel Hawthorne * “The Sparrow and His Four Children” by the Brothers Grimm * (* denotes a public domain text) By completing these analysis exercises, students will demonstrate the following high-order skills: An ability to apply knowledge of more complex literary devices to the texts including foreshadowing, situational irony, dramatic irony, hyperbole, personification, metaphor, symbolism, theme, and more An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations and other elements of plot An ability to discern and articulate details that illustrate contrasts between characters An ability to define complex words by taking into consideration denotative definitions, connotative definitions, and context clues An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of claims An ability to discern mood and tone in context An ability to discern author’s intent An ability to conduct brief research and articulate historical and autobiographical parallels An ability to analyze text structures An ability to analyze text to determine the function of an excerpt An ability to analyze a text for how it conforms to the conventions of a particular genre An ability to establish formal tone, paying attention to conventions of written English An ability to take leadership in class discussions, addressing nuances in the author’s craft to help peers understand literature from different perspectives

Evaluate general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and craft analysis skills with this bundle of formative assessments covering Act 4 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 and implicitly Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare two characters Make logical inferences from the point of view of a particular character Discern the tone of given passages Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, alliteration, sibilance, personification, foreshadowing, and paradox Articulate the significance of a particular statement Analyze what dialogue reveals about a character’s psychological state Consider how the imagery of a willow tree is relevant to the content of Desdemona’s song Cite specific, relevant textual evidence in support of a claim or idea Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Measure reading comprehension and support analysis of Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger (chapters 5-6) with this bundle, which features a plot-based quiz and close reading exercises. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats. 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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of complete literary works, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel. By engaging in these exercises, students will: Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explain the significance of a given detail Write with clarity, logic, and precision Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims Analyze Holden to discern his motivations for inviting Ackley to the movies and for not chucking the snowball at snow-covered objects Analyze the author’s craft to discern what the placement of a particular sentence reflects about Holden’s mindset Identify details that support the claim that Allie is a nonconformist, both by choice and chance Apply knowledge of hyperbole Demonstrate knowledge of Holden’s superstitious tendencies Articulate the reason Holden did not break the windows of the station wagon Articulate the unintended consequence of an action Analyze what makes a particular paragraph emotionally impactful Articulate how Holden’s traumas have affected him Explain why it is unfair for Stradlater to be so mad at Holden over the composition Articulate why Stradlater’s criticism of Holden is hypocritical Articulate why Holden is offended by a particular remark Identify what provokes a physical altercation Analyze how Holden interprets Stradlater’s rejection of the composition Articulate the implied motivation for Holden to visit Ackley

Measure reading comprehension and support analysis of Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger (chapters 1-2) with this bundle, which features a plot-based quiz and close reading exercises. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats. 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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of complete literary works, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel. By engaging in these exercises, students will: Articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explain the significance of a given detail Write with clarity, logic, and precision Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims Analyze the author’s craft to discern how language contributes to the narrator’s psychological state Explore character motivations Analyze the author’s craft to discern how Holden attempts to control the readers’ impressions of him Analyze the significance of Holden’s allusion to David Copperfield in terms of how it establishes his character Analyze Holden’s use of figurative language to discern meaning Identify the factors that contribute to Holden’s perceptions of Selma Consider plot developments from Holden’s point of view, articulating why it is not a big deal that he has been expelled from school Identify several examples of colloquial language Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and overstatement Identify textual details that convey Holden’s sense of isolation Identify context clues that suggest Holden’s family is wealthy Articulate what makes Holden’s visit to see Mr. Spencer unsettling Explore how Holden’s interactions with adults contribute to his self-worth Interpret idiomatic expressions in context Analyze Mr. Spencer’s motivations Analyze Holden’s curiosities about ducks and what they reveal about his moral compass Identify and explain an example of situational irony Infer how Holden feels about the idea of getting older Analyze the phrase “good luck” from Holden’s perspective Articulate a primary function of chapter two