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 readers discern all the important aspects of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee with this comprehensive reading guide, which promotes active engagement with literature and supports the development of independent, focused note-taking skills. A detailed answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. This resource highlights the following:
Character Development. Students will document relevant information about characterization and track character transformations.
Plot. Hundreds of plot-based questions are provided to help students focus on meaningful details from the novel.
Historical Context. Some questions necessitate brief research and/or activation of schema in order to draw similarities between historical events and incidents in the novel.
Meaningful Quotations and Excerpts. Dozens of meaningful quotes are emphasized, requiring students to articulate context and/or significance.
Vocabulary. Dozens of unfamiliar and complex words are identified to maximize students’ comprehension of plot and expand readers’ vocabulary.
SQ3R Practices. In each section, a list of generalized details (organized by chapter) helps students focus on what to review in the days and weeks following the assigned reading. Additionally, a section for personalized notes is given.
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 30 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 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 the complete chapter, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel.
By engaging in this exercise, students will:
Examine the context of a given passage
Analyze character dialogue to discern meaning and intent
Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations
Analyze an excerpt to discern its significance
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 22 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 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 the complete chapter, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel.
By engaging with this resource, students will do the following:
Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Draw logical inferences in the context of a given passage
Analyze character actions and statements to discern character intent
Isolate factual statements from false statements
Analyze figurative language to discern deeper meaning
Consider the thematic significance of the interaction between Jem and Maudie Atkinson (a belief that there is hope for positive change in the American justice system, although that change will probably happen slowly)
“The Juniper Tree” by the Brothers Grimm is a macabre fairy tale featuring a variety of literary elements including black humor and poetic justice. Help high school students extend beyond reading comprehension and sharpen close reading analysis skills with this set of rigorous questions to complement the the short story. An answer key and copy of the public domain Grimms’ tale are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Analyze nuances in word definitions in order to select the best synonym in context
Explore how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing, dramatic irony, allusion, personification, onomatopoeia, black humor, and more
Determine the function of a given passage
Make logical inferences about the authors’ intent
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this set of analysis questions for the short story titled “The Outsider” by H.P. Lovecraft. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. With an estimated Lexile Measure of 1100-1200, the narrative is an appropriate addition to a short story or Halloween-themed unit at the high school level. Materials are delivered in 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.
By completing this exercise, students will:
Respond clearly, concisely, and accurately to concrete and analytical questioning
Locate textual evidence in support of claims
Analyze the symbolic meaning of an object
Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony and foreshadowing, articulating how they are applied while citing evidence in support of claims
Explore character motivations
Analyze the author’s craft with emphasis on unique phrasing, sentence structures, and sensory language
Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this rigorous worksheet covering the short story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne (estimated Lexile Measure range of 1300-1400). Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. By completing this activity, high school students will do the following:
Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact
Compare and contrast characters
Infer the intended effect of the author’s phrasing (“liquor of youth”)
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing and symbolism
Examine nuances in words with similar meanings
Articulate the significance of a given detail
Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials
Support claims and ideas with relevant evidence and valid reasoning
Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Fairy tales are not just for elementary students; even high school readers can use (and enjoy) fairy tales as a tool for practicing close reading analysis skills. This worksheet composed of rigorous questions covers “Rapunzel” by the Brothers Grimm. With an estimated Lexile Measure range of 1010-1200, the short story is suitable for both middle and high school students. The briefness of the narrative also makes it an appropriate time-filler for awkward gaps in teaching schedules. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will:
Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly
Explore character motivations
Analyze how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others
Examine tone
Analyze the authors’ craft, paying special attention to diction in order to make logical inferences
Apply knowledge of various literary devices including simile, situational irony, and dramatic irony
Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings
Choose the most synonymous word to replace a word used in the text
Write with clarity, accuracy, and precision
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about the Parsons family from Book 1, chapter 2, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing academic rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
This resource may facilitate 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.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Apply knowledge of literary devices and techniques including assonance and aposiopesis
Analyze textual details to make logical inferences about character fears, behaviors, and motivations
Analyze the emphasis on sports impedimenta and articulate how sporting events promote modes of thinking sanctioned by the Party
Analyze how the description of setting contributes to the author’s warning on the effects of totalitarianism on the masses
Define complex words and phrases in context
Write with logic, clarity, and precision
Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about the events preceding Hate Week from Book 2, chapter 5, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
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.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Identify what the text says both explicitly and implicitly
Analyze dialogue to discern and articulate implied meaning
Analyze the significance of weather conditions in terms of the Party’s goals for Hate Week
Analyze textual details to infer the purpose(s) of atrocity pamphlets and the Hate Week theme song
Analyze the author’s craft to discern which literary device is most applicable to a portion of text
Define complex words and phrases in context
Analyze figurative language (“happy as a lark”) to discern and articulate implied meaning as it relates to Parsons
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 George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about O’Brien’s explanation of the Brotherhood’s inner-workings from Book 2, chapter 8, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing academic rigor. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
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.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Identify what the text says both explicitly and implicitly
Analyze a portion of text to discern which literary device is applied and what its function is
Articulate what makes it impossible for Winston or any other individual member to take down the Brotherhood
Define complex words and phrases in context
Identify textual evidence to support the claim that Winston admires O’Brien
Analyze a character’s dialogue to discern and articulate how it is ironic
Compare aspects of the Party’s inner-workings to aspects of the Brotherhood’s inner-workings
Articulate what this passage reflects about George Orwell’s attitude toward rebellion against dictatorships
Use logic and/or textual evidence to support an argument
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 George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about Parsons’s pitiful loyalty to the Party from Book 3, chapter 1, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
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.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Identify what the text says both explicitly and implicitly
Define complex words and phrases in context
Analyze textual details to discern which literary device is applied (oxymoron and situational irony)
Articulate Parsons’s beliefs concerning what makes thoughtcrime so dangerous
Analyze the author’s word choices to discern what they reveal about a character
Articulate how Parsons evaluates his effectiveness as a father
Identify and explain textual evidence that contribute to Parsons’s pitiful characterization
Discern a primary function of the excerpt
Articulate how the excerpt illustrates the Party’s success in terms of restricting human emotions and complicating human relationships
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 George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about the contrasts between wars of the past and of the present from Book 2, chapter 9, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
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.
By engaging with this material, students will:
Identify what the text says both explicitly and implicitly
Articulate the circumstances under which institutions of the past would uphold truth and logic
Articulate the purpose of newspapers and other media, as well as why that purpose is significant
Articulate the consequences of interminable war
Articulate the narrator’s perspective on who the real victims of contemporary war are
Analyze the entire passage to discern tone in context
Make and defend a claim about the primary purpose of the selected excerpt
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 Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Hamlet. With a focus on Act 4, scene 7, 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 will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
More specifically, students will do the following:
Discern what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
Analyze character statements and behaviors to draw logical inferences about character development and motivations
Determine the tone of a given passage
Determine the functions of a given passage
Isolate a true statement about plot from falsehoods
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices including hubris, personification, metaphor, and irony
Provide textual evidence in support of a claim about Claudius
Articulate ideas 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 George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. Featuring a brief passage about Winston’s dreams from Book 1, chapter 3, this resource saves teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing academic rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.
This resource may facilitate 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.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Analyze what the text conveys both explicitly and implicitly
Apply knowledge of literary devices including symbolism, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and juxtaposition
Explore the protagonist’s emotional state in context
Discern the function of a given passage
Identify textual evidence in support of a claim
Activate background knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays in order to convey why Winston says his name as he wakes from his dream
Write with logic, clarity, and precision
This low-prep, end-of-unit creative writing project is an engaging alternative to a traditional summative test on Animal Farm by George Orwell. Students will write ten journal entries from Benjamin’s point of view, exploring the character’s internal state throughout the course of the novel. This assessment requires more than basic plot summary; it encourages students to analyze a character’s relationships, emotions, fears, motivations, and more. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Included are the following:
Detailed directions, which include a rationale for the project, a rundown of student expectations, and a list of learning standards emphasized
A thorough, standards-based rubric for grading student writing, which aligns evaluative criteria to Common Core standards and includes a section for written teacher feedback
A set of prewriting documents, which may be completed while or after reading each chapter, to facilitate planning for the end-of-unit project
An “Important Quotations” document to help students explore style and tone
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (book 1, chapters 11 through 17). An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the featured chapters, which are in the public domain. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing the close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Explore character development and motivations
Explore the symbolism of given objects or circumstances
Make logical inferences about the author’s intent
Explain the irony of a given detail
Apply knowledge of literary devices including onomatopoeia
Discern the function of a given character in the context of a particular chapter
Explore cause-and-effect relationships
Compare and contrast characters
Explore the influence of mass media on the public
Consider historical context in relation to the author’s intentions
Discern the function of a given chapter
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Help middle and high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (book 2, chapters 1 through 5). An answer key is included, as well as a copy of the featured chapters, which are in the public domain. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing the close reading activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Explore character development and motivations
Analyze how complex characters interact
Articulate the greater significance of a given detail
Explore the symbolism of given objects or circumstances
Make logical inferences about the author’s point of view on religion in the context of disastrous survival situations
Discern a relevant theme in the context of a given chapter
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification
Discern the function of a given chapter
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Help high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the short story titled “Dark They Were and Golden Eyed” by Ray Bradbury. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will:
Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly
Identify the narrative’s inciting incident
Identify the narrative’s dominant conflict
Explore the functions of a particular character
Explore character development and motivations
Analyze figurative language to infer the author’s intent
Make logical interpretations of metaphorical expressions
Explain the intended effect of repetition as it appears in a given excerpt
Analyze passages to discern their greater significance
Explore themes in context
Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, and more
Analyze the author’s descriptive language as it relates to setting to infer its purpose
Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning
Cite textual evidence in support of claims
Evaluate reading comprehension, promote homework accountability, and support the development of close reading analysis skills for high school with this bundle of resources for teaching Lord of the Flies by William Golding (chapter 12). A multiple choice, plot-based quiz is included along with a set of rigorous, high-order questions. Answer keys are also provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats.
By engaging with this resource, students will:
Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Analyze how complex characters interact and develop
Apply knowledge of various literary devices (personification, aposiopesis, sibilance, and situational irony)
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language
Make logical inferences about character behavior
Analyze character intentions and motivations
Analyze the author’s craft to articulate how the incorporation of frequent em-dashes contributes to storytelling
Articulate the significance of a given detail
Conduct brief research on the author and identify examples of autobiographical parallel
Identify textual evidence in support of a claim
Write with clarity and precision
Save time without sacrificing rigor by utilizing this bundle of analysis worksheets designed to promote close reading skills associated with Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. A variety of high-order question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, examining how word choices influence a reader’s interpretations, applying knowledge of literary devices, and articulating ideas in writing with clarity and precision. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in 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, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
Students will be able to do the following:
Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly
Discern point of view
Analyze character motivations
Analyze how complex characters interact
Clarify cause-and-effect relationships
Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices including situational irony, hyperbole, simile, alliteration, assonance, metaphor, oxymoron, and others
Articulate the intended effect of metaphorical language
Analyze the author’s craft to determine intent
Make logical inferences about how Tom perceives Myrtle
Demonstrate awareness of how social status influences behavior
Compare Myrtle to the puppy she is gifted
Discern a primary function of a given chapter
Analyze the effect comparing Gatsby to Belasco has on the reader
Infer why the author may have intended to wait to introduce Gatsby until chapter three
Analyze what Nick’s dialogue and behavior at the party reveals about his psychological state
Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
Articulate how Nick’s expectations of Gatsby are violated
Articulate the cultural significance of the white chauffeur transporting people of color
Discern what Nick finds astonishing about Wolfsheim’s behavior
Identify the primary function of Wolfsheim’s character in the context of the plot
Articulate the technique Fitzgerald uses to spark a significant shift in tone
Identify textual evidence that best supports a claim
Explore the symbolism of an object or objects
Clarify and elaborate on a concern Nick has for Gatsby in a given passage
Explore how Tom sees himself in the context of the tragedies of Gatsby, Myrtle, and Wilson
Write with clarity and precision
