Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 29 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Four Skinny Trees”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and sibilance Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 33 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Minerva Writes Poems”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the tone of a given excerpt Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Conduct brief research on Roman mythology in order to explain the irony of Minerva’s name Articulate the significance of the pancake dinner detail, taking into consideration Minerva’s financial distress Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, situational irony, and double denotation Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 32 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Sally”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the primary function of the vignette Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Investigate the role imagery plays in developing Sally’s character Analyze a given detail for symbolic value Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 4 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“My Name”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and situational irony Analyze the symbolic meaning of a window in the context of this chapter Explore relevant themes Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 2 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Hairs”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Compare and contrast the content and style of two paragraphs Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile, alliteration, assonance, repetition, and personification Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 5 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Cathy Queen of Cats”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Articulate a key function of the vignette Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Connect the vignette’s title to Esperanza’s skepticism of Cathy Compare and contrast two characters (Cathy and Esperanza) Evaluate the nature of the friendship between Cathy and Esperanza Consider how the concept of gender inequality is addressed Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 14 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Alicia Who Sees Mice”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor Explore the symbolism of mice in the context of a passage Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 6 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Our Good Day”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare Esperanza to Rachel and Lucy Evaluate whether Esperanza feels content to make a sacrifice in exchange for her friendship Analyze the bicycle for symbolic value in Esperanza’s life Apply knowledge of literary devices including simile and situational irony Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 39 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Red Clowns”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Reflect on the author’s choice of vignette title Consider tone in context Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Discern the greater significance of a given detail (Esperanza’s being labeled “Spanish girl”) Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and situational irony Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 12 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Those Who Don’t”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Discern the overall tone of the vignette Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Determine the function of given characters in context Apply knowledge of literary devices including anaphora Explore themes in context Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 34 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Bums in the Attic”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Determine the primary function of the vignette Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole and dramatic irony Identify the best textual evidence in support of a claim Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 36 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“A Smart Cookie”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including verbal irony, metaphor, and allusion Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students improve critical thinking skills and explore literary elements with this close reading analysis worksheet covering vignette 35 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (“Beautiful and Cruel”). An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading inference activity, students will: Read for literal comprehension Consult reference materials to learn and verify word meanings as needed Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast two characters (Nenny and Esperanza) Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification Make logical predictions based on context clues Support claims and inferences with relevant evidence and sound reasoning Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension and promote accountability for homework completion with this plot-based quiz covering The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (chapters 3, 4, and 5). The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the novel. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important plot details: Lonely Mountain Rivendell Elrond Background on the weapons the adventurers’ retrieved from trolls Seeking safety inside the cave The Orcrist Glamdring the Foe-hammer Goblins’ fear of something inside the cave The riddle game Discovery of the magical ring Bilbo’s escape from the cave

Evaluate general reading comprehension and promote accountability for homework completion with this plot-based quiz covering The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (chapters 9, 10, and 11). The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the novel. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important plot details: A near-confession Lake-town Bilbo’s plan to release his friends The escape plan and its glaring flaw The bridge guards’ response to Thorin’s presence The Master of Lake-town’s skepticism The citizens’ overwhelming response to the adventurers’ presence Reaching the mountain’s secret door The foreshadowing appearance of the thrush

Evaluate general reading comprehension and promote accountability for homework completion with this plot-based quiz covering The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (chapter 8). The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the novel. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important plot details: Lighting watch-fires A deep-sleep state Hastily using the last of the arrows Bombur’s dream Veering off the path in Mirkwood Bilbo’s transformative experience involving a spider Bilbo’s sword Abduction by the wood-elves The Elvenking’s questioning of Thorin Thorin’s reluctance to share details The consequence Thorin faces

Evaluate general reading comprehension and promote accountability for homework completion with this plot-based quiz covering The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (chapters 17, 18, and 19). The assessment may double as a guided reading worksheet to facilitate active engagement with the novel. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important plot details: Bilbo’s justification for bargaining Thorin’s response to Bilbo’s justification Unity among dwarves, elves, and men The return of the Eagles Thorin’s realization about what would make for a merrier world The new King Under the Mountain Bards gifts to Bilbo Beorn’s new role Gandalf’s statement regarding a more peaceful forest The surprise awaiting Bilbo at home

This resource offers four creative alternatives to traditional culminating assessments associated with The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. For each project prompt, a unique, comprehensive rubric for evaluating student work is included. Materials are delivered in a zip file as both Word Documents and PDFs. The primary objectives of the project options include the following: Students will demonstrate a strong understanding of the process by which characters become dynamic Students will demonstrate an ability to discern key textual evidence in support of ideas Students will demonstrate a strong understanding of setting and its influence on plot and character development Students will demonstrate an ability to express their knowledge with clarity and creativity Students will demonstrate an ability to work efficiently in both independent and group contexts

Evaluate general reading comprehension with this set of quizzes on Life As We Knew It, a dystopian young adult novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer, with emphasis on chapters eight through ten. A multiple choice assessment is provided, as well as a subjective version. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important details: Miranda’s major mistake, which devastates her Miranda and Mom’s building tension Sammi’s awkward and alarming news “National Good News Day” Miranda’s visit to the hospital Jonny’s surprising request at the dinner party Megan’s self-perceived sinfulness Jonny’s apparent maturity Miranda’s sad observation on the future The disappearance of radio signals Miranda’s frightening discovery while she bikes through town

Evaluate general reading comprehension with this set of quizzes on Life As We Knew It, a dystopian young adult novel by Susan Beth Pfeffer, with emphasis on chapters one through four. A multiple choice assessment is provided, as well as a subjective version. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. Questions pertain to the following important details: The relationship between Miranda and her mother The neighbors’ collective reaction to the meteor strike The subsequent natural disasters that occur The significance of school not being cancelled the following day Miranda’s heroism in the face of disaster People’s peculiar purchasing habits at the supermarket Rumors that begin to circulate Miranda’s step-mother and her condition Megan’s alarming response to the worldwide disaster Matt’s arrival home and his comments on heroism