Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe. The quiz may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate more active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following aspects of plot: The narrator’s appreciation of analytical power Where the narrator had visited General character details about Dupin The narrator and Dupin’s shared appreciation for literature The narrator’s general perception of Dupin A quick development in the friendship between Dupin and the narrator The narrator’s fondness for moodiness and isolation A peculiar quality Dupin seems to have The details of a newspaper article The identities of two homicide victims General character details about Le Bon Dupin’s conclusions regarding the homicide

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. 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. Students will perform the following tasks: Make a logical inference based on the narrative’s title Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effect of the author’s language in context Determine the function of the narrative’s point of view Consider the effects of the author’s narrative techniques Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Contrast the characterizations of the protagonist and the police Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on red herring and symbolism

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate take-home grading with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Goose Girl,” which centers on themes of greed and karma. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The old Queen’s intentions for her gold and treasures The peculiar characteristics of Falada A gift from the old Queen to her daughter The personification of the bloodied handkerchief The servant’s defiance of the princess The princess’ humility An incident that emboldens the servant An oath taken by the princess The identity of the goose-boy The demands of the false bride The princess’ manipulation of the wind The general characterization of the aged King The princess’ affection for her mother The fate of the false bride

Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills while teaching the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Goose Girl,” which centers on themes of greed and karma. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. 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 completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Indicate the greater significance of given details Select the most appropriate synonym to replace a word as it is used in the text Verify interpretations of language using reference materials as needed Discern the intended effect language and narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Discern the function of a particular character in terms of advancing plot Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, metaphor, hyperbole, callback, situational irony, and more Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fairy tale fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (chapters 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: absolve, affront, approbation, audacity, beseech, clamber, condone, decadent, emaciated, fervor, festoon, indignation, repentance, revile, vague, vindictive, wimple, and wistful. 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

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (chapters 28, 29, and 30). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: adrenaline, ambiguous, blasphemy, catastrophe, defiantly, dismay, famished, illicit, macabre, obsolete, obstinately, paranoid, perfunctory, primitive, prude, reminiscence, rickety, and trivialize. 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

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (chapters 24, 25, 26, and 27). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: acquisitive, blitzkrieg, commotion, futility, grudgingly, languid, melancholy, mirth, opaque, pious, plumage, stealthily, suffuse, tactile, trivial, uncouth, viable, and wince. 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

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: atrocity, barren, bereaved, clad, commune, dingy, disconsolate, eccentric, ingratiate, irreverent, lugubrious, melodramatic, quagmire, sanctity, sedately, solemn, stagnant, and treachery. 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

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: benevolent, candid, falter, genial, heretical, innocuous, lethargic, lithe, ornate, plaintively, rancid, rebuke, replenish, suave, subdued, superfluous, wary, and withered. 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

Support vocabulary development and enhance reading comprehension with this set of games and activities to complement the dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). A crossword puzzle, word search activity, vocabulary application worksheet, and answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Specifically, the following vocabulary terms are addressed: archaic, blatantly, debase, demurely, furtively, genteel, insatiability, jaunty, menial, obscurity, ravenous, reproach, servile, solitude, surly, tremulous, undulate, and whimsical. 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

Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Raven,” which centers on themes of persistence and resilience. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. 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 completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the function of a given excerpt Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, hyperbole, pun, paradox, symbolism, and more Explore relevant themes in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fairy tale fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Raven,” which centers on themes of persistence and resilience. The assessment may otherwise double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with fiction. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: Events preceding the young princess’ transformation The raven’s warning The consequences of not heeding the warning The special quality of food given to the man The raven’s gifts for the man The content of the raven’s letter to the man The interactions between the man and the giant The distinguishing characteristic of a mountain The robbers’ interactions among one another The man’s deceptive treatment of the robbers The resolution

“The Woman’s Ghost Story” by Algernon Blackwood is a narrative of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and the paranormal realm. Use this plot-based quiz on “The Woman’s Ghost Story” to evaluate general reading comprehension and promote homework accountability. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate active engagement with literature. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The general characterization of the woman The woman’s criticism of storytellers Conditions under which the woman will share her ghost story The woman’s audience The setting of the woman’s story The purpose of the woman’s travels The general characterization of the ghost The woman’s reaction to the ghostly encounter The ghost’s relationship with space The ghost’s desires The woman’s so-called “brave” act The resolution

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Algernon Blackwood’s “The Woman’s Ghost Story,” a narrative of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and the paranormal realm. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are provided. 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. Students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of Dark Romanticism Consider the effects of the author’s language and narrative techniques Determine the purpose of a given passage Discern tone in context Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on simile, metaphor, imagery, hyperbole, foreshadowing, personification, epiphany, and more Conduct brief online research on women’s rights in the context of England in the early 1900s Explore themes in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Gothic fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Complement a unit on Gothic fiction and embrace the harvest season with this low-prep, standards-based research project addressing 33 topics directly and indirectly related to Halloween: ancient celebrations, holidays, and practices (Samhain, Lemuria, guising, souling, and more); more recent traditions (Guy Fawkes Night, the history of trick-or-treating, and the history of pumpkin carving); myths, legends, and superstitions (Jack O’Lantern, the Beast of Bray Road, Mothman, and more); medical conditions (“werewolf syndrome,” “walking corpse syndrome,” and “vampire disease”); historical figures (Vlad the Impaler, John Hathorne, Sarah Good, and more); and Halloween-inspired authors (Ray Bradbury, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, H.P. Lovecraft, and more). Supporting materials—including a detailed scoring rubric—are provided. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Ultimately, students will perform the following tasks: Collect and classify reliable sources on an assigned topic Develop successful methods of recording information Evaluate the credibility of nonfiction texts, taking into consideration readability, date, relevance, expertise, and bias Apply conventions of MLA formatting Correctly site resources to avoid plagiarism Organize information in a cohesive manner, using a note-taking system that includes summary, paraphrasing, and quoted material Analyze, synthesize, and integrate information, generating a thoughtfully comprehensive report, free of generalities and redundancies Present information in a formal, coherent manner

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Mary Shelley’s short story “The Mortal Immortal,” a narrative of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and philosophical perspectives on eternal life. This piece also pairs well with Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein, particularly in terms of discussing the book’s ending. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. 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. Students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Consider the effects of the author’s language and narrative techniques Discern the function of a given excerpt Describe tone in context Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on metaphor, personification, catharsis, imagery, repetition, oxymoron, hyperbole, and more Explore themes in context Reflect on the oxymoronic title and what it reflects about the protagonist Conduct research as needed to answer questions about a feminist perspective on the plot and the deeper meanings of given allusions Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about Gothic fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “Graves and Goblins,” a piece of special appeal to high school students interested in Halloween, supernatural fiction, and the relationship between the living and the dead. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. 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. Students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Consider the effects of the author’s language and narrative techniques Define complex words as they are used in the text Verify interpretations of language, using reference materials as needed Discern tone in context Classify the narrative as an example of a particular genre Examine how characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with an emphasis on metaphor, euphemism, personification, and more