Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “The Three Sisters.” An answer key is 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. Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Activate prior knowledge of characters and plot Discern the intended effects of given details Consider tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare two characters in the novel Consider the symbolism associated with a circle Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, and foreshadowing Connect elements of the vignette to elements of a Shakespearean play

Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the final vignette, “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes.” An answer key is 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. Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the greater significance of a given detail (“I am going to tell you a story about a girl who didn’t want to belong”) Discern the intended effect of the author’s syntax (“the house I belong but do not belong to”) Discern the intended effect of figurative language (“I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much”) Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Discern the tone of the vignette Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, anaphora, metaphor, dramatic irony, and more

Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the vignette titled “Those Who Don’t.” An answer key is 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. Copyright restrictions do not allow for novel content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effects of a given details Discern the overall tone of the vignette Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Discern the function of given characters in context Apply knowledge of literary devices including anaphora Explore themes in context

“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston is a short story about a woman of color who must reconcile the resentment she feels toward her abusive husband with her faith—a task that threatens to compromise the integrity of her soul. This close reading analysis worksheet helps English teachers extend reading comprehension and support the process of critical thinking. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing editable Word Documents and printable PDFs. By completing the close reading activity, students will perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Choose the most suitable synonym to replace a word without changing fundamental meaning Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings Explore cause-and-effect relationships Determine the functions of given details Make inferences about historical context based on aspects of plot Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Make predictions about the protagonist’s future behavior based on context clues Analyze the author’s word choices to articulate how they contribute to character development Apply knowledge of literary devices including euphemism, oxymoron, personification, symbolism, situational irony, and more Discern the tone of a given passage Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “Dagon” by H.P. Lovecraft, a short story with elements of horror and supernatural fiction: a psychologically fragile protagonist, isolation in the middle of the ocean, the discovery of a newly risen island, and a humanoid creature. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Utilize dictionaries to ensure knowledge of word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques with emphasis on how the author creates and sustains an atmosphere of dread Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including consonance and foreshadowing Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

This 33-slide PowerPoint presentation introduces your students to the key characters in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. I created this PowerPoint as a means of previewing the novel with my high school students, offering them context on character traits, relationships, conflicts, and development over the course of the novel. The following are covered: Bilbo Baggins. ♦ Modest nature ♦ Appreciation for the simple things ♦ His reluctance and obligation to help ♦ His role along the journey ♦ His brushes with adversity ♦ His sense of justice ♦ His dynamic character ♦ And more Gandalf. ♦ His noteworthy character traits ♦ The mentor archetype ♦ And more Thorin Oakenshield. ♦ His leadership ♦ His bravery and his pretentiousness ♦ His family background ♦ His classification as a foil to Bilbo ♦ His fatal flaws Dwalin. ♦ General character details (e.g., family ties) Balin. ♦ General character details (e.g., his acceptance of Bilbo) Gloin. ♦ General character details (e.g., his skepticism of Bilbo) Oin. ♦ General character details (e.g., family ties) Dori. ♦ General character details (e.g., his strength) Nori. ♦ General character details (e.g., his appearance) Ori. ♦ General character details (e.g., his musical talent) Kili & Fili. ♦ General character details (e.g., their youth) Bombur. ♦ General character details (e.g., his laziness) Bifur. ♦ General character details (e.g., family ties) Bofur. ♦ General character details (e.g., family ties) Gollum. ♦ His home ♦ His miserable disposition ♦ His interests and talents ♦ His significant loss Smaug. ♦ His greediness ♦ His vengefulness ♦ His appearance ♦ His symbolism ♦ The cultural perspective on dragons Elrond. ♦ The Last Homely House ♦ His special, helpful traits ♦ His graciousness ♦ Foreshadowing Beorn. ♦ His personality traits ♦ His special skills ♦ His discomfort toward visitors ♦ His pursuit of justice ♦ His help given to the adventurers ♦ And more Bard of Esgaroth. ♦ His tremendous talent ♦ His honorable nature ♦ His leadership ♦ His response to tragedy ♦ His sense of fairness and justice The Elvenking. ♦ His suspicion of strangers ♦ His weakness ♦ His crucial role late in the novel

Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering “The Twelve Huntsmen,” a classic Grimm’s fairy tale. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Consult reference materials as needed to verify word meanings Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on anthropomorphism, assonance, dramatic irony, foreshadowing, hyperbole, metaphor, sibilance, simile, and situational irony Consider themes in context Argue whether the narrative perpetuates stereotypes about women or fights against stereotypes about women Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering the short story “The Imp of the Perverse” by Edgar Allan Poe, a piece of horror and psychological fiction that explores the impulse to do wrong for wrong’s sake alone. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative, which is especially fitting for the Halloween season, are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Consult reference materials as needed to verify word meanings Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Discern the tone of a given paragraph Determine the function of a given paragraph Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on situational irony Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Facilitate active participation in small-group discussions of science fiction literature with this set of literature circle materials for teaching Feed by M.T. Anderson. The following are included: a handout detailing student roles; documentation logs to hold students accountable for their tasks; and a standards-based rubric for scoring student performances. Materials are delivered in both Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging in these literature circle activities, students will do the following: Articulate key details from the story Generate open-ended questions related to the novel in order to carry out meaningful discussions with peers Respond thoughtfully to open-ended questions and others’ contributions to the discussion Document ways in which the novel is consistent with aspects of modern society Locate specific passages and/or quotations that relate to major themes and concepts—especially those relating to technology, consumerism, sociology, and the value of independent thinking Artistically convey important information from the assigned reading Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering the Gothic short story “The Oval Portrait” by Edgar Allan Poe. Additional materials are included to facilitate lesson planning for unexpected teacher absences. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Included are the following: Public domain short story. With an estimated Lexile Measure range of 1200 to 1300, the narrative is a suitable selection for high school English Language Arts classes. Close reading analysis worksheet. By engaging with this exercise, students will articulate what is stated explicitly and implicitly; analyze how complex characters think, interact, and behave; compare two characters and explain what they share in common; analyze a given excerpt and explain how situational irony develops; discern the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases; analyze the author’s stylistic choices to discern and articulate the author’s purpose; examine cause-and-effect relationships; conduct brief research into Poe’s personal life to explain autobiographical parallels between the author and the plot of the text; cite textual evidence in support of claims; and write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision. Questions are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Close reading analysis worksheet answer key. Low-prep lesson plan for unexpected absences. This comes pre-filled with learning targets and agenda items. Space is also designated for classroom teachers to identify the name(s) of their class(es), the hour(s) of their class(es), student leaders, and upcoming homework assignments and assessments. Bell ringer activity. Help a substitute teacher engage students (and find time to take attendance) with a thematically linked writing prompt. Miscellaneous performance tasks handout. Extend student thinking and learning in the event of unexpected absences with this item outlining creative tasks pertaining to the short story. For example, students may write poetry or journal entries from the perspective of a character; write a brief retelling of the narrative from a different character’s perspective; explore the thematic significance of stories; review the overall quality of the narrative with objectivity and supporting evidence; and more.

Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Gary Soto’s short story “The No-Guitar Blues.” A detailed answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Infer the intended effects of the author’s word choices and narrative techniques Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony, metaphor, and simile Consider themes in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help middle and high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering the satirical short story “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Andersen. An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Explore nuances in words with similar meanings in order to choose the most appropriate synonym for a given term Consider how the story conforms to conventions of fairy tale literature Discern the function of a given passage Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including dramatic irony and situational irony Explore implied themes about society Make a claim about which human vice is most scrutinized in the story Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this plot-based quiz covering “The Lurking Fear” by H.P. Lovecraft, a short story with elements of horror and supernatural fiction: ghosts, unsolved murders, secret investigations, and bizarre creatures. The assessment may double as a guided reading handout to facilitate engagement with the text. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: General description of the narrator Setting A gruesome inciting incident Preparations for an emergency escape Secondary characters and their fates Natural disasters that transpire The distinguishing physical characteristic of an antagonist The narrator’s peculiar observations Complications facing the narrator A new demonic attack A physical description of monstrous beings The beings’ horrifying behavior The resolution

Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and literary craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Morley Callaghan’s “All the Years of Her Life,” a short story focusing on how a young son’s behavior influences the psychological state of his loving mother. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will: Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Determine the point of view of the narrative Discern the tone of a particular passage Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast characters Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony and epiphany Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision

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 a classic Grimm’s fairy tale titled “The Frog King” (also called “Iron Heinrich” and “Iron Henry”). An answer key and copy of the public domain short story are included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Infer the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices and narrative techniques Determine the narrative’s inciting incident Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, dramatic irony, and situational irony Consider themes in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class better prepared to discuss literature

Help students achieve more purposeful reading experiences and sharpen their note-taking skills with this reading guide covering Act 1 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 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 And more

Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the eighteenth vignette titled “A Rice Sandwich.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze the title of the vignette to articulate how it is suitable to the plot Explore the symbolism of keys in the context of the vignette Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Explore cause-and-effect relationships Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany and situational irony Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the thirtieth vignette titled “No Speak English.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Analyze stylistic choices to discern the author’s intent Discern the intended effect of figurative language as it is used in the text Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare two characters (Esperanza and Mamacita) Articulate the irony of Mamacita’s physical appearance Identify examples of Esperanza’s compassion Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of high school close reading skills with this set of analysis questions for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros with emphasis on the thirty-sixth vignette titled “A Smart Cookie.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explore how the author’s diction affects the reader’s interpretations Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices including verbal irony, metaphor, and allusion Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Prepare students in the classroom and in distance learning contexts to critically analyze texts at the high school level with this close reading of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (the vignette titled “Cathy Queen of Cats”). This assessment promotes high-order thinking that is consistent with high school English Language Arts standards. The variety of question types will also help prepare students for standardized testing scenarios: main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. Copyright restrictions do not allow for the novel’s content to be included, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with the text. The resource will be 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, ultimately, 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: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Cite textual evidence in support of claims Write with clarity and precision Articulate a primary function of the vignette Articulate why Cathy and Esperanza’s friendship is temporary Articulate what Cathy implies is the reason for the neighborhood’s supposed deterioration Identify Cathy’s race based on context clues Explore Cathy’s modes of thinking Identify how this chapter addresses the concept of gender inequality Connect the vignette’s title to Esperanza’s skepticism of Cathy Compare and contrast Cathy and Esperanza