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Inquiring Mind of the English Teacher Kind

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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.

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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.
House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("No Speak English")
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House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("No Speak English")

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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
House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("A Smart Cookie")
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House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("A Smart Cookie")

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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
House on Mango Street Close Reading - "Cathy Queen of Cats"
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House on Mango Street Close Reading - "Cathy Queen of Cats"

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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
House on Mango Street Close Reading of Our Good Day
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House on Mango Street Close Reading of Our Good Day

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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 “Our Good Day.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Alternatively, a Google Drive option is available. 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 Explore cause-and-effect relationships Discern how double-denotation adds complexity to the storytelling Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare Esperanza to Rachel and Lucy Articulate the figurative cost Esperanza pays to establish her new friendship 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 with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
House on Mango Street Close Reading - "My Name"
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House on Mango Street Close Reading - "My Name"

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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 “My Name.” 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 effect of the author’s diction Explore cause-and-effect relationships Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact 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 Articulate the greater significance of a given detail Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
"The New Dress" by Virginia Woolf Close Reading Analysis Worksheet with Answer Key
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"The New Dress" by Virginia Woolf Close Reading Analysis Worksheet with Answer Key

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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 Virginia Woolf’s short story “The New Dress.” 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 Discern the functions of various passages and excerpts Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Articulate the hypocritical nature of the protagonist’s behavior Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing and metaphor 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
"The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen Close Reading Worksheet
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"The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen Close Reading Worksheet

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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
"Dagon" by H.P. Lovecraft Close Reading Analysis Worksheet
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"Dagon" by H.P. Lovecraft Close Reading Analysis Worksheet

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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
“Cinderella” by the Brothers Grimm Close Reading Worksheet
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“Cinderella” by the Brothers Grimm Close Reading Worksheet

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This resource extends beyond text comprehension, helping high school students analyze the formal elements of fiction and respond thoughtfully in writing to questions about literature. The featured short story is “Cinderella” by the Brothers Grimm. Included are the following: the public domain fairy tale, which has an estimated Lexile measure of 1000-1100; a related bell ringer activity; a set of rigorous close reading questions in both Word Doc and PDF formats; an answer key; and editable emergency substitute teaching plans. By completing this exercise, students will: Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, juxtaposition, anthropomorphism, symbolism, and more Identify the story’s inciting incident Discern the intended meaning of figurative language Discern the function of a given excerpt Analyze the author’s craft Explore relationships between complex characters Articulate character motivations Cite textual evidence in support of inferences and claims Write with clarity and precision
Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Reading Guide and Answer Key
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Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Reading Guide and Answer Key

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Help students achieve more purposeful reading experiences and sharpen their note-taking skills with this reading guide covering Act 3 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: Tybalt’s verbal attack on Romeo Dramatic irony Mercutio’s decision to fight Tybalt Romeo’s abrupt character change Defying the prince’s orders Lady Capulet’s demand Romeo’s punishment The Nurse’s news and ensuing confusion Juliet’s immediate reaction to learning the truth Juliet’s defense of her husband The Nurse’s motivation to seek out Romeo Romeo’s feelings toward his punishment Friar Laurence’s strong words for Romeo Romeo’s potential suicide attempt Friar Laurence’s optimistic plan Lord Capulet’s arrangement with Paris Whether Romeo believes he will see his wife once more Foreshadowing Lady Capulet’s plan for Romeo after exile The Nurse’s advice to Juliet Juliet’s desire to seek Friar Laurence’s help And more
House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("Geraldo No Last Name")
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House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("Geraldo No Last Name")

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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 twenty-fifth vignette titled “Geraldo No Last Name.” 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 Connect the phrase “Nothing in his pockets” to the vignette’s title Articulate the significance of the phrase “Nothing in his pockets” Discern the intended effect of the author’s stylistic choices (with emphasis on the incorporation of fragments and colloquialisms) Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices including verbal irony and dramatic irony Explore the concept of systematic prejudice, or institutional bias, in the text Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("Born Bad")
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House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("Born Bad")

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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 twenty-third vignette titled “Born Bad.” 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 Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Verify interpretations of language using reference materials such as a dictionary or thesaurus Explore cause-and-effect relationships Discern the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Articulate the power of photographs, as well as their limitations Conduct brief research on Our Lady of Guadalupe in order to explain why the name Guadalupe suits the character Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("Four Skinny Trees")
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House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("Four Skinny Trees")

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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 twenty-ninth vignette titled “Four Skinny Trees.” 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 Discern the intended effect of the author’s diction Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification and sibilance Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
House on Mango Street Close Reading - "Edna's Ruthie"
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House on Mango Street Close Reading - "Edna's Ruthie"

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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 “Edna’s Ruthie.” The variety of question types also helps students prepare for standardized testing scenarios: main idea questions, detail questions, author’s craft questions, and more. An answer key is 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. 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 Cite textual evidence in support of claims Write with clarity and precision Analyze how the author uses direct and indirect description to develop a sympathetic character in Ruthie Make logical inferences about the relationships between characters Determine the tone of a given passage Analyze the author’s language to discern and articulate the intended effect Analyze what a character’s actions reveal about their psychological state Articulate the significance of reading and writing in Esperanza’s life Articulate the significance of the fact that Ruthie no longer reads and writes Compare characters from two texts to articulate what they share in common, using Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Nightingale” for reference
House on Mango Street Close Reading of Alicia Who Sees Mice
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House on Mango Street Close Reading of Alicia Who Sees Mice

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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 “Alicia Who Sees Mice.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Alternatively, a Google Drive option is available. 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 Define complex words or phrases as they are used in the text Verify interpretations of language using reference materials including a dictionary and thesaurus Explore cause-and-effect relationships Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor Articulate the significance of given details Explore the symbolism of mice in the context of a passage Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("The First Job")
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House on Mango Street Close Reading Worksheet ("The First Job")

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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 twenty-first vignette titled “The First Job.” 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 complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Evaluate Esperanza’s work ethic Discern the nature of the relationship between Esperanza and Tito Determine whether Esperanza’s anxiety is a rational emotional response Apply knowledge of literary devices such as situational irony Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
House on Mango Street Close Reading - "Hairs"
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House on Mango Street Close Reading - "Hairs"

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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 “My Name.” 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 effect of the author’s diction Explore cause-and-effect relationships Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact 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 Articulate the greater significance of a given detail Support claims with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision
House on Mango Street Close Reading - "Minerva Writes Poems"
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House on Mango Street Close Reading - "Minerva Writes Poems"

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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 “Minerva Writes Poems”). 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 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 Apply knowledge of various literary devices including situational irony and oxymoron Apply basic knowledge of Roman mythology to the character of Minerva to discern and explain the irony of the character’s name Articulate the significance of the pancake dinner detail, taking into consideration Minerva’s financial distress Analyze what Minerva’s behavior reveals about her psychological state Make logical inferences about characterization in context Analyze the author’s craft, articulating the intended effect of figurative language Identify and explain an example of double denotation in the text Discern the tone of a given excerpt Analyze how Minerva influences Esperanza’s outlook on her future
"The No-Guitar Blues" by Gary Soto Close Reading Analysis Worksheet
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"The No-Guitar Blues" by Gary Soto Close Reading Analysis Worksheet

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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
“The Twelve Huntsmen” by the Brothers Grimm Close Reading Worksheet
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“The Twelve Huntsmen” by the Brothers Grimm Close Reading Worksheet

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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