Conclude a unit on William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice with this fifty-question test delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. An answer key is included. This assessment is divided into four sections and breaks down as follows. Part 1. Multiple choice. Students will demonstrate knowledge of character and plot details. Part 2. True/False and Either Or. Students will identify whether a statement is true or false, or they will identify the correct option between two choices. Part 3. Matching. Students will match an excerpt with its appropriate context. Part 4. Multiple choice. Students will be given a detail or excerpt and must determine which literary device is best reflected.

Crime fiction appeals to many high school readers and maximizes engagement with literature. “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl is a darkly comedic short story belonging to a subgenre called revenge fantasy, as it details a husband’s murder at the hands of his wife (and the frozen leg of a lamb). 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 Discern the narrative’s inciting incident Analyze the setting and its immediate effect on the audience Determine the tone of a given passage Analyze nuances in words with similar meanings Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony, foreshadowing, ambiguity, and more Discern the most relevant theme from among several options Argue whether Mary is portrayed as an intelligent individual Defend claims with valid reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials

Measure and extend reading comprehension of the final third of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale (chapters 31-46). Included are two assessments for differentiation purposes, one subjective and one objective. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in a zip file containing Word Document and PDF versions. Questions pertain to the following important details: A network of believers, disenchanted with society Serena’s suggestion to the narrator Revelations about the baby Jezabelle’s The return of Moira The function of women in the colonies Nick’s garage home The savage act of Salvaging Particicution A character’s suicide Offred and the resolution

Measure and extend reading comprehension of the second third of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale (chapters 18-30). Included are two assessments for differentiation purposes, one subjective and one objective. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered as Word Documents and PDFs. Questions pertain to the following important details: Luke’s plans according to Offred The relationship between Offred and her mother Birthing day Moira’s tense escape The Commander’s private request of Offred A test of loyalty A present Changes in the Ceremony The evolution in the relationship with Ofglen Significant life events of the past A Latin phrase A question of purpose and a desire for normalcy

Help high school readers discern all the important aspects of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee with this comprehensive reading guide, which promotes active engagement with literature and supports the development of independent, focused note-taking skills. A detailed answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. This resource highlights the following: Character Development. Students will document relevant information about characterization and track character transformations. Plot. Hundreds of plot-based questions are provided to help students focus on meaningful details from the novel. Historical Context. Some questions necessitate brief research and/or activation of schema in order to draw similarities between historical events and incidents in the novel. Meaningful Quotations and Excerpts. Dozens of meaningful quotes are emphasized, requiring students to articulate context and/or significance. Vocabulary. Dozens of unfamiliar and complex words are identified to maximize students’ comprehension of plot and expand readers’ vocabulary. SQ3R Practices. In each section, a list of generalized details (organized by chapter) helps students focus on what to review in the days and weeks following the assigned reading. Additionally, a section for personalized notes is given.

Support the development of close reading skills with this worksheet composed of challenging questions designed to help high school students analyze chapter 30 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An answer key is provided. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, these instructional materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking. Copyright restrictions prohibit the inclusion of the complete chapter, so the purchaser is responsible for providing students with access to the novel. By engaging in this exercise, students will: Examine the context of a given passage Analyze character dialogue to discern meaning and intent Discern the meaning of complex vocabulary and phrases in context, taking into consideration both denotative definitions and connotative associations Analyze an excerpt to discern its significance

Gothic fantasy and horror are genres that maximize many high school students’ engagement with literature. “The Cats of Ulthar” by H.P. Lovecraft is a macabre short story featuring savage neighbors, an avenging curse, and flesh-eating felines—making it an especially chilling choice for the Halloween season. This rigorous worksheet on “The Cats of Ulthar” helps English teachers support the development of close reading analysis skills and save valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will: Discern a key purpose of the mythological allusions delivered in the exposition Draw parallels between the author’s choices and knowledge of cat-related proverbs Explore the antagonistic characterization of the community’s old couple Examine the narrator’s feelings toward the people of Ulthar Explore the greater significance of imagery from a mythological perspective Investigate the author’s decision to name a key character after an Egyptian figure Discern the functions of several paragraphs Apply knowledge of a variety of literary devices including personification, irony, inversion, and onomatopoeia Make logical inferences about the author’s decision to include two seemingly insignificant details Identify and explain a significant example of foreshadowing in the story Argue whether the people of Ulthar are better or worse off for having gone through their experiences Support claims and ideas with reasoned thinking and relevant textual evidence Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Extend reading comprehension and support the development of close reading analysis skills with this rigorous worksheet covering the short story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne (estimated Lexile Measure range of 1300-1400). Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. An answer key and copy of the public domain text are included. By completing this activity, high school students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare and contrast characters Infer the intended effect of the author’s phrasing (“liquor of youth”) Apply knowledge of various literary devices including foreshadowing and symbolism Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Articulate the significance of a given detail Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss literary materials Support claims and ideas with relevant evidence and valid reasoning Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students improve fluency, stamina, text comprehension, and close reading analysis of the formal elements of fiction with this set of rigorous, text-dependent questions on the short story titled “Dark They Were and Golden Eyed” by Ray Bradbury. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this activity, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly as well as implicitly Identify the narrative’s inciting incident Identify the narrative’s dominant conflict Explore the functions of a particular character Explore character development and motivations Analyze figurative language to infer the author’s intent Make logical interpretations of metaphorical expressions Explain the intended effect of repetition as it appears in a given excerpt Analyze passages to discern their greater significance Explore themes in context Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, and more Analyze the author’s descriptive language as it relates to setting to infer its purpose Write clearly, concisely, and accurately in response to analytical questioning Cite textual evidence in support of claims

Go beyond reading comprehension with this set of analysis questions for Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Covering a chapter sixteen journal entry dated November 17, this resource supports the development of high school close reading skills and facilitates preparation for standardized testing scenarios. 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 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 exercise, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Explain the intended effect of figurative language Consider how an allusion shapes meaning Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Apply knowledge of literary devices such as onomatopoeia Explore implications about society in a post-meteor world Write about literature with clarity and precision

Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 3, scene 4, of Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. 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. More specifically, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Discern tone in context Examine how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare two characters (Beatrice and Benedick) Explore cause-and-effect relationships Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing, innuendo, dramatic irony, and more Articulate how Shakespeare established a tense atmosphere in the scene Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence

Help high school students go beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 3, of Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. 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. More specifically, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Determine the intended effect of narrative techniques Explore the symbolism of an oyster in the context of Benedick’s mindset Discern the tone of Balthasar’s song Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, oxymoron, dramatic irony, situational irony, and more Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence

Help high school students develop close reading and poetry analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 146. Delivered in Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet eliminates assessment planning responsibilities without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. 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. More specifically, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effect of figurative language Explore the narrator’s mindset Discern the overall tone of the sonnet Apply knowledge of literary devices with emphasis on metaphor, paradox, and personification

Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 1, of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. 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 engaging with this resource, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Discern the tone of a given passage Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Analyze plot from a historical context Apply knowledge of literary devices including foreshadowing Identify context clues that suggest Horatio’s opinion on supernatural occurrences is correct Explore themes with emphasis on humanity’s relationship with the universe Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 1, scene 4, of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. 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. More specifically, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Determine the primary function of a given passage Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Examine the effect of Shakespeare’s figurative language upon the reader Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Compare and contrast two characters Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Help high school students extend beyond basic plot recall and develop close reading analysis skills with this set of high-order questions covering Act 2, scene 2, of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats, this worksheet saves English Language Arts teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. An answer key is provided. 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. More specifically, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Discern the intended effect of Shakespearean language in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Discern tone in context Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this quiz covering vignettes 1 through 4 of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros: “The House on Mango Street,” “Hairs,” “Boys and Girls,” and “My Name.” An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following: The reason behind the family’s move The qualities/description of the new house The smell of her mother’s hair The lack of interaction among boys and girls in the community Esperanza’s frustrations with spending time with Nenny Esperanza’s desire to have a best friend The origin of Esperanza’s name Esperanza’s personal feelings about her name The Chinese year of the horse and its superstitious meaning to women Cultural views on women (Chinese and Mexican) Esperanza’s great grandmother and her arranged marriage