Foster general reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills for high school and college with this set of analysis worksheets on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night. A variety of question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, examining how word choices influence a reader’s interpretations, applying knowledge of literary devices, articulating ideas in writing with clarity and precision, and preparing for standardized testing scenarios. Answer keys are provided. All materials are delivered as Word Documents and PDFs. By engaging with these resources, students will: Identify and articulate what the text states explicitly and implicitly Discern the intended effect of Shakespeare’s figurative language in the context of a passage Explore cause-and-effect relationships Use context clues to draw reasonable inferences about Orsino Apply knowledge of various literary devices including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, sibilance, alliteration, assonance, consonance, personification, hyperbole, oxymoron, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more Define complex vocabulary in the context of a passage Determine the primary function of given passages Compare and contrast Orsino and Olivia Conduct brief research on classical mythology – more specifically the tale of Arion and the dolphin – and draw parallels between the mythological figure and Sebastian Analyze the author’s craft to discern which literary device is most applicable to a specific portion of text Explore Toby’s attitude toward Olivia’s behavior Identify the greater significance of a given detail Identify evidence in support of claims Isolate factual details about plot from false statements Compare and contrast Viola and Sebastian Write ideas with clarity and precision Compare and contrast Toby and Andrew Compare and contrast Malvolio and a group consisting of Toby, Andrew, and Maria Analyze how complex characters behave and interact Consider the meaning of a given word in order to determine its most suitable synonym

This bundle of 20 assessments promotes analytical thinking, measures and extends reading comprehension, and offers flexibility of choice to differentiate and satisfy the academic needs of students of varying proficiency levels in classroom and distance learning settings. Included are close reading activities, answer keys, and copies of public domain texts. Short story selections include the following: “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin * “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell * “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe * “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving * “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield * “The New Dress” by Virginia Woolf * “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane * “The Open Window” by Saki * “The Oval Portrait” by Edgar Allan Poe * “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett * “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry * “The Businessman” by Edgar Allan Poe * “The Legend of the Christmas Rose” by Selma Lagerlof * “The Old Tombstone” by Hans Christian Andersen * “The Wind Blows” by Katherine Mansfield * “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen * “The Stolen Farthings” by the Brothers Grimm * “Slave on the Block” by Langston Hughes “The Wives of the Dead” by Nathaniel Hawthorne * “The Sparrow and His Four Children” by the Brothers Grimm * (* denotes a public domain text) By completing these analysis exercises, students will demonstrate the following high-order skills: An ability to apply knowledge of more complex literary devices to the texts including foreshadowing, situational irony, dramatic irony, hyperbole, personification, metaphor, symbolism, theme, and more An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations and other elements of plot An ability to discern and articulate details that illustrate contrasts between characters An ability to define complex words by taking into consideration denotative definitions, connotative definitions, and context clues An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of claims An ability to discern mood and tone in context An ability to discern author’s intent An ability to conduct brief research and articulate historical and autobiographical parallels An ability to analyze text structures An ability to analyze text to determine the function of an excerpt An ability to analyze a text for how it conforms to the conventions of a particular genre An ability to establish formal tone, paying attention to conventions of written English An ability to take leadership in class discussions, addressing nuances in the author’s craft to help peers understand literature from different perspectives

Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this complete bundle of worksheets composed of inference questions covering every individual scene in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. These resources will encourage students to analyze how complex characters develop, explore character motivations, interpret figurative expressions, apply knowledge of literary devices, develop greater confidence in decoding Shakespearean language, and much more. Answer keys are included. All materials are delivered in a zip file containing printable Word Document and PDF versions. Use these resources for independent or small group engagement with the text; they may lead to thoughtful discussions that contribute meaningfully to a culture of active learning in high school English classrooms. With these instructional materials, students will demonstrate the following: An ability to define complex vocabulary in context An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character motivations An ability to analyze context clues and draw logical inferences about character relationships An ability to analyze the text for literary devices such as foreshadowing, situational irony, dramatic irony, theme, symbolism, dynamic character, and more An ability to identify the function of a particular passage An ability to find and articulate relevant textual details in support of a claim An ability to analyze context clues to discern and articulate the significance of a given detail An ability to articulate what the text indicates both explicitly and implicitly An ability to write with clarity and precision

Challenge high school students to go beyond basic reading comprehension and exercise close reading analysis skills while engaging with Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Each close reading activity is rigorous enough for students to find deeper meaning in the text, yet convenient enough for teachers to efficiently gather data on their students’ textual analysis skills. Included are seventeen close reading worksheets, each addressing an individual scene, and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By the end of the play, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define complex words as they are used in the text Examine nuances in words with similar meanings Discern the intended effect of figurative language in context Delve into the methods by which Shakespeare achieved narrative effects such as tension and comic relief Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare and contrast several characters Conduct brief research on the four humors of classical Greek medicine to facilitate an evaluation of Benedick’s condition midway through the play Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, allusion, malapropism, personification, paradox, invective, oxymoron, symbolism, dramatic irony, situational irony, verbal irony, and more Determine the tone of given passages Discern the functions of given passages Compare elements of one scene with those of another Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

Use this bundle of rigorous close reading resources to help high school students extend reading comprehension and analyze plot developments over the course of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Answer keys are included. Covering every single scene in the play, this bundle offers 20 editable worksheets designed to facilitate students’ abilities to do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define complex words and phrases as they are used Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Examine how Shakespeare’s character choices affect the audience Isolate opinions with which characters are likely to agree Examine narrative techniques used to make Portia seem emotionally flustered Consider the motif of the guest-host relationship and argue whether Portia conforms to the expectations of a good host, or whether she fails to meet expectations and represents a bad host Compare and contrast characters (Antonio and Shylock; Portia and Antonio; Jessica and Portia) Apply knowledge of many literary devices with emphasis on metaphor, oxymoron, onomatopoeia, allusion, personification, symbolism, invective, euphemism, juxtaposition, hyperbole situational irony, and dramatic irony Conduct brief online research (if necessary) to determine the symbolic value of a particular object Determine the functions of given passages Discern the tone of several passages Explore how Shakespeare creates suspense Explore themes Explore cause-and-effect relationships Come to class/leave class better prepared to discuss the play Defend claims with reasoned thinking and relevant evidence Write ideas with accuracy, clarity, and precision

Measure reading comprehension and support the development of close reading skills with this bundle of worksheets and assessments composed of both plot-based and inference questions designed to help high school students analyze The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. A comprehension quiz and close reading analysis worksheet is provided for each individual chapter. A summative test culminates the unit. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered as printable Word Documents and PDFs.

Help students go beyond basic reading comprehension and develop close reading analysis skills with this bundle of rigorous worksheets covering The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Each activity focuses on a single vignette from the novel and helps readers get a better sense of how the author’s literary style develops character and advances plot. Answer keys are provided, and all materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. These resources may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using these resources for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly. By engaging with these activities, students will do the following: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define complex words or phrases as they are used in the text Discern the intended effects of the author’s stylistic choices Explore cause-and-effect relationships Examine how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Compare and contrast characters Explore a variety of objects for symbolic value Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, repetition, situational irony, dramatic irony, and more Articulate the greater significance of given details Explore important social concepts such as gender inequality and institutional bias Conduct brief research on relevant topics Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence Write about literature with clarity, accuracy, and precision And more

Evaluate reading comprehension, support critical thinking, and embrace the spirit of Christmas and wintertime no matter the time of year with this bundle of plot-based quizzes, close reading analysis worksheets, vocabulary development exercises, and an end-of-unit test for six holiday-themed short stories: “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote, “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, “The Burglar’s Christmas” by Willa Cather, “At Christmas Time” by Anton Chekhov, “The Heavenly Christmas Tree” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and “Three Wise Guys” by Sandra Cisneros. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By engaging with these activities, students will: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define words and phrases as they are used in the text Consult reference materials in order to learn and verify word meanings Choose the most proper application of words as they are used in sentences Discern the intended effects of the authors’ word choices and narrative techniques Determine the functions of given excerpts Describe and examine tone in context Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop Apply knowledge of literary devices including epiphany, foreshadowing, idiom, metaphor, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, situational irony, and more 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

This low-prep bundle covering The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare contains all the formative and summative assessments teachers need to assess general reading comprehension, support the development of close reading analysis skills, and greatly reduce take-home grading responsibilities. Included are six multiple choice quizzes; twelve close reading worksheets, each covering a single scene; an end-of-unit test; and answer keys. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with these resources, students will have opportunities to perform the following tasks: Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly Define complex words as they are used in the text Explore how complex characters think, behave, develop, and interact Determine the tone of given passages Discern the functions of given passages Examine the greater significance of a given detail Consider how the effect of humor is achieved in context Apply knowledge of literary devices including oxymoron, hyperbole, sibilance, onomatopoeia, assonance, metaphor, simile, situational irony, verbal irony, dramatic irony, and more Conduct brief research on the Roman goddess Diana and articulate the similarities between her and Katharina Conduct brief research on the four humours and articulate the findings Evaluate behavior to determine which character is most committed to their role in the charade Isolate details that represent the best textual evidence in support of claims Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision

This bundle includes 6 three-week, standards-based unit plans and all instructional materials for supporting high school Creative Writing students as they generate original works of fiction. Not only does this bundle provide everything a teacher needs to carry out the curriculum to fidelity, but it substantially reduces prep work so teachers may invest more time developing positive relationships with students and offering personalized support as they work to achieve learning targets. All materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats. A variety of literary genres is covered with this bundle: Gothic, fantasy, fairy tales, science fiction, realistic fiction, and adventure fiction. At the conclusion of the six units, students will have have done the following: Developed greater understanding of the conventions of each genre. Analyzed how professionally published authors used characterization, description, and literary devices that are consistent with the conventions of each genre Conducted research to facilitate idea development Organized initial ideas in a coherent manner. Engaged the reader with compelling exposition that established setting and tone. Used many appropriate narrative techniques (dialogue, dialect, description, pacing, etc.) to enhance plot. Drafted coherent, cohesive, and appropriate narratives that build toward a particular tone and outcome (a sense of mystery, suspense, etc.). Used precise words and phrases, active verbs, and sensory language to convey compelling stories. Drafted unrushed conclusions that resolve conflicts and convey themes. Showed mastery of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.