Department of Defense
Do Dea: In the Beginning
This expansive self-guided unit hits on many objectives such as analyzing literature for author's purpose, figuring out the main idea/theme, understanding historical criticism, comparing and contrasting works from major historical...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat"
In this lesson, students will examine the relationship of man and nature as portrayed in "The Open Boat," based on Crane's suffering from a shipwreck on The Commodore in which he spent thirty hours on a small boat at sea before being...
Other
Robert J. Sawyer: Writing Workshops
This site features a list of columns written by Robert Sawyer. They include: Great Beginnings, Point of View, Constructing Characters, Show, Don't Tell, Description, Research, and more. W.9-10.3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e Narratives, W.11-12.3, 3a,...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Lesson 4: Faulkner's the Sound and the Fury
In this lesson plan, students will consider Lesson 4: Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury: Narration, Voice, and the Compson Family's New System. Worksheets and other supporting materials can be found under the Resources tab....
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "Persuasion" Teacher Guide [Pdf]
In-depth, 18-page teacher guide for "Persuasion" includes a lengthy introduction, overview of characters and historical background, and biographical sketch of the author. Also features lists of thought-provoking, pre-reading questions as...
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Analyze Language Choices
Learn about figurative language and how to determine the figurative, denotative, and connotative meanings of words.
Other
Authors and Creators Frederic Brown
This site, part of the Thrilling Detective Website, a personal site devoted to detective fiction, gives an overview of Frederic Brown's detective fiction from the point of view of a fan. The site includes an extensive list of works by...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Natalie Babbitt's Biography
General biography of the author, written from her point of view. Includes a list of Babbitt's published works, and a photograph of the author, plus links to interview transcripts.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Tone Worksheets and Lessons
This learning module provides remediation and extra practice with identifying an author's tone. Reinforcement for understanding author's tone is provided through the five different worksheets and a mini-lesson. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4
Caro Clarke
Explaining Too Much: Why More Is Less
This is the eleventh article in a series that is designed to help the new novel author. This article focuses on how to eliminate needless information in your novel. The key is to not explain too much about the action.
Caro Clarke
Not Stopping the Reader: How to Avoid Stumbling Blocks
This is the eighth article in a series that focuses on helping the new novel author. This article looks at how the author can avoid creating stumbling blocks that disrupt the flow of the novel.
PBS
Border Talk: Luis J. Rodriguez
Interesting interviews with Rodriguez and others, produced by PBS. There are extensive links from this page to a whole group of resources around the border theme.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Evaluate Tone in Various Media for Different Audiences & Purposes
This lesson will help you evaluate changes in formality and tone within printed texts written for specific audiences and purposes. It focuses on writing produced during the Great Depression.
Other
The Flickering Mind
Looking for an alternative point of view on educational technology? Use this informative website focusing on a book called "The Flickering Mind,"-a new and controversial book which argues that computers have done far more harm than good...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analyze Shifts in Perspective in Informational & Persuasive Text
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, students will read informational texts and identify varying perspectives in different arguments on the same topic. You will also analyze the reasoning and the...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Venn Diagram, 3 Circles
A printable Venn Diagram with three circles to use when comparing and contrasting three things or topics. Directions on how to use this graphic organizer as well as lists of teaching ideas and related resources are also provided.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Sat Reading Test: Rhetoric
Details about Rhetoric on the SAT Reading Test. One definition of the word rhetoric is "the study of writing or speaking." Rhetoric questions on the Reading Test assess how well you understand the choices that authors make as they...
Victorian Web
The Victorian Web: Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre
A portal to biographical information and essays related to Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) and her novel "Jane Eyre," including information about social and political history, characterization, themes, genre, setting, imagery, and more.
Florida Center for Reading Research
Florida Center for Reading Research: Text Analysis: What's the Purpose? [Pdf]
A lesson plan in which students read short texts and sort them according to purpose: persuade, inform, entertain, and explain. Materials are included. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.6
Read Works
Read Works: Helping Hands
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text written by ten-year-old Rose Brooks about her trip to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in understanding...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Reading Discussion Guide: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Liesel Meminger is only nine years old when she is taken to live with a foster family, the Hubermanns, on Himmel Street in Molching, Germany, in the late 1930s. She arrives with few possessions, but among them is The Grave Digger's...
Other
Object of History: Other Authors of the Declaration of Independence
View a photo of the committee that discussed the important points to be covered in the Declaration of Independence.
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Part 2 Reading: Informational Text: Evaluate Arguments and Claims
This article will help you evaluate informational text to determine whether an author's argument is supported by evidence or not. Click on Model to see a model with explanations and then click on Practice.
CommonLit
Common Lit: "The Plymouth Thanksgiving Story" by Chuck Larsen
A learning module that begins with "The Plymouth Thanksgiving Story" by Chuck Larsen, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through...