The annotated version of Act III, Scene II of Julius Caesar is aligned with the Common Core emphases on how and why author's use specific rhetorical devices and argumentative appeals to enhance the meaning of the text and develop the characters and themes. The marginal notes for these critical mono

Let me make your life easier. Use these 13 constructed responses to test knowledge of the CCSS standards for The Crucible. They include questions about: theme, characterization, text structure, word use, literary devices, comparison and contrast, conflict, and more. I've also included a handy rubric

Introduce totalitarian states (Germany, Russia, Italy, Cuba, etc.) using this excerpt from 1984 and discussion questions. The kids really enjoy this novel and it is a way to integrate literature into your Social Studies curriculum.

Prior to Willy Loman committing suicide, students will read five documents about mental health and diagnose him with a disorder. Next they are to write a detailed letter about the diagnosis citing evidence from both the play and the mental health research. The assignment includes detail directions,

Directions to Student: The following performance task requires you to construct a coherent literary analysis essay that integrates interpretation of Documents A-E and your knowledge of the novel’s plot, theme, setting, characters, conflict, and narration. To cite the documents displayed below, use

A pair of essay rubrics, one for mechanics to use as you read all those sheepish insights bleeting from fields of marginally coherent verbiage. The second is a quick checklist style scoring rubric that saves you time, and the trouble of writing commentary at the end of the essay. These have cut my