Other
Lifestream Center: Lessons: Literary Concepts: Elements of a Story
This site offers a basic understanding of the elements of a story. It clearly defines each literary term.
Harold D. Underdown
Writing Young Adult and Children's Fiction and Fantasy
A great article concerning writing children's literature, especially in the area of fantasy or science fiction. The author provides information concerning how to develop characters, creating literary elements, and discusses some pitfalls...
Read Works
Read Works: Intertwining Memories
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a girl named Debra who goes through her Nana's house and remembers her childhood. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Poetry: A Writing With Writers Activity
Interactive poetry lessons with well-known authors for three age groups including first through fourth grades with Jack Prelutsky, second through fifth grades with Jean Marzollo, and fourth through eighth grade with Karla Kuskin.
Tom Richey
Slide Share: Finding Themes in Literature
A slide show with forty slides with explanations, examples, and information on how to determine the theme of a text. RL.9-10.2 and RL.11-12.2 Analyzing Theme.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Comparing and Contrasting Texts
Two PowerPoint presentations and a video [2:57] on comparing and contrasting literary and informational texts as well as how to write a literary analysis. Includes links to external resources.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Analyzing the Author
A slideshow with ten slides that discusses the difference between a subject and a theme and gives several examples of each found within a variety of popular classical and modern texts.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Literary Nonfiction
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] Identify the literary language and devices used in memoirs and personal narratives and compare their characteristics with those of an autobiography.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Literary Nonfiction (English 7 Reading)
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] Learn how to describe the structural and substantive differences between an autobiography or diary and a fictional adaptation of it.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Eating Together
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each story, article or poem is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words...
Learning Farm
Learning Farm: Compare and Contrast Literature
Students will learn how to compare and contrast passages from different time periods. Analyzing the similarities and differences of in the way authors show a historical time, place, or a character gives the reader a broader understanding...
Other
Writing World: Four Ways to Bring Settings to Life
A great resource outlining four major ways to make settings appear more real and genuine in fiction. Deals with themes such as motion, experience, mood, and the senses. W.11-12.3d Sensory/precise lang narratives
Learning Farm
Learning Farm: Common Core Standards: Text Structure in Literature
Practice comparing and contrasting the structure of two or more texts and analyze how the differing structure of each text contributes to its meaning and style. Choose test mode or game mode!
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Assessing Theme
This is an introductory lesson on the concept of theme. Students choose two words that sum up the theme of the novel "So B. It" by Sarah Weeks. They then analyze a passage to find evidence of their choices and create a theme map. They...
W. W. Norton
Norton Anthology: Overview of Literary Gothicism
Do you know what type of literature "literary Gothicism" represents? Find out what types of literature throughout the ages have been touched by the Gothic influence when you visit this site.
Other
Chateauguay Valley Regional High School: The Past Through Poetry by Mary Sully
This is a good example of how to write a literary analysis essay on poetry. This example compares and contrasts Tennyson and Yeats, Victorian poets, on the basis of their lives and their poetry. W.9-10.9a Analysis
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: 5.1 Writing About Literature: The Basics
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Learn the basics of how to write about literature by asking subjective and objective questions; use tone, diction, and syntax; identify plot elements, and...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Themes
This is a collection of Grade-Leveled texts (3-12) based on your choice of 26 different themes such as America, Beauty and Happiness, Community, Death, War, etc. [Free account registration required for specific tools.]
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings
Teaching a book unit this year? It's a best practice to supplement book units with short passages from a variety of different genres. These 92 reading passages were handpicked by master teachers to supplement your book units. They...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Examples of Winter's Early Imagist Poetry
Two very good examples of imagist poetry. Links to author.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Using Fairy Tales to Teach the Short Stories
Familiar fairy tales are used as guides to help students analyze the elements of the short story: plot, theme, setting, point of view, and character.
British Library
British Library: 20th Century: Creative Activities
Channel your creativity with these writing activities.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Poetry in America: Collection
Poetry in America gathers distinguished interpreters from all walks of life to explore and debate 12 unforgettable American poems. Athletes, poets, politicians, musicians, architects, scientists, actors, entrepreneurs, and citizens of...
English Verse
Englishverse.com
This collection of poetry brings together works by both familiar and little-known poets from England and the United States. While there is no commentary on the poetry, there is frequently a biographical note about the poet. Well over 100...