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.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: American Masters Collection: Ursula K. Le Guin
Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin tells the intimate coming-of-age story of the Portland, Oregon, housewife and mother of three who forever transformed American literature by bringing science fiction and fantasy into the literary mainstream....
Other
Literature Unit: "A Day No Pigs Would Die"
This site features questions for each of the chapters in Robert Newton Peck's "A Day No Pigs Would Die."
Read Works
Read Works: Planet Y
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a boy named Zack who is traveling to a new planet with his family. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Understanding and Analysis of Literary Text: Meter and Rhyme
OnTRACK English II Reading, Module 3, Lessons 1-12, and Practice Lessons 1-3. Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of poetry, drama, fiction, and literary non-fiction, and provide...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: A Habitat for a Wild "Pet"
After observing and naming elements of an animal's habitat, and reading The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer, learners write fictional stories about finding and caring for a wild animal. A printable graphic organizer, a teacher example, and...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Book Files: My Side of the Mountain
"My Side of the Mountain", is a Newbery Honor, by Jean Craighead George. This book is about Sam Gribley's adventure in the Catskill Mountains. The novel's themes are nature, independence, survival, and adventure. Make the smart choice by...
Other
Write4 kids.com
This site provides a great deal of information on writing children's stories. Contains "Advice, instruction, insider tips, insight and inspiration."
The Best Notes
The Best Notes: The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
This is a complete online study guide/notes for the short story collection The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis.
The Best Notes
The Best Notes: Hiroshima by John Hersey
This is an online study guide/notes for the non-fiction book Hiroshima by John Hersey including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis. The book tells the stories of six...
The Best Notes
The Best Notes: Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
This is a complete online study guide/notes for the short story collection Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis.
The Best Notes
The Best Notes: The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
This is a complete online study guide/notes for the novel The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton including author information, literary elements, chapter-by-chapter summaries/notes, study questions, and analysis.
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.
Caro Clarke
Caro Clarke: Description: What's It For?
This is the twelfth article in a series that is designed to help the new novel writer. This article focuses on how to effectively use descriptions in any writing.
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
The Art of the Unspoken: Saying More by Describing Less
This is the thirteenth article in a series that was developed to help the new novel author. This article focuses on how good descriptions aren't necessarily connected with a lot of words, good descriptions are clean and to the point.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Why Did Mamma Change Her Mind? [Pdf]
"Why Did Mamma Change Her Mind?" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a party. Mom said her son and daughter could each have 5 friends (5 boys and 5 girls). The girl wanted all girls so the party was cancelled. It is followed...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Grammar and Literature Through Digital Storytelling
For this lesson middle schoolers create digital stories in cooperative groups using multimedia tools to demonstrate comprehension of the elements of grammar, literature, and technology introduced in the lesson. Students become actively...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: The Train [Pdf]
"The Train" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about a child's first train trip to Grandma's for the summer. It is followed by constructed-response questions which require students to provide evidence from the story; it includes:...
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Traveling With Lewis and Clark [Pdf]
"Traveling with Lewis and Clark" is a one page, fictional, reading passage about traveling with Lewis and Clark on their expedition and the hardships of winter and food shortages they endured. It is followed by constructed-response...
Read Works
Read Works: World's Greatest Robot
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about brothers who work together to plan the perfect robot. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: How to Trick Your Sister
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a brother who learns that it is more fun to trick people than it is to be tricked. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: How to Have an Adventure
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a boy named Kurt and his adventure with bees. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Up in the Air
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a boy named Kurt and his first trip on an airplane. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.