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Macbeth List 1 Worksheet
Even by using context clues, readers won't understand all of the language in Macbeth. Prepare them for some of the tricky language in the beginning by providing them with this two-page vocabulary activity. Twenty new words are introduced...
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Macbeth List 2 Worksheet
The best way to learn vocabulary is to see it in context, right? That's exactly what this worksheet does; it presents 20 terms for Macbeth in context. For part one, learners answer a list of questions that use the target vocabulary. In...
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Macbeth List 3 Worksheet
Reading Macbeth is tough, especially when such challenging vocabulary appears on every page! Don't send your class in blind; prepare them for intense reading by focusing on some of the more challenging vocabulary terms. Included here are...
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Our Town List 1 Worksheet
Build vocabulary while reading Our Town, Thornton Wilder's Broadway play. This two-page resource highlights 20 tricky vocabulary words like alacrity, epitaph, languid, and vestige. In the first activity, pupils answer questions that use...
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Our Town List 2 Worksheet
Read Our Town with your class, and introduce them to new vocabulary words. Twenty words (like agrarian, crestfallen, and ennui) are the focus, and learners complete to exercises to better acquaint themselves with the new words. Although...
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A Tale of Two Cities and Charles Dickens Background
Did you know that Charles Dickens spent time with his family in debtors’ prison? That Dickens had 10 children? That thousands mourned his death? Viewers will find many interesting details in a presentation designed to accompany an...
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A Biographical Sketch of William Shakespeare
Need a brief introduction to the life and works of William Shakespeare? Key biographical details of his life, as well as information about the Globe Theater, are presented.
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The Writing Process
Ever heard of the Roast Beef analogy (let it set before carving)? Encourage young writers to wait a day before editing their work. This and other tips are featured in a short presentation that focuses on editing and revising writing.
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Character Development
Round, flat, dynamic, static, and stock. Introduce viewers to the basic character types with a brief presentation that describes how to bring these characters to life. The presentation concludes with two photos. Ask your writers to...
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Tone and Style: The Subtleties of the Short Story
The elements of good writing are the focus of a presentation designed for short story writers. Included is advice from famous writers on how to develop a style, emphasize the tone of a story, utilize the predictable, and maintain interest.
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Setting: Location, Location, Location
How does setting affect a story? Designed for story writers, this presentation encourages the viewer to consider the functions of the setting and how the characters can help build the setting. Show this PowerPoint and then give your...
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The Short Story
When did short stories first come about? Flip through this six-slide presentation with your class to give them a brief glimpse into the world of the short story. Designed for emerging writers, you could also show this resource to a class...
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Developing Your Writing Voice
Developing a distinctive voice is a challenge all writers face. Here’s a presentation that defines the parts of voice (attitude, syntax, diction) and then asks viewers to engage in a series of activities designed to model how to develop...
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Editing at the Word Level
Editing at the word level means looking closely at each noun, adjective, verb, and verb in the piece being reviewed. Writers are encouraged to highlight the words they find satisfying in one color and words that fall short with another....
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Fundamentals of Dialogue
The conventions of written dialogue are the focus of a PowerPoint that explains the purpose of dialogue formatting and dialogue tags. Also included is an exercise that asks viewers to craft a scene for three individuals employing what...
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Structuring Memoir
Review the essential elements of the memoir with a presentation that reminds writers of the structural options (chronological order, in medias res, etc.) available to them. Augment the slides with memoir models to ensure understanding.
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A History of Poetry
What has rules and has no rules? What has rhythm and rhyme, and no rhythm or rhyme? What is arranged carefully and is scattered? Why, poetry, of course. Although text-heavy, this PowerPoint does provide a context for the study of poetry...
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Meter and Sonnets
In order to fully grasp the poetry of William Shakespeare, it's essential to study the sonnet and its meter and rhyme. Eight slides introduce basic terms like meter, foot, iamb, trochee, spondee, etc. Pair this presentation with a sonnet...
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Poetry and Sound
How is poetry like music? It's all in the sounds. Provided in 17 slides are over a dozen poetry terms and their definitions. Some terms offer examples, and some do not. Consider adding examples for all terms so that you're as clear as...
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Introduction to Drama
What plays will your high schoolers read this year? Before starting your drama unit, show this PowerPoint to your class. Consider making minor edits to make it more applicable to your class (For example, give your own personal anecdote...
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Writing for the Stage
Has your class written a play yet? If that type of writing has yet to be done in your classroom, show this presentation to help your writers format their cover page, dialogue, plot, etc. You could also show this PowerPoint before reading...
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Screenwriting
Who knows? You may inspire the next George Lucas or Steven Spielberg with a script writing presentation that provides some basic tips. Young film makers begin by reading scripts for movies they know, scripts for movies they don't know,...
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Interrogative Pronouns
Some interrogative pronouns are tricky like who and whom. Help your class use interrogative pronouns and predicate pronouns correctly with this 11-slide review. Explanations and examples complete the first six slides, and a practice...
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Parallel Structure
Color-coded examples highlight a presentation on parallel structures. Slides model for viewers how to use the same pattern of words to show that the ideas or items have the same level of importance. Word, phrase, and clause samples are...