Novels/Stories Plot
What is the main conflict in "The Tell-Tale Heart"?
The narrator struggles with guilt and paranoia after committing murder.
Who is the narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart"?
The narrator is an unnamed man who insists he is sane while describing a murder.
What is the main idea of "The Tell-Tale Heart"?
The main idea is that guilt can overpower and destroy the mind.
What is the significance of spelling and grammar in writing an analysis?
Spelling and grammar help make writing clear, professional, and easy to understand.
What is the author's purpose in "The Tell-Tale Heart"?
The author wants to show how guilt affects the mind and reveal the narrator’s madness.
Summarize the climax of "The Outsiders".
Johnny dies in the hospital, and Ponyboy reflects on the meaning of family and belonging
Name one major character from "The Outsiders" and describe their role.
EXAMPLE: Ponyboy is the narrator and youngest Greaser who grows through loss and insight.
How can context clues help you understand difficult vocabulary in "The Outsiders"?
Context clues help infer meanings by looking at nearby words, tone, or actions.
Explain the difference between a summary and an analysis.
A summary retells the main events; an analysis explains deeper meaning or themes.
How can you identify bias in a media portrayal of "Fahrenheit 451"?
Look for language or visuals that present one side more positively or emotionally than the other.
Describe the key events leading to Montag's transformation in "Fahrenheit 451".
Montag meets Clarisse, begins questioning society, steals a book, kills Captain Beatty, and escapes the city.
How does the character of Montag change throughout "Fahrenheit 451"?
Montag changes from a book-burning fireman to a rebel seeking truth and meaning.
What is in-text citation, and why is it important in academic writing?
In-text citation is when you give credit to a source in your writing (e.g., “...,” Lowry 34); it prevents plagiarism and supports your claims.
What are the key components of proper citation in academic writing?
A proper citation includes the author's last name and page number (e.g., (Lowry 42)).
Discuss the importance of research when analyzing literature.
Research provides background knowledge and helps you understand themes, context, and author intent more deeply.
What happens at the end of "Skeleton Creek"?
Ryan and Sarah escape to the dredge, uncovers more secrets, and the story ends with Old Joe Bush locking them in a hidden chamber.
Identify the main characters in "Skeleton Creek" and their relationships.
Ryan is a curious, anxious teen who journals everything; Sarah is bold and adventurous, using video to investigate the town’s secrets.
Provide an example of how to find the main idea in a passage from "Fahrenheit 451".
Find repeated ideas or turning points in Montag’s thoughts to locate the main idea in a passage.
Why is punctuation important when writing?
Punctuation helps the reader follow your ideas and shows where thoughts begin or end.
Research provides background knowledge and helps you understand themes, context, and author intent more deeply.
Knowing whether a text is structured as cause/effect, chronological, or compare/contrast helps identify key ideas.
Explain how the plot structure in "Fahrenheit 451" contributes to its overall theme.
The plot builds from conformity to rebellion, showing Montag’s awakening; this structure supports the theme of censorship and personal freedom.
Compare and contrast the motivations of two characters from different stories.
Montag is motivated by a desire for truth and meaning; the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart is driven by guilt and madness.
Discuss how to use text evidence to support a claim when analyzing "Skeleton Creek".
Use quotes and explain how they support your claim about the plot, characters, or theme.
Create a thesis statement for an essay on "The Outsiders".
EXAMPLE: In S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders,” Ponyboy learns that people from different backgrounds are more alike than they seem, showing the importance of empathy and understanding.
Evaluate the effectiveness of a film adaptation of any of these texts in conveying the author's message.
Answers will vary, but students might say the Fahrenheit 451 movie adds action but misses the book’s emotional depth, which weakens the message about censorship.