SparkNotes
Spark Notes: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Read a Plot Overview of the entire book of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. Also provided are links to character lists, main ideas, quotes, and writing help.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: A Chapter Book Writing Lesson: Creating a Parallel World
Inspired by the opening events in The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman, students are asked to create an original parallel world that is similar to ours but different in certain ways. They will focus on the similarities and differences...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Narrative Pyramid
A printable narrative pyramid where students can record information about a story including the character, setting, problem, main events, and solution. Directions on how to use this type of graphic organize as well as lists of teaching...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Characters and Theme
This lesson introduces the connection between characters and theme in fiction writing. RL.9-10.3 Analyzing Characters
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Characters and Setting
This lesson introduces the connection between characters and setting in fiction writing.
Other
Seekers Blog Spot: How Setting Affects Characters
Information and examples of different ways the setting of a text can affect the characters and character development. (Published: Sept. 29, 2016)
Other
Essays on the Craft of Dramatic Writing
This site, by the author of a workbook on the craft of writing, is filled with essays about many elements of dramatic writing, from the principles of storytelling, to plot development, to character development. There are also numerous...
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
A, B, and C Characters
This is the ninth article in a series that focuses on helping the new novel author. This article focuses on what the author calls "A, B, and C Characters," used to describe the different levels of characters.
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
Historical Fiction: Who Rules?
This is the fifteenth article in a series designed to help the new novel author. This article focuses on the genre of historical fiction and the role of the author. Is the author a researcher or a story-teller?
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."
Caro Clarke
Caro Clarke: Writing Advice: Beginner's Four Faults
This site is a personal site from Caro Clarke. The third installment in this series looks at the four major mistakes made by beginning authors. The main idea of this article is that the author needs to be able to combine dialogue with...
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Literature Library: "Shiloh" Study Guide [Pdf]
Explore Phyllis Reynold Naylor's "Shiloh" with the help of this study guide, which provides pre-reading material (author biography, vocabulary, introductory article), reading activities, brainstorming ideas, and thought-provoking writing...
McGraw Hill
Glencoe Literature Library: "Heart of Darkness" and "The Secret Sharer" [Pdf]
Explore Joseph Conrad's novella, "Heart of Darkness," and his short story, "The Secret Sharer," with the help of this study guide. It provides pre-reading material (author biography, vocabulary, introductory article), reading activities,...
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "The Time Machine" Teacher Guide [Pdf]
Teacher guide for "The Time Machine" includes chapter-by-chapter plot summaries, pre-reading journal ideas, vocabulary studies, study questions, discussion topics, figurative language, character studies, themes, and reading strategies.
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: English Language Arts: Grade 8: Flowers for Algernon
Eighth graders consider the nature of knowledge and the human desire to seek improvement. Through the various texts, 8th graders explore what we learn about ourselves through our interactions with and treatment of others. Even more,...
TES Global
Blendspace: What Makes Stories Scary?
A learning module that includes fourteen links to websites, videos, and activities on writing scary stories. Lessons focus on vocabulary, plot and character development, elements of gothic stories, tone and mood, suspense, and more.
TES Global
Blendspace: The Giver
This blendspace includes thirty-two spaces with content connected to Lois Lowry's dystopia novel, The Giver. Links include novel discussion questions, author interviews, and video tutorials to review literary topics.