Excellent site geared towards student writers interesting in learning how to journal. Follow Virginia Hamilton, an author, and learn her techniques from examples. Very comprehensive learning site.

A great reading guide for "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare. Provides plenty of pre-reading material, including an author biography, an introductory article, activities, and vocabulary, as well as brainstorming and...

Great study guide for Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet," complete with pre-reading materials, including an author biography and vocabulary preview, brainstorming activities, thought-provoking questions about plot, theme, and character, and...

Enhance your reading of "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" by Ernest Gaines with the help of an author biography, novel introduction, vocabulary lists, and reading-response exercises. After completing the novel, write about the...

Reading guide for Irene Hunt's historical fiction, "Across Five Aprils," with a variety of resources, discussion and writing questions, and brainstorming activities. Provides pre-reading material, such as an author biography, novel...

Great study guide for Robert Louis Stevenson's novella, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Before reading the book, check out an author biography, vocabulary, and pre-reading activities and questions. Also, use the guide's...

A great reading guide for "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George. Provides plenty of pre-reading material, including an author biography, an introductory article, activities, and vocabulary, as well as brainstorming and writing...

Reading guide on Natalie Babbitt's "Tuck Everlasting" with a variety of resources, discussion and writing questions, and brainstorming activities. Provides pre-reading material, such as an author biography, novel introduction, and...

Reading guide on Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" with a variety of resources, discussion and writing questions, and brainstorming activities. Provides pre-reading material, such as an author biography, novella introduction, and...

Great study guide for Paul Fox's "The Slave Dancer," complete with pre-reading materials, including an author biography and vocabulary preview, brainstorming activities, thought-provoking questions about plot, theme, and character, and...

A great resource for students reading Elie Wiesel's memoir, "Night," complete with an author biography, vocabulary lists, brainstorming activities, and thought-provoking writing prompts linked to specific chapters. After reading "Night,"...

Discover more about the award-winning Caldecott author Jane Yolen when you explore this site. This resource provides a biography, interview transcript, booklist and more.

Reading guide to Virginia Hamilton's "The House of Dies Drear" with pre- and post-reading material, as well as brainstorming activities and writing prompts. Includes brief author biography, an introduction to the text, a preview of...

This lesson is an introduction to contemporary nonfiction including the definition, types of nonfiction: biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, essays, speeches, and diaries, examples of authors and types, key terms, essential questions,...

This online book presents an overview of American literature chronologically. Eras and movements are explained and biographies of significant authors are provided. This is a good way to understand the background and influences of...

This page on William Wordsworth from a Brown University site contains links to a variety of topics related to him and his writings. It has a link to a biography, the text to two of his works, an analysis of his style of writing and the...

"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." is a one page, biographical passage about Martin Luther King, Jr. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes determining the author's...

An article on Bessie Head which gives biographical information as well as a good discussion on her writing.

Before delving into "My Antonia," check out a biography of author Willa Cather, an introduction to the novel, and pre-reading activities and discussion questions. While reading, participate in "Active Reading" diagramming and answer...

This very brief biography features the literary contributions of Ambrose Bierce. Click on "Ambrose Bierce Activities" for related resources.

A brief summary of The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Also includes an on-line text of the work as well as links to other informational websites.

This resource provides Gary Soto's brief autobiography in which he discusses his writing. Also the transcript to an interview with Soto is given along with book reviews by students.

An analysis of Samuel Coleridge's ideas on nature as is evident in his writings. Includes examples of his poetry.

This website from Creative Quotations offers a lengthy list of quotations on various topics from Annie Dillard's writing. Also includes a very brief biographical sketch. An interesting site overall.