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Generic Reading Comprehension - Literature

Last updated about 6 years ago
21 questions
Note from the author:
A generic template for reading comprehension. Works with any fiction text. Suitable for Middle and High School!
How to use this formative!
This formative contains generic questions, designed to work with any literary text or excerpt, in the following areas:
  • Structure (plot, sequence)
  • Setting
  • Point of view
  • Narrator
  • Characters
  • Mood
  • Conflict
  • Tone
  • Diction
  • Theme
  • Connections (text to text, text to self, text to world).
Feel free to delete sections and questions that don't apply to your text, modify questions so that they apply better, and/or to add your own questions!

Remember to:
  • Add an answer key to questions to enable autograding
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  • Adjust whether you want students to be able to earn partial credit on each question
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Want to see an example of this formative with a text excerpt? Check out this link or use clone code: KODQDM.
2

Put the events from the text into the correct sequence.

  1. Event 3
  2. Event 2
  3. Event 4
  4. Event 1
  5. Event 5
  6. Event 6 (etc)
2

Which of these literary devices relating to structure are present in the text? Select all that apply.

3

Write an objective summary of the text in 4 - 7 sentences. Be sure to include:
  • The setting
  • The main characters
  • The conflict, or main problem in the story
  • How the conflict is resolved.
Use present tense.

2

What is the setting of this text? Be as specific as possible.

1

How does the setting affect the plot of this text?
(How does the setting affect what the characters can and can't do?)

1

What point of view does the author use?

2

Why do you think the author chose this point of view to tell this story?
(What would be different if the story were told in a different point of view?)

2

If possible, identify the narrator, and then describe him / her / it in 2 - 4 sentences.

1

"The narrator is reliable."

4

Pick two characters from the text. Compare and contrast them using this venn diagram:

3

Pick one character from the text and describe how they change and develop from the beginning to the end of the story.

1

What is the overall mood (atmosphere) of this text?

2

Give at least two pieces of evidence from the text to support the mood you chose in the previous question. Explain how each piece of evidence supports your choice of mood.

1

What kind of conflict is the most important conflict that the main character faces in this text?

2

Give at least one piece of evidence from the text to support the conflict you chose in the previous question. Explain how each piece of evidence supports your choice of conflict.

1

What is the tone of this text?

4

Which of these literary devices are present in the text? Select all that apply.

2

Pick one example of a literary device that you identified in the previous question.
Explain how it affects the meaning, mood, or tone of the text.

4

Put these examples of literary devices from the text into the correct category.

  • Quote 1
  • Quote 2
  • Quote 3
  • Quote 4
  • Quote 5
  • Quote 6 (etc)
  • Literary device 1
  • Literary device 2
  • Literary device 3
  • Literary device 4
4

Identify a theme (central idea) of the text.
How does the author introduce and develop this theme in the text?

5

Pick one of these options and write an essay response:
  1. How do the events, characters, or themes in this text remind you of another text? (How are the events, characters, or themes similar / different in the other text?)
  2. How do the events, characters, or themes in this text relate to your own life, ideas, and experiences? (Have you been in a similar situation as the characters? Do you agree with the themes?)
  3. How do the events, characters, or themes in this text relate to our world? (Does the text make you wonder about the past or future? Does the text remind you of a present situation in the world?)

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