Support the development of high school close reading skills with this assessment on the short story “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane. A variety of question types facilitates the process of analyzing character motivations, applying knowledge of literary devices, citing relevant and compelling textual evidence to support claims, and more. Materials are delivered as Word Doc and PDF files. An answer key and copy of the public domain text (estimated Lexile measure of 980) are included.
This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.
By engaging in this exercise, students will…
- Articulate what is stated in the text explicitly and implicitly
- Analyze how complex characters think, interact, and behave
- Cite textual evidence in support of claims
- Write with clarity and precision
- Explore character motivations and intentions
- Examine cause-and-effect relationships
- Apply knowledge of literary devices including situational irony and metaphor
- Conduct brief research to discern and articulate autobiographical parallels between the author’s life and the narrative’s plot
- Analyze the greater significance of the oiler’s fate in comparison to that of the cook
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