Help high school students go beyond basic reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking and dramatic craft analysis skills with this close reading worksheet covering Act 3, scene 3, of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats. By completing this close reading activity, students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly
• Define complex words and phrases as they are used in the text
• Infer the intended effects of Shakespeare’s word choices and dramatic techniques
• Describe tone in context
• Explore how complex characters think, behave, interact, and develop
• Apply knowledge of literary devices including personification, malapropism, paradox, and more
• Write about Shakespearean drama with clarity, accuracy, and precision
• Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant textual evidence
• Come to class better prepared to discuss Shakespearean works