A critical analysis asks students to analyze 1 or 2 specific topics from a text and evaluate the impact of that topic on the work as a whole, as well as the author’s effectiveness in expressing that topic throughout the work. In this activity, students will use the template provided to complete a critical analysis of The Stars Beneath Our Feet. The worksheets can be used as a preliminary way to organize information before a larger paper or on their own, and teachers can scaffold and modify as desired.
For additional templates to customize for this example, check out our critical analysis worksheet templates!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Form a critical analysis for The Stars Beneath Our Feet.
Student Instructions:
Encourage open dialogue by preparing 3–5 thought-provoking questions about the book’s central themes or characters. Invite students to share their opinions and back them up with evidence from the text. This builds critical thinking and helps students connect more deeply with the story.
Explain that every student should listen respectfully, wait their turn, and support their ideas with examples from the book. Review these guidelines together before you begin. Clear expectations create a safe space for sharing and keep the discussion focused.
Assign roles like discussion leader, note-taker, or summarizer to ensure everyone participates. Rotating roles each session helps students practice different communication and leadership skills.
Ask students to find and share short quotes from The Stars Beneath Our Feet that support their points. Using direct evidence encourages close reading and bolsters critical analysis skills.
Invite students to reflect in writing or small groups on what they learned or how their perspectives changed. This step helps them synthesize ideas and reinforces the discussion’s value.
A critical analysis worksheet for The Stars Beneath Our Feet guides students through analyzing specific topics or themes from the novel, evaluating their impact on the story, and assessing the author’s effectiveness. It helps organize thoughts before writing a full paper or can be used as a stand-alone activity.
To teach critical analysis with The Stars Beneath Our Feet, provide students with a template to identify key events, develop a thesis, analyze the significance of those events, and write a conclusion. Scaffold the process and encourage students to support their opinions with evidence from the text.
Example topics to analyze in The Stars Beneath Our Feet include grief and loss, friendship, community support, and personal growth. Students can explore how these themes are developed and their impact on the main character’s journey.
Practicing critical analysis helps middle school students develop higher-order thinking skills, learn to support arguments with evidence, and engage more deeply with literature. It also prepares them for advanced writing and comprehension tasks in later grades.
You can find customizable critical analysis worksheet templates for ELA online, including resources linked within this activity. These templates offer step-by-step prompts and are easily adapted for different novels and grade levels.