Respond to Polonius on Brevity
Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher
"Respond to Polonius on Brevity" is written for 8th Grade (Ages 13-14), and it covers Common Core W.8.5. A 7th grader who is already steady on writing topics can use it too, and an older student can use it as a short review.
2 pages in this set
8th grade grammar worksheet: explain the irony of Polonius praising brevity, cut a 40-word sentence to 15 words and weigh if shorter is better. Part of our quote response writing topics collection. Aligned to Common Core standards.
How do I use this worksheet?
Read the quote and the note together, and talk through any defined word such as malice or adversity. Use one sheet a week as a warm-up for argument writing, or pair it with a unit on the same author.
What students will practice
- Students will explain the irony of Polonius praising brevity in the middle of a long speech.
- Students will rewrite a 40-word sentence in 15 words or fewer and keep every important fact.
- Students will answer in 10 lines whether shorter writing is always better, then check the paragraph.
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Curriculum Links
Common Core State Standards
Writing · 8th Grade
Standard: With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
View all W.8.5 worksheets →Find this in the curriculum
Browse the grade, subject, and topic this belongs to.
FAQ
How do I use this quote response worksheet?
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Read the quote and the note together, and talk through any defined word such as malice or adversity. Use one sheet a week as a warm-up for argument writing, or pair it with a unit on the same author.
What does this worksheet teach?
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Explain the irony of Polonius praising brevity, cut a 40-word sentence to 15 words and weigh if shorter is better. The directions on the page read: Read the quotation. Complete Steps 1 to 3 on this page. Then go on to page 2.
Can I use this quote response worksheet for homeschool or classroom?
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Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade writing topics, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.
Which quotations are on these sheets?
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They include Paine's these are the times that try men's souls, Lincoln's a house divided against itself cannot stand, Keats's a thing of beauty is a joy for ever and Dorothy's there is no place like home. Shakespeare appears five times, from Julius Caesar to As You Like It.
How do students answer a quote response topic?
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They read the quote, the note and the topic question, complete the planning step and then write 9 to 11 lines. Respond to Pasteur on Luck and Preparation adds a restatement, an example and a claim before the paragraph.
Do any sheets teach literary terms?
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Yes. Respond to Wordsworth on the Child and the Adult and Respond to Wilde on Resisting Temptation define a paradox, and Respond to Shelley on What Power Leaves Behind and Respond to Polonius on Brevity define irony before students explain it.
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Worksheet Details
| Grade | 8th Grade |
| Subject | Grammar & Writing |
| Topic | Writing Topics |
| Standard | W.8.5 |
| Pages | 2 pages |
| Difficulty | Medium |
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Letter to Yourself on Your First Day of Middle School
Then and Now Profile From 6th Grade to 8th Grade
Describe Yourself as an Ecosystem
Map the Rights and Responsibilities in Your Day
Curate a Museum Exhibit About Yourself
Interview Your Future Self for Advice
Write the Chorus of a Song About You
Write Your Bio in Three Lengths