Close reading, according to Patricia Kain, is when "you observe facts and details about the text." So, when reading something that may seem like it is very clear, it might be a good idea to really look into the words the author has written. There may be alternate meanings to any text.
According to a Partners In Learning, there are four main components of close reading. They include, "understanding your purpose in reading, understanding the author's purpose in readings, seeing ideas in a text as being interconnected, and looking for and understanding systems of meaning."
Close reading is more than understanding the words on the page. It requires a reader to actually do some intellectual work. A reader must be reflective. That is, he or she must be able to connect new and old ideas while being open to new ways of thinking. Not everything is straightforward.
A reader should also be able to challenge a text. This can be done by annotating the reading. This helps not only figure out what the author is trying to say, but it also helps a reader answer their own questions about the text. Annotating helps point out specific areas of interest to the reader, possibly ones which could be explored a bit more in depth.
Close reading also helps understand how language is used. It causes a reader to pay attention to what is actually being said. The reader can pick up on the author's "literary techniques and rhetorical devices."This can be done by asking questions. We all know literary terms like mood, tone, and metaphor. Take the information you already know and use it. Ask yourself how each term is expressed, if at all, in the author's writing.
Close reading can not only help a reader understand the author more, but it can also provide a more interesting meaning to a simple text.
Sources:
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/CloseReading.html
http://performancepyramid.muohio.edu/pyramid/adolescent-education/Reading-Intervention-Strategies/Close-Reading.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment