Close Reading

1. Close Reading Strategies and tools for obtaining deeper meaning from the text

2. Strategy: Annotation • act of adding notes or commentary to a text • Mark or highlight the text • Write notes in margins that connect to markings • Gain deeper meaning and understanding of the text

3. Tool: Dialectical Journal • Focuses on character, theme, or other literary device • Look for patterns, question the text, interact with the text

4. Analysis of Character JournalIdentifying a major character and the change he or she undergoes in the story Left column: “on the line” Evidence Textual reference- quote and page number Context-what is the situation related to the quote Right column: “between the lines” & “beyond the lines” Inference-Commentary Inference about the character- opinion based on the evidence about what evidence reveals about the character Commentary- explanation of the connection between the evidence and the characterization

5. Analysis of Character Journal-Model • Evidence Textual Reference “My mother died when I was four years old. It was a fact of life, but if I brought it up, people would suddenly get interested in their hangnails and cuticles, or else distant places in the sky, and seem not to hear me.” Context (on the line)- Lily is remembering her mother who died when she was four years old. • Inference (between the lines) Inference about the character Lily is bothered by the fact that others won’t discuss the death of her mother with her Commentary: Though Lily accepts the reality of life and death, she desires to converse about her struggle in understanding her role in her mother’s death.

6. Theme and Thematic Statement • Theme is the central idea or message conveyed in story a. Theme is not the subject. It is a universal statement made about the subject within in the text. b. What subjects are dealt with in To Kill A Mockingbird? What universal statements could be made about these subjects?

7. Thematic Statements Structure: In (title of novel-underlined), (author-first and last name) presents the idea that (subject) is demonstratedby (assertion about the subject with a qualifying clause to explain what the novel teaches about the subject).

8. Thematic Statement Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents the idea that bravery is demonstrated by standing up for what is right even though others may condemn one for it.

9. Analysis of Theme JournalIdentifying theme through the text EVIDENCE Textual Reference- Context: INFERENCE/COMMENTARY Thematic idea suggested by evidence- Commentary: explanation of the connection between the EVIDENCE and the INFERENCE

10. Synthesizing

11. How to structure OERs (open ended responses) • “R.A.C.E” R=Restate the question A= Answer the question C= Cite evidence from the text (text reference) E= Explain the connection between the answer and the text reference.

12. Example • Prompt What thematic idea does the author present in To Kill A Mockingbird?

13. R=Restate the questionA=Answer the question • “R” and “A”= In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents the thematic idea that bravery is demonstrated by standing up for what you believe is right even though others may condemn you for it

14. C=Cite evidence from the text • When explaining to Scout his decision to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus states that despite “some high talk in town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man…if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in town…represent this county in the legislature…tell you or Jem not to do something again”.

15. E=Explain the connection Atticus knows that he will get negative feedback, but because he knows it is the right thing to do, he does it anyway. He holds this as one of his high morals, because it is just as important as raising his children or defending the town.

16. Final Response (putting the parts together) In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents the thematic idea that bravery is demonstrated by standing up for what you believe is right even though others may condemn you for it. When explaining to Scout his decision to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus states that despite “some high talk in town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man…if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in town…represent this county in the legislature…tell you or Jem not to do something again”. Atticus knows that he will get negative feedback, but because he knows it is the right thing to do, he does it anyway. He holds this as one of his high morals, because it is just as important as raising his children or defending the town.

17. Final Response In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents the thematic idea that bravery is demonstrated by standing up for what you believe is right even though others may condemn you for it. When explaining to Scout his decision to defend Tom Robinson, Atticus states that despite “some high talk in town to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man…if I didn’t, I couldn’t hold up my head in town…represent this county in the legislature…tell you or Jem not to do something again”. No one wanted Atticus to defend Tom Robinson but Atticus disregarded their criticism because he knew to represent him was right. If he did not confront the town on this matter, he would have no pride in himself and therefore, be a hypocrite.