Close Reading and Annotating a Text What is

Close Reading and Annotating a Text

What is Close Reading? �Close Reading means annotating and analyzing a text to construct meaning �Focus only on the words that are there – NOT your prior knowledge of the topic

What are Annotations? �Brief notes you make while independently reading. �Use a highlighter and pen/pencil (or Post-It notes, if you can’t write in the book)

Why Annotate? �Rather than have a teacher tell you what to take notes on, you are responsible for engaging with the text. �Annotating is a personal, effective way to increase your understanding.

What Should My Annotations Look Like? �Predictions about the story (using textual evidence for support) �Observations about characters/situations �Confusing, surprising, or interesting moments �Open-ended questions �Important quotations �Inferences (reading between the lines) �Connections that help you better understand the text �Text-to-self �Text-to-world

Break Your Analysis Into Steps: �First read: summarize plot events (the “WHAT”) �Second read: annotations (the “HOW”) �Final read: determine meaning of text (the “SO WHAT? ” �Your annotations should answer the question What is the deeper meaning behind this story?

The ultimate goal is to take all of your annotations and turn them into the basis for an arguable statement (your claim/thesis statement)