AN INTRODUCTION CLOSE READING

WHAT DO YOU SEE On a piece of paper please write down 1-2 sentences describing what you see in this picture. Then share your response with a partner seated next to you.

Sometimes our initial impression is meant to deceive or we miss important details.

Now let’s try it again. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Now take a closer look zes/l/in/photostream/ This is the exact same photograph that you just saw. What changed?

Artists do this all the time to get us to focus on the big picture. George Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand Jatte.

But we need to train our brain to sometimes hone in the minor details to really understand what we’re seeing. Artists are trained to focus on the individual brush strokes to better understand the entire composition. We need to become like artists when we read.

A Different Analogy Think of close reading like a forensic investigation. Notice, how do they start when they enter the crime room? What are they trained to focus in on? Why might it be important to start with general questions when investigating a crime scene or a text? Experts asks questions so that they can clearly understand what they are studying and can clearly communicate their understanding to others.

Or Music beethoven/ beethoven/

Look at how the experts do it...

Close Reading is A careful and purposeful re-reading of a text.

Close readers Initially approach and survey a text a. They look for the big ideas so that their brain can start to process what they’re seeing. 2. Use questions to examine the topic, information, and structure of the text 3. Question further to investigate the text 4. Analyze key details and language to deepen their understanding. 5. Explain what they have come to understand about the text as a reader.

Share with your partner What are the advantages of looking at the big picture? What are the disadvantages? Why would it be a good idea to take a closer look? How do we take a closer look? Raise your hand when you both have had a chance to talk.

Close Reading Requires us to start asking questions of the text when we notice something unusual or deliberate.

OUR FIRST QUARTER TEXTS

READING CLOSELY CHECKLIST

TEXT-CENTERED DISCUSSION CHECKLIST

Close Reading Analogy Write an analogy with this sentence starter: Close reading is like Close reading is like using a telephoto lens on your camera. (You cannot copy my example and use as your own)

Instructions Move your desks around and seat yourselves in groups of three or four with the people sitting around you. Please select one person in your group to write down the group’s observations and points of discussion. Start by discussing and writing down what questions your group has about the text. You should come up with a minimum of 5 questions for your group on each photograph. Now, as a group, discuss what stands out to you as you examine these images? Record your observations. You should write down a minimum of 5 observations per photo. Feel free to use the Guiding Question handout.

PHOTO 1: Photos from Ellis Island Author Unknown. New York Public Library Digital Gallery Early 20th Century

PHOTO 2: Photos from Ellis Island Author Unknown. New York Public Library Digital Gallery Early 20th Century

Ticket Out Write a title and brief caption that summarizes what you think the image is about. If we have time, we will share a few as a class.