Close Reading
…Contain your excitement…
What is Close Reading?
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Exciting!
Challenging!
Enthralling!
Fun!
… Well it’s mandatory, so deal with it.
But You’ll Never Succeed if Your
Attitude Stinks!
All We Need is a Little Understanding
Two Types
1)
Context – explain what a given word
means by looking at the text around it
for clues.
2)
Own Words – that’s the one where using
quotes gets you killed.
(Consider your mind blown…)
Context Questions

What are they looking for?
 The
meaning of a word or phrase
that is provided in the question.
 Proof
that you can work out what
that word or phrase means by
using clues from the text.
Context Success Criteria
Two steps to victory!
1)
Quote the word or phrase and state
what it means.
2)
Explain how you figured it out using the
passage.
COPY
For Science! Err, English…

Here comes an example!
She was five years old, due to start school in
three months time. It was a torrid, but
beautiful day and she was playing between
the film of shimmering heat. It was the kind
of heat that could wear a mere mortal down
his bare bones.
Show how the context helped you work out the
meaning of the word “torrid”.
Figure it Out!
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
What are the clues?
She was five years old, due to start school in
three months time. It was a torrid, but
beautiful day and she was playing between
the film of shimmering heat. It was the kind
of heat that could wear a mere mortal
down his bare bones.
Okay! What do you think
‘torrid’ means?
(Sheldon will attempt to send you the answer
via his amazing psychic ability…)
Step Numbero Uno

Quote the word and state what it means.

‘Torrid’ means extreme and uncomfortable
heat.
Step Duex

Explain how the passage helped you to
work it out.
The author refers to “shimmering
heat”, which conveys how extreme the
temperature was, and how it created a
heatwave.
1 mark
Full Answer

‘Torrid’ means extreme and
uncomfortable heat. The author
refers to “shimmering heat”, which
conveys how extreme the
temperature was, and how it
created a heatwave.
2 marks
Your Turn!
“I seem finally to be learning what you were
always trying to teach me, that my own
country is exotic and even as perilous as
Algeria. It is impossible to survive it without
a good mind and a fully functioning gun.”
Show how the context helped you work out the
meaning of the word “perilous” (2).
(Use your criteria!)
Seek the Clues!
“I seem finally to be learning what you were
always trying to teach me, that my own
country is exotic and even as perilous as
Algeria. It is impossible to survive it
without a good mind and a fully functioning
gun.”
“…impossible to survive it without a good
mind and a fully functioning gun.”
Write Your Answer!
1)
‘Perilous’ means…
dangerous.
2)
The author refers to the fact that
you must possess a “fully functioning
gun” in order to stay alive and
protect yourself.
Answer in Your Own Words
In these questions, you are being asked
to summarise/paraphrase what the
writer has said.
You must use your own words as far as
possible.
QUOTES ARE THE ENEMY!
Worth the Effort

Around half of the questions in the
paper will ask you to answer in your
own words.
Quoting will lose the marks!
Own Words Success Criteria..?
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COPY
Put the author’s idea into your own
words.
DO NOT quote from the passage.
Here Comes the Example!
Glasgow is a city which has experienced constant
change and adaptation, from its period as a great
industrial city and as the Second City of Empire, to
its latter day reinvention as the City of Culture and
the Second City of Shopping. This is a city with
pull, buzz, excitement, and a sense of style and its
own importance. It has a potent international
reach and influence. Glasgow’s story continually
weaves in and out of a global urban tapestry:
following the trade threads of Empire...
1. Explain why, according to the writer, Glasgow was
an important world city in the past (2)
Pick Out the Important Parts
What do you have to understand?
Glasgow is a city which has experienced
constant change and adaptation, from its
period as a great industrial city and as the
Second City of Empire, to its latter day
reinvention as the City of Culture and the
Second City of Shopping. This is a city with
pull, buzz, excitement, and a sense of style
and its own importance. It has a potent
international reach and influence.
Glasgow’s story continually weaves in and
out of a global urban tapestry: following
the trade threads of Empire...
The question is asking why Glasgow was an important
city in the past.
Thus, the most important pieces of information that
you need to pick out and understand are:
“...its period as a great industrial city and as the
Second City of Empire...”
“...following the trade threads of Empire...”
The Answer
For two marks you would need to have
two of the following (or something
similar):
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1. it was very important for industry/
manufacture.
2. it was second only to London as a
symbol of the British Empire.
3. It was important for international
commerce.
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“We all travelled light, taking
with us only what we
considered to be the bare
essentials of life.”
Q. The family “travelled light”, in your
own word explain what they took
with them.
Laughably Easy?
Sheldon thinks
so!
… And he’s a
scientist!
All you need is a little practice!
Can you identify the question?
1)
By looking at the context of the paragraph, explain how the
writer helps you understand what ‘disenfranchised’ means.
2)
In your own words, explain why the author thinks that
bears are not dangerous.
3)
What does ‘ambivalent’ mean? Use the surrounding
sentences to help you?
4)
Why does Dean think that Billy is unhappy? Answer in your
own words.
5)
Explain the writer’s use of parenthesis in line 14.
This one is on sentence structure.
Next Please!
Bring on the Imagery!
Imagery – getting the picture!
What is an image?
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An image is a picture that the writer tries to create
through words.
As readers we try to see what the image is.
The picture is formed inside your head. (Or maybe on
paper if you happen to be doodling at the time!)
How is the image created?
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The writer uses words and figures of speech to create
the image.
Images are created because we associate ideas with
particular words.
The writer could use comparisons (similes, metaphors)
to create an image.
Success Criteria
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(QUOTE)
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State the Technique
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Say what is being compared to what
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Say what they have in common
COPY
Attack of the Obvious
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The most likely techniques that will come
up in imagery questions are:
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Simile – comparing one thing to another by
using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Metaphor – comparing one thing to another
by saying that it is that thing.
“He was dynamite on the dancefloor.”
Similies – think ‘similar’
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“All eyes on my, in the centre of the room just
like a circus.”
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“Your love is like a rollercoaster.”
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“I’m feeling so fly like a G6.”
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“You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as
charming as an eel.”
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“You change your mind like a girl changes
clothes.”
Metaphors
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“You paint me a blue sky and go back and turn
it to rain.“
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“You shoot me down but I won’t fall, I am
titanium.”
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“’Cause baby you’re a firework, come on show
them what you’re worth.”
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“You are the thunder, I am the lightning.”
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“You’re my kryptonite!”
REMEMBER: ‘Just as… so too…’
‘Teaching is somewhat like banging one’s head against a wall…’
Technique: Simile
Comparison: Teaching/
Hitting your head against a wall.
‘Just as hitting your head against a wall is painful and
pointless, so too teaching in a frustrating and fruitless
endeavour.’
One Good-Looking Answer
‘Teaching is somewhat like banging one’s head
against a wall…’
‘A simile is used to compare teaching to banging
your head against a wall. The writer claims
that just as hitting your head against a wall is
painful and pointless, so too teaching is a
frustrating and fruitless endeavour.’
Try This on for Size
‘The traders at my stall were like
vultures round a carcase.’
‘The traders at my stall were like vultures round a carcase.’
Technique: Simile
Comparison: Vultures/ Traders at the stall
‘Just as vultures crowd round a carcass to feed, tearing at
the flesh of the animal, so too the traders at the stall to
grab the best wares for themselves.’
‘A simile is used to compare the traders at the stall to
vultures. Just as vultures crowd round a carcass to feed,
tearing at the flesh of the animal, so too the traders
huddle at the stall to grab the best wares for themselves.’
A little of the Perry
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“’Cause baby you’re a firework, come on show
them what you’re worth.”
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Technique:
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Comparison:
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“Just as… So…”
It’s not romantic… Ask Superman.
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“You’re my kryptonite!”
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Technique:
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Comparison:
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“Just as… So…”
Word Choice
Carefully selected for your
bewilderment.
REMEMBER!
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You must be aware of the difference
between the denotation and the
connotation of a word.
Denotation= the dictionary definition
of a word.
Connotation= all the secondary
meanings associated with a word.
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For example,
Denotation of the word “home”= the
place where someone lives and
sleeps.
Connotation of the word “home”= a
place of warmth, safety and
security.
Word Choice Success Criteria
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1. Identify the word or phrase.
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2. Note the connotations.
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3. Explain the effect of the
word. Explain what the writer
is trying to tell us.
COPY
Word Choice and Imagery
Connotations are the key
 What a word suggests or
is associated with
 Consider if it is positive
or negative/ how extreme
a word it is/ what mood
or atmosphere it creates/ what sort of
people it suggests
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Write down connotations of the words in
bold. Use the words at the bottom to help
you.
“Listen,”
“Listen,”
“Listen,”
“Listen,”
“Listen,”
“Listen,”
“Listen,”
“Listen,”
he mumbled.
she whispered.
they chanted.
she screamed.
he hollered.
she moaned.
he insisted.
she shrieked.
secretive
in pain
Angry
Shy
repeating what’s
been told
annoying
forbidden
persuasive
trying to be heard/get control
frightened
desperate
Apologetic
Unsure
annoyed
confident
memorised
conspiratorial
pushy
Write down connotations of the words in bold. Use
the words at the bottom to help you.
1. He ambled along the road.
 2. He strode along the road.
 3. He shuffled along the road.
 4. He swaggered along the road.
 5. He strolled along the road.
 6. He sauntered along the road.
 7. She marched along the road.
 8. She mooched along the road.
 9. She meandered along the road.
 10. She strutted along the road.
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angry
purposeful
tired
moody
dreamy
happy
superior
rushed
depressed
self-satisfied
relaxed
formal
ostentatious
down
overconfident aimless
confident
brisk
relaxed
comfortable
cheerful
curious
moping
self-pitying
extrovert
smug
(Quiz Mark /10)
Write down connotations of the words in bold. Use
the words at the bottom to help you.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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She smirked.
He beamed.
She smiled.
He sneered.
She grinned.
friendly
cheerful
mocking
cruel
delighted pleasant
gleeful
nasty
mischievous
Quiz
happy
cheeky
joyful
superior
Mark /5
Write down connotations of the words
in bold.
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The
The
The
The
The
The
warm afternoon
sweltering afternoon
glorious afternoon
boiling afternoon
scorching afternoon
balmy afternoon
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Quiz Mark /12
Simon Cowell features as an acidtongued judge
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Question: How does the word choice
illustrate the writer’s attitude to
Cowell? (2A)
Strategy:
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Quote the key word
Give the meaning
Give the connotations
Answer:
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“acid-tongued”
Means he is a critical judge
Suggests the writer thinks he is cruel,
mocking and cutting to the contestants.
The McCanns now live in the shadow of police
suspicion.
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Question: How does the word choice
illustrate what the McCanns’ lives are
like now? (2A)
Strategy:
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Quote the key word
Give the meaning
Give the connotations
Answer:
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“shadow”
Means they are always being monitored
by police
Suggests their lives are miserable,
fearful and gloomy because of the
constant pressure.
Radio 1 has announced a major revamp, bringing in
Kelly Osbourne as a presenter and ditching chart show
presenters JK and Joel.
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How does the word choice reveal
Radio 1’s attitude to JK and Joel?
(2A)
Strategy:
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Quote the key word
Give the meaning
Give the connotations
Answer:
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“ditching”
Means they got rid of them
Suggests Radio 1 think they’re useless,
worthless and dreadful presenters.
USING THE SUCCESS CRITERIA:
What does the word choice suggest about
each of the characters? (2A)
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He slumped back on the sofa.
She perched on the sofa.
He flopped onto the sofa.
She lounged on the sofa.
He sprawled on the sofa.
She sank into the sofa.
Play This!
Read This!
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When reading articles, highlight or make a note
of words that would make good ‘word choice’
questions.
Find 2 examples and explain them.
No doubt the gaming industry is, even now,
going through a period of self-examination
following a stabbing last week, somewhere near
one of the queues for Grand Theft Auto IV.
Although the attack could not, entirely, be
blamed on the new game, the alleged knifer
not having had the opportunity to be corrupted
by it yet, the eruption of violence in a queue of
people who like playing violent video games
was depicted in many reports as the most
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
When reading articles, highlight or make a
note of words that would make good ‘word
choice’ questions.
E.g. No doubt the gaming industry is,
even now, going through a period of selfexamination following a stabbing last
week, somewhere near one of the queues
for Grand Theft Auto IV. Although the
attack could not, entirely, be blamed on
the new game, the alleged knifer not
having had the opportunity to be
corrupted by it yet, the eruption of
violence in a queue of people who like
playing violent video games was depicted
in many reports as the most natural thing
in the world.
Example 1:
“Oil prices have rocketed in recent years.”
What key word(s) did the writer use?
rocketed
What do you associate with this word (s)?
and what does the choice of word suggest?
rocket –firework –exploding –going up really fast, etc.
Suggests speed – the writer wants to emphasise the sudden/dramatic/ explosive
rise in prices
What is the purpose /effect of the word(s)?
describes how dramatically prices have risen – suggests prices have exploded –
soared – increased.
Now write a full answer to the question
How effective is the use of the word “rocketed” in the sentence above?
Example 2:
“The precious secret was unearthed - a glittering nugget - that was
to prove invaluable.”
What key word(s) did the writer use?
glittering nugget
What do you associate with this word (s)? What does the choice of
word suggest?
nugget suggests gold – something really valuable
Suggests something precious like gold
What is the purpose /effect of the image?
describes how valuable the secret was –how important –it was
great find - like finding gold, etc.
Now write a full answer to the question
Comment on the effectiveness of the imagery in the sentence above?
Analyse the word-choice in these sentences in the same way as the
examples in the previous two slides
1. The headmaster charged into the classroom like a raging bull.
2. The pack of reporters encircled the actress snapping questions
at her, desperate for some juicy morsel of gossip.
3. He stood in an icy sweat of hatred – with thoughts of cold-blooded
murder on his mind.
4. The helicopter ascended and soared into the sky with the blades
slicing through the air. After a few minutes the whirring of the rotors
faded to the sound of tiny butterfly wings.
1.
The headmaster charged into the
classroom like a raging bull.
What is the key word?
What are your associations with the word?
What is the effect/purpose of the image?
Sentence Structure
Commas and Dashes and Colons.
Oh my!
Learning Intentions

To enable you to answer sentence
structure question effectively.
Sentence Structure:
What are they asking?
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This is pretty much the most
mechanical part of English.
You are being asked to prove that
you know the purpose of
punctuation and the make-up of the
sentence.
Main Focuses
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Sentence Length
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Punctuation and Lists
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Repetition
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Word order
Sentence Length
Revision
Remember
Short Sentence
Used for IMPACT or to sum up a point.

Long Sentence
Used for listing or to show a train of
thought.

Try These…
What is the purpose of the sentence length?
“Adele had always had trouble with Derek; he pushed her,
threw things at her and generally made her life
miserable. She hated him.”
“Marcus thought he would go to the cinema, but found that
he lacked the funding and so went to the park. That’s
when James showed up.”
It’s a Formula
In maths symbols have specific meanings:
(x=37)
(x is equal to thirty-seven)
It’s the same with punctuation in sentence structure:
She hated Christmas: she hated the lights, the presents, the giggling
children and even the jolly feeling in the air.
She hated Christmas additional info she hated the lights, the
presents, the giggling children and even the jolly feeling in the air.
Punctuation
Not Just Squiggles…
Success Criteria
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Identify the Technique
State what it is used for what it is
used for
Explain why it has been used in this
context
COPY
Skeleton Answer
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“(Step 1) A _______ is used
(Step 2) to _______. 1 mark
(Step 3) This _______________.
1 mark
Examples
1)
A colon is used
2)
to introduce a list.
3)
This tells us that she was very
busy all day because the author
lists her activities.
Examples

A rhetorical question is used

To involve the reader.

It encourages the reader to think
about their own opinion of Mitt
Romney.
We should be familiar with…
Sentence Structure Question: Punctuation
To be successful in this type of question you have to be able
to identify and explain:
Colon
:
used to introduce a list or an
explanation
Semi-colon ;
separate items in a complex
list or introduces a balancing
point
Dash
–
add information/explanation
( ) Add additional information (an
Parenthesis , , aside which is not necessary for
- - the sentence to make sense)
Exclamation mark !
Effects the tone of a sentence
Inverted commas “ ” show a title or may question
the truthfulness of opinion
Why Question it?
(?) Another Favourite
The question mark is used to:

Involve the reader

Show shock, disbelief or uncertainty

Alert the reader to the topic.

COPY
Rhetorical Question – does not require an answer as
the author is certain that they already know the
response.
Which is which?!
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
“Another baby? She had only just
given birth a few months before!”
“Have you ever considered the
effects that technology has on us
today?”
“Isn’t the upper class attitude to
the poor disgusting?”
GO TEAM!

Reassemble your quiz team – complete
with name.
The Challenge

Look at the following passage.
Find 4 examples of sentence
structure.
Use the success criteria to form 2
perfect explanations of the
technique.
The virtual removal from the painful process of payment
has a lot to answer for. Given the ease of a couple of clicks, it
hardly feels like spending. No standing in a queue and giving
your conscience the chance to get the better of you here.
What’s more, by the time the packages actually arrive – all nice
and pretty and wrapped up like presents – they seem almost
free. Shoppers like me suffer “payment lobotomy”, erasing the
minor detail of money from our memories.
One friend puts on each outfit she has ordered, then
practises walking into her bedroom as if she’s greeting people
in a bar before deciding what to keep. This process would
surely be difficult in a crowded changing room, not without
security being called, at least. In her own home, though,
security aren’t there, it’s just her and her pretty boxes, having
totally forgotten that brief moment in which she typed her
credit-card details. Nothing – not the size-eight teenager with
smelly feet in the next changing room, the irritating assistant
who tries to coerce you into high-waisted tartan trousers, nor
the weird mirror that makes you look like Jabba the Hutt– can
ruin that moment. Until the bank manager calls.
Answers
Techniques:


1. list:
2. short sentence:
Examples:



3. parenthesis:


4. inverted commas:

“not the size...the
Hutt“
“Until the bank
manager calls.”
“– all nice and pretty
and wrapped up like
presents –
“ suffer from ‘payment
lobotomy’”
Tone

Remember: tone shows attitude.

Is the attitude positive or negative?

What emotion is the writer feeling
at the time?
Tone Success Criteria
(Consider the author’s attitude
throughout the text. Decide first
whether it is positive of negative.)


State the tone (humorous,
persuasive, informal etc.)
Give evidence for your answer.
Glossary of Tones

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




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




Sarcastic
Affectionate
Patronising
Annoyed
Curious
Ironic
Humorous
Melancholy
Sympathetic
Cynical
Sardonic
Angry
Serious
Excited
Enthusiastic
Factual
Argumentative
Flippant
Tongue in cheek
Sad
Monotonous
Fearful
Contemptuous
Exasperated
Informal
Conversational
Eerie
Personal
Mocking
Euphoria
Hectoring
Bullying
Effusive
Abusive
Cheerful
Charming
Inviting
Uninviting
Rude
Polite
Persuasive
Commanding
COPY
Tricky Customers
!



Argumentative – it’s probably going to involve
anger and exclamation marks. Does the writer
feel passionate about the subject?
Excited – again, exclamation marks may be
present, however, the author will have a
positive attitude.
Humour – Look for absurd images or ideas,
sarcasm or good old fashion ‘taking the rip’.
COPY
Tricky Customers



Ironic – the writer is saying the opposite of what they
mean. Often this is used to make the alternative view
seem ridiculous.
(‘Yes, just hand guns out to whoever wants them;
children, the elderly, the short sighted. They all have
the right. This is America and the right to bear arms is
in the constitution.”)
Persuasive – Often uses rhetorical questions. Is the
writer trying to get you to think the way they do or to
agree with them? Do they want you to take action?
Formal – do they sound like they’re at a board
meeting? Formal language will be very proper. It won’t
address the reader in a conversational manner and no
slang will be used. The reverse is informal.
Problem Page
This letter appeared in the Problem
Page section of the Daily Record a
short time ago.
Read the letter and then the
response from Joan Burnie.
Problem Page
My drink was spiked one night and someone,
probably the police, micro chipped me from
head to toe.
The result is that they now control me – waking
me up at night and not letting me sleep.
I don’t feel right during the day because I am so
tired and can’t concentrate properly on my job.
I have been to the doctor to ask for a full body
scan so I can get these chips taken out of my
body.
But he refused and says he will send me to talk
to someone and give me pills to help me sleep.
I want to be normal but I can’t be with these
microchips in me.
Problem Page
Funny? Sad?
Anyway, let’s look at Joan Burnie’s
answer and identify what tone she
is using in response to this poor
man!
Problem Page
I think you really must follow your
doctor’s advice, especially about
speaking to someone about these
microchips.
Unfortunately, your GP can’t help you
himself as this is a very specialised area
of medicine, which means you have to
see someone who specifically deals with
difficult problems such as yours. Please,
talk to him or her.
Problem Page
What tone does she use and what
words or phrases help you to
identify this particular tone?
Problem Page
Now it’s over to you…
You are going to be assigned a
specific tone.
Your task is to write a short
response to the original letter in
that particular tone.