Close Reading Skills
Close reading is just that—reading closely. It is using tools to help understand a piece of text
in a deeper way so complete comprehension (and not misunderstanding) is achieved.
Tools for close reading:
1. Diffusion
2. Marking the text
3. Rereading
4. And others that we will learn and work with throughout the year
Diffusion is reading a piece for the first time and circling words, phrases, and references
(allusions) that you don’t know, followed by you actively looking the words, phrases, and
references up after you are done reading. Now that you know these words, phrases, and
references, you need to listen to the text to get a deeper understanding. While this reading is
being done, you need to mark the text to help you reach this deeper understanding.
Text-coding tools that are used:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
? For questioning text or identifying areas that you have a question
_______ underlining important nouns, facts, etc.
circling words/phrases because you relate to them or find them interesting
! for important information
Highlighting for same reasons but as your style dictates
Other codes you have found useful throughout school
On Compassion, by Barbara Ascher
• Read silently and diffuse the words, phrases, and references she uses in her article
• When done, look the words, phrases, and references up and write them in the
margins, over the words, on the back, or in your notes (this will be turned in later)
• Using your new understanding of the difficult words, phrases, and references, listen to
the article as I read it aloud so you can get a deeper meaning
• As I read, mark the text with text-coding tools
• When done, with a partner, read the article either aloud to each other or silently
(this will be the third time you will have read/listened to this article)
• Discuss with each other what the article is about, how empathy gives birth to
compassion, and a viable solution to the homelessness problem in Mill Creek
Assignment:
• After you and your partner are done, individually, write a formal letter to the
editor of the Beacon explaining a solution to the homelessness problem in Mill
Creek. Define the problem, explain what it means that empathy gives birth to
compassion, and create a call to action (your solution) where you ask the readers to
follow your advice.
• This letter needs to be 500 words (+/-), edited perfectly for publication, and include
all the above criteria. I will send these to the editor of the Beacon.