Close Reading
Reading for Understanding, Analysis, and Evaluation
Types of question
• Knowing the types of question in the close reading part of the exam makes a huge difference.
• Once you recognise the question, you will know what your meant to do.
• Even though the passage is different every time, the kinds of question are similar.
1. In your own words
2. Tone
3. Summarise
4. Linking
5. Word Choice
6. Sentence Structure
7. Analysis of language – metaphor, imagery, and other techniques
In your own words
• This is a classic type of question that comes up in the reading part of the exam. If
you master this one, then you’re 20% of the way there.
• Example question:
• The march was in protest at a government edict making the Afrikaans language compulsory in
schools. From January 1976, half of all subjects were to be taught in it, including ones in which
difficulties of translation were often an issue.
• 2 marks
• Explain in your own words what the marchers were objecting to.
In your own words
• Question is worth two marks
• How many marks would this answer get?
• They were protesting about a government edict that made Afrikaans
compulsory in all school subjects.
In your own words
• Question is worth two marks
• How many marks would this answer get?
• They were protesting about a government edict that made Afrikaans
compulsory in all school subjects.
• This would gain no marks as it simply repeats the words of the
question. The answer does not show that the candidate really
knows what words like ‘edict’ and ‘compulsory’ mean.
In your own words
• Question is worth two marks
• How many marks would this answer get?
• The march was a protest at a new law that made teaching in Afrikaans
compulsory.
In your own words
• Question is worth two marks
• How many marks would this answer get?
• The march was a protest at a new law that made teaching in Afrikaans
compulsory.
• The explanation of ‘government edict’ by ‘a new law’ shows some
understanding, but the word ‘compulsory’ should also be
explained. This answer therefore gains one mark.
In your own words
• Question is worth two marks
• How many marks would this answer get?
• They were objecting to a new government decree stating that from January
1976 onwards teaching in the Afrikaans language would be required.
In your own words
• Question is worth two marks
• How many marks would this answer get?
• They were objecting to a new government decree stating that from January
1976 onwards teaching in the Afrikaans language would be required.
• This is a good two mark answer. The candidate has explained
difficult words like ‘edict’ and ‘compulsory’ in his own words.
Translate in your own words
• The humongous monster hurtled rapidly at the impoverished and innocent
bystanders, flattening them entirely with his gluttonous bulk.
Try it yourself
• Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise,
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell:
An innocent man in a living hell.
That's the story of the Hurricane,
But it won't be over till they clear his name
And give him back the time he's done.
Put him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.
- Bob Dylan
• Explain in your own words what Bob Dylan thinks must happen for Rubin to receive justice.
• 2 marks
4 marks this time
• In interviews, Styles has said that the band members have been writing songs in hotels and
airports, because they don’t want to sound like they’re performing work for hire, produced
by some “forty-year-old man.” Indeed, the long list of professionals credited on “Up All
Night” are mostly younger than forty, though they also aren’t in One Direction. The three
songs written by the band have outside co-writers, and none have been released as singles.
The group’s Twitter and Facebook audience has been praised by industry participants as
some kind of D.I.Y. phenomenon, as if the social-media accounts weren’t being promoted
with the resources of corporations like Hasbro, which will soon release a group of One
Direction action figures.
• Explain, in you own words as far as possible, the ways in which One Direction have been
unsuccessful in claiming that ‘they don’t want to sound like they’re performing work for
hire, produced by some “40-year-old man”. (4 marks)
Tone
• Tone is the way in which something is said to convey an attitude.
• Examples of types of tone:
• Humorous or light-hearted. This will be expressed by making jokes, and using techniques such as hyperbole. Its purpose is to amuse
the reader. The writer may make fun of himself as well as his subject.
• Ironic or tongue-in-cheek. Such a tone will be used if a writer wishes to criticise or mock something in a humorous way. Often this
is done by saying the opposite of what he really means.
• Emotive. This aims to stir up emotions such as anger, pity or sympathy. Strong, emotional words are used expressing extremes of
feeling. Details involving children or vulnerable people like the elderly may be stressed.
• Colloquial or chatty. The writer uses slang, abbreviations and short sentences as if he is chatting to the reader. Often personal
comments will be included.
• Persuasive or argumentative. Very positive expressions, such as superlative adjectives (‘best’; ‘biggest’) are typical of advertisements
persuading you to buy. Emotive language may be used. When it is an opinion that is being put forward, rhetorical questions and the use
of first person are common techniques employed.
Tone
And did Michaela encounter anything that made her a believer in ghosts? Well, while
filming in the Hall her camera crew heard the sound of children playing outside. They
went to the window … but there was no one and nothing to be seen. Spooky, eh?
Q.
‘Spooky, eh?’ Describe the tone and word choice used in this sentence. How far do
they suggest that the writer is convinced by Michaela’s story?
3 marks
Word Choice
• What are the connotations of the word? What does the word suggest?
• Green and yellow corridors – colour has connotations of what?
• “slim” has more positive connotations than “skinny”.
• Also is the language formal or informal?
• Top tip: imagine the writer had used a similar but different word and see how
the meaning would change.
Word Choice
• “On the horizon fumed the volcano”,
• What does the word choice suggest about the way the smoke came out of
the volcano?
The writer refers to ‘wizards and witches throughout history’.
Explain by referring to word choice how the rest of the sentence
continues this idea. (2 marks)
Flight, to us earthbound creatures, is a form of magic – one of the great powers attributed to decent
wizards and witches throughout history is to ability to fly, from the persecuted sorcerers of the Dark
Ages to the players of the game of quidditch.
Answer: The rest of the sentence continues the idea because it mentions the game of
quidditch played by witches and wizards.
How many marks?
The writer refers to ‘wizards and witches throughout history’.
Explain by referring to word choice how the rest of the sentence
continues this idea. (2 marks)
Flight, to us earthbound creatures, is a form of magic – one of the great powers attributed to decent wizards
and witches throughout history is to ability to fly, from the persecuted sorcerers of the Dark Ages to the players
of the game of quidditch.
Answer: The rest of the sentence continues the idea because it mentions ‘sorcerers’ who are
similar to ‘witches and wizards’. Similarly, the game of ‘quidditch’ is associated with magic in
the Harry Potter books. The reference to a period in the past known as ‘the Dark Ages’ relates
to the idea of ‘throughout history’.
How many marks?
The writer refers to ‘wizards and witches throughout history’.
Explain by referring to word choice how the rest of the sentence
continues this idea. (2 marks)
Flight, to us earthbound creatures, is a form of magic – one of the great powers attributed to decent
wizards and witches throughout history is to ability to fly, from the persecuted sorcerers of the Dark
Ages to the players of the game of quidditch.
Answer: ‘The Dark Ages’ were a period in history when there used to be sorcerers and
this reference continues the idea of throughout history.
How many marks?
Word Choice
• Immigrants are flooding over the borders and pouring into our cities.
• What does the word choice in the above sentence suggest about the way in
which the immigrants are entering the country?
• 2 marks
Sentence Structure
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The way the sentence is put together.
Look out for:
Repetition
Lists
Questions
Short or long sentences
Parenthesis – adds extra information
Punctuation – colons ( : ) and dashes ( - ) introduce something.
semi-colons ( ; ) set a balance or contrast between two parts of a sentence
• Balance/Contrast – gives more info to emphasise a point, or provides a contrast to show diversity or change.
Sentence Structure
Lucy is getting ready for a special occasion that so far has cost about £500
(hair, evening dress, shoes, clutch bag, nails, jewellery, spray-tan, limousine hire).
• Comment on one aspect of the sentence structure which helps to convey the
importance of the event to Lucy.
• 2 marks
Linking question
•
•
•
•
•
•
Look out for these words:
And / in addition to / furthermore / similarly / moreover
They mean that the writer will continue to emphasise the same point.
And:
But / however / nevertheless / in contrast / on the other hand
They mean that the writer is going to make a different point.
Linking question
• A link question will ask you to show how a sentence provides a link between
two ideas. You should answer this in four stages:
•
•
•
•
QUOTE the words which link backwards
EXPLAIN what they link back to
QUOTE the words that link forwards
EXPLAIN what they link forwards to
Linking question
The First Emperor's imprint on the lives of the inhabitants of his far-flung kingdoms was seen further. He
unified the script, demanding that all states write the pictographs of ancient Chinese in the same way. So,
although the words might be pronounced differently in different parts of the empire, once they were written down
everyone who could read could understand each other, a particular advantage for traders.
But for the First Emperor, establishing complete control over his empire was not enough. He wanted to rule
forever. If he couldn't have immortality in this world, the next best thing would be to rule in the nether world.
We knew about his tomb mound because the ancient sources referred to it, and it has always been there.
• A two mark linking question was asked about this extract:
• Explain how the sentence “But for the First Emperor, establishing complete control over
his empire was not enough” works as a link between paragraphs at this point.
Language choices
•
•
•
•
•
Think – hyperbole, simile, metaphor, and IMAGERY
Also formal or informal language.
Is the language emotive?
What does it suggest to the reader?
Similar to word choice questions, only you are focussing on the technique
rather than an individual word or phrase.
Summary
•
•
•
•
Choose the important parts of what is being said.
Bullet point according to number of marks (4 marks = 4 bullet points).
Might be asked to summarise IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
Sometimes it is to summarise the key ideas. What is the point of the writing?
What ISSUES is it addressing?