Background from Douglas Fisher

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Close Reading is….“Close Reading – an intensive analysis of a text in order to come to terms with what it says, how it says it, and what it means.”

Tim Shanahan

Close Reading is….

“Focused, sustained reading and rereading of a text for the purpose of understanding key points, gathering evidence, and building knowledge.

Pearson, page 48

Secondary Purpose of Close Reading

A second purpose of a close reading is to build the necessary habits of readers when they engage with a complex piece of text.

Doug Fisher

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• Read with a pencil in hand – annotate the text• Look for patterns in the things you’ve noticed about

the text – repetitions, contradictions, similarities• This is whatever the teacher wants the students to look for:

key ideas & details, central message or theme, character traits, etc

• Ask questions about the patterns you’ve noticed – especially how and why

How To Do A Close Read

“Reading with a pencil.”

Annotation is a note of any form made while

reading text.

Annotation slows down the reader in order to

deepen understanding.

Annotation is not highlighting.

So, let’s read ACTIVEly!!!

Okay, I’ll model…You read along, and make the same annotations (and

a few of your own!).See if you can catch my thought process…

The Apple of Discord and the beginning of the Trojan War

"Your newborn son will be the downfall of Troy," Aesacus said. "He must be killed to save our people."And so when the baby boy, named Paris, was born, Hecuba and Priam looked into his eyes and fought against their fears. They knew they must destroy him, but they could not bear to do it. King Priam called upon his chief herdsman, Agelaus, to do the deed.Agelaus carried the baby to desolate Mount Ida. Once there, he shrank from the task. He could not kill this baby, and so he left tiny Paris there, alone, in the wilderness, certain to perish.

DISCUSS

• Why did I make the annotations I made?• What conclusions can you draw?• Talk to your CP for about 2 minutes to discuss the top two questions

With your CP, create your own ACTIVE annotations. (8 Minutes)•But that night a bear came upon the baby and took pity on him. She kept him safe through the night. In the morning, when Agelaus returned for the body, he found the boy alive and safe. He took this as a sign: The boy was meant to live.•And so, in secret, Agelaus took Paris to his home to rear the boy as his own son.•Paris grew up to be a regal young man, beautiful, intelligent and wise, beloved by women and men alike. He often pitted his prize bull against the bulls of other men.•One day, he offered a challenge: His bull would fight anyone's bull to a battle. The winner would receive a golden crown.•When Ares, the god of war, heard this, he transformed himself into a bull and accepted the challenge. Naturally, Ares easily won, and Paris proved how fair he was when he readily awarded Ares the crown.

CLASS DISCUSSION!

With your CP, continue annotating to the end of the page.

Summarizing

•What is the purpose of annotation?•How does it affect your understanding of TEXT?

HOMEWORK•Continue reading and annotating the Apple of Discord

story for homework. •Make at least 6 annotations: one for each letter of the

acronym ACTIVE.