Close Reading and

Text-dependent Questions

Creating a Close Reading

Creating a Close Reading

Use a short passage

Creating a Close Reading

Use a short passage

Re-reading

Creating a Close Reading

Use a short passage

Re-reading

“Read with a pencil”

Creating a Close Reading

Use a short passage

Re-reading

“Read with a pencil”

Text-dependent questions

Creating a Close Reading

Use a short passage

Re-reading

“Read with a pencil”

Text-dependent questions

Give students the chance to struggle a bit

Types of Text-dependent Questions

Opinions, Arguments, Intertextual Connections

Inferences

Author’s Purpose

Vocab & Text Structure

Key Details

General UnderstandingsPart

Sentence

Paragraph

Entire text

Across texts

Word

Whole

Segments

General Understandings

• Overall view • Sequence of

information• Story arc• Main claim and

evidence• Gist of passage

General Understandings in Kindergarten

Retell the story in order using the words beginning, middle, and end.

Key Details

• Search for nuances in meaning

• Determine importance of ideas

• Find supporting details that support main ideas

• Answers who, what, when, where, why, how much, or how many.

Key Details in Kindergarten

• How long did it take to go from a hatched egg to a butterfly?

• What is one food that gave him a stomachache? What is one food that did not him a stomachache?

It took more than 3 weeks. He ate for one week, and then “he stayed inside [his cocoon] for more than two weeks.”

• Chocolate cake• Ice cream• Pickle• Swiss cheese• Salami• Lollipop• Cherry pie• Sausage• Cupcake• watermelon

Foods that did not give him a stomachache

• Apples• Pears• Plums• Strawberries• Oranges• Green leaf

Foods that gave him a stomachache

Vocabulary and Text Structure• Bridges literal and inferential

meanings• Denotation• Connotation• Shades of meaning• Figurative language• How organization

contributes to

meaning

Vocabulary in Kindergarten

How does the author help us to understand what cocoon means?

There is an illustration of the cocoon, and a sentence that reads, “He built a small house, called a cocoon, around himself.”

• Genre: Entertain? Explain? Inform? Persuade?

• Point of view: First-person, third-person limited, omniscient, unreliable narrator

• Critical Literacy: Whose story is not represented?

Author’s Purpose

Author’s Purpose in Kindergarten

Who tells the story—the narrator or the caterpillar?

A narrator tells the story, because he uses the words he and his. If it was the caterpillar, he would say I and my.

Inferences

Probe each argument in persuasive text, each idea in informational text,

each key detail in literary text, and

observe how these build to a whole.

Inferences in Kindergarten

The title of the book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. How do we know he is hungry?

The caterpillar ate food every day “but he was still hungry.” On Saturday he ate so much food he got a stomachache! Then he was “a big, fat caterpillar” so he could build a cocoon and turn into a butterfly.

Opinions, Arguments, and Intertextual Connections

• Author’s opinion and reasoning (K-5)• Claims• Evidence• Counterclaims• Ethos, Pathos, Logos• Rhetoric

Links to other texts throughout the grades

Opinions and Intertextual Connections in Kindergarten

NarrativeIs this a happy story or a

sad one? How do you know?

InformationalHow are these two books

similar? How are they different?

Types of Text-dependent Questions

Opinions, Arguments, Intertextual Connections

Inferences

Author’s Purpose

Vocab & Text Structure

Key Details

General UnderstandingsPart

Sentence

Paragraph

Entire text

Across texts

Word

Whole

Segments

8 & 9

3 & 7

6

4 & 5

2

1

Standards

Eisenhower’s Message to the Troops June 6, 1944

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Creating Text-Dependent Questions

Level of Text Specificity

CCS Anchor StandardClose Reading Skill

Text Dependent Question

Words/PhrasesAnalyze how specific word choices shape tone (Standard 4)

What words and phrases does General Eisenhower use to inspire the troops on D-Day?

Creating Text-Dependent Questions

Level of Text Specificity

CCS Anchor Standard Close Reading Skill

Text Dependent Question

SentencesAssess how point of view shapes content (Standard 6)

Eisenhower states that this invasion will “bring about the destruction of the German war machine… eliminate tyranny… and create security throughout the world.” What does that sentence reveal about him?

Creating Text Dependent Questions

Level of Text Specificity

CCS Anchor Standard Close Reading Skill

Text Dependent Question

Paragraphs

Summarize key supporting details (Standard 2)

Ike’s message to the troops acknowledges the difficulty of the mission, but assures them that they will be triumphant. In what ways does he accomplish this?

Investigate the structure of specific sentences, paragraphs, and sections of text (Standard 5)

How does the use of religious imagery contrast in the opening and closing?

"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”

Eisenhower’s “In Case of Failure” Letter

Annotation is a note of any form made while

reading text.

“Reading with a pencil.”

People have been annotating texts since there have been

texts to annotate.

Annotation is not highlighting.

Annotation slows down the reader in order to

deepen understanding.

Student’s annotation of connotative meanings in Charlotte’s Web

Annotation occurs with

digital and print texts.

Annotation in PreK-2

• Language experience approach• Interactive writing and shared pen activities

Annotation with Wikki sticks

Annotation with Stickie Notes

Annotation with smart boards.

Annotations in Grades 3-5• Underline the major points. • Circle keywords or phrases

that are confusing or unknown to you.

• Use a question mark (?) for questions that you have during the reading. Be sure to write your question.

Using Questioning in Fifth Grade

Same text, different student, different strategy: Inferring.

Annotation in Grades 6-8

• Underline the major points. • Circle keywords or phrases that are confusing or

unknown to you.• Use a question mark (?) for questions that you

have during the reading. Be sure to write your question.

• Use an exclamation mark (!) for things that surprise you, and briefly note what it was that caught your attention.

• Draw an arrow ( ) when you make a ↵connection to something inside the text, or to an idea or experience outside the text. Briefly note your connections.

Modeled annotation in Seventh Grade

Student annotation in 6th grade

Student sample from Leigh McEwen, AEA 9, Iowa

Annotation in Grades 9-12

• Underline the major points. • Circle keywords or phrases that are confusing or

unknown to you.• Use a question mark (?) for questions that you have

during the reading. Be sure to write your question. • Use an exclamation mark (!) for things that surprise you,

and briefly note what it was that caught your attention. • Draw an arrow ( ) ↵ when you make a connection to

something inside the text, or to an idea or experience outside the text. Briefly note your connections.

• Mark EX when the author provides an example.• Numerate arguments, important ideas, or key details

and write words or phrases that restate them.

Modeling in 9th

Grade English

Student annotation in 11th grade English