Close reading

Task

Choose one article from a quality source (see list for advice), trying to vary the subject matter that you focus on (i.e. dont always choose the Arts section). Read the article once to establish general understanding. On second reading, focus more carefully on the aspects stated below, completing an analysis of the article in detail.

Aspect of Close Reading

Meaning /context

Structure

Word choice

Stylistic features (simile, metaphor, alliteration, pun etc)

Sentence Structure

Purpose

Tone / point of view

Some sources

The Guardian ( and The G2)

Stylist Lucy Mangans column Outspoken

The Herald (particularly the essay on a Sunday)

The Times

(Clarifying strategies.Think about context - Read aloud the sentence before it and the sentence with the unknown word. Also read ahead - the writer will sometimes explain a hard word.Look for parts of words or whole words in the unknown word. (example- in emotive, we can find emot, which is also in emotion)Think of another word that looks like it or sounds like it.Try another word that seems to make sense at that place in the sentence.)The Independent

The Scotman

The Observer

The Telegraph

Use the following to analyse the article - make notes on lined paper and attach the article to your finished analysis if possible.

1) Meaning / Context Pick out up to 5 words from the passage which are new to you or you are unsure of. Use clarifying strategies to figure out the meaning. Then write out the definition from a dictionary to see how well you did.

2) Structure Divide your passage into sections and write a short sentence for each which sums up what it is about.

3) Word Choice Pick out words or phrases from the passage and explain how their effect if different from a more neutral word that means much the same. Think about connotations.

4) Stylistic features Pick out at least 2 examples from your passage where the writer has used language in a stylised way. Comment on the effect of this imagery.

5) Sentence Structure Pick out any examples where the sentence structure is used for effect. For example, one word sentence, use of brackets, climax. Comment on the technique and effect.

6) Purpose Explain what you think the writers purpose was in writing the article. Pick out evidence (quotes) from the text and explain how they reveal the purpose, e.g. to inform, to criticise, to mock, to persuade.

7) Tone To identify tone, you have to imagine listening to the voice of the writer speaking out loud what they have written. Are they angry? Being ironic? Amused? Pick out examples which have made the tone obvious to you. Quote and explain your choices.