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Close Reading WoRkshop
Close Reading of argumentative nonfiction Texts
Learning Targets
• Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• Determine two or more central ideas in a text and analyze their development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choice on meaning and tone.
• Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author distinguishes his or her position from that of others.
• Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims.
• Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
• Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Close Reading for Meaning
What does learning to read closely mean? As readers of a speech, we should not just consider the information that is conveyed, but also consider how a speaker attempts to engage and persuade an audience.
When reading or listening to a speech, pay close attention to the methods the speaker uses to connect with the audience. In a speech, the author has two different ways to convey a tone; while tone of voice refers to the spoken word, tone in writing is conveyed through word choice and/or imagery. A speaker will also acknowledge an opposing or alternate claim, or counterclaim, in order to show he or she is logical and reasonable.
In this workshop, you will read three different texts and will practice close reading of each, using strategies that will help you make meaning of the text. Your teacher will guide you through Activity 1. In Activity 2, you will work in a collaborative group to understand and respond to the text. For Activity 3, you will work independently to apply close reading strategies to determine meaning in a new text.
leaRning sTRaTegies:
Diffusing, Close Reading, Marking the Text, Rereading, Summarizing, Paraphrasing, Graphic Organizer
aCademiC VoCabulaRy
Tone is the author or speaker’s attitude toward a particular subject. A counterclaim is a claim or assertion that is different from or in opposition to the author or speaker’s argument.
Introducing the Strategy: Diffusing
Diffusing is one strategy used in close reading. In this strategy, the reader reads a passage to identify unfamiliar words. The reader uses context clues, dictionaries, and/or thesauruses to discover the meaning of these unfamiliar words. Writing notes about meaning or substituting synonyms for unfamiliar words helps the reader increase his or her comprehension of the text.
Close Reading Workshop 2 • Close Reading of Argumentative Nonfiction Texts 17
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