Close Reading

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Close Reading

• Some Advice

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Firstly

• You will be presented with one passage,
• The passage will be non-fiction.
• This is a test of your reading. You must read the
  passage ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
• The whole test is out of 30.
• You have an hour.
• It is 50 of your overall mark

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Some advice

• Learn, practise and use speed reading techniques.
• Look carefully at the number of marks per
  question. You have no idea how many people lose
  out by not writing enough, or sometimes by
  writing too much.

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U/A/E?????

• U/A/E stands for understanding, analysis and
  evaluation the big three of Intermediate
  English
• Understanding What has the writer said?
• Analysis What effect was the writer looking for?
• Evaluation What do you think of the writers
  technique?

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Understanding

• These questions often make up the bulk of the
  paper.
• You should use your own words at this level.
• You are asked to summarise, define and convey
  your understanding of the writers words.
• DO NOT try to translate (unless you are asked
  to). It is better to read and then give the gist
  of what you have read rather than translate every
  word!

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Context Questions

• In context questions, you are asked to say what a
  word means by using the information around it.
• You should firstly define the word by stating
  Quote the word means provide a definition
• Then provide examples from around the word that
  have roughly the same meaning and/or
  connotations.

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The Link Question

• Sooooo easy!
• Identify the section of the sentence that refers
  back to the previous section quote it.
• After that, state what the topic of the previous
  section was.
• Identify the section of the sentence that
  introduces the next section quote it.
• After that, state what the topic of the next
  section was.

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Link Question Template

• Quote the part of the sentence that refers back
  to the previous section
• Refers back to the previous section, which was
  about_________________________
• Quote the part of the sentence that introduces
  the next section
• Introduces the next section, which was
  about_________________________

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Analysis

• These can be broadly categorised into questions
  on imagery, tone, word choice and sentence
  structure questions on technique.
• In other words, questions that relate to the
  writers use of language.
• Whenever a question begins How does the writers
  language then these are the areas you are asked
  to look at.

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Imagery

• These are easier to answer than you would think.
  Here you are asked to comment on simile, metaphor
  and personification.
• Key words here are literal origin
• You should always state the literal root of the
  phrase.
• Then you should go on to look at how it operates
  metaphorically.
• When you are asked about the writers language,
  then imagery is an easy way to score points.

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Word Choice

• The key word here is connotation.
• You should quote the phrase and state the
  associations people may have with that idea.
• Again, you should relate it back to the question
  what effect does it have?

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Sentence Structure

• People find this hard. Again, you have to do more
  than simply identify the technique.
• Saying that a lot of commas create a list is the
  same as identifying a group of words as a simile.
• You have to identify what the purpose of the list
  is. Do this in relation to what the subject
  matter of the section is as well as answering the
  question obviously!!
• Ensure you have knowledge of different sentence
  types and their effects.

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Tone

• Dont you hate it?!
• Have in your head a list of different names of
  tones (there are a number of them in the green
  book).
• There are two approaches to take
• Firstly, listen to the text. Imagine what kind
  of voice you would put on if you were to read it
  out loud.
• Secondly, ask yourself what attitude the writer
  has here. Often this will lead you to the tone
• Then, look at what language the writer uses to
  achieve this tone. For example, use of childish
  words is very condescending and may suggest that
  the writer is mocking in his or her tone.
• A good tip is to approach this last bit as if it
  were a word choice question.

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Evaluation

• To paraphrase Blackadder you must have an
  opinion. Having an opinion is very important!!
• Evaluation is all about your opinion.
• Be thinking, as you read, what your stance is.
• The article could be about a current,
  controversial topic eg. Global warming,
  terrorism, racism. Start to form opinions on
  these topics and they may help you to evaluate
  the passage.

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More general advice

• Be precise dont waffle.
• Use bullet points where you can (not in the last
  question)
• Read newspapers (not The Sun or other such
  entertaining trash) so that you are used to the
  style of writing.
• Practise, practise, practise.
• THINK!!!! Always identify what the question type
  is and put your skills into action.