What is Close Reading?

 Close Reading

A critical analysis of a text is known as a close reading. It is very important in the sense

that it helps learners to read complex texts and to focus on the significant details in order to

develop a comprehensive and precise understanding of the text's meaning. It is considered as

the tool that encourages learners to read text that is above their comfort level. Close reading is

not something that comes naturally. It can be mastered or enhanced by engaging learners

deeply with a challenging and unfamiliar text. But it requires the learners' active use of

intellectual skills in order to focus on the key ideas and details in the text. While teaching or

learning close reading, it is pertinent to mention that there should be a set goal, agenda or

objective in the minds of teachers or learners in order to arrive at a deep understanding of the

text.

Purposes of Close Reading

1. To know the explicit meaning of the text and to make logical inferences from it.

2. To understand the main ideas or themes of the text and to analyze their

development in a logical way.

3. To summarize the main details and ideas of the text.

4. To analyze the roles of different characters and events in the text.

5. To analyse the meaning of the figurative and idiomatic expressions, and to

determine the connotative and denotative use of vocabulary in the text.

6. To analyze the coherence of thoughts and the appropriateness of sentence

structures, grammatical patterns and linguistic features.

7. To know how writer's point of view shapes the content and style of the text.

8. To synthesize text related information from other sources.

9. To underline complex ideas for further discussion and deep understanding.

10.To know about the author's choice of vocabulary and text structure.