Close Reading

Close reading is important in understanding and writing literature.  According to Patricia Kain, close reading can be thought of as "observing facts and details about the text."  Close reading is all about your observations about the text and what ideas you get from it.  Dr. L. Kip Wheeler wrote, "you find a specific passage and analyze it in fine detail, as if with a magnifying glass."  Close reading begins by annotating the text, looking for anything of importantance.  While doing this you should be asking yourself questions about what you are starting to notice.  You should pay attention to patterns that you see and word choices.  Asking questions about why and how the author did this or that is also necessary for close reading.