Close Reading Texts and Dissecting Meaning

Objectives  SWBAT Analyze the way in which an author communicates meaning  SWBAT identify the thesis statement of a text  SWBAT identify the purpose of examples used in an essay  Understand the relationship between a thesis statement and smaller claims that have been established through examples

The Personal Essay  The goal of a personal essay is to convey a personal experience in a convincing way to the reader. Essentially, you are trying to persuade the reader about the significance of one particular event.

“Making Poison” by Margaret Atwood  (Not a personal essay but illustrates the same idea)  In the short story, the writer reflects upon a time when she made “poison” with her younger brother. This is event is illustrated by the writer in order to ultimately reflect upon it, and make a claim about some aspect of the human condition.

What is Atwood trying to prove through this illustration in her writing?  Margaret Atwood shows us through her writing that people enjoy accomplishments that place them in a position of power.

Thesis statement versus smaller claims  Thesis statement: an expression of the paper’s main idea; what the writer claims to be true.  In order to work up to the thesis statement, the writer must establish smaller claims which are developed through examples.  PART VS. WHOLE

Purpose of Examples Thesis statement Smaller claim Illustrated example

For example:  “We didn’t want to put it in anybody’s food, but we wanted an object, a completion. There was no one we hated enough, that was the difficulty”  Smaller claim author is making:

Example:  “I can’t remember what we did with the poison in the end. Did we leave it under the corner of the house, which was made of wood and brownish yellow? Did we throw it at someone, some innocuous child?”

When reading…  Always looks for the relationship between the larger thesis statement, and the examples the writer has used.  MOST of the time, you will not be able to identify the thesis of the text as a whole if you do not identify the purpose of the examples (the smaller claims)

In conclusion:  The main components of a text:  The thesis statement  Which is made up of smaller claims  Which are established by examples and analysis of those examples  ***When identifying the thesis of a text, always look for key words***

As you read… Example illustrated by author (pg #). Purpose of this example (What claim does this example support?) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)