Close Reading Strategies

Reading: Deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from the text. Procedure Why it would have been unpleasant for them The newcomers had numbered tags pinned to their clothes. Just known as numbers and not people. Those who were not healthy were weeded out from the others They would be separated from their family.

Reading: Highlight key words to focus on. Procedure Why it would have been unpleasant for them The newcomers had numbered tags pinned to their clothes. Those who were not healthy were weeded out from the others

Tip 2 Icebergs Icebergs Weeds Unwanted plants Ripped out Removed Thrown away Clutter up garden Ruin garden Get in the way Sickly and week.

Tip 2 Icebergs * The big trees are described as Kings? What does this suggest about the trees? 1 mark Kings Noble and Majestic Powerful Rich and Royal Splendid Powerful and important Intimidating Rule over others and dominating

Strategy 3: Visualisation Make the words live – imagine or picture them and see the image as on a tv screen. Simile: She snored like a pig Metaphor: She is a pig

Reading: Now draw in the images from the words Procedure Why it would have been unpleasant for them The newcomers had numbered tags pinned to their clothes. Draw a numbered tag, a pin and pinned to clothes Those who were not healthy were weeded out from the others Weed, sick person, weed pulled out.

Reading: Interpret Information Procedure Why it would have been unpleasant for them The newcomers had numbered tags pinned to their clothes. Make them feel inferior, dehumanised, degraded Those who were not healthy were weeded out from the others Uncertain about future, inferior, cut off from others.

Explain and comment on writer’s uses of language, including grammatical and presentational features at text level. The city skyline loomed over them like a great Mountain range. What does the choice of language suggest About the skyline and its effect on the passengers. (2 marks)

The city skyline loomed over them like a great Explain and comment on writer’s uses of language, including grammatical and presentational features at text level. The city skyline loomed over them like a great Mountain range. What does the choice of language suggest About the skyline and its effect on the passengers. (2 marks) 1 mark for comment on physical appearance – size, position shape of the buildings The buildings were enormous Buildings one behind the other Outline of the sky was jaggered. 1 mark for comment on emotional Effect that recognises fear and wonder The skyline was frightening They were in awe of the buildings.

Identify and comment on writer’s purposes & viewpoints and the overall effect of the text on the reader Question 12 (2 marks) Towards the end of the conversation, Fatima says: “The world is becoming my home Explain how this suggests to the reader that Fatima has a positive view of her experiences.

Strategy 4: One line and brainstorm Think of questions, ideas, links, memories pictures The world is becoming my home: World: Lots of countries all over the globe and everywhere not just one country. Becoming: getting there gradually My: Feels like she owns it – it’s hers Home: comfortable, happy, safe.

Strategy 5: ‘Translation’ Imagine someone can’t understand you have to translate it into different words: “The world is becoming my home” Translate it to: The globe is starting to be where I live The planet is beginning to be where I live; it is “my place” This Earth is changing to be where I belong.

Strategy 6: Viewpoint (stand or attitude) Consider the writer’s strand on “home” Literally where would he or she stand in relation to it? Far off? Against? Negative? Close for positive. And Far off for Against. Where do you stand on mobile phone being banned in schools

Strategy 6: Viewpoint Continued What is the writer’s stand on this: Literally where would the writer stand in relation to it? What is her attitude? Writer – Far Off? Against? Writer – Close? For? The ability to speak different languages

Strategy 7: Give me Five! The newcomers had numbered tags pinned to their clothes: Explain: Who? New people, immigrants What? Were sorted, numbered like convicts When? In the past, just after they arrived How? Without feeling, treated like objects Why? To identify quickly, so many to process

Strategy 8: Ask 3! Ask the same question to three writers (in Tempest 3 Shakespeares) Compare their reasons or attitudes. Or ask 3 readers their reactions to the text: 2. I did that because… 3. I did that because… 1. I did that because…