Close Reading

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Close Reading

• Analysis

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Introduction

• Analysis questions ask you to think about how a
  writer has expressed ideas.
• Make sure you focus on how a writer is writing
  rather than what a writer is writing.
• Analysis questions have A next to them on the
  question paper.

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The Style

• Analysis questions will deal with all aspects of
  style.
• Look very carefully at the question and pick out
  what you need to analyse.
• We will look at
• Structure.
• Language.
• Tone.

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Structure

• The structure of a sentence is the way it is made
  up and how the elements are arranged.
• Important elements to look out for are
• The type of sentence.
• How the sentence is linked or separated by
  punctuation.
• The patterns of sentence structures.

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Sentence Structure 1 The type of sentence

• The following slides outline the 5 types of
  sentences you need to be aware of.
• Copy down the names, definitions and reasons for
  using the five main types of sentence.
• Copy down my examples, or write your own.

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Sentence Structure 1 The type of sentence

• A statement
• John is sitting down.
• Statements are usually in narrative or factual
  writing.

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Sentence Structure 1 The type of sentence

• A question
• Is John sitting down?
• Questions may be used in reflective or emotive
  writing. Note especially, the rhetorical
  question. This is a question to which no answer
  is really expected it may have the effect of a
  strong statement
• What time of night do you call this?

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Sentence Structure 1 The type of sentence

• An exclamation
• John is sitting down!
• Exclamations are used to convey a tone of
  amazement, shock or strong emotion.

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Sentence Structure 1 The type of sentence

• A command
• Sit down, John.
• Commands are used in instructions and in writing
  aiming to persuade, such as advertisements.

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Sentence Structure 1 The type of sentence

• A minor sentence
• Where the verb is omitted for dramatic effect
  usually, but not always, this is some form of the
  verb to be. For example
• He looked in his rear view mirror. Nothing
  coming.
• The words Nothing coming do make complete
  sense, despite the missing verb they are more
  than just a phrase. This is a more concise way of
  saying Nothing was coming. Minor sentences are
  used for various reasons
• To create impact, suspense or urgency
• To suggest informality
• As abbreviations in notes and diaries

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Paragraphing

• A new paragraph in a close reading passage
  usually marks a new stage in a narrative or
  argument.
• Paragraphing can be used for effect to make
  something stand out or to slow the action and
  create suspense.

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Punctuation

• You may be asked to comment on the use of
  punctuation. We all know about full-stops and
  question marks, but what about other types?
• Inverted commas used for titles, speech,
  quotations and to separate some words.
• Colons introduce a quotation, list or
  explanation.
• Semi-colons can separate a list or create a
  finishing pause.
• Parenthesis information is separated from the
  rest of a sentence. May be an explanation or some
  other kind of additional information.

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Sentence Patterns

• Sometimes sentences are written in a certain
  order for effect.
• Inversion
• A sentence written in reverse. Instead of the
  subject coming first (Flames leapt up and up),
  the rest of the sentence comes first (Up and up
  leapt the flames).
• Repetition
• Some words are repeated to make them stand out.
• Climax/Anti-climax
• Climax a list of words that get stronger.
• Anti-climax A list of words that get weaker.
• Antithesis
• A sentence with balanced statements (You can take
  the boy out of Scotland, but you cant take
  Scotland out the boy).
• Length
• Short or long? Why?

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Language

• The writer's use of language is an important
  element of style and meaning.
• We need to look for
• Formal vs informal language
• Literal / Figurative language
• Remember, these are analysis questions, asking
  how the writer writes.

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Formal vs Informal Language

• There is a simple distinction between formal and
  informal language

Formal Informal
Usually written No abbreviations Correct grammar and structure Wide range of word choice including technical and complicated words Impersonal tone the writer does not get involved personally with the topic Factual and accurate Spoken, or a written version of speech Uses shortened forms Grammar and structure not as important More common, everyday words used Personal approach (use of I, we, you) May include feelings and opinions
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Formal vs Informal Language...

• Within the formal/informal split, there are other
  examples to be familiar with
• Jargon (Formal) A special technical language
  associated with a certain field.
• Byte, Icon and Font are examples of
  computing jargon.
• Rhetorical language (Formal) Language used for
  effect in persuasion. Often tries to involve the
  reader or ask questions.
• How can we stop trying to succeed when victory
  is so close?
• Dialect and slang (Informal) Dialect is language
  used in a particular area Slang refers to
  conversational, non-standard communication.
• Ah hivnae got a clue whit ye're talkin' aboot

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Literal / Figurative Language

• Literal language means words are used to mean
  exactly what they say.
• Figurative language means using figures of speech
  and comparisons to write more expressively and
  effectively. We will look at
• Using comparisons
• Sound effects
• Overstating and understating
• Contrasts
• Old and New language

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Literal / Figurative Language

• Using comparisons
• Simile When something is compared to something
  else using like or as...as
• She cried like a baby
• His voice was as loud as a foghorn
• Metaphor When something is said to be something
  else
• She was a crying baby
• His mouth was a foghorn
• Personification Giving an inanimate object human
  or other living qualities
• The sun smiled in the sky

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Literal / Figurative Language

• Using comparisons how to answer
• Identify the imagery simile, metaphor or
  personification?
• Ask yourself what is being compared to what
• In what ways are the two things similar?
• How does the comparison help you to visualise the
  subject better?

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Literal / Figurative Language

• Sound effects
• Alliteration When several words together start
  with the same letter or sound.
• The clip-clop of clogs on the cobblestones
• Onomatopoeia When words imitate the sound they
  are describing.
• crash, bang, boom
• Pun A play on words which sound similar, giving
  a comic effect.
• Waiter, what's this?
• It's bean soup, sir
• I don't care what it's been. What is it now?

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Literal / Figurative Language

• Overstating and understating
• Hyperbole Deliberate exaggeration to emphasise
  something
• Is there anything to drink? I'm dying of
  thirst!
• Litotes The opposite of hyperbole deliberate
  understatement
• The teacher was slightly annoyed about my lack
  of homework
• Euphemism A less direct and less direct way of
  saying something unpleasant
• I have some bad news. I'm afraid your father has
  passed on
• Circumlocution To talk around something
  often used by politicians to avoid answering a
  question!
• Are you going to spend more on education, prime
  minister?
• The education of our young people is a
  government priority

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Literal / Figurative Language

• Contrasts
• Paradox A statement that appears to be a
  contradiction, but on closer inspection contains
  a truth
• To preserve the peace, prepare for war
• Oxymoron A condensed version of a paradox, with
  two opposites placed together
• Sweet and sour
• Juxtaposition Literally means side by side. An
  oxymoron contains two statements in juxtaposition

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Literal / Figurative Language

• Old and New Language
• Neologism An invention of a new word, usually to
  describe a new development where a word does not
  yet exist
• Recent examples filofax modem chav and
  emo
• Archaism Language from the past, no longer in
  use
• Examples thou, thy and thee
• Cliché A word or phrase that has become overused
• Examples In this day and age and thinking
  outside the box

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Tone...

• The tone of a piece of writing refers to the way
  in which it would be said if read aloud.
• The tone refers to a particular attitude or
  feeling conveyed by the writer.
• e.g. Consider the question - Where have you
  been? - Discuss with a partner how this would be
  read out in the following situations?
• - By someone welcoming their friend back from
  holiday
• - By someone to their friend they have not seen
  in a while
• - By a parent to a teenager who arrives home at
  4am.

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Different tones...

• Serious For important topics and passages.
• Within serious, the tone could be described as
  formal, ponderous (thoughtful), pompous
  (know-it-all) and even solemn (for sad pieces of
  writing.
• Humorous For more light-hearted and comical
  passages.
• Within humorous, the tone could be described as
  flippant (an irreverent attitude to something
  normally taken seriously), conversational (chatty
  and friendly) and ironic (saying the opposite of
  what one means for comic effect)

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Different tones continued...

• Effusive Used to persuade the reader.
• Emotive To stir emotions in the reader.
  Typically uses hyperbole, rhetorical language and
  imagery.
• And so on...Try not to simply describe the tone
  as serious or humorous use more descriptive
  words to describe the tone.