Close Reading

1
Close Reading

• A step by step guide

2
Question Types

• There are nine key question types at Intermediate
  Two level.
• There are step by step instructions for how to
  answer each of these question types
• You must be able to recognise these questions
• You must use the steps to answer them

3
Basic Meaning Questions

• These questions test your basic understanding of
  the text.
• Always answer in your own words as far as
  possible. Remember you do this by
• Changing the words
• Changing the order of the words
• Changing the parts of speech or
• Simplifying
• Pay attention to the number of marks awarded for
  these questions and give an answer of appropriate
  length.

4
Context Questions

• These questions ask you to show that you
  understand the meaning of a word by looking at
  the words around them their context.
• Step 1 Explain the meaning of the word
• Step 2 quote words from the context that suggest
  this meaning
• Step 3 Explain what is suggested by the words
  that you quoted and how this helps to suggest the
  original meaning.

5
Word Choice Question

• Word choice questions ask you to consider why a
  writer has used a word or group of words, and
  what effect they are trying to create.
• Step 1 Quote the words that you are being asked
  to consider
• Step 2 Explain the connotations or associated
  meanings of these words
• Step 3 Highlight the use of any figures of
  speech metaphor, euphemism, hyperbole etc

6
Structure Questions

• These questions ask you to show that you
  understand and can recognise the writers use of
  punctuation, sentence length, and patterns
• Step 1Identify the punctuation or structural
  technique
• Step 2 Explain the effect created by this
  technique and link it to the passage.

7
Link Questions

• These questions ask you to consider the way that
  paragraphs or sections of paragraphs are linked
  together
• Step 1 Quote the section of the link sentence
  that refers back to the previous paragraph
• Step 2 Explain the idea that it links back to
• Step 3 Quote the section of the link sentence
  that refers forward to the next paragraph
• Step 4 Explain the idea that it links forward to
• Step 5 Highlight key connective words

8
Tone Questions

• These questions ask you to identify the attitude
  of the writer towards their chosen topic. You
  have to show that you understand how the author
  feels about the subject they are discussing.
• Step 1 Identify the tone (start by working out
  whether it is positive or negative, formal or
  informal and ask yourself what has given you this
  impression
• Step 2 Quote words or phrases that suggest this
  tone
• Step 3Explain why the quotations suggest the
  tone you have identified

9
Imagery Questions

• These questions require you to identify an image,
  the technique used to create it and comment on
  the effectiveness of it
• Step 1 State what technique is being used
  (simile, metaphor or personification)
• Step 2 Identify the literal and figurative
  objects in the comparison
• Step 3 Identify the qualities that the two
  things have in common (size, texture, appearance,
  temperature, smell etc)
• Step 4 Explain why the comparison is effective
  in the context of the passage

10
Contrast Questions

• These questions require you to understand
  comparisons and the reasons that the
• Step 1 Explain what two things are being
  contrasted or compared you may wish to quote
  here
• Step 2 Identify what is similar about the
  contrasted items
• Step 3 Identify what is different about the
  contrasted items
• Step 4 Comment on the effect created by the
  contrast in terms of the passage as a whole

11
Evaluation Questions

• This requires you to give your opinion on the
  effectiveness of a technique, or conclusion of an
  article.
• Step 1 Give your opinion effective or not?
• Step 2 Explain what is effective about it
• Look for links to other sections in the passage
• Look for links in terms of the meaning the writer
  is trying to convey.

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Tag Answer Analysis

• When you get a CR paper back. Tally up the number
  of marks lost against the reasons why you have
  lost them in order to give yourself clear targets
  
• QU question not attempted
• RPC Read the passage more carefully
• RQ Read the question more carefully
• OW use your own words
• More detail and information is required
• NA not accurate
• E expressed or explained badly
• QC Quotation and comment required