The Check List of Writing a "Close Reading" Paper

I'm going to give you what I think will help.This is the basic stuff. With the passage, ask yourself the use of language, sentence structure, tone, and other little details that may arise that you think is important.(Close reading is like detective work. It is almost like reading between the lines of what the author is really trying to say). For ex: He seemed to think I was taking him for a ride. A ride that never ends. I could have taken him there. I could have taken him there. Oh, Oh, Oh, I could should have taken him there.1st, ask yourself, what how is language being used?Tone? Length of the sentences? Repetition of words and letters in relation to content? (Then go on with investigation!)

Language- It has a rhythmic tone. It is almost like you are taken for a ride yourself. The use of short sentences are important to notice also. Periods, commas, pauses, are also signs of expression coming from the author or the character so be aware of them. Repetition is also important since it may be a clue of what the passage means or what the character is secretly is trying to say. In this passage, the repetition of "Could" and "Oh" may be for a train? The Coo, coo sound.(Be creative). 2nd,sentence structure relates to juxtapositions, periods, commas, etcs. You have to look if the sentences are long or short. If the sentences are long, you have to ask yourself, why? Ex. The ride,He dared not ask where, and I did not wish to answer; draped in our own agony; sulking in leather chairs, we whimpered down to see the gates.AskAskAsk yourself, why did the author make this sentence so long?