Introduction+to+Close+and+Critical+Reading

Introduction to Close and Critical Reading
===Close reading of a text involves observing facts and details in the text. The reader may focus on a particular passage, or the text as a whole. The purpose is to determine the explicit content of the passage. The reader is able to summarize the gist or central idea of the text. This is "first draft" reading. === ===Critical reading of a text involves beginning to analyze the text. The reader focuses on different aspects of the text including the writer’s craft, text structure, and purpose. How was the text written to convey the author’s ideas and purpose? What perspective is conveyed? The reader must re-read to glean this information. === ===After both reading the text closely and critically, the reader determines the big idea or theme/thesis of the passage. The final step involves synthesis and application. The reader articulates what the text means to his/her life and to the lives of others. ===