Close reading requires carefully examining a text multiple times at different levels. First, read the entire text to understand the overall meaning or main idea. Then break the text down line-by-line or paragraph-by-paragraph to analyze individual parts and how they contribute to the whole. Close reading aims to uncover deeper layers of meaning in each word and phrase used by the author. After close reading, a reader should be able to use evidence from the text to write a summary.

1. Close Reading

2. Close Reading
•Close reading requires a lot of
REReading!
•First, you should read the text in its
entirety.
•Next, you should aim to understand the
main idea or “big picture” of the text.
•Break the text down either line by line or
by paragraph.
•A text can be full of meaning. Each line,
each WORD carries a lot of important
ideas.

3. Close Reading
•A close reading of a passage requires us
to dig deep into a text to determine all of
the meaning and purpose behind each
word.
•After doing a close reading you should be
able to use your evidence from the text to
write a summary of what you read.

5. Non-Fiction
Text Features
Title- tells you the topic you will be learning about.
Heading & Subheading- breaks the text up into small
important sections.
Bold or Italic Word- helps the readers know the words that are
important.
Picture or Illustration- gives the reader information visually
about the topic.
Caption- tells the reader what is happening in the picture.
Chart, Graph, Diagram, or Timeline- gives the reader extra
information about the text.
Map- helps the reader know where something is located in the
world.

6. Let’s Watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3kXnd4IR1I

7. Main Idea
•The main idea helps us understand what we are
reading about.
•The main idea of a paragraph is the point of the
passage minus the details.
•Good readers always ask themselves
“What is this paragraph mostly about?”
•The main idea is the BIG Picture.
•It is what the author wants us to know and what
they are teaching us.
•Some information in a paragraph is not important.
•All information in a paragraph should connect to
the main idea.

8. Let’s Watch!
http://www.brainpop.com/engli
sh/writing/mainidea/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WODvggcGWfU