Close Reading Toolkit
Close reading slows the reader down. Instead of asking “What happens?”, it asks “How is this made, and what does the making do?”
Five layers
| Layer | Questions | What to mark |
|---|---|---|
| Diction | Why this word rather than a synonym? | Surprising, repeated or emotionally charged words. |
| Imagery | What picture is created? What senses are engaged? | Metaphor, simile, personification, sensory detail. |
| Syntax | How is the sentence built? Where does it turn? | Short or long sentences, fragments, repetition, punctuation. |
| Tone | What attitude does the speaker or narrator convey? | Shifts in formality, certainty, warmth or distance. |
| Structure | How does the passage move from beginning to end? | Turning points, contrasts, repetitions, openings and closings. |
An original passage to practise on
The following passage is written for this packet, so every choice can be discussed without copyright concerns:
The market closed slowly. First the fruit stalls folded their striped awnings, then the fishmonger hosed the concrete until the smell of the morning ran in a thin grey river toward the drain. Ana waited by the empty crate where her father used to sit. She did not look at the clock above the bank. She had already looked once, and the hands had not moved enough to matter.
Annotate it
- Underline the verbs. What do they suggest about the pace of the scene?
- Circle the sensory details. Which senses are used?
- Mark the sentence that changes direction. What changes?
- Note the repetition of looking and waiting. What does it reveal about Ana?
- Choose one word that carries the mood. What are its associations?
From annotation to commentary
A commentary is not a list of features. It explains how the features work together. For example: the slow verbs and the ordinary details make the market feel like it is packing itself away, while Ana's refusal to look at the clock shows that she is managing her hope by controlling what she notices. The passage does not say she is anxious; it makes the reader feel the effort of waiting.
Annotation symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Underline | Important diction or a repeated word. |
| Circle | An image or sensory detail. |
| Vertical line | A shift in tone, time or direction. |
| Question mark | Something unclear or worth exploring. |
| Arrow | A connection between two parts of the passage. |
Annotate to think, not to decorate. A page covered in highlighter is not close reading. The marks should record questions, patterns and connections you can explain later.