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close reading Essay Examples

6 total results

A Close Reading Analysis of Willa Cather’s O Pioneers (943 words, 4 pages)

When reading Willa Cather's "O Pioneers!", one can get lost easily inthe world of the Divide. What is nice about this story is that thenarrator spectates the story so we see everyone involved, and howtroubling their lives can be, and how happy they can be aswell.Following deeper analysis while reading ... Read More

Various Approaches to Interpreting Language, Close Reading and Influences on Identity in Jonathan Culler’s Writings (629 words, 3 pages)

In Fridays chapters of the reading by Jonathan Culler, he details various approaches to interpreting language, close reading, and influences on identity. In other words, these chapters discuss a lot of the same concepts thatwevebeen working on applying in class. It was helpful to get another perspective, and it really ... Read More

Close Reading of Amnesia: The Dark Descent’s Opening Moments and Mechanics (1001 words, 3 pages)

The topic I've chosen for my close reading is the game Amnesia TheDark Descent, a Survival-Horror game developed by Frictional Games andreleased in 2010. As a foreward, the game is several hours long (5depending on the player), and thus impossible to fully analyze in a mere1000 words, so I'll be ... Read More

A Close Reading of the Factors of Slavery and Morality in Frederick Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (566 words, 2 pages)

My analysis or close readingIn this section of Frederick Douglasss Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass zooms in on a single, small task involving the care of horses that a mere two slaves must perform. In order for the scene to act as a simile with the treatment ... Read More

A Family Bonding: Close Reading (687 words, 1 pages)

Close ReadingIt mattered that education was changing me. It never ceased to matter. My brother and sisters would giggle at our mother s mispronounced words. They d correct her gently. My mother laughed girlishly one night, trying not to pronounce sheep as ship. From a distance I listened sullenly. From ... Read More

A Close Reading of Shakespeare’s Play Titus Andronicus (3465 words, 5 pages)

A close reading of TITUS ANDRONICUS Act 3 Scene1 Lines 1-22 Study Questions How is this scene a pivotal moment in the play? What persona does Titus shed? What persona does Titus become? Why does Titus cry for these two sons sentenced to death? Why has Titus not cried for ... Read More

Published: Friday 25th of January 2013

Close Reading Essay Example

In-Depth Reading

A close reading essay is a type of academic paper that analyzes a piece of work in great depth, hence the word “close” in close reading. Unlike other analyses that may get you focusing on the essential themes of a piece, close reading focuses on details and allows you to substantiate any claims you make with relevant examples from the piece of text you’re examining. In the close reading, you’ll only focus on the key parts of the work that stands out the most and back these with relevant examples, not every nuanced detail you could care to find. So how can you write a great close reading essay? Follow these four simple steps to get you well on your way to success.

Step One

First of all, it goes without saying that you need to read your work, but once you’ve read it, re-reading is a key. Then if you have time, read your piece several times. The purpose of this is not to exercise a sense of tedium, but rather to gather any essential information that you may need. As you’re re-reading, keep in mind anything that stands out to you and keeps your analytical thinking cap on. Were there any symbols that caught your interest? Are there any metaphors or literary devices? Make a note of anything that arouses your interest.

Step Two

Based on the notes you have so easily gotten down, take this multitude of observations and put together something that seems a bit more coherent in terms of gathering and collating. What has aroused an interest the most and why something has or has not made sense to you? Create groups of your observations so that you can write about them in a more structured way within your essay. A flowing and smooth structure will be essential for a coherent essay.

Step Three

It’s not time to flesh out your main points with some clever and relevant writing. Present all of your points in a logical and coherent way - you don't want an essay that just outlines a series of disparate points and ideas. Do a little analysis and try to explain, which point is the most important in light of all the detail. Make the reader aware of what you know and present the information to them in a way so that it makes sense. Be sure to substantiate any points with examples and observations from your said text to really get your point across.

Step Four

Stage four, and then please no more! Go over your piece of text one more time just to see if you’ve missed anything. Simple, effective and essential. So if you follow these four simple steps you’ll be sure to be on your way to a decent essay. Don’t forget the obvious, proofread and double check. You’d be surprised how many people forget to do this, but it’s super necessary.