Close reading is a crucial skill in the analysis of any written text, including literature. Beth Burke defines "close reading" this way:"Close reading is thoughtful, critical analysis of a text that f

Close reading is a crucial skill in the analysis of any written text, including literature. Beth Burke defines "close reading" this way:

"Close reading is thoughtful, critical analysis of a text that focuses on significant details or patterns in order to develop a deep, precise understanding of the text’s form, craft, meanings, etc. It ... directs the reader’s attention to the text itself.

"Close reading includes:

• Using short passages and excerpts
• Diving right into the text with limited pre-reading activities
• Focusing on the text itself
• Rereading deliberately
• Reading with a pencil
• Noticing things that are confusing
• Discussing the text with others ...
• Responding to text-dependent questions"

"A Close Look at Close Reading." <http://nieonline.com/tbtimes/downloads/CCSS_reading.pdf> (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved 22 Mar. 2017.

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Assignment Instructions:

1. Carefully read "How to Do a Close Reading." (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
2. OPTIONAL: Watch"Close Reading Literature - by Rowan Professor Bruce Plourde" (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.(approx. 7 min.)
3. OPTIONAL: Read these examples (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. of close readings to get a sense of what a close reading might look like.
4. OPTIONAL: Read this example of a close reading (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and the professor's response to it. This one is much longer than the examples in 3, above, and much longer than what I want you to write, but the professor's comments at the end are especially worth reading.
5. OPTIONAL: Refer to this guide to literary terms (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (or any other good guide) as necessary.
6. Re-read "Recitatif."
7. Write a close reading of 200 to 300 words that starts with a main argument (thesis) that specifically ties the elements of this passage to the meaning that the passage conveys:

It really wasn't bad, St. Bonny's. The big girls on the second floor pushed us around now and then. But that was all. They wore lipstick and eyebrow pencil and wobbled their knees while they watched TV. Fifteen, sixteen, even, some of them were. They were put-out girls, scared runaways most of them. Poor little girls who fought their uncles off but looked tough to us, and mean. God did they look mean. The staff tried to keep them separate from the younger children, but sometimes they caught us watching them in the orchard where they played radios and danced with each other. They'd light out after us and pull our hair or twist our arms. We were scared of them, Roberta and me, but neither of us wanted the other one to know it. So we got a good list of dirty names we could shout back when we ran from them through the orchard. I used to dream a lot and almost always the orchard was there. Two acres, four maybe, of these little apple trees. Hundreds of them. Empty and crooked like beggar women when I first came to St. Bonny's but fat with flowers when I left. I don't know why I dreamt about that orchard so much. Nothing really happened there. Nothing all that important, I mean. Just the big girls dancing and playing the radio. Roberta and me watching. Maggie fell down there once. The kitchen woman with legs like parentheses. And the big girls laughed at her. We should have helped her up, I know, but we were scared of those girls with lipstick and eyebrow pencil. Maggie couldn't talk. The kids said she had her tongue cut out, but I think she was just born that way: mute. She was old and sandy-colored and she worked in the kitchen. I don't know if she was nice or not. I just remember her legs like parentheses and how she rocked when she walked. She worked from early in the morning till two o'clock, and if she was late, if she had too much cleaning and didn't get out till two-fifteen or so, she'd cut through the orchard so she wouldn't miss her bus and have to wait another hour. She wore this really stupid little hat—a kid's hat with ear flaps—and she wasn't much taller than we were. A really awful little hat. Even for a mute, it was dumb—dressing like a kid and never saying anything at all.

Your close reading must be a Microsoft Word document. Please get as close to MLA formatting as you can.

For references to "Recitatif," you don't need to provide in-text citations or a Works Cited page since it is obvious that you are talking about that story. You do not need any other sources; this is not a research paper. I would prefer that you focus just on the story, without using other sources. In fact, please do not read any external sources (web pages, articles, etc.) on "Recitatif." I want you to practice analyzing a written text (a skill that is useful not just in literary studies but in all aspects of reading written texts).

Rubric

Close Reading RubricClose Reading RubricCriteriaRatingsPtsThis criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCompleteness5.0 ptsMeets expectations: All components and requirements of assignment are present.4.0 ptsNearly meets expectations: Most components and requirements of assignment are present.3.0 ptsNeeds improvement: Some important component(s) and/or requirement(s) are absent.2.0 ptsDoes not meet expectations: Several components and/or requirements are absent.5.0 ptsThis criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThesis15.0 ptsExceeds expectations: Identifies and introduces the central themes and ideas of the text in the introduction. Shows control of these ideas in the topic sentences and with the evidence used to support the arguments. Thesis/argument is compelling, original, specific, and includes a well-crafted position and rationale.12.0 ptsMeets expectations: Identifies and introduces the central themes and ideas of the text in the introduction. Introduces these ideas with the topic sentences and with the evidence used to support the arguments. Thesis/argument is specific, and includes a well-crafted position and rationale.9.0 ptsNeeds improvement : May identify and introduce the central themes and ideas of the text in the introduction. Sometimes introduces these ideas with the topic sentences and with the evidence used to support the arguments. Thesis/argument may be present and may not include an effective position and/or rationale.6.0 ptsDoes not meet expectations: Does not identify or introduce the central themes and ideas of the text in the introduction. Central ideas are not conveyed in the topic sentences and with the evidence used to support the arguments is ineffective or off-topic. Thesis/argument may be present but does not include an effective position and/or rationale.15.0 ptsThis criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTextual Analysis60.0 ptsExceeds expectations: Offers in-depth analysis of source details such as point of view, action, conflict, contradictions, imagery, and/or allusions through diction, syntax, phrasing, and tone in the passage used as the textual evidence. Offers a complex reading of these elements that informs the meaning of the larger work as a whole.53.0 ptsMeets expectations: Offers analysis of source details such as point of view, action, conflict, contradictions, imagery, and/or allusions through diction, syntax, phrasing, and tone in the passage used as the textual evidence. Attempts a complex reading of these elements that informs the meaning of the larger work as a whole, but may occasionally fall short.45.0 ptsNeeds improvement: Offers some analysis of source details such as point of view, action,conflict, contradictions, imagery, and allusions through diction, syntax, phrasing, and tone in the passage used as the textual evidence. Attempts a reading of these elements that informs the meaning of the larger work as a whole, but may occasionally fall short or may not make effective connections. Student may offer plot summery in lieu of analysis.39.0 ptsDoes not meet expectations: Offers little if any analysis of source details such as point of view, action, conflict, contradictions, imagery, and allusions through diction, syntax, phrasing, and tone in the passage used as the textual evidence. The attempt at reading these elements that informs the meaning of the larger work as a whole may not be present or may be superficial. Reading may be unconnected to the meaning or theme of the larger work.60.0 ptsThis criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeFormatting10.0 ptsExceeds expectations. Exceeds expectations: Student has followed the appropriate formatting conventions for academic writing in this discipline to an exceptional degree.8.0 ptsMeets expectations: Student has followed the appropriate formatting conventions for academic writing in this discipline for the most part, but a few deviations are evident.4.0 ptsNeeds improvement: Student has partially followed the appropriate formatting conventions for academic writing in this discipline, but significant deviations are evident.2.0 ptsDoes not meet expectations: Student has not followed the appropriate formatting conventions for academic writing in this discipline.10.0 ptsThis criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanics of Writing10.0 ptsExceeds expectations. Generally free from errors in word choice and mechanics.8.0 ptsMeets expectations: May have a few errors in word choice and mechanics.4.0 ptsNeeds improvement: Issues with writing mechanics causes some difficulty in understanding some ideas.2.0 ptsNeeds improvement: Numerous errors in word choice and mechanics often obscures meaning.0.0 ptsNo Marks10.0 ptsTotal Points: 100.0