Close Reading of Complex Texts

Close Reading of Complex

TextsDoug Fisher

www.fisherandfrey.com

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“Standard 10 defines a grade-by-grade‘staircase’ of increasing text complexity that rises from beginning readingto the college and career readiness level.” (CCSS, 2010, p. 80)

TextQuantitative Qualitative

ReaderCognitive capabilitiesMotivationKnowledgeExperience

TaskTeacher-ledPeer-ledIndependent

The Power of Perception

TextQuantitative Qualitative

ReaderCognitive capabilitiesMotivationKnowledgeExperience

TaskTeacher-ledPeer-ledIndependent

• Background• Prior• Cultural• Vocabulary

• Standard English• Variations• Register

• Genre• Organization• Narration• Text Features• Graphics

• Density and Complexity

• Figurative Language

• PurposeLevels of Meaning Structure

Knowledge Demands

Language Convention and Clarity

“Anyway, the fascinating thing was that I read in National Geographic that there are more people alive now than have died in all of human history. In other words, if everyone wanted to play Hamlet once, they couldn’t, because there aren’t enough skulls!”

—Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2005), p. 3

Text Complexity

Text Difficulty

To build strength

To build stamina

Less Complex

More Complex

Simply assigning hard books will not ensure that studentslearn at high levels!

Creating a Close Reading

Use a short passage

Re-reading

“Read with a pencil”

Text-dependent questions

Give students the chance to struggle a bit

Different Readings Have Different Foci

Initial reads of the textWhat does the text say?

After at least one readingHow does the text work?

Later readings of the text or related texts

What does the text mean?

Our goal with complex text is to slow the reader down.

1877

What does the text say? General Understanding

Who is delivering the speech?What happened?

What does the text say? General Understanding

Without yet knowing who Looking Glass and

Toohulhulsote are, what can we say about their roles in this

decision?

What does the text say? Key Details

What concerns does Chief Joseph have about the health and welfare of his people? How do you know?

Select some one in your group to read the speech aloud.

Add pauses, inflections, intonations, and emphasis (prosody) to the text.

How does the text work? Vocabulary

What does Chief Joseph mean when he says, “From where the sun now stands?”

How does the text work? Vocabulary

What is the tone of this speech? What words and

phrases support your claim?

How does the text work? Structure

How does the text structure convey Chief Joseph’s mood?

How does the text work? Structure

What is it about the use of the word forever in the last

line, “I will fight no more forever” that

makes this statement so memorable?

What does the text mean? Inferences

Who is Chief Joseph referring to when he says, “I want to have time to look

for my children”? What other parts of the speech support your claim?

Hollywood Portrayal of the Event

Chief Joseph succeeded his father as leader of the Wallowa band in 1871. Before his death, the father said to his son:

What does the text mean? Intertextual connections

“My son, my body is returning to my mother earth, and my spirit is going very soon to see the Great Spirit Chief. When I am gone, think of your country. You are the chief of these people. They look to you to guide them. Always remember that your father never sold his country. You must stop your ears whenever you are asked to sign a treaty selling your home. A few years more and white men will be all around you. They have their eyes on this land. My son, never forget my dying words. This country holds your father's body. Never sell the bones of your father and your mother.”

Joseph commented "I clasped my father's hand and promised to do as he asked. A man who would not

defend his father's grave is worse than a wild beast."

What does the text mean? Intertextual connections

How does this second passage help you to understand the speech? What inner conflict would Chief Joseph have experienced? Where do you see evidence of this conflict in the speech?

What is the role of courage in surrender? After reading and discussing Chief Joseph’s speech “I Will Fight No More Forever,” write an essay that defines courage and explains the courageousness of Chief Joseph’s decision. Support your discussion with evidence from the texts. What conclusions can you draw?

Constructed using Task Template 12: www.literacydesigncollaborative.org

Writing From Sources

The Day the Crayons Quit

What did Duncan find when he took his crayons out of the box one day?

Which crayons feel tired and overworked?

What are Yellow and Orange arguing about?

Use Key Details to Locate Evidence

Use Key Details to Locate Evidence

• How does Gray Crayon feel?• Why does Beige Crayon feel underused?• How does Blue Crayon feel?• To whom was Beige Crayon's letter written?• Why does Red Crayon write the letter to

Duncan?• According to Black Crayon, what is his main

job?

Which crayons appear sad? Embarrassed? How can you tell?

How does Duncan respond to the letters?

TDQs for Older Readers

Which crayons write letters that mostly use pathos (i.e., appeal to emotions) to convince Duncan to help them?How is Beige Crayon’s argument different stylistically from Pink and Black crayon? How does the structure of the letter allow the reader to gain an understanding of the Gray crayon’s point of view?

Close reading is

only a PART of high quality

instruction

Comprehension and Collaboration

1. Prepare for and participate in collaborations with

diverse partners, building on each others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

K-2 Features• Following the rules of discussion• Moving from participation to turn taking• Sustaining discussion through questioning• Adult support

3-5 Features• Preparation for discussion• Yielding and gaining the floor• Posing and responding to questions• From explaining own ideas to explaining the

ideas of others

6-8 Features• Using evidence to probe and reflect• Collegial discussions include goals and deadlines• Questions connect ideas from several speakers• Acknowledge new information

9-10 Features• Use prepared research in discussion• Voting, consensus, and decision making• Ensure hearing full range of opinions or options• Summarize and synthesize points of disagreement

11-12 Features• Civil, democratic discussions• Questions probe reasoning and evidence• Resolving contradictions• Determine what additional info is needed

Students still need to read

texts independently

Thank you!