Higher Close Reading

1
Higher Close Reading

• Analysis

2
Reading the Question

• Make sure you recognise what you are to do do in
  an analysis question. In your answer are you
  being asked to refer to

• Named features
• A closed list of features
• An open list of features
• The writers language and make your own list

• How many features?
• One or another?
• One and another
• One and/or another
• More than one

3
Word Choice

• When you are being asked about word choice you
  are being asked to look at the words and see why
  the writer has chosen those particular words
  rather than any other similar words.
• Think!!! What would be the effects of describing
  someone as underweight? What about slim? Or
  skinny?
• Each has different connotations

4
Denotation and Connotation

• Denotation the plain, basic meaning. If you
  are asked an Understanding question about a word
  or phrase, what you are trying to give is its
  basic meaning in the context
• Connotation when you are asked about word
  choice in an Analysis question you are asked to
  give the ideas the word suggests that contribute
  to its its impact or effect.

5
So what does this mean in practice?

• Word Denotation Connotation

underweight skinny slim
thin thin thin
A clinical, medical sort of picture, in need of
treatment. The context might be disadvantaged
people
unattractive, bony, angular (Context?)
attractive, healthy, elegant, neat (Context)
6
Example 1 Show how the word choice in these
lines helps point up the contrast described here.
(2A)

• Transferring the sultry sensuality of a Latin
  street dance to Edinburgh on a wet winters night
  would not appear the easiest of tasks. The rain
  batters the glass roof of the studio, competing
  in volume with the merengue blaring from the
  sound sytem. In the back ground, the castle, lit
  up, stares down grandly against the foreboding
  skies.
• (Write down the words you might choose.)

7
Method

• You are asked for a contrast
• You will need to look for two examples of word
  choice one for each side
• Quote the first choice and suggest its
  connotations
• Quote the second choice and suggest how it
  connotes the opposite

8
Example 1 Show how the word choice in these
lines helps point up the contrast described here.
(2A)

• Transferring the sultry sensuality of a Latin
  street dance to Edinburgh on a wet winters night
  would not appear the easiest of tasks. The rain
  batters the glass roof of the studio, competing
  in volume with the merengue blaring from the
  sound sytem. In the back ground, the castle, lit
  up, stares down grandly against the foreboding
  skies.

9
Answer

• Sultry sensuality suggests something hot and
  sexy which is normally associated with warm sunny
  places in contrast with foreboding skies which
  suggests something dark and threatening and
  gloomy (or) wet winters night which suggests
  cold and damp, which is inhibiting to the
  emotions.
• The rain batter suggests an assault on the
  roof, as if the rain is trying to get in and
  drown out the dancing in contrast with merengue
  blaring which also suggests something loud but
  this time enjoyable and creating a party
  atmosphere.

10
Summary

• Quote the exact word or phrase. Do not leave it
  unidentified in a longer piece of the passage
• Give the connotations of the word/phrase, not its
  literal meaning (denotation) using the word
  suggests
• Now try some examples for yourself