Which of the following best describes close reading?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes close reading?

Close reading means carefully rereading a text multiple times to uncover how meaning is built, how the craft—word choice, sentence structure, imagery, tone, and organization—contributes to that meaning, and how the reader can support interpretations with specific evidence from the text. This approach stays with the text, asking precise questions and collecting exact quotes or details to back up what you claim about the passage. This is why it’s the best description: meaning isn’t just what the text says on the surface, but how the author uses craft to convey ideas, and how those choices shape interpretation. You’re not just reading for gist; you’re examining the evidence the text provides and showing how each piece fits into a larger argument or effect. In contrast, a rapid skim focuses on quick, surface features, a keyword search misses how ideas unfold through craft, and interpreting without textual support relies on guesses rather than actual quotes or details. Close reading ties interpretation to concrete textual evidence and a considered look at how the text achieves its purpose.

Close reading means carefully rereading a text multiple times to uncover how meaning is built, how the craft—word choice, sentence structure, imagery, tone, and organization—contributes to that meaning, and how the reader can support interpretations with specific evidence from the text. This approach stays with the text, asking precise questions and collecting exact quotes or details to back up what you claim about the passage.

This is why it’s the best description: meaning isn’t just what the text says on the surface, but how the author uses craft to convey ideas, and how those choices shape interpretation. You’re not just reading for gist; you’re examining the evidence the text provides and showing how each piece fits into a larger argument or effect. In contrast, a rapid skim focuses on quick, surface features, a keyword search misses how ideas unfold through craft, and interpreting without textual support relies on guesses rather than actual quotes or details. Close reading ties interpretation to concrete textual evidence and a considered look at how the text achieves its purpose.

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