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Closely Reading Nonfiction

Close reading is active reading. Instead of simply skimming over a text, you engage it, question it, and think about it. Yes, you might start by looking at the heading, noting the source, and trying to get a sense of what you are about to read. But then you should read carefully, annotating the text as you go: underline important concepts, jot notes in the margin, and write questions that occur to you. After you finish reading, you should ask and answer the 5 W's and H about the topic, making sure you fully understand the reading.

You can practice this process by closely reading the following passage and answering questions about it.

Closely read an excerpt.

Read the following excerpt from Plato's Phaedrus, a dialogue in which the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates reflects on how writing changes people's thinking. First survey the piece, reading the heading and first sentences and getting a sense of what it is about. As you read, annotate the text, underlining key ideas and jotting down notes and questions. Afterward, answer the 5 W's and H about the reading. Make a copy of this Google doc or download a Word template.

Listen to "Excerpt from Plato's Phaedrus"

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  1. Who wrote this piece, and who is featured as the narrator of the piece?

  2. What is the excerpt about?

  3. Where and when was this text originally written and read?

  4. Why did the writer create this text? (What was he trying to do?)

  5. How does the writer make his point? What literary devices does he use?

  6. Do you agree or disagree with the excerpt? Why?

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