Short Assignment #2

SA2: Close Reading
Due: Tuesday, March 4th

For your second short assignment, you will be writing a 1-2 page response based on a close reading of a paragraph or section from the short story you will be writing on for the Short Essay #1 assignment.

Assignment Description:

You will choose a substantial paragraph or section (group of a few short paragraphs) from the story you have decided to write about in your SE1. You will perform a close reading of the chosen passage and write a 1-2 page response which details, in an organized presentation, your findings. You may have a general idea of the larger argument you want to make in you first short essay, or this argument may still be developing. Either way, this exercise will help you clarify, substantiate, or redirect your argument, feeding into your short essay. For this reason, I recommend choosing a passage that you think will be important to the argument you are forming. Type out the passage that you are using for your close reading at the beginning of your assignment, single spaced. You may directly use work from this assignment in your short essay.

What is a close reading?

Close reading is the practice of carefully analyzing a passage, word by word, in order to draw implications from the text. Close reading means not only understanding the meaning of individual words, it also means familiarizing yourself with the nuances and connotations of language used by skilled writers. This includes vocabulary, sentence construction, imagery, themes, the way in which the story is told, and the world view offered in the text. 

Identify the context in which the passage appears and analyze its significance.Where exactly does the passage appear in the piece and why is its placement important? 

Analyze the implications of the language in the passage. Explore the subtler connotations of the words, allusions, and expressions used. Consult the Oxford English Dictionary on words you are unfamiliar with. Remember also that the meaning and connotations of words change over time and it is important to understand what specific words meant to the author in their historical-linguistic context. What kinds of metaphors and other figures of speech does the passage employ? How does the style and word choice tie into larger issues in the story? 

Draw a few comparisons or conclusions about the passage in relationship to the rest of the story. How has your close reading illuminated the subtler meanings of the passage? Why might these be important to the story as a whole?

Formatting Requirements:

Use MLA formatting guidelines, which include 1-inch margins, a standard 12 point font, such as Times, double spacing (except for passage), page numbers in the upper right corner with your last name as a running header, and the appropriate initial header information in upper left hand corner of the first page:

Name 

Course and Section Number

Date (Example- 1 March 2014)

Submission:

You will email your completed assignment to me as a word attachment (.doc or .docx). Name the document based on the following format: Last Name-SA2.docx. Remember, all email communication should be professional and include a subject and salutations.