What is a key element in teaching close reading?

A key element in teaching close reading involves analyzing the text's language and structure. This approach focuses on examining how specific word choices, sentence structures, and literary devices contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the text. Close reading encourages students to engage deeply with the text, fostering a greater understanding of subtleties, themes, and nuances that may not be immediately apparent.

By analyzing language, students learn to appreciate the author's craft, noting how stylistic choices shape their interpretation. This critical engagement with the text promotes skills such as inference, interpretation, and critical thinking, which are essential for deeper literary comprehension.

In contrast, options like identifying plot twists, summarizing without analysis, or encouraging skimming do not facilitate the depth of understanding that close reading aims for. Plot twists can be important, but they do not encompass the comprehensive analysis required in this method. Summarizing without analysis lacks the critical component of interpreting the text, and skimming prevents thorough engagement, leading to a surface-level understanding rather than an in-depth reading experience.