Home Free Printables Literacy 8th Grade Grade 8 Primary Sources & DBQ — U.S. History — Reading Comprehension — Close Reading Preview — download the full PDF for print-quality output
Literacy 8th Grade Ages 13–14
Grade 8 Primary Sources & DBQ — U.S. History — Reading Comprehension — Close Reading Free printable reading comprehension passage about close reading. Students read the passage and answer questions to build understanding. For 8th Grade (ages 13–14).
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Close Reading Read the passage, then answer the questions below. Close reading, rooted in the New Criticism movement of the mid-20th century, treats a text as a self-contained artifact whose meaning emerges from careful analysis of language, structure, and literary devices. A close reader examines diction (why this word and not a synonym?), syntax (how does sentence length create rhythm or tension?), figurative language (what do metaphors reveal about the author's argument?), and structural choices (why does the essay begin with a question?). Annotation is the close reader's primary tool—marginalia, underlining, and coded symbols create a dialogue with the text. In academic and professional contexts, close reading is foundational: lawyers parse contracts for precise meaning, scientists scrutinize methodology sections, and policy analysts dissect legislation. The skill transfers because all rigorous reading demands the same question: what exactly does this text say, and how does it say it? Questions: 1 What literary movement popularized close reading as a method? 2 How does analyzing syntax contribute to understanding a text? 3 Why is close reading valuable beyond English class? www.littleactivity.com 8th Grade — Page 1
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Close Reading Read the passage, then answer the questions below. Close reading, rooted in the New Criticism movement of the mid-20th century, treats a text as a self-contained artifact whose meaning emerges from careful analysis of language, structure, and literary devices. A close reader examines diction (why this word and not a synonym?), syntax (how does sentence length create rhythm or tension?), figurative language (what do metaphors reveal about the author's argument?), and structural choices (why does the essay begin with a question?). Annotation is the close reader's primary tool—marginalia, underlining, and coded symbols create a dialogue with the text. In academic and professional contexts, close reading is foundational: lawyers parse contracts for precise meaning, scientists scrutinize methodology sections, and policy analysts dissect legislation. The skill transfers because all rigorous reading demands the same question: what exactly does this text say, and how does it say it? Questions: 1 What literary movement popularized close reading as a method? 2 How does analyzing syntax contribute to understanding a text? 3 Why is close reading valuable beyond English class? www.littleactivity.com 8th Grade — Page 1
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