The document discusses the technique of close reading, which involves carefully analyzing a text on multiple levels, including annotation, analyzing individual words and sentences, and examining rhetorical devices. It advocates an active engagement with the text through marking it up, taking notes, paraphrasing passages, and noting connections between ideas. The goal is to have an in-depth conversation with the text through slow, deep analysis on word, sentence, and whole-text levels.

1. Close Reading
Walker Percy

2. Close Reading:

3. Close Reading:
Using annotation, word-by-word, sentence-
by-sentence, and rhetorical analysis to dig
deep into a complex text

4. Close Reading:
Using annotation, word-by-word, sentence-
by-sentence, and rhetorical analysis to dig
deep into a complex text
Active, not passive

5. Close Reading:
Using annotation, word-by-word, sentence-
by-sentence, and rhetorical analysis to dig
deep into a complex text
Active, not passive
More like a conversation

6. rhetorical analysis:

7. rhetorical analysis:
“Toolkit” (p. 98)

8. rhetorical analysis:
“Toolkit” (p. 98)
Author, Audience, Purpose

9. rhetorical analysis:
“Toolkit” (p. 98)
Author, Audience, Purpose
Three Appeals:
Pathos
Ethos
Logos

10. rhetorical analysis:
“Toolkit” (p. 98)
Author, Audience, Purpose
Three Appeals:
Pathos
Ethos
Logos
Not just what the author says, but how
the author says it

11. annotation:

12. annotation:
Marking up a text

13. annotation:
Marking up a text
On paper:
Highlighting
Margin notes

14. annotation:
Marking up a text
On paper:
Highlighting
Margin notes
On screen:
Techniques vary

15. annotation:
Marking up a text
On paper:
Highlighting
Margin notes
On screen:
Techniques vary
Most important:
Mark important passages
Write notes and comments right on
the text
Mark up as you read

16. word-by-word:
sentence-by-sentnece:

17. word-by-word:
sentence-by-sentnece:
Go slow

18. word-by-word:
sentence-by-sentnece:
Go slow
Examine words familiar and unfamiliar
both

19. word-by-word:
sentence-by-sentnece:
Go slow
Examine words familiar and unfamiliar
both
Paraphrase and summarize in your head
and on paper

20. word-by-word:
sentence-by-sentnece:
Go slow
Examine words familiar and unfamiliar
both
Paraphrase and summarize in your head
and on paper
Think about connections between ideas

21. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

22. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

23. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

24. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

25. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
•Appropriate:
•Symbolic Complex:
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

26. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
•
Appropriate: Take the Grand Canyon, the thing as it
almost impossible because something for one’s own use, typically is, has
beenwithout the owner’sthe symbolic complexAmerican Dictionary) been
appropriated by approval (New Oxford which has already
•
Symbolic Complex:
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
•Symbolic: the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
circumstances is seeing
•Complex: as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
no longer the thing
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

27. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
•
Appropriate: Take the Grand Canyon, the thing as it
almost impossible because something for one’s own use, typically is, has
beenwithout the owner’sthe symbolic complexAmerican Dictionary) been
appropriated by approval (New Oxford which has already
•
Symbolic Complex:
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
•Symbolic: Representing or standing in for something else is
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing
•Complex: as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
no longer the thing
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

28. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
•Appropriate: one’s back yard one’s own directly at
a strange object from Take something forand gazes use, typically it? It is
without the owner’s approval (New Oxford American Dictionary) has
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is,
been
•appropriatedComplex: complex which has already been
Symbolic by the symbolic
formed
•in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the in for something else
Symbolic: Representing or standing
canyon under approved
•Complex: (Psychoanalysis) a related group of on. The thing is
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head
emotionally
significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and
no longer the thing as conflict leading the Spaniard; it is states that
that cause psychic it confronted to abnormal mental rather
or behavior.
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

29. what was that?

30. •Symbolic: Representing or standing in for something else
•Complex: (Psychoanalysis) a related group of emotionally
significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and
that cause psychic conflict leading to abnormal mental states
or behavior.

31. It is almost impossible because the Grand
Canyon, the thing as it is, has been
appropriated by the symbolic complex which
has already been formed in the sightseer’s
mind.

32. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

33. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

34. let’s try:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

35. •Symbolic: Representing or standing in for something else
•Complex: (Psychoanalysis) a related group of emotionally
significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and
that cause psychic conflict leading to abnormal mental states
or behavior.

36. •Symbolic: Representing or standing in for something else
So, the postcard and guidebook and tourist folders are
now standing in for the canyon itself?
•Complex: (Psychoanalysis) a related group of emotionally
significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and
that cause psychic conflict leading to abnormal mental states
or behavior.

37. •Symbolic: Representing or standing in for something else
So, the postcard and guidebook and tourist folders are
now standing in for the canyon itself?
•Complex: (Psychoanalysis) a related group of emotionally
significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and
that cause psychic conflict leading to abnormal mental states
or behavior.
And those “symbols” of the canyon are repressed?
No—what’s repressed is the canyon itself!

38. here it is again:
(5th paragraph)
Why is it almost impossible to gaze directly at the Grand Canyon
under these circumstances and see it for what it is—as one picks up
a strange object from one’s back yard and gazes directly at it? It is
almost impossible because the Grand Canyon, the thing as it is, has
been appropriated by the symbolic complex which has already been
formed in the sightseer’s mind. Seeing the canyon under approved
circumstances is seeing the symbolic complex head on. The thing is
no longer the thing as it confronted the Spaniard; it is rather that
which has already been formulated—by picture postcard, geography
book, tourist folders, and the words Grand Canyon.

39. note:

40. note:
This can take a while

41. note:
This can take a while
Notice what you don’t know and what
you don’t understand

42. note:
This can take a while
Notice what you don’t know and what
you don’t understand
Go back, connect ideas, and paraphrase
in your own words

43. note:
This can take a while
Notice what you don’t know and what
you don’t understand
Go back, connect ideas, and paraphrase
in your own words
Don’t worry if you don’t understand

44. note:
This can take a while
Notice what you don’t know and what
you don’t understand
Go back, connect ideas, and paraphrase
in your own words
Don’t worry if you don’t understand
Keep going, even if you feel bored, tired,
or frustrated