When we read informational texts, we read to figure out what an article is teaching us. Using the close reading ritual can help us make our thinking stronger and more sophisticated. When we read with the lens of word choice, we look carefully at the kinds of words and phrases an author has chosen to use.
Remember when we were looking at those advertisements? You were able to gain a new understanding after paying close attention to the words the advertisers were using. You applied that same thinking when reading narrative texts through the lens of word choice. You can use that same careful attention and apply it to when you are reading info texts, as well.
Read Kids Health - Hand Washing and think about the topic. Let's narrow our focus and pay attention to particular details by close reading through the lens of "word choice".
Now let's complete the chart, and see how the words can give us a better understanding of the text.
You try it. Reread Kids Health - Hand Washing and fill out the (Close Reading Chart - Hand Washing - Word Choice). The first one has been done for you as an example.
Use these "Phrases for Reflection" to help you start your new understanding.
One pattern I see is with words like ...
Some words fit together, like . They make me feel ...
These words fit together because they sound ...
The author could have but instead ...
There seems to be more than one pattern ...
You can read for the remainder of the time. Do not forget to do an entry in your - Keeping Track of my Reading.