Close Reading Practice

1. Close Reading Practice Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

2. Overview of the process Main points Conclusion What are the ideas that lead us to the conclusion? Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

3. 1. Determine what are the main themes and issues of the entire text Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

4. Themes in "Our America“ by José Martí: • Create; Do not imitate • Be careful of learned authorities • Establish a government that is unique and appropriate to the Americas • Work toward a common good • Diversity is a positive aspect of American culture • We should look after our past, our family, our roots. • See the colonial inheritance as corrupt and defunct • Favor the local • Take notice of your neighbors (don't be provincial) Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

5. Overview of Jose Marti's "Our America" Marti calls for people to step forward with their ideas • Expresses desire for people in America to be united, to make America strong • Uses "Our America" to refer to Latin America. Situates his essay within a historical context with mention of the Aztecs, the Inca, Simon Bolivar--Latin American liberator--and figures from Mexico's War of Independence • Recognizes role of Catholic Church (rosary as our guide) in identity • Reflects on the Peasant--associates him with Nature, an individual who will resist tyranny and outside ideas • Criticizes the dandy--one who is Europeanized (English breeches, Parisian vest, etc.).  Likewise, he critiques the general, scholar and judge--figures of authority who are influenced by ideas from the U.S. and from Europe (French revolution) • Makes note of the Giant of the North Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

6. 2. Determine how the chosen passage illuminates the concerns, themes and issues of the entire text it is part of. Note that a “Close reading” moves from the smallest bits of information (words, phrases, punctuation, paragraphs) to larger concepts or themes. Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

7. Looking for the main argument Excerpt 1: “The wine is made from plantain, but even if it turns sour, it is our own wine!” (884) • Why does the author use the word “plantain”? • Why does the author use the word “sour”? • Why does the author use the word “our”? • Why does the author use the phrase “our own”? • Why does the author use the word “wine”? • Why is it important to have a wine made of plantain? Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

8. Why do we call this process a Close Reading? Because the final argument is based on these smaller levels of the passage. Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

9. 3. A “Close Reading” HELPSto answer particular questions or helps to support a specific thesis. Particular question: Is there a critique of North America? Response/Future Thesis: There is a critique of North America. Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

10. Example • I propose that “there is a critique of ‘a’ North American nation” or “there is a critique of the menace that ‘the’ North American Nation represents to the Latin American countries” Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

11. How to start my text? • In the text “…(title)……”, William Bradford presents the idea of ………… as one of his main themes/ as his main argument/ OR • In the text “……..” William Bradford proposes that ……….. By saying that, he is implying…………… What I propose in this essay is ………(thesis)……………. • In the text “…(title)…..” William Bradford proposes that ……….. However, this idea also ……..……… What I propose in this essay is ………(thesis)……………. When W. Bradford says: “Quote” (page #) he is ……(start to explain your arguments one by one)……. • In the text “…(title)…..” William Bradford proposes that ……….. However, this idea also ……..……… What I propose in this essay is …………(thesis)…………. W. Bradford says: “Quote” (page #) This means that ……….. because……(start to explain your arguments one by one)……. • When W. Bradford says “quote” (page #) , he is …(write your thesis) .… because..……. . In fact, “ … (title)….” proposes …….. as its main argument…… That is why it is important to……. Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

12. What subtle information is in the text? • A powerful idea, waved before the world at the proper time, can stop a squadron of iron-clad ships, like the mystical flag of the Last judgment. Nations that do not know one another should quickly become acquainted, as men who are to fight a common enemy. (880) • The conceited villager believes the entire world to be his village. Provided that be can be mayor, humiliate the rival who stole his sweetheart, or add to the savings in his strongbox, he considers the universal order good, unaware of those giants with seven-league boots who can crush him underfoot, or of the strife in the heavens between comets that go through the air asleep, gulping down worlds. (879) Who is the conceited villager? Who is the common enemy? Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano

13. Excerpt 2: “We were a phenomenon wit ha chest of an athlete, the hands of a dandy, and the brain of a child. We were a masquerader in English breeches, Parisian vest, North America jacket, and Spanish cap” (884). Span/CMLIT Instructor: Lorena Cuya Gavilano