ENG 283: Close Reading Assignment (5pts) Taylor 2 Directions: 1) Focus on one text from the list below: Silko, “Pueblo Ecology” Creation/Trickster Narrative(s) de Vaca, “The Relation of Cabeza de Vaca” Rowlandson, “Captivity and Restoration” Bradford, “Of Plymouth Plantation” Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” 2) Perform a close reading on a section or group of sections from a text. To do so: Focus by identifying a significant pattern, repetition, anomaly, theme, device, etc. a. What stands out to you or what do you notice? For example, “imagery,” “diction,” “contrast,” “conflict,” OR “repetition …” List the instances as you prepare to draft. b. Plan to discuss each example in its own body paragraph. c. In each body paragraph, discuss what you see as the purpose of the pattern, repetition, anomaly, theme, device, etc.? What does it show, add, symbolize, suggest, or show? Do this for each example in its own paragraph. 2) Ask a question about the pattern (see below). *Ultimately, your close reading will help you answer one of the prompts below OR explore a new idea of your choice.These questions are intentionally broad; be specific in your essay by offering your own unique interpretation of the literary devices in a text. Be sure to define your terms and devices. Based on your close reading of a text: 1. What is at the heart of American confessions? 2. What is the confessional tradition “about”? 3. What does the early-American literary tradition suggest about the power of place and/or space? 4. What is the American origin story? What has a work of early-American literature suggested about American beginnings? 5. Based on your reading, what is the pursuit? What has a work of early-American literature suggested about the pursuit? How is it defined? 6. Based on your reading, how were aspects of early-American identity created and remade? Challenged? What does a work of early-American literature suggest about the making, limits, and possibilities of identity? 7. What does the early-American literary tradition suggest about rebellion and/or resistance? 8. What does a work of early-American literature suggest about the power of belief? 9. What is the role of voice, authorship or authority in a work of early-American literature? (May include the power of orality/the power of speech.) 10. Based on your reading, what do you see as a key conflict or tension during the early-American period? 11. What is a recurrent theme in early-American literature? 12. How do early-American authors negotiate audience (the reader) and to what end? 13. What is the role of food, nature/environment, clothing, or another related aspect in early-American literature (can relate to one of the above)? 14. A student-generated question (from discussion or group work). 15. Another topic of your choice. Structure Opening Paragraph** (will eventually become a formal introduction): a. One sentence that states your text and the literary device ...

1. ENG 283: Close Reading Assignment (5pts)
Taylor 2
Directions:
1) Focus on one text from the list below:
Silko, “Pueblo Ecology”
Creation/Trickster Narrative(s)
de Vaca, “The Relation of Cabeza de Vaca”
Rowlandson, “Captivity and Restoration”
Bradford, “Of Plymouth Plantation”
Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
2) Perform a close reading on a section or group of sections
from a text. To do so:
Focus by identifying a significant pattern, repetition, anomaly,
theme, device, etc.
a. What stands out to you or what do you notice? For example,
“imagery,” “diction,” “contrast,” “conflict,” OR “repetition …”
List the instances as you prepare to draft.
b. Plan to discuss each example in its own body paragraph.
c. In each body paragraph, discuss what you see as the purpose
of the pattern, repetition, anomaly, theme, device, etc.? What
does it show, add, symbolize, suggest, or show? Do this for
each example in its own paragraph.

2. 2) Ask a question about the pattern (see below).
*Ultimately, your close reading will help you answer one of the
prompts below OR explore a new idea of your choice.These
questions are intentionally broad; be specific in your essay by
offering your own unique interpretation of the literary devices
in a text. Be sure to define your terms and devices.
Based on your close reading of a text:
1. What is at the heart of American confessions?
2. What is the confessional tradition “about”?
3. What does the early-American literary tradition suggest about
the power of place and/or space?
4. What is the American origin story? What has a work of early-
American literature suggested about American beginnings?
5. Based on your reading, what is the pursuit? What has a work
of early-American literature suggested about the pursuit? How
is it defined?
6. Based on your reading, how were aspects of early-American
identity created and remade? Challenged? What does a work of
early-American literature suggest about the making, limits, and
possibilities of identity?
7. What does the early-American literary tradition suggest about
rebellion and/or resistance?
8. What does a work of early-American literature suggest about
the power of belief?
9. What is the role of voice, authorship or authority in a work of
early-American literature? (May include the power of
orality/the power of speech.)
10. Based on your reading, what do you see as a key conflict or
tension during the early-American period?
11. What is a recurrent theme in early-American literature?
12. How do early-American authors negotiate audience (the
reader) and to what end?
13. What is the role of food, nature/environment, clothing, or

3. another related aspect in early-American literature (can relate to
one of the above)?
14. A student-generated question (from discussion or group
work).
15. Another topic of your choice.
Structure
Opening Paragraph** (will eventually become a formal
introduction):
a. One sentence that states your text and the literary device,
textual element, pattern, term, theme, or preoccupation that you
will examine.
b. One sentence that explains what you think the pattern means,
or how you look at the specific literary device or textual
element. This statement of what you think the pattern means, or
how you look at the pattern should teach your reader how he or
she may look at the text as a whole. You may need to write this
LAST.
** Eventually, you will develop this sentence into a full
introduction w/thesis statement.
Body Paragraphs:
Each body paragraph should discuss your device or pattern.
Each paragraph should focus on one example that is part of your
set:
i. Begin with a topic sentence (state the focus and main point
of the paragraph).
ii. Include a quote that demonstrates the main point in your
paragraph (primary source evidence).

4. iii. Analyze and discuss this quote (primary source evidence);
explain how the quote relates to the main point in the paragraph
and the paper as a whole.
iv. Transition to the next body paragraph.
A Brief Conclusion:
2 paragraphs
Reflect. Explain why you think the literary device or textual
element you examine is important. What do we learn by reading
the text this way? Ultimately this reflection will help you form
your full thesis statement at a later time.
Discuss what you would research to support your paper topic
(secondary source evidence). What would you research (history,
culture, devices, literary terms, definitions)?
Formatting reminders:
1” margins
2
Double-spaced
Name, Class, Assignment & Date, top left corner
Last name and consecutive page numbers as a right header
*This paper is not a traditional or “full” essay. The assignment
asks you to focus on the early steps of thinking and writing
critically about a literary work before attempting to write a full
paper with a thesis statement and statement of exigency.
ENG 283: Close Reading Assignment (Draft One)

5. Taylor 2
Directions:
1) Focus on one text from the list below:
Silko, “Pueblo Ecology”
Creation/Trickster Narrative(s)
de Vaca, “The Relation of Cabeza de Vaca”
Rowlandson, “Captivity and Restoration”
Bradford, “Of Plymouth Plantation”
Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
2) Perform a close reading on a section or group of sections
from a text. To do so:
i. Identify a pattern by focusing on one literary device. This
should show up often and it should seem significant to you.
1. What is the device? _____________________
ii. Further identify. List at least three examples of this device.
1.
2.
3.
iii. Notice. Say something related yet distinct about each
example of your device. Where does it occur? When? What’s
happening in the same moment? What does the device suggest
or “do” in that distinct moment.
1.
2.

6. 3.
iv. Ask. Ask a question about the significance of your pattern of
devices. For example, “how does the tone convey feeling? Or
how does the tone reflect the narrator’s perspective?
*Ultimately, your close reading will help you answer your
question. If you can’t think of a question, use one of the
prompts below to explore a new idea.These questions are
intentionally broad; be specific in your essay by offering your
own unique interpretation of the literary devices in a text. Be
sure to define your terms and devices.
Based on your close reading of a text:
1. What is at the heart of American confessions?
2. What is the confessional tradition “about”?
3. What does the early-American literary tradition suggest about
the power of place and/or space?
4. What is the American origin story? What has a work of early-
American literature suggested about American beginnings?
5. Based on your reading, what is the pursuit? What has a work
of early-American literature suggested about the pursuit? How
is it defined?
6. Based on your reading, how were aspects of early-American
identity created and remade? Challenged? What does a work of
early-American literature suggest about the making, limits, and
possibilities of identity?
7. What does the early-American literary tradition suggest about
rebellion and/or resistance?
8. What does a work of early-American literature suggest about
the power of belief?
9. What is the role of voice, authorship or authority in a work of
early-American literature? (May include the power of
orality/the power of speech.)
10. Based on your reading, what do you see as a key conflict or

7. tension during the early-American period?
11. What is a recurrent theme in early-American literature?
12. How do early-American authors negotiate audience (the
reader) and to what end?
13. What is the role of food, nature/environment, clothing, or
another related aspect in early-American literature (can relate to
one of the above)?
14. A student-generated question (from discussion or group
work).
15. Another topic of your choice.
Structure
Opening Paragraph** (will eventually become a formal
introduction):
a. One sentence that states your text and the literary device,
textual element, pattern, term, theme, or preoccupation that you
will examine.
b. One sentence that explains what you think the pattern means,
or how you look at the specific literary device or textual
element. This statement of what you think the pattern means, or
how you look at the pattern should teach your reader how he or
she may look at the text as a whole. You may need to write this
LAST.
** Eventually, you will develop this sentence into a full
introduction w/thesis statement.
Body Paragraphs:
Each body paragraph should discuss your device or pattern of
devices. Each paragraph should focus on one example that is
part of your set:
i. Begin with a topic sentence (state the focus and main point
of the paragraph).

8. ii. Include a quote that demonstrates the main point in your
paragraph (primary source evidence).
iii. Analyze and discuss this quote (primary source evidence);
explain how the quote relates to the main point in the paragraph
and the paper as a whole.
iv. Transition to the next body paragraph.
A Brief Conclusion:
2 paragraphs
Reflect. Explain why you think the literary device or textual
element you examine is important. What do we learn by reading
the text this way? Ultimately this reflection will help you form
your full thesis statement at a later time.
Discuss what you would research to support your paper topic
(secondary source evidence). What would you research (history,
culture, devices, literary terms, definitions)?
Formatting reminders:
1” margins
2
Double-spaced
Name, Class, Assignment & Date, top left corner
Last name and consecutive page numbers as a right header
*This paper is not a traditional or “full” essay. The assignment
asks you to focus on the early steps of thinking and writing
critically about a literary work before attempting to write a full
paper with a thesis statement and statement of exigency.

9. ENG 283: Close Reading + Research Draft
Combine your first close reading essay and your research.
Options:
a 2-3 page essay draft. (*By the final draft, you will want to
reach 4 pages)
-12 pt font; double spaced
-MLA format
-Works Cited Page
a 2-3 page/panel leaflet/pamphlet draft. (*By the final draft, you
will want to reach at least 4 “fold out” pages/leaves/panels)
-Refer to template; reduce font size/ adjust as needed to
legitimately meet the requirement
- MLA format
-Works Cited Page
Note: This is not a simple “cut and paste.” You may begin by
pasting information:
But for the draft you will want to:
-address feedback on close reading and research
-compose additional text as needed
-explain the relationship between the close reading and research