Common Core: 11th Grade English Language Arts

This subject focuses on developing critical reading, writing, and analytical skills through diverse literary and informational texts.

Study Strategies

Close Reading Techniques

Mastering Close Reading

Close reading means going beyond a quick skim—it's about paying careful attention to every word, detail, and idea in a text.

How to Do It

  • Highlight or annotate key phrases.
  • Ask questions about why the author chose certain words.
  • Look for patterns, repetitions, or surprises.

Why It Works

Close reading helps you uncover deeper meanings and prepares you for tough exam questions.

Examples

  • Annotating a poem to identify imagery and figurative language.

  • Highlighting repeated phrases in a speech to understand emphasis.