Illuminating Comprehension and Close Reading

1. Overview and Rationale

2. A Sprint through Theory and Research: From Questioning the Author to the Present

3. Queries and the Role They Play in Discussion

4. Just the Gist: Developing Instruction for Basic Comprehension

5. Close Reading: Gist to Grist

6. A Closer Look at Close Reading: Modeling the Development of Close Reading Activities

7. Your Turn for a Narrative

8. Your Turn for an Informational Article

9. Poetry: A Treasure Chest of Close Reading

10. Younger Students: Last but Far from Least

Frequently Asked Questions

II. Text Lessons for Comprehension and Close Reading

Lesson 1. Does an Elephant Never Forget?

Lesson 2. Li Ju and the Magic Tapestry

Lesson 3. Arachne, the Spinner

Lesson 4. Tribute to a Dog

Lesson 5. The Lady, or the Tiger?

Lesson 6. The Hound of the Baskervilles

Lesson 7. The Tell-Tale Heart

Lesson 8.John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

Appendix. Reproducible Texts from Part One

Common Core State Standards