Close read questions, The Things They Carried (white book)

Name _____________________ Hour _____ Date _________

1. Read the introduction to the tunnel section on pages 10-11. Examine how it is written, particularly the syntax. How
does OBrien use language to convey the emotion behind this event?

2. Consider the section on the things they carried on pages 14-16. Look at its content, structure, imagery, syntax,
detail, rhythm. Consider also where it is placed in the chapter? What is the purpose behind this section?

3. Examine the section on pages 19-23. How is this section similar to the rest of the chapter? How does it differ?
What importance does this section serve in the chapter as a whole? What language, imagery, and detail are
noteworthy? Why is this section placed where it is?

4. Consider the last section of the chapter on pages 23-26. Why is this the last section? What ideas and feelings
does this section leave the reader with? Note significant language and detail as you develop your answer.

Close Read Rubric
4 3 2 1 0
Claim Claim makes an
insightful point
about the text.

Claim is clear and
ties language
(diction, imagery, or
figurative language)
to a bigger point
about the text.
Claim links language
to a point about the
text, but the point is
general or obvious.

Claim is unclear
but present.

Claim is absent or
does not fulfill
topic
requirements.

Evidence Quotations are
selected from
entire passage
and are cohesive.
At least 2 relevant
quotations that
support claim are
analyzed.

At least 2 quotations
that are
inconsistently
relevant to claim are
analyzed.
1 quotation is
analyzed.
1 irrelevant
quotation is
analyzed,
evidence is
irrelevant to the
thesis, or
evidence is not a
quotation.
Warrant Warrant
thoroughly
explains how the
language conveys
the bigger point.
Warrant clearly
explains how the
language conveys
the bigger point.

Warrant is accurate
but inconsistently
answers how the
language conveys
the bigger point
Warrant conveys
limited insight
into language
and text.
Warrant is
summary.