Skim reading and close reading: Wilfred Owen’s 1917 letter to his mother
I can show a thorough understanding of a 1917 letter that Wilfred Owen sent to his mother from the trenches of World War One.
Skim reading and close reading: Wilfred Owen’s 1917 letter to his mother
I can show a thorough understanding of a 1917 letter that Wilfred Owen sent to his mother from the trenches of World War One.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) was a British poet and soldier.
- Owen is best known for his stark, unflinching and graphic poems about World War One.
- Making predictions about what a text might be about is a helpful preparatory step before reading something.
- Skimming and scanning a text involves quickly reading something, and gathering its main ideas and overall tone.
- Close reading involves carefully considering a writer’s methods and their effects.
Common misconception
Skimming and scanning means you just aren't reading a text properly.
Reading is a skill and, often it is good not to dive into its most difficult skill - analysis - immediately. Instead, giving yourself some time with the text, its title and overall ideas can allow for a deeper understanding in the long run.
Keywords
Nonfiction - writing that is factual rather than made up; the opposite of fiction
Skimming and scanning - the act of quickly reading over a text, gathering its keywords, tone and main ideas
Close reading - carefully, thoughtfully and slowly examining a text and considering the choices the writer made
Gist - the main idea or essence of something, often brief and in a simplified form
Tone - a writer’s attitude or emotional stance; encompasses the mood, feeling and overall atmosphere
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Wilfred Owen's 1917 letter to his mother. There is a copy available on the worksheet for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
writing that is factual rather than made up
the main idea or essence of something, often brief and simplified
a writer’s attitude or emotional stance; encompasses the mood