Close Reading of a Primary Document

This student think-aloud shows a student reading a speech by former Louisiana Governor Huey Long. During this 72-second video, the student reads the document out loud. She slows down when she encounters difficult passages and asks questions when she encounters problematic language or logic. This example of close reading reveals a student considering the meaning of a document as she reads it. The accompanying written commentary explains what the student is doing and why such a skill is critical for reading complex historical texts. These two features work together to make explicit reading strategies that are usually hidden.

The speech may be downloaded here.