Analyzing Style

As with any skill, close reading becomes easier with practice, but it’s important to remember that we use it unconsciously—and instantaneously—every day as we respond to people and situations. Just as we notice body language, gestures, facial expressions, and volume in our conversations, we can understand a text better by examining its sentence structure, vocabulary, imagery, and figurative language. These elements make up the style of the written piece and help us to discover layers of meaning. Style contributes to the meaning, purpose, and effect of a text, whether it is written, oral, or visual.