VC Special Session 2 - Close Reading Workshop: How to Diagnose a Text

In this workshop, we’ll approach reading the way a doctor might approach a diagnosis: by paying close attention to small details and using them to build a thoughtful, well-supported conclusion. Whether the text is ancient or modern, making a strong argument starts with noticing things like tone, word choice, and structure.

We’ll start things off with a few short presentations from scholars who’ll walk us through how they approach close reading, especially when working with ancient languages. These examples will give you a window into their process, how they notice details, ask questions, and build interpretations.

Then it’s your turn. You’ll get a set of texts in English to work on, either individually or with others in a small group. The goal is to practice noticing what's easy to overlook and to start building arguments based on the evidence you find. Together, we’ll explore how close reading can help us…