Close Reading Strategy- Symbolism

Using the Strategy

step 1: use a symbolism and other text evidence to help collect details

step 2: use the lens of symbolism and or text evidence to find patterns. Ask yourself which details and or text evidences fits together? How do they fit together?

step 3: Use the patterns to develop new understanding of the text. Use sentence stems to help you get started with your thinking.

One idea I am noticing is....
I think the song, Natasha Bedingfield is trying to teach ....
Why would the song writer, Bedingfield, choose this symbol?...
How does ..... symbol reveal the big ideas of this text?

"Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

Name ______________________ Period: Date

NATASHA BEDINGFIELD LYRICS

"Unwritten"

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions ________________________________________________________________
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

My Example of how I used patterns to develop new understandings

I think Natasha Bedingfield, who wrote the song “Unwritten” is trying to tell me to “release inhibitions” which means I should not let my fears stop me from living my life and “reaching for something in the distance” which I think symbolizes a person’s dreams. She also says “No one else can speak the words on your lips” which means no one can but the person with the dream can make the dream come true.

Now you try finding the symbols, and use them to find the pattern of how they are connected

Reaching for something in the distance

So close you can almost taste it

release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Now use those patterns and connections to develop new understandings in your reading journal

Use sentence stems to help you get started with your thinking.

One idea I am noticing is....
I think the song, Natasha Bedingfield is trying to teach ....
Why would the song writer, Bedingfield, choose this symbol?...
How does ..... symbol reveal the big ideas of this text?