Consider what you know about the writer. What you know about the person
who created a text can influence your understanding of it. Their CREDENTIALS
other work, reputation, stance, and beliefs are all useful windows into understanding a text. You may need to conduct an online search to find information on the writer. Then write a sentence or two summarizing what you know about the writer and how that information affects your understanding of the text. Study how the text works. Written texts are made up of various components, including words, sentences, paragraphs, headings, lists, punctuation-and
sometimes images as well. Look for patterns in the way these components are used and try to decide what those patterns reveal about the text. How do they affect its
message? See the sections on THINKING ABOUT HOW THE TEXT WORKS and
IDENTIFYING PATTERNS for specific guidelines on examining patterns this way.
Then write a sentence or two describing the patterns you've discovered and how
they contribute to what the text says.