Search Term Analysis
The following exercise is a mode of close reading designed to help seek out a writer’s representational strategies by compiling small, scattered sections of text surrounding a key word.
In a web-browser or other text-reader, use the search function to find one or more of the following terms in a full-text version of Moodie’s work. In some cases, consider limiting the search to just one volume. Note each instance of the term, its surrounding key phrases, images, descriptive language, and, if possible, Moodie’s reflections. Google Chrome is especially helpful for this search, since it highlights each instance in the side-bar, allowing you to locate parts of the narrative that are focused on a particular term.
What does Moodie’s language suggest about her perceptions and understandings of the words in the list? A comparative analysis of terms, such as contrasting terminology surrounding different ethnic or racial groups, would also be useful.
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