Isolate a small passage. Close reading is practiced on manageable sections of literature no more extensive than one or two pages.
Read the passage two to three times. After reading it, put it away for at least half an hour. Then reread the passage aloud and to yourself.
Brainstorm what you find interesting about the passage. Jot down a list of ideas that come to mind as you read the passage. Put this list away until the end of the process.
Ascertain the meaning of all the words and terms in the passage. Look up the words you don't know. Look up locations and names of historical figures in an encyclopedia. Make a list of slang or dialect words if present, because the meaning of language can change in non-standard usage.
Outline the passage, one paragraph at a time. In the outline note the topic of each paragraph and the details that support the topics. Pay attention to whether your paragraph has rising action, climax and falling action.
Identify the tone of the passage. The tone is the emotional and attitudinal tenor of the material. One way to identify tone is by comparing or contrasting the voice of the narrator with the voice of the characters. Is the narrator mocking what the characters are saying? Is the narrator simpatico with the characters?
Briefly read the surrounding text. How does your passage fit into the the larger context?
Construct your thesis, if your aim is to put your research into written form, to express what you believe the passage is trying to say. Reread your notes carefully to make sure that you have not overlooked any of your analysis. Take out your brainstorming list and compare how the brainstorming compares to the final analysis. Your thesis may incorporate both your original, early thoughts and your carefully constructed, later thoughts.