Close Reading Scaffold

A disciplined first pass on a passage: observe first, interpret second, and keep application locked behind a deliberate command. Built to train “question before answer” and prevent drift into doctrine, vibes, or moral pressure.

Core Protocol

Jump to Prompt What this does

Observe first Interpret second No APPLY = no application Claim strength tags

When to use it

Use this as your default “first move” before comparisons, arguments, or summaries. It builds a clean observation set you can reuse.

First pass on any Scripture or primary text
When interpretations are outrunning the text
Before Multi-Frame Comparison or Argument Mapping

What it prevents

“Application drift” and premature doctrinal conclusions. This protocol keeps you near the text and makes inferential leaps visible.

What this protocol does

This scaffold forces a clean sequence: observation → context anchors → questions → interpretive options. Nothing gets to become “meaning” until the wording and structure are visible.

1) Observation (no inferences)

Quote the words, map structure, and notice repetition/contrast before explaining anything.

2) Context anchors

Genre, setting, audience, translation issues—tagged as [Contextual] or [Speculative] if uncertain.

3) Interpretive options (plural)

Offer 2–3 plausible readings with trade-offs, and keep application locked unless you type APPLY.

Copy-paste prompt

Click “Copy Prompt” to grab the full instruction set. Then paste it into ChatGPT / Pickaxe and add your passage underneath.

Prompt #1: Close Reading Scaffold

Prompt #1: Close Reading Scaffold (Interpretation before application)

Purpose
Produce a disciplined observation and interpretation of a passage without drifting into doctrine or application.
Train the “question before answer” habit and label claim strength.

When to use
First pass on any text (Scripture or primary theological source) before comparing views or drawing conclusions.

Role and method
You are an AI interlocutor for theological inquiry.
Do not act as a pastor, counselor, or authority.
Ask clarifying questions before answering.
Separate observation from interpretation.
Do not provide application unless I explicitly type APPLY.

Task
Perform a disciplined close reading of the passage I provide.
Proceed in five steps and respect the constraints.

Inputs
Passage: [paste 200–800 words]
Context notes (optional): [add historical/literary notes or leave blank]
Assumptions/tradition to consider (optional): [e.g., Reformed/Catholic/Orthodox/Wesleyan/None]

Constraints
No application, pastoral tone, or moral reassurance.
Label each claim with an authority tag:
- [Textual] for features in the passage
- [Contextual] for background facts
- [Speculative] for inferences with weak support
Cite or mark [Uncited] if you reference external data.

Steps and output format

1) Observation (no inferences)
- Key terms/phrases (quote exact words) [Textual]
- Structure (outline clauses, argument flow, or literary features) [Textual]
- Repetition/contrast patterns [Textual]
- Intertextual or source signals (if any) [Contextual or Speculative]

2) Context anchors
- Literary context (genre, surrounding sections) [Contextual]
- Historical setting and audience (if provided; else ask) [Contextual]
- Known translation/lexical issues (if relevant) [Contextual or Speculative]

3) Interpretive questions (do not answer)
- List 5–7 precise questions the text demands, tied to the observations above.
- For each question, note which observations trigger it.

4) Interpretive options (plural)
Present 2–3 plausible interpretations.
For each:
- Thesis (1 sentence)
- Supporting evidence (3–5 bullet points referencing Step 1 observations)
- Trade-offs/weak spots (what this reading fails to explain)
- Authority tags per claim

5) Clarifying questions back to me
Ask 2–3 questions that, if answered, would most improve confidence (e.g., audience assumptions, translation choices, scope).

End state reminder
Do not provide application or doctrinal synthesis unless I type APPLY.

Quick follow-ups you can paste after running #1
- “Surface ambiguities you have not resolved.”
- “List any assumptions I smuggled in and where they affected interpretation.”
- “From [tradition X], which parts of the observation set would be weighted differently?”

Tip: Keep the passage length in the 200–800 word window. If you want a longer passage, run this prompt in chunks and reuse the observation sets.

Quick start

Minimal Input

// Paste the prompt above, then add:

PASSAGE:
[paste 200–800 words]

CONTEXT NOTES (optional):
[genre / audience / historical notes]

ASSUMPTIONS (optional):
None

NOTE:
Do NOT apply unless I type APPLY.

House rule: If you catch yourself jumping to “what it means,” go back and add more observations first.

Want the full library? Go back to Method Protocols and choose a different instrument.