ESLP 4100

T-Chart Example

Dialectical Journal Assignment

Choose one of the articles below to read. After examining your choice carefully, complete a reader’s response activity referred to as a dialectical journal. Consider the following information:

Dialectical Journal

Guide found online at http://www.academicninjitsu.com/evaluation/dialecticaljournal.htm

A Dialectical Journal is a method of responding freely to information by keeping a two columned journal, writing the information on one side and your response to that information on the other.

Rationale: Research demonstrates that evaluating the information and associating information with knowledge that is relevant increases assigned meaning and retention.

Instructions: Divide a journal or a piece of paper into two columns. Label the left column “Information” and the second column “Response.” Make at least six responses from a broad range of topics within the article.

General Guidelines

·  Make deep insights that are not explicitly stated in the text

·  Use different types of connections

·  Write about what you think and feel

·  Analogize

·  Convey any “lesson’s learned”

Assignment Directions: Choose ONE of the following articles to read. Once complete, create the t-chart dialectical journal activity. Select six pieces of information from the article you choose to respond to. Following the information detailed above, create your responses. An example of a t-chart is found on the next page.

Ø  “Code Switching for the English Language Learner in an ESL Classroom” found online at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2077441/code_switching_for_the_english_language.html?cat=25

Ø  “ESL Students and Culture Shock” found online at http://esl.fis.edu/parents/advice/shock.htm

Ø  Choose an article from The Reading Matrix found online at http://www.readingmatrix.com/current.html

1.  Your name, course info, date

2.  Article information (title, author, year of publication, online citation)

3.  Overall Theme of Article (1 to 2 sentence summary of article)

Information:
*can be direct quote (supply locating info) or summary of a specific point
Comer’s Example
“. . . the merits of phonics instruction and whole language instruction have been hotly debated. Recently, most people have come to agree that effective teachers integrate both skills and meaning into a balanced program” (http://www.readingrockets.org/article/358)
/ Response:
*should not be a regurgitation of the point made in the information column; rather, your response is your opportunity to agree or disagree with the author, to offer new insight, to refute the information mentioned, to question the information, etc.; in other words, your thoughts and ideas are to go in this column.
Comer’s Example
Much like the author purports, I agree that the most effective way to teach reading is through an integrated approach. I suppose that’s why I like Balanced Literacy so much. It does a nice job integrating phonics and whole language while focusing on content area reading skills too. The key, however, to this type of teaching (as with any approach) is the way teachers deliver the concepts to be learned by the students. Without effective teaching, it doesn’t matter the approach.