English 9 – Dialectical Journals
Dialectical Reading Journals
How – Creating a conversation with the text through reading, writing, and reflection
What – The Dialectical Journal
Why – So we can appreciate the elements of the text, become more independent and confident readers, and prepare ourselves for class discussions, essays, and assessments.
Use your journal to incorporate your personal responses to the texts, your ideas about the themes we cover and our class discussions. Use a double-entry form to examine the details of a passage and paragraph form to synthesize your understanding of the details of the texts. Write plot details, quotations, etc. in the LEFT column; write thoughts, commentary, and questions in the RIGHT column.
Your journal should be a spiral-bound or composition book. You must have your journal every day in class. They will be collected and graded at random, and those who do not have their journals will receive zeroes. Sometimes I will check journals in lieu of giving a reading quiz. Or, I may give a quiz and check journals. Be ready for any of these to occur at any time.
Basic Responses Include:
· Addressing the Humanitas essay theme
· Raising questions about the beliefs and values implied in the text
· Giving your personal reactions to the passage
· Discussing the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
· Tell what it reminds you of
· Writing about what it makes you think or feel
· Agreeing or disagreeing with a character or the author
· Asking questions about confusing sections
Sample Sentence Starters:
· This relates to the Humanitas prompt because…
· The writer’s style here shows that…
· I really don’t understand this because...
· I really dislike/like this idea because...
· I think the author is trying to say that...
· This passage reminds me of a time in my life when...
· If I were (name of character) at this point I would...
· This part doesn’t make sense because...
· This character reminds me of (name of person) because...
Choosing the Right Text - Look for quotes that seem significant, powerful, thought provoking or puzzling. For example, you might record:
· Effective and/or creative use of stylistic or literary devices
· Passages that remind you of your own life or something you’ve seen before
· Structural shifts or turns in the plot
· A passage that makes you realize something you hadn’t seen before
· Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols or motifs.
· Passages with confusing language or unfamiliar vocabulary
· Events you find surprising or confusing
· Passages that illustrate a particular character or setting
· Passages that relate to the essential/guiding questions
The Assignment: Choose AT LEAST 5 quotations per chapter. Honors students should choose 10. Here is how you should break the quotations down:
1. 3 quotations that relate to the theme
2. 1 quotation that says something about the writer’s style. It could be a comment on imagery, description, figurative language.
3. 1 quotation of your choice w/ the response of your choice.
NOTE: Pen only please. Use your composition books.
Sample Dialectical Journal entry: The Pearl
Passages from the text-- Include chapter and page number. Make sure you clearly mark if you are addressing theme, writing style, or your choice. Make sure to number them. / Pg#/¶ / On this side you put your commentary. You should have AT LEAST two sentences of thoughtful commentary.Chapter 1
1. " Kino watched with the detachment of God while a dusty ant frantically tried to escape the sand trap an ant lion had dug for him.”
2. " ‘Have I nothing better to do than cure insect bites for ‘little Indians’? I am a doctor, not a veterinary.’ ”
3. “Kino sighed with satisfaction- and that was conversation.” / 1
2
3 / 1. Writing Style – this image seems like it might be a metaphor. It is an image of something small and helpless being trapped by something larger and more aggressive. This could be a foreshadowing but it is not clear at this point if Kino is the “ant” or the “ant lion.”
2. Your Choice – This character is hateful, a racist. It is clear that he holds himself as superior from Kino and his people. He goes so far as to compare them to animals.
3. Humanitas Theme – At this point in the novella Kino seems very content with this life and with his family. Their life is humble but is it satisfying to him. In this chapter the family seems at peace.
1