Dialectical Journals

The term “Dialectic” means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving question and
answer.” Think of your dialectical journal as a series of conversations with the texts you read. The process is meant
to help you develop a better understanding of what you have read by thinking critically about the text.

Procedure:

● As you read, choose passages that stand out to you and record them in the left-hand
column of a T-chart (​ALWAYS include page numbers)​.
● In the right column, write your response to the text (ideas/insights, questions, reflections,
and comments on each passage)
● Label your responses​ using the following codes:
○ (Th/AP) Theme/Author’s Purpose – think deeply about what the passage means in
a broad sense – not just to the characters in the story. What conclusions can you
draw about the world, about human nature, or just the way things work? How is the
author getting this message across?
○ (S) Symbolism – identify and explain symbols or potential symbols in the novel.
○ (Ch) Characterization – identify character traits based on a character’s thoughts,
actions, appearance; you can also look at the things they say and the way other
characters treat them.
○ (WC) Writer’s Craft - Identify a technique used by the writer to convey a deeper
meaning to the reader. These techniques can include but are not limited to
figurative language, diction, imagery, and syntax.
○ (C) Connect – make a connection to your independent novel.

Sample Dialectical Journal entry:

Passage from the Response

Text

“It wasn’t my fault. He (Th/AP) The author expresses Melinda’s new mental state in the final pages of the book, and reminding
hurt me. It wasn’t my the reader of many events from the book. In this scene, she finally admits to what happened and starts
fault. And I’m not going her process of moving past it after coming out about her experience. Anderson chooses to repeat “It
to let it kill me. I can isn’t my fault,” to help demonstrate how Melinda still needs to work through it and might even need to
grow,” (Anderson, constantly remind and convince herself that it wasn’t her fault. Melinda also states “He hurt me,”
198). between those two lines, which is the first she ever actually admits that he hurt her. The author
intentionally decided to have her state it up until now to further highlight how Melinda never had blamed
him for it, and possibly blamed herself. Melinda then states “And I’m not going to let it kill me,” to help
the author remind the reader how throughout the book, Melinda’s trauma was killing her. The old
Melinda was metaphorically killed off after the assault and the one struggling to speak after the assault
might’ve physically killed herself. The author then chooses to conclude Melinda’s narration in this scene
with “I can grow”. These words not only symbolize how Melinda is ready to move forward from her
sexual assault, but is also a nod to Melinda’s art project of a tree that she had all throughout the book.
All in all, the author's word choice helped expressed Melinda in a more optimistic and healthier way.
Anderson was able to further demonstrate Melinda’s new change in tone after coming out about her
traumatic experience, while calling back to previous moments and events in the book.
Choosing Passages from the Text:

Look for quotes that seem significant, powerful, thought-provoking or puzzling. For example,
you might record:

● Effective &/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

Responding To the Text:

You can ​respond​ to the text in a variety of ways. The most important thing to remember is that
your observations should be ​specific and detailed. Y ​ ou can write as much as you want for
each entry.

Basic Responses

○ Raise questions about the beliefs and values implied in the text
○ Give your personal reactions to the passage
○ Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
○ Tell what it reminds you of from your own experiences
○ Write about what it makes you think or feel
○ Agree or disagree with a character or the author

Sample Sentence Starters:

The writer’s use of _____ and ______ convey a sense of ______
The connotation of _______ creates a __________ by the writer
The image of ______ communicates that ______
The author’s language is _____ giving the text a feeling of ______
The repetition of pattern/word _____ emphasizes ______
The writer’s point of view reveals___
The symbol reveals___

Higher Level Responses

○ Analyze the text for use of literary devices (tone, structure, style, imagery)
○ Make connections between different characters or events in the text
○ Make connections to a different text (or film, song, etc…)
○ Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
○ Consider an event or description from the perspective of a different character
○ Analyze a passage and its relationship to the story as a whole
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

For this six-weeks, you will read ​The House on Mango Street​ by Sandra Cisneros.

As you read, you will create a dialectical journal to annotate your understanding of the novel.
You must have ​ten entries​ in your journal. The length of each entry may vary, but no entry
should be less than ​five sentences​. Some of your responses should be significantly more than
five sentences.

You may choose to keep your notes in a journal, on notebook paper, or on sticky-notes in your
text. However, the final product must be a WORD DOCUMENT submitted to ​turnitin.com​.

Your first six journals will be due at 11:59:59 pm on ​Sunday, November 17, 2019, ​and the last
five will be due at 11:59:59 on ​Friday, December 6, 2019.​ ​Each set of DJ’s should include one
DJ of each category described above (purpose/theme, symbolism, characterization, writer’s
craft), 2-3 DJ for your individual book, 2-3 DJ’s on House on Mango Street, and 1 connecting
DJ. ​Your grade will be based not only on the following of the instructions but also on the depth
of insight shown in your notes.