Dialectical Journal

Dialectic: “The art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving question and answer.”

Format:

• Divide the paper in half

• Label the left side “Text” and the right side “Comments.”

• The “Text” side should be used for reading notes, direct quotes, summaries, lists, images, etc., always accompanied by page numbers.

• The “Comments” side is where you record your corresponding comments. Record your reactions, ideas, comments, inferences, questions, etc.


Requirements:

• The dialectical journal should be kept on lined, loose-leaf paper and written in ink, or typewritten. Write on one side of the paper only. Make sure your name and the section of the reading is listed at the top of each page. You must have 4 separate entries

• A completed dialectical journal should be brought to class each day a reading assignment is due.


• When should you write things down?

• Certain details seem important to you.

• You have an epiphany.

• You learn something significant about a character.

• You recognize a pattern (overlapping images, repetitions of idea, details, etc.)

• You agree or disagree with something a character says.

• You find an interesting or potentially significant quotation.

• You learn something important about a character.

• You notice something important or relevant about the writer’s style.

• You notice effective use of literary devices.