Dialectical Journals Worksheet Template
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1
2Name ____________________________________
Date _______________
Author Study I
D
J
IALECTICAL
OURNALS
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. The process is meant to help you develop a better understanding of the texts
you read. Use your journal to incorporate your personal responses to the texts and your
ideas about the themes, symbols, characters, etc. You will find that it is a useful way to
process what you’re reading, prepare yourself for group discussion, and gather textual
evidence for your Literary Analysis assignments, which will occur at the start of the Fall
semester.
P
:
ROCEDURE
o 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).
o In the right column, write your response to the text (ideas/insights, questions,
reflections, and comments on each passage)
o If you choose, you can label your responses using the following codes:
o (Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is unclear
o (C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or another text
o (P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in the passage
o (CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction
o (R) Reflect – 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?
o (E) Evaluate - make a judgment about the character(s), their actions, or what
the author is trying to say
o Complete two journal entries (per section) for Parts 1-4.
Sample Dialectical Journal entry: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Passages from the text
Pg#s Comments & Questions
“-With his symbolic helmet
(R) Several things about this brief sentence caught my
numbered 451 on his stolid
Pg 7
eye.
First, the author acknowledges that there is
head, and his eyes all orange
some sort of significance with the number 451,
flame with the thought of
reflected in the character’s attire, as well as in the
what came next, he flicked
title. I’m curious to see where that number leads, and
the igniter and the house
what its importance is. Also, while it’s frightening,
jumped up in gorging fire”.
there’s acertain nonchalance about the way this
character goes in burning up the house. He doesn’t
even seem changed or touched by torching up a house.
It’s a powerful image that sets a dangerous mood for
the entire novel.
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