Copy of Part 2_ Dialectical Journal
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DIALECTICAL JOURNALS RL.11-12.1, RL.11-12.3, RL.11-12.4, RL.11-12.5, L.11-12.4, L.11-12.5
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 we read during this course. The process is meant to help you develop a better understanding of the texts
we read. Use your journal to incorporate your personal responses to the texts, your ideas about the themes we cover and our class discussions. 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.
PROCEDURE: ●
As you read, choose passages that stand out to you and record them in the left-hand column of the chart (
ALWAYS include page numbers or some way to locate the passage/ Mackinvia %)
.
●
In the right column, write your response to the text (ideas/insights, questions, reflections, and
comments on each passage) ●
You must label your responses using the following codes: ○
(Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is unclear ○
(C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or another text ○
(P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in the passage ○
(CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction ○
(R) Reflect – think deeply about what the passage means in a broad sense – not just to the characters in the story/author of the article. What conclusions can you draw about the world, about human nature, or just the way things work? ○
(E) Evaluate - make a judgment about what the author is trying to say Sample Dialectical Journal
Passages from the text--Make sure to check the number required for each chapter for your
chosen novel.. Pg#/¶
EACH Passage you quote must relate to one of the following codes above. Make sure to use a variety. Using the same codes for most or all of your entries will result in a lower score. 1. "The yellow marks in my college textbooks...did not help me very much.” 2. "Annotations do make me read
a lot slower and I wish I didn't have to do them. It is so much harder to fake read if you have to
annotate like we have to do now.
So now I actually read, because it's too hard to fake annotate" 82/1
87/2 (C) I can relate since I often used to highlight what I thought was important and then end up with most of the page highlighted. (C) It is harder to fake annotate--it almost takes more time. (R) People are prone to find the easy way to do something. Since there's really no easy way to annotate--fake or real--it makes sense to really read and think about the texts. (Q) Is it really harder to fake read if you have to annotate? Or does it just take longer? *Note that you can (and should) use more than one type of response for a single quote,
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. You can write as much as you want for each entry. You
can choose to type your journals or you can write by hand and then scan and save as PDF. Ask me for ways to do this if you don’t know how. Academic
Sample Sentence Starters: ●
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… Dialectical Journal
Your Name: Book Title:
TheGlass Castle
Author: Jeannette Walls
Date Started:
Date Finished: ●
You must label your responses using the following codes (Right Side):
○
(Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is unclear ○
(C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, or another text ○
(P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in the passage ○
(CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction ○
(R) Reflect – think deeply about what the passage means in a broad sense – not just to the characters in the story/author of the article. What conclusions can you draw about the world, about human nature, or just the way things work? ○
(E) Evaluate - make a judgment about what the author is trying to say Honors: You must have 2 entries per section we read. (2 quotes/ 2 responses). ( You will have to add more rows) (30 entries)
ACADEMIC: Will do 1 entry per section we read. (15 entries)
Passages from the text--
Make sure to check the number required for each chapter for your chosen novel.. Part #/ Pg#/Vig
nette #
EACH Passage you quote must relate to one of the following codes above. Make sure to use a variety. Using the same codes
for most or all of your entries will result in a lower score. Part 1 & 2 The Desert ( Green and Pink highlighted portions)
"I was sitting in a taxi, wondering if I had overdressed for the evening,
when I looked out the window and saw Mom rooting through a Dumpster"
p. 1
Q: Who is the narrator of the story and where is she going in the taxi?
C: The opening scene where the narrator is sitting in a taxi reminds me of how I feel when I'm in a car going somewhere new and unknown.
R: The narrator's uncertainty and her description of the city as "hot" and "dirty" creates a sense of discomfort and foreboding, which hints at the challenges and difficulties that the narrator may face in her journey.
CL: The passage doesn't reveal much about
the narrator's background or her destination,
so it's unclear what specifically is causing her anxiety.
"She always carried a sketchbook with her, and with a pencil in her mouth, would hunker over it for hours at a time, drawing portraits of people she met p. 3
C: The description of the narrator's mother's
artistic talent and her unconventional behavior reminds me of creative individuals who may struggle to fit into societal norms.
P: The mother's artistic pursuits and unconventional behavior may be a source of
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on the street or in diners, drawing still lifes of flowers and fruit, even drawing abstract designs and cityscapes"
tension and conflict within the family.
R: The passage highlights the importance of
artistic expression and creativity in the narrator's family, and suggests that these values may clash with more conventional expectations of success and stability.
CL: It's not yet clear how the mother's artistic pursuits will relate to the overall story, but it's likely that they will play a significant role in the family's experiences.
"Mom believed we should live by the Golden Rule, and
the way she interpreted it, it was pretty simple: She who had the gold made the rules"
(p. 9).
C: The mother's interpretation of the Golden
Rule, where the one who has the most money holds power, is a cynical and perhaps realistic view of the world.
R: The passage highlights the different values and beliefs held by the narrator's mother, and suggests that her worldview may be unconventional and at odds with conventional notions of morality and success.
CL: The mother's cynical view of the world may have been shaped by her difficult experiences and struggles with poverty, but it's not yet clear how this philosophy will shape the family's experiences going forward.
"We learned to sleep in all kinds of weather, even rainstorms, which is how we ended up getting sick. It didn't help that Dad had made us root around the Dumpsters for food"
(p. 13).
Q: What are some of the hardships that the narrator and her family face during their time in Welch?
C: The narrator's description of sleeping outside and scavenging for food is a stark reminder of the poverty and deprivation that many people face in the world.
R: The passage highlights the extreme poverty and living conditions that the narrator and her family experience, and suggests that their struggles may be shaped
by larger societal forces such as economic inequality and lack of access to resources.
CL: The family's experiences with poverty and homelessness may have been shaped by a combination of factors such as their own choices and circumstances, as well as larger societal and economic forces beyond
their control.
"Dad loved to tell us stories. He spent hours spinning tales about his past adventures, and he was as skilled a liar as he was a storyteller" (p. 17).
C: The father's love for storytelling and his talent for weaving intricate tales is reminiscent of the power of imagination and storytelling in human culture.
R: The passage highlights the importance of
storytelling and the ways in which it can be used to create a sense of wonder and excitement, as well as the potential for deception and manipulation.
CL: While the father's storytelling may be a source of joy and entertainment for the family, it's unclear how his tendency to lie and manipulate the truth will impact the family's experiences going forward.
"Dad had always said that spring was his favorite season, but I figured that was just because it was the time of year when he could count on having something to eat"
(p. 21).
Q: Why does the father consider spring to be his favorite season, according to the narrator?
C: The father's dependence on nature and the changing seasons for survival is a reminder of the importance of our connection to the natural world.
R: The passage highlights the ways in which the family's experiences are shaped by their dependence on nature and the environment for survival, as well as the potential for conflict and tension that may arise from this dependence.
CL: The father's love for spring may be rooted in his experiences with farming and agriculture, but it's unclear how this will impact the family's experiences going forward.
"The older I got, the more I realized that it wasn't unusual for members of a poor family to start working at a young age. Plenty of kids in Welch started working as soon as they were big enough to hold a broom or a bucket"
(p. 26).
C: The idea of children working at a young age is not uncommon in many parts of the world, particularly in impoverished communities where children are expected to
contribute to the family's survival.
R: The passage highlights the ways in which poverty and economic hardship can impact the lives of children and their families, and suggests that the experience of working at a young age can have a
significant impact on a child's development and well-being.
CL: While the narrator acknowledges that working at a young age was common in her community, it's unclear how this will impact her own experiences and the experiences of
her family going forward.
"Dad always had a smile on his face, but as we drove away from the house, I noticed that his smile was different. It was more like a sneer"
(p. 28).
Q: What is the father's mood or demeanor as the family drives away from their house?
R: The passage highlights the complex emotions and relationships within the family,
and suggests that the father's behavior may be influenced by a range of factors such as his own struggles with poverty and insecurity.
CL: It's unclear what the father's sneer may signify, or how his behavior will impact the family's experiences going forward.
"I hated sitting still, which made me feel trapped and anxious. I also hated being singled out and made to feel
different"
(p. 35).
C: The narrator's feelings of anxiety and discomfort in situations that require her to sit still and conform to societal expectations
may be indicative of ADHD or other neurodivergent conditions.
R: The passage highlights the ways in which societal expectations can be restrictive and challenging for individuals who do not fit within traditional norms, and suggests that the experience of feeling different can have a significant impact on a person's mental and emotional well-being.
CL: It's unclear how the narrator's struggles
with sitting still and conforming to expectations will impact her experiences and relationships with others going forward.
"Dad was right: The Venus flytrap was a miraculous plant. It didn't need soil, just a moist environment. It didn't
need sunshine, just a warm spot. And it didn't need insects, just a few bugs or bits of meat now and then"
(p. 38).
C: The description of the Venus flytrap as a miraculous plant with unique needs and abilities can be seen as a metaphor for the family's own resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
R: The passage highlights the ways in which individuals and communities can adapt and thrive in difficult circumstances,
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and suggests that even in the most challenging environments, there is potential
for growth and transformation.
CL: While the Venus flytrap may represent a source of inspiration and hope for the family, it's unclear how this metaphor will play out in the family's experiences going forward.
"It was like the mountain was a living thing, sending out a message. And the message was: You can't come in here unless you're willing to change" (p. 39).
C: The metaphor of the mountain as a living
thing with a message highlights the spiritual
and mystical beliefs of the family and the power of nature to transform individuals.
R: The passage suggests that the family's experiences living in the desert have given them a deep connection to the natural world, and that the challenges of the environment have encouraged them to develop a sense of adaptability and resilience.
CL: It's unclear how the family's relationship
with nature and their spiritual beliefs will continue to shape their experiences and perspectives going forward.
"I'm not sure which one of us
had it harder: Mom, for being stuck in a loveless marriage and for living in a shack with no indoor plumbing or electricity, or Dad, for being a drunk and having to carry around all the guilt for what he'd done to us"
(p. 41).
Q: How does the narrator's uncertainty about who had it harder suggest the complexity of the family's experiences and relationships?
R: The passage highlights the ways in which the family's experiences have been shaped by a variety of factors, including poverty, addiction, and mental illness, and suggests that there are no easy answers or clear-cut solutions to their problems.
CL: It's unclear how the family's experiences of hardship and trauma will continue to impact their relationships and interactions with one another.
"I liked it when Dad told us stories. He had a way of making everything sound exciting. Even the bad stuff sounded like an adventure" (p. 51).
C: The narrator's love of her father's stories suggests that storytelling is an important part of the family's culture and identity.
R: The passage highlights the ways in which individuals and families can find meaning and purpose in difficult
circumstances through creative expression and storytelling, and suggests that even in the face of adversity, there is potential for joy and connection.
CL: It's unclear how the narrator's love of her father's stories will evolve over time as she becomes more aware of the ways in which his actions have hurt her and her siblings.
"'You don't like it here, do you?' she said. 'You don't have to stay'" (p. 56).
Q: What does the mother's statement suggest about her relationship with her children and her role as a parent?
E: The mother's statement reveals her inability or unwillingness to provide a stable and supportive environment for her children, and suggests that she may prioritize her own desires and impulses over their well-being.
R: The passage highlights the ways in which parental neglect and abandonment can have a profound impact on children's lives, and suggests that the children's struggles are not solely the result of their father's addiction and their family's poverty, but also stem from their mother's choices and actions.
CL: It's unclear how the children will respond to their mother's statement and how it will impact their relationships with her
going forward.
"I told Mom I was going to call the police if she didn't stop Dad from hitting her. She gave me a tolerant smile, as if I were a three-
year-old telling her I was going to run away from home"
(p. 64).
Q: How does the mother's response to the narrator's threat to call the police highlight the family's dysfunctional dynamics?
E: The mother's dismissive response reveals the normalization of violence and abuse within the family, and suggests that the children have been conditioned to accept and minimize harmful behavior.
R: The passage highlights the ways in which cycles of trauma and abuse can be perpetuated across generations, and suggests that the children's experiences are shaped not only by their individual choices, but also by larger societal and
cultural factors.
"'I mean, think about it. We're living in a desert in a little tent built on a hillside. We're basically living like animals. The only difference between us and the animals is that we're more skittish'" (p. 70).
C: The father's statement highlights the ways in which poverty and hardship can strip individuals of their dignity and humanity.
R: The passage suggests that poverty and inequality are not only material conditions, but also deeply affect individuals' sense of self-worth and their ability to participate in society as equals.
CL: It's unclear how the family's experiences living in poverty and isolation will continue to impact their identity and sense of belonging, as well as their ability to navigate the challenges of the wider world.
"He stood there watching us for a moment, then started back to his room. But he paused in the doorway and said, 'You know, honey, it's okay to be different. Sometimes it's the mark of being very talented'" (p. 91).
C: The grandfather's statement suggests that he may have a more accepting and open-minded perspective than the narrator's parents.
R: The passage highlights the power of positive words and validation in shaping individuals' sense of self-worth and identity,
and suggests that a nurturing and supportive environment can help individuals
thrive despite adversity.
CL: It's unclear how the grandfather's words
will impact the narrator's relationship with her parents and how they will shape her perception of her own abilities and potential.
"'I'll tell you what, Mom,' Lori said. 'You can keep on borrowing money from us and promising to pay it back,
and we'll keep on believing you, but we won't lend you any more money. You'll have to get it from somebody else'"
(p. 106).
Q: How does Lori's statement reflect a shift in the siblings' attitude towards their mother?
E: Lori's refusal to lend more money indicates that the siblings are becoming more assertive and setting boundaries with their mother, possibly in response to her repeated failure to follow through on her promises.
R: The passage suggests that trust and accountability are important components of
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healthy relationships, and that boundaries and consequences can be effective tools for promoting mutual respect and responsibility.
CL: It's unclear how the mother's response to Lori's statement will impact the family's financial stability and how it will shape the siblings' future interactions with their mother.
"'I'm sorry about the incident
in the store,' Mom said. 'I just can't stand seeing good food go to waste. I'll make it up to you'
(p. 110).
Q: What incident is the mother referring to, and how does it reflect her relationship with her children?
CL: It's unclear how the mother plans to make it up to her children, and whether or not she will change her behavior to avoid similar incidents in the future.
E: The mother's disregard for social norms and conventions, such as stealing and scavenging food, suggests that she may have a different set of values and priorities than mainstream society, which may impact
her relationship with her children.
R: The passage raises questions about the role of societal norms and expectations in shaping individuals' behavior and identity, and suggests that individuals may have different ways of defining success and happiness.