Dialectic(al) –adjective di·a·lec·tic di·a·lec·tic [dahy-uh-lek-tik] [dahy-uh-lek-tik] Also, dialectical. Also, dialectical.dialectical. of, pertaining to, or of the nature of logical argumentation. of, pertaining to, or of the nature of logical argumentation. logical argumentation. logical argumentation. the art or practice of logical discussion as employed in investigating the truth of a theory or opinion. the art or practice of logical discussion as employed in investigating the truth of a theory or opinion. Source:

Dialectic Journal 1. You will choose a significant passage from the text. 2. You will quote the text exactly as it appears in the left column of your journal. Always include page number. 3. In the right column, write a thoughtful response to the quoted text

Sample Text Selection from The Things They Carried b y Tim O’Brien “…they carried like freight trains; they carried it on their backs and shoulders-and for all the ambiguities of Vietnam, all the mysteries and unknowns, there was at least the single abiding certainty that they would never be at a at a loss for things to carry” (p 2).

Sample Dialectic Response O’brien chooses to end the first section of the novel with this sentence. By comparing it to a freight train, he makes you feel the physical weight of what soldiers have to carry for survival. When you combine the emotional weight of loved ones at home, the fear of death, and the responsibility for the men you fight with, with the physical weight of their packs, you start to understand what the soldiers in Vietnam dealt with every day. This quote sums up the confusion that the men felt about the reasons they were fighting the war, and how they clung to the only certainty – the things they had to carry – in a confusing world where normal rules were suspended. O’brien chooses to end the first section of the novel with this sentence. By comparing it to a freight train, he makes you feel the physical weight of what soldiers have to carry for survival. When you combine the emotional weight of loved ones at home, the fear of death, and the responsibility for the men you fight with, with the physical weight of their packs, you start to understand what the soldiers in Vietnam dealt with every day. This quote sums up the confusion that the men felt about the reasons they were fighting the war, and how they clung to the only certainty – the things they had to carry – in a confusing world where normal rules were suspended.

Choosing Passages powerful, thought provoking, or puzzling Look For: Structural shifts or turns in the plot Structural shifts or turns in the plot Passages that remind you of someone or something Passages that remind you of someone or something Effective &/or creative use of stylistic or literary devices Effective &/or creative use of stylistic or literary devices A passage that makes you realize something you hadn’t seen or considered before A passage that makes you realize something you hadn’t seen or considered before

When choosing passages, also consider: Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols, or motifs Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols, or motifs Events you find surprising or perplexing Events you find surprising or perplexing Passages with confusing language or unfamiliar vocabulary Passages with confusing language or unfamiliar vocabulary Passages that illustrate a particular character or setting Passages that illustrate a particular character or setting

Responses Should: (Q) Question something in the passage that is unclear (Q) Question something in the passage that is unclear (P) Predict or anticipate what will occur based on what is in the passage (P) Predict or anticipate what will occur based on what is in the passage (C) Connect to your life, the world, or another text (C) Connect to your life, the world, or another text (CL) Clarify or answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction you made earlier (CL) Clarify or answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction you made earlier

Or, your responses could do one of the following: (R) Reflect deeply about what the passage means in a broad sense – not just to characters. What conclusions can you draw about the world, human nature, or just the way things work? (R) Reflect deeply about what the passage means in a broad sense – not just to characters. What conclusions can you draw about the world, human nature, or just the way things work? (E) Evaluate or judge the character(s), their actions, or what the author is trying to say (E) Evaluate or judge the character(s), their actions, or what the author is trying to say

Check out this example from The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark “The old man and the Mex were dead at the fall, and just swung and spun slowly. But young Tetly didn’t cut. His horse just walked out from under, letting Martin slide off and dangle, choking to death, squirming up and down like an impaled worm, his face bursting with compressed blood” (p 186). “The old man and the Mex were dead at the fall, and just swung and spun slowly. But young Tetly didn’t cut. His horse just walked out from under, letting Martin slide off and dangle, choking to death, squirming up and down like an impaled worm, his face bursting with compressed blood” (p 186).

A Response: I can’t believe that they actually killed the three men. They had no evidence to prove that they were guilty and yet they murdered those three men in cold blood. It’s hard to believe that some people can have so much disregard for human life. This part of the book makes me think of the death penalty. I used to be in favor of the death penalty because I believed in the saying, an eye for an eye. But sometimes you never know if a person is truly guilty or not. Death is a permanent condition; if you make a mistake, you can’t undo it. I can’t believe that they actually killed the three men. They had no evidence to prove that they were guilty and yet they murdered those three men in cold blood. It’s hard to believe that some people can have so much disregard for human life. This part of the book makes me think of the death penalty. I used to be in favor of the death penalty because I believed in the saying, an eye for an eye. But sometimes you never know if a person is truly guilty or not. Death is a permanent condition; if you make a mistake, you can’t undo it.

Some Sample Sentence Starters: I really don’t understand this because… I really don’t understand this because… I think the author is trying to say that… I think the author is trying to say that… If I were (character) at this point I would… If I were (character) at this point I would… I really dislike/like this idea because… I really dislike/like this idea because… This passage reminds me of a time in my life when… This passage reminds me of a time in my life when… I was surprised when… I was surprised when… In this passage, the author successfully shows… In this passage, the author successfully shows…

Dialectical Journal Due _October 20 Dialectical Journal Due _October 20 Read 4-5 Chapters per week Read 4-5 Chapters per week At least one entry every 2 chapters (minimum of 13) At least one entry every 2 chapters (minimum of 13) At least 50 words each At least 50 words each Sporadic journal checks & quizzes Sporadic journal checks & quizzes Need Rough Draft & Final Typed or Creative Draft Need Rough Draft & Final Typed or Creative Draft Must mark the text using stickie notes (similes, metaphors, responses) * at least 2 per chapter! Must mark the text using stickie notes (similes, metaphors, responses) * at least 2 per chapter!

Sept 9 & 10= Chaps 1 & 2 Sept 9 & 10= Chaps 1 & 2 Sept 14-17= Chaps 3-7 Sept 14-17= Chaps 3-7 Sept 21-24= Chaps 8-12 Sept 21-24= Chaps 8-12 Sept 28 –Oct 1= Chaps Sept 28 –Oct 1= Chaps Oct 4-8= Chaps Oct 4-8= Chaps Oct 12-15= Chaps Oct 12-15= Chaps Oct 20= Journals DUE!! Oct 20= Journals DUE!! Oct 22or 23= Test?? Oct 22or 23= Test?? Oct 26-29= Group Presentations!!!! Oct 26-29= Group Presentations!!!!