Dialectical Journal Instructions Step 1: Find two blank pages in your notebook. Step 2: Separate the pages in half (you should have four columns side by side) Step 3: Fill out the headings for each column as follows : Step 4: Review the following slides to complete columns Observations and response Need to know Questions Dialogue with a peer Later Reflections

DAY 1 - First 2 columns of Dialectical Journal Observations and Response Pick 2 quotes from the text (make sure to cite properly) These can be full sentences or simple phrases. Below each quote you pull from the text, indicate why you picked it for your dialectical journal - Did it seem important? Why? What is the author trying to show us here? Why did this phrase catch your eye? Include everything you can in your responses: feelings, arguments, ideas, disagreements, problems, ambiguities, conclusions, uncertainties, images, and even irrelevant memories that pop into your mind as you read. All of this is part of your thinking. Need to Know Questions In this section, write down 8 well thought-out questions posed about the story or its characters make sure to include “higher level” questions. Remember, these are not questions you already know the answers to. Questions can start with the phrases “I wonder why…” “How did the main character get so …” or “I don’t understand how the protagonist felt when…” etc… “Is this culture…?” “Why wouldn’t this character….?” These can also be “big picture” questions not directly tied to the article, story, or poem

Sample Dialectical Journal Observations and ResponseNeed to Know Questions Quote 1: “No one really knew what their lives were like. They had no novelists – and would not have permitted anyone to read a novel if one were handy” (Miller 4). This quote stands out to me because I simply can’t believe that novels were not accepted in this community. I am surprised that people of the community were ok with this. It seems that, knowing the rest of the world was reading, people would be interested to inquire about literature outside of the Bible. This kind of reminds me of Fahrenheit 451 where Montag’s society was also discouraged from reading 1.I wonder how Puritan children felt about not being able to read anything other than religious texts. 2.Why were the Puritans so against reading novels? How did their brains respond to so much biblical information? 3.How long did John and Abby’s relationship last before they stopped it? 4.If Puritan children WERE all of a sudden able to read regular books, how would they respond to this new information?

DAY 2- Last 2 columns of Dialectical Journal Dialogue with a Peer In this space, you will comment on the quotes and questions your peer wrote down in their dialectical journal. You do not necessarily need to have an answer for everything they’ve brought to your attention, but give it a shot. Don’t be shy to voice your opinion. You can start with sentences such as “That’s an interesting question. I think…” “I liked the quote you picked. I believe the author is trying to show us…” Anything that comes to mind as you read your peer’s work can be included. You can also ask your peer additional questions. Later Reflections These are your reflections about the novel so far as well as the dialectical journaling process itself. Did your peer’s comments or questions make sense? What seemed most important? What did you think of the text as a whole? Did any additional questions come up in your mind? Was this an important or interesting reading? Why or why not? Etc… What predictions do you have about the story? What do you think should happen next?