1. Modified Dialectic Journals
8th Grade Advanced Language Arts
4th Quarter Novel Study

2. Due Dates:
Three journals (choose between characterization, conflict, theme, setting and poetry analysis) due no later than Friday, May 10.
Five journals (characterization, conflict, theme, setting, and poetry analysis) due no later than Friday, May 17.

3. Characterization
Select a passage that is a quote from or about a character.
Response goes beyond simply describing the character.
ANALYZE their psychology and motivation. Why do they behave the way that they do? How does this character’s personality and behavior affect the themes and outcomes of the story?
EVALUATE author’s craft: How does the author create and develop this character? Evaluate the author’s technique regarding characterization.

4. Conflict
Select a passage that shows conflict (person vs. self, society, person, etc.)
Your response should go beyond describing the conflict and telling me what type it is.
ANALYZE the source(s) of the conflict and how it affects the characters, themes, and outcomes of the story.
EVALUATE the way that the author develops and resolves this conflict? Is it effective? Why or why not?

5. Theme Passage should show a theme.
Response should go beyond simple morals and lessons that belong in a children’s book, to examine more universal literary themes (e.g. fall from grace, loss of innocence, the great journey, revenge, yin and yang, etc.)
EXPLAIN, ANALYZE, and EVALUATE the development of this theme through characterization, conflict, plot, and author’s craft. Refer to my example.

6. Setting Select a passage that describes a setting in the story.
EXPLAIN, ANALYZE, and EVALUATE the author’s choice of setting. How does the setting affect the mood and tone of the scene/text? How does the historical and cultural setting (1960’s Tulsa) affect the characters, themes, and outcomes of the story?

7. Poetry Analysis
Copy and paste the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost (page 77) into your text column.
ANALYZE the poem line by line. What does it mean? What is the theme? How does the theme of the poem relate to the themes in The Outsiders?