Dialectical Reading Journals September 9, 2007

 So I’ve been researching Dialectical Journals, and I’ve found some interesting stuff.  Here’s an overview:

Purpose

Journaling pushes students to consider the material they’re reading more deeply, and to construct their own meaning from the text.  It can also help students clarify plot details and the significance of specific events in a story. 

Reading student journals then gives teachers some insight into what students are getting from the literature and what they have trouble with.

Process

Students pick passages from the text that jump out at them respond in writing. 

Formatting

I like the double entry format, which looks like this:

 because it reminds students to include page numbers and allows them to view the passage drawn from the text right next to their response.

I came up with an Intro to Dialectical Journals that students can keep in their binders & use as a reference.  It includes details instructions on how to choose quotes, tips on what to write about, and sentence starters (thanks foxy).  I also found  a pretty good rubric we can refer to when grading the journals.

I’ll add a link to the intro & a blank graphic organizer to the Author Study I class page on the ESA homepage.