DIALECTICAL JOURNAL
The purpose of a dialectical journal is to identify significant pieces of text and explain the
significance. It is another form of highlighting/annotating text and should be used to think about,
digest, summarize, question, clarify, critique, and remember what is read. It is a way to take
notes on what is read using the actual text, so that when you are asked to write an essay about or
utilize the information from the text you do not have to re-read the entire piece. Instead, you can
search your notes for direct quotes to use as supporting evidence for your opinions. A dialectical
journal is also an effective way to assess your comprehension. It can be used with any form of
writing: textbook, short story, novel, essay, poem, newspaper article, scientific journal, or any
piece of writing students choose.
To set up a dialectical journal, you may simply utilize the template provided. On the left hand
side of the page, title the column, Note Taking. On the right hand side of the page, title the
column, Note Making. The left hand column is where you will type the sentence/s or phrase/s
from the text that you believe illustrates a significant idea. You should put quotation marks
around the sentence/s to show that they are someone else’s words. If the passage you use is more
than one or two sentences, you may abbreviate it in the following manner, using ellipses (three
dots in place of the words that are missing at the end):
“Like the keeper of the lighthouse, she regarded it as a mooring, a checkpoint, some stable
visual object that assured her that the world was still there; that this was life and not a
dream…” Song of Solomon, p. 11
THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE FOLLOWING
SOURCE:
http://www.esubjects.com/curric/general/supplements/DialecticalJournal.pdf
Feel free to play with the topics for your dialectical journals; you may pull out passages you have
questions about, passages on specific characters, passages on specific symbols, passages which
build themes, or passages that demonstrate the style of the specific author. Feel free to comment
on diction, tone, style, voice, etc. The important thing is that you have something to say about
the passage. Your comments should be developed and demonstrate higher level thinking which
goes well beyond plot summary. Please AVOID plot summaries. We are looking for evidence
that you are thinking as you are reading. The AP literature course is focused on close reading of
works. This summer, we want you to practice close reading. The dialectic journals will provide
an organized way for you to record your thoughts. We challenge you TO THINK. There are no
wrong answers. Avoid using Spark notes during your reading, instead, use YOUR BRAIN! We
have attached some sample “journals” to guide you.
