Animal Farm Dialectical Journal Assignment As we read Animal

Animal Farm
Dialectical Journal Assignment
As we read Animal Farm, you will be required to make at least one dialectical journal entry each
week. Push yourself to think critically about what you read and formulate ORIGINAL IDEAS
about what YOU think.
You may type your dialectical journals or neatly write them on a piece of binder paper.
How do I keep a dialectical journal?
Divide the page into two columns.
In the LEFT COLUMN:
o Write down passages from the book that you feel are important.
o Include the page number you found it on.
o If it is a direct quote (someone in the book spoke it, dialogue), include the
character who said it
o You may also include indirect quotes (words the narrator say to us).
In the RIGHT COLUMN:
o In 2 or more sentences write a brief explanation of what is going on in the scene:
Who‟s talking? To whom? About what? What details are important for this
scene‟s situation?
o In 3 or more sentences write YOUR OWN opinion, thoughts, commentary, and
questions about the passage.
o In 4 or more sentences write an analysis of the passage: Why is this passage
important? What does the passage reveal about a character, or an event, or a
possible theme or idea that Orwell is trying to convey. Is it possible to make a
prediction based off of your chosen passage?
Assessment:
Each Dialectical Journal entry will be worth 15 points.
It will mainly be graded on the following criteria:
o Quality and completeness of assignment
o Depth and thoughtfulness of reflective writing
o Organization and neatness
What does a dialectical journal look like?
The following is an example of an appropriate dialectical journal entry for My Brother
Sam is Dead.
Passages/Quotes
Response
______________________________________________________________________
“„You are not going to Wethersfield and you
are going to take off that uniform right
now…‟” –Mr. Meeker
“„…I am an American, and I am going to fight
to keep my country free.‟” –Sam
(pg. 20-21)
(Explanation)Tim had just woken up to hear
his father and Sam arguing about going to war.
Father was upset because he did not want Sam
to take part in the war, but Sam told him he
would fight anyway. (Opinion) I imagine this
had to have been scary for Tim to hear because
he realizes that his brother really is going to go
to war. My first thought would have been; will
I ever see my brother again? I understand why
Father doesn‟t want Sam to fight. I don‟t think
it‟s about Patriots or Tories. Father doesn‟t
want Sam to fight because he‟s also afraid of
losing Sam. (Analysis) This passage is
important because this demonstrates the effect
that the war is already having on the Meeker
family. At this point, the family is starting to
split apart because Sam wants to go to war and
his father doesn‟t want him to. Also, Sam is on
one side and…