Dialectical Journal:
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
You are about to embark on a six week independent reading project, in which you will be
responsible for pacing your reading according to the schedule listed below and maintaining a
dialectical journal in which you analyze passages of your choosing for plot development,
character development, tone, theme development, and symbolism. This will create a major
grade component in both the 2nd Six Weeks and the 3rd Six Weeks.
When time allows and is appropriate, we will also have in-class activities related to the novel
to enrich your understanding of the text. You will be expected to always bring your copy of
the novel with you to class, and when you have extra time in class, you will be expected to
read silently and/or work on your dialectical journal.
Each week, you will be required to complete five (5) entries, one of each kind, for the assigned
chapters:
 Summarizing, Observing, and Questioning
 Character Analysis
 Analysis of Tone
 Analysis of Theme
 Symbolism
Each entry will be scored using the attached rubric, and the five entries will be totaled to
determine your score.
Composite:
25
23-24
21-22
19-20
16-18
Scaled Score
100
95
90
85
80
Composite:
14-15
11-12
9-10
6-8
5 or lower
Scaled Score
75
70
65
60
50
Reading Schedule for Ender’s Game
2nd 6 Weeks Cycle
10/28-11/1
Read Chapters 1-5 (pages 1-53)
5 journal entries due on Friday, November 1st
0.5% of a major grade
11/4-11/8
Read Chapters 6, 7, 8 (pages 54-119)
5 journal entries due on Friday, November 8th
0.5 % of a major grade
3rd 6 Weeks Cycle
11/11-11/15
Read Chapters 9 and 10 (pages 120-172)
5 journal entries due Friday, November 15th
0.25% of a major grade
11/18-11/22
Read Chapters 11 and 12 (pages 173-226)
5 journal entries due Friday, November 22nd
0.25% of a major grade
11/25-12/6 (Thanksgiving Break included in this chunk)
Read Chapters 13 and some of 14 (pages 227-277)
5 journal entries due on Friday, December 6th
0.25 % of a major grade
12/9-12/13
Read the rest of Chapter 14 and all of Chapter 15 (pages 277-324)
5 journal entries due on Friday, December 13th
0.25% of a major grade
CRITICAL
READER
5
Detailed, elaborate
responses.
CONNECTED
READER
4
Detailed
responses.
You can “read between the
lines” of the text.
You can construct a thoughtful,
believable interpretation of the
text.
You think about the meaning
of the text in terms of a larger
or universal significance, as
aspect of self or life in general.
You create your own meaning
through personal connections
and references to other texts.
You fill in caps in the text and
show some ability to make
meaning from what you read.
You consider different possible
interpretations as you read
You experiment with different
ideas or think up original or
unpredictable responses
You carry on an ongoing
dialogue with the writer; you
question, agree, disagree,
appreciate, or object.
THOUGHTFUL
READER
3
Somewhat detailed
responses.
LITERAL
READER
LIMITED
READER
2
1
Simple, factual
responses.
Perfunctory
responses.
You make connections to your
own past experiences, feelings,
or knowledge, but don’t explain
in enough detail.
You rarely change your ideas
about the text even after you reread it.
You accept the text literally
without thinking of different
possibilities in meaning.
You find the text
confusing, but don’t
attempt to figure it out.
You are reluctant to change
your ideas about the text, even
after re-reading it.
You don’t change your
ideas about the text after
re-reading it.
You create your own meaning
through personal connections
and references to other texts.
You may agree or disagree with
ideas in the text, but you don’t
thoroughly explain or support
your opinions.
You make few or no
connections to the text
and your ideas lack
development.
You can explain the more
general significance of the text
beyond the facts.
You raise important questions
about the text.
You ask simple questions about
the text.
You don’t reach beyond the
obvious to make connections
to the text; you make few
connections, which lack
sufficient detail.
You are sometimes confused
by unclear or difficult sections
of the text.
You explain why you disagree
or agree with something in the
text, and you explain and
support your reaction.
Page intentionally left blank. Back of rubric.
Name____________________________
Period___________
Due: Friday, November 1
Chapters 1-5
Entry 1: Summarizing, Observing, and Questioning
Summary
Entry 2: Character Analysis
Evidence
Score_____
Observations and Questions
Score_______
Inference – Commentary
Entry 3: Analysis of Tone
Score_____
Evidence
Commentary
Entry 4: Analysis of Theme
Score ______
Thematic Idea:__________________________
Evidence
Entry 5: Symbolism
Symbol – Literal
Commentary
Score ______
Symbol – Abstract
Effect, Purpose, or Insight
Name____________________________
Period___________
Due: Friday, November 8
Chapters 6-8
Entry 1: Summarizing, Observing, and Questioning
Summary
Entry 2: Character Analysis
Evidence
Score_____
Observations and Questions
Score_______
Inference – Commentary
Entry 3: Analysis of Tone
Score_____
Evidence
Commentary
Entry 4: Analysis of Theme
Score ______
Thematic Idea:__________________________
Evidence
Entry 5: Symbolism
Symbol – Literal
Commentary
Score ______
Symbol – Abstract
Effect, Purpose, or Insight
Name____________________________
Period___________
Due: Friday, November 15
Chapters 9-10
Entry 1: Summarizing, Observing, and Questioning
Summary
Entry 2: Character Analysis
Evidence
Score_____
Observations and Questions
Score_______
Inference – Commentary
Entry 3: Analysis of Tone
Score_____
Evidence
Commentary
Entry 4: Analysis of Theme
Score ______
Thematic Idea:__________________________
Evidence
Entry 5: Symbolism
Symbol – Literal
Commentary
Score ______
Symbol – Abstract
Effect, Purpose, or Insight
Name____________________________
Period___________
Due: Friday, November 22
Chapters 11-12
Entry 1: Summarizing, Observing, and Questioning
Summary
Entry 2: Character Analysis
Evidence
Score_____
Observations and Questions
Score_______
Inference – Commentary
Entry 3: Analysis of Tone
Score_____
Evidence
Commentary
Entry 4: Analysis of Theme
Score ______
Thematic Idea:__________________________
Evidence
Entry 5: Symbolism
Symbol – Literal
Commentary
Score ______
Symbol – Abstract
Effect, Purpose, or Insight
Name____________________________
Period___________
Due: Friday, December 6
Chapters 13-half 14
Entry 1: Summarizing, Observing, and Questioning
Summary
Entry 2: Character Analysis
Evidence
Score_____
Observations and Questions
Score_______
Inference – Commentary
Entry 3: Analysis of Tone
Score_____
Evidence
Commentary
Entry 4: Analysis of Theme
Score ______
Thematic Idea:__________________________
Evidence
Entry 5: Symbolism
Symbol – Literal
Commentary
Score ______
Symbol – Abstract
Effect, Purpose, or Insight
Name____________________________
Period___________
Due: Friday, December 13
Chapters end of 14-15 (end of novel!)
Entry 1: Summarizing, Observing, and Questioning
Summary
Entry 2: Character Analysis
Evidence
Score_____
Observations and Questions
Score_______
Inference – Commentary
Entry 3: Analysis of Tone
Score_____
Evidence
Commentary
Entry 4: Analysis of Theme
Score ______
Thematic Idea:__________________________
Evidence
Entry 5: Symbolism
Symbol – Literal
Commentary
Score ______
Symbol – Abstract
Effect, Purpose, or Insight