DIALECTICAL JOURNAL SCORING RUBRIC
CRITICAL
READER
5
Detailed, elaborate
responses
You can “read between the
lines” of the text.
CONNECTED
READER
4
Detailed
responses
You can construct a
thoughtful, believable
interpretation of the text.
THOUGHTFUL
READER
3
Somewhat detailed
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
re-read it.
LITERAL
READER
2
Simple, factual
responses
You accept the text literally
without thinking of different
possibilities in meaning.
LIMITED
READER
1
Perfunctory
responses
You find the text
confusing, but don’t
attempt to figure it out.
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 gaps in the text
and show some ability to
make meaning from what
you read.
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 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.
You explain why you
disagree or agree with
something in the text, and
you explain and support your
reaction.
February 12, 2015
Sophomore Class Pre-AP
Dialectical Journal Assignment for Things Fall Apart
Directions: Record in your notebook two dialectical journal entries for each chapter. You should
do this on your own time or as time permits in the classroom.
If you are assigned more than one Dialectical Journal (DJ), per reading section, you must
complete more than one type of response. For example you can ask a question, and you can
make a connection and analyze. You cannot simply ask 3 different questions; your entries must
be three different types of responses. Sometimes I may assign you a specific type of response
and a specific sentence stem along with it. Otherwise, use the guide below.
Response Types: You must label your responses using the following codes:
1. (Q) Question – ask about something in the passage that is unclear
2. (C) Connect – make a connection to your life, the world, a another text, or between
characters
3. (P) Predict – anticipate what will occur based on what’s in the passage
4. (CL) Clarify – answer earlier questions or confirm/disaffirm a prediction
5. (D)Discuss- Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
6. (E) Evaluate - make a judgment about what the author is trying to say
7. (A) Analyze - Analyze the text for use of literary devices (tone, structure, style,
imagery) and the affect of the devices in the text or analyze a passage and its
relationship to the story as a whole
8. (R) Reflect – think deeply about what the passage means in a broad sense – not just to
the characters in the story/author of the article. What conclusions can you draw
about the world, about human nature, or just the way things work?
POSSIBLE SENTENCE STEMS
 This part of the text is confusing because…
 The author is trying to say that…
 This passage reminds me of a time in my life when…
 If I were (name of character) at this point I would…
 This part doesn’t make sense because…
 This character reminds me of (name of person) because…
 I really dislike/like this idea because…
“Quote” (Author’s last name page number).
“He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike
his father he could stand the look of blood. In
Umofia’s last war he was the first to bring
home a human head” (Achebe 7).
Type(s) of response and the response. 3-5
sentences in length.
(Discuss and Evaluate) Prior to colonization,
Okonkwo is a symbol of power and
masculinity. Unlike Unoka, who represents
laziness and over all failure, Okonkwo’s
strength is highly valued in the pre-colonial Ibo
culture. The use of the words “blood” and
“human head” show that physical combat is
also an esteemed characteristic for an Ibo man
to possess.