What is the purpose?
 A dialectical journal is another name for a double-
entry journal or a reader-response journal.
 A dialectical journal is a journal that records a
dialogue, or conversation, between the ideas in the
text (the words that you are reading) and the ideas of
the reader (the person who is doing the reading).
 This is what you must do in your journal—keep a
dialogue with yourself.
 Write down your thoughts, questions, insights, and
ideas while you read.
How to Write a Good Dialectical Journal
– for Fiction
 Make a t-chart: draw a line across the top of your paper
and two lines down the middle (creating a narrow middle
column). In the top left area, write “Quote.” In the narrow
center column, write “Pg No.” In the top right, write, “Why
do I find this quote interesting or important."
 Begin by simply reading the text as a whole piece. Get a feel
for the theme, characters, story line and setting.
 In the left-side column of your journal, note phrases or
sentences that stick with you. Include the page number in
the narrow center column. They might have stuck because
they confuse, inspire, bewilder or resonate with you—note
this information in the right column.
Dialectical Journal Template
Some Tips…
 In your response column, write your thoughts about
those phrases, terms and sentences. These responses
should come from a real place and shouldn't be forced.
 Be clear about what confuses you, or write a brief note
about the memory that you connect with the reading.
 Look back through the reading again quickly to see if
any new insights have come to you now that you have
made these connections.
 If so, jot these down in your dialectic journal as well.
Reading the Prologue
 Write the following questions in your dialectical
journal. Answer them as we read through the
prologue:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Who are the characters and their relationships?
What happens in the plot?
What is the setting?
Describe a flashback.
From what point of view is the novel written?
From the Prologue…
 In the last paragraph on page 4, Paul says, “The zombie
was locked out.” In your dialectical journal, make
some predictions about who or what the zombie might
be.
 In your dialectical journal, summarize what you know
about the novel based on your reading and discussion
of the prologue.