Dialectical Journals

What? A double-entry form that captures a reader’s thoughts, questions, and

commentary on self-selected quotes from a text.

Why? The term “Dialectic” means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using
conversation involving question and answer.” Think of your dialectical journal as a
series of conversations with the texts we read during this course. The process is meant
to help you develop a better understanding of the texts we read.

How?
You can respond to the text in a variety of ways. The most important thing to
remember is that your observations should be specific and detailed. This means
your responses are multiple sentences in length. You can write as much as you
want for each entry. The sentence starters are just ideas. Please use sentence variety
and vary the beginnings and structure of your sentences, and please use the analysis
section to really dig deeper into the text.

● Infer:
● I infer / conclude that . . .
● This reveals….
● These details show…
● I think the author is trying to say that...
● Connect:
● This reminds me of ….(text-to-self, text-to-world, text-to-text)
● I would act differently because …
● Predict:
● Based on this line/part of the text, I predict . . . (explain reasoning)
● Question:
● I am confused here because . . .
● I wonder….
● Clarify:
● This answers my earlier question because…
● Earlier I thought _____, now I think ______
● Reflect/React:
● This surprises me because…
● I enjoyed the part when….
● I think the author’s message is ….
Basic Responses

● Give your personal reactions to the passage

● Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
● Tell what it reminds you of from your own experiences
● Write about what it makes you think or feel

Higher Level Responses

● Analyze the text for use of literary devices (tone, structure, style, imagery)
● Make connections between different characters or events in the text
● Make connections to a different text (or film, song, etc…)
● Discuss the words, ideas, or actions of the author or character(s)
● Consider an event or description from the perspective of a different
character
● Analyze a passage and its relationship to the text as a whole
● Analyzes the author’s choices and how it impacts the meaning of the text.

_______________________________________________________________________

My Dialectical Journal
Note Taking (Direct Quote from Text)
Text + Date of
Or Note making (My response)
Entry
Text Dependent Question (L,A,C,E)
What is Walter’s dream?
A Raisin in the
Wlater’s dream is to leave his job and start a
Sun
What is Mama’s dream? successful business. This way he can provide a
better more phosphorus life.
Act 1, Scene 1
Mama’s dream is to
3/8/23 What is the conflict between
these two dreams?
On p. 47, Mama and Ruth
A Raisin in the describe all of the passions
Sun Beneatha has had and It makes me feel as if benetha is a person with a
great deal more free time then her relatives. Her
Act 1, Scene 1 discarded. Given what you relatives are obviously to busy working to have
know about the Youngers, how benethas hobby and interest.
3/8/23 does this make you feel about
Beneatha? Why?
 (A) When Mama says that Mama means that with luck Bennie will
Bennie will be a doctor, “God be able to become a doctor with luck.
A Raisin in the willing,” what does she mean? Luck comes from the interference with
Sun
god.
Act 1, Scene 1 (C) What about Mama causes Mama is a conservative woman. She as
her to add that caution to her result is a little apprehensive about
3/8/23
statement? benetha becoming a doctor.

A Raisin in the Sun, Act I, Scene 1, p. 50

A Raisin in the (C) How does Bennie’s speech Bennies' speech about god adds to the
Sun about God in the middle of p. tension of the scene by highlighting the
Act 1, Scene 1 51 add to the tension in the differing beliefs of momma and her
scene? children. This reveals a source of
3/8/23 tension in the family.
(A) How does Mama assert her Mama slaps benetha in the face. She then tells
banetha to apologize for her statement.
control at the end of the
scene? There is a degree of tension between the family
members throughout the scene. This shows that
A Raisin in the there difference in beliefs between the generations of
(C) What is the overall mood as the family.
Sun
the scene ends? What does the
Act 1, Scene 1 scene tell you about
generational differences in the
3/8/23
Younger household?

A Raisin in the Sun, Act I, Scene 1, p. 51

A Raisin in the (L) Who has Ruth actually gone to Ruth goes to see a barber who offers
Sun her services in performing abortions.
see instead of the doctor? Why does
Act 1, Scene 2 she consider taking this route? She considers taking this route because
she feels the family can’t support a
3/15/23 child.
A Raisin in the Asagai gave her some traditional tribal
Sun clothing that belonged to her siter and a
(A) Why is Asagai's present to
Act 1, Scene 2
Beneatha appropriate for her (What record that play tribal music. This is
is Beneatha interested in now)? appropriate because she is currently
3/15/23 interested in Africa and tribal culture.
A Raisin in the
(A) How does the author portray Walter She portrays Walter as being nervous
Sun
through Mama’s dialogue on p. 72? and erratic. As well as being moody.
Act 1, Scene 2
3/15/23
A Raisin in the “Mama a Job? I open and close doors
(A) Walter feels that his job is
Sun
demeaning, and he wants to use the all day”
Act 1, Scene 2
family’s money for something
meaningful. What text evidence
3/15/23 supports this inference?

EXIT TICKET

A Raisin in the Cite the two strongest pieces of textual

Sun evidence from p. 71 or p. 75 of A Raisin
in the Sun to support the inference that
Act 1, Scene 2 Walter’s relationship with Ruth is
strained, or suffering.
3/15/23
Explain how each piece of evidence
supports the inference.
A Raisin in the Walter is drunk pretending to be a
Sun What are Beneatha and Walter
doing when George enters the African Cheiften. Beneatha
Act 2, Scene 1 scene? ecncouraging his proformance.

3/17/23
A Raisin in the
What is an assimilationist according
Sun
to Beneatha? Benetha says that an assimilationist is ome one who
gives up their culture. Instead they decide to take on
Act 2, Scene 1
the characteristic of the dominant culture.
3/17/23
A Raisin in the
What did Mama end up doing with Mama bought the family a new house in
Sun
the money? Clybourne Park. Clybourne Park is
Act 2, Scene 1 predominantly wight neiborhood.

3/17/23
A Raisin in the What is Walter’s reaction to Mama’s Walter is distraught and angrey with Mama due to the
Sun purchase? purchase. He feels that she has put his family in a
vulnerable position.
Act 2, Scene 1
What is Ruth’s reaction to Mama’s
purchase?
3/17/23

EXIT TICKET
A Raisin in the
Using your TDQ answers and the
Sun In this scene the youngers were facing
quotes you’ve gathered on your
Act 2, Scene 1 “As You Read” document, write problems associated with the historical
one complete CCER answering practise of red lining.
3/17/23 the following prompt.
 Prompt: Choose one of the
following historical topics and
explain how this topic creates
tension or conflict within the
Younger family.

1. American Dream
2. Redlining / Fair Housing Laws
3. Brown Vs. Board of Education
4. The Great Migration
5. Gender Roles in the 50s
6. Assimilation / Assimilationist

What new fears about moving to

A Raisin in the Mrs. Johnson is the embodiment of evil
Sun
Clybourne Park does Mrs. Johnson
and she introduced the fear of being
introduce to the Younger family in
Act 2, Scene 2
bombed to the family. She shows them
this scene?
a new paper story about Clybourn Park
3/21/23 being bombed.

A Raisin in the How does Ruth find out that Walter Ruth finds out that Walter has not been
Sun going to work via a call to from Walters
hasn’t been going to work?
Act 2, Scene 2 boss. Walter has just been driving
What has Walter been doing instead around the city rather than working.
3/21/23 of going to work?
A Raisin in the Mama gives walter the mony he needs to
What does Mama do for Walter in
Sun invest as well as benetas mony for
this scene? What do you predict
Walter will do with this gift? education. I predict he will invest all of the
Act 2, Scene 2
money.
3/21/23
Using a direct quote from Act II:
Scene II, write one complete
CCER answering the following
prompt.

A Raisin in the
Sun Prompt: Choose one of the
following historical topics and
Act 2, Scene 2 explain how this topic relates to
the Younger family’s current
3/21/23 situation.

1. American Dream
2. Redlining / Fair Housing Laws
3. Brown Vs. Board of Education
4. The Great Migration
5. Gender Roles in the 50s
6. Assimilation / Assimilationist
 Karl Lindner is a representative of the
A Raisin in the Who was Karl Lindner, and why did
Sun
Clyborn Park Assosiation. He visits the
he visit the Youngers' house?
family to bribe them away from moving
Act 2, Scene 3 into the neiborhood. The family refused
How do the members of the Younger
3/24/23
Mr. Lindners deal. Furthermore they
family react to Mr. Lindner ?
were insulted by the offer.
A Raisin in the What presents does Mama get?
Sun What is her reaction?

Act 2, Scene 3

3/24/23

A Raisin in the What news does Bobo bring to Bobo tells Walter that the man they
Sun Walter? How does this news disrupt were working with ran away with the
the Youngers’ moods? mony. This greatly upsets the youngers
Act 2, Scene 3
and causes them to lose hope for the
3/24/23 future.
A Raisin in the EXIT TICKET This counflict is an example of the American dream.
Sun The American dream in the desire Americans have to
Using a direct quote from Act II: be economically proseprus. Walter invested the mony
Act 2, Scene 3 Scene III, write one complete in hopes of prosering economically. Walters motive is
one that if synonymous with the American dream.
CCER answering the following
3/24/23 prompt.

Prompt: Choose one of the

following historical topics and
explain how this topic relates to
the Younger family’s current
situation.

1. American Dream
2. Redlining / Fair Housing Laws
3. Brown Vs. Board of Education
4. The Great Migration
5. Gender Roles in the 50s
6. Assimilation / Assimilationist
A Raisin in the
Why didn't Beneatha want to be a
Sun Benetha felt that sense the money for
doctor anymore?
her scholarship had all been used she
Act 3, Scene 1
would no longer be able to be a doctor.
3/28/23 She lost hope in achieving her dream
and has lost the will to pursue it.
A Raisin in the
How did Asagai define "idealists"
Sun
and "realists"?
Act 3, Scene 1
How does his conversation with
3/28/23 Beneatha here relate to the
American Dream?
A Raisin in the Why didn't Walter take the money Walter did not take lidners mony because he felt that
Sun Lindner offered? the family was to proud to take the mony. He felt the
family was a deserving to live in the neiborhood as
Act 3, Scene 1 the next person.

3/28/23
A Raisin in the EXIT TICKET
Sun
Using a direct quote from Act III:
Act 3, Scene 1 Scene I, write one complete
CCER answering the following
3/28/23 prompt.

Prompt: Consider how the

following six topics impact the
lives of the Younger family. Which
creates the largest obstacle for
the family?

1. American Dream
2. Redlining / Fair Housing Laws
3. Brown Vs. Board of Education
4. The Great Migration
5. Gender Roles in the 50s
6. Assimilation / Assimilationist