Dialectical Journal-Response Stems:Option B

Response to Literature involves making connections to a story while you are reading. Everyone thinks while he or she is reading, but sometimes we are not aware of it! This is the time to voice your thoughts and opinions while you read. Simply pause occasionally during the story and pay attention to your thoughts and record them in your novel or on scratch paper. Then, select your best five quotes and begin your Dialectical Journal entries.However, don’t over-use one particular stem; use a variety. More importantly, it is not a mere restatement or summary of the text.

Basic Responses

  1. If I were the author, I would change ______because ______.
  2. If I were (name of character), I would have ______because ______/
  3. I admire ______because ______.
  4. It was surprising when ______
  5. Why did/didn’t (name of character) (action)?
  6. I find it surprising that ______.
  7. Text-to-Text; Text-to-Self; Text-to-World connections

Advanced Responses

  1. Analyze the use of figurative language.
  2. The point of view in this passage/poem and the effect the POV has on the story
  3. Why is ______described as ______?
  4. Contrasts that are developed or implied ______.
  5. Juxtaposing _____ and _____ serves the purpose of______.
  6. The passage shifts from ____ to _____.
  7. Connect the character’s actions or plot element to a possible theme.
  8. What does ______symbolize and why is it effective?
  9. The speaker's tone/attitude toward_____is best described as one of ______.
  10. What can be inferred by ______?
  11. The point of view in this passage/poem and the effect the POV has on the story
  12. The atmosphere or mood is established the passage by ______
  13. The use of ______suggests that ______.
  14. The function of the ______(sentence, detail, clause, phrase, and so on)
  15. By ______, the author most probably suggests ______.
  16. This passage is chiefly remarkable for its______.
  17. How would you characterize the diction and style of the passage?
  18. Where is there a shift of tone in the passage?
  19. The effect achieved by the speaker's using the phrases ______is ______.
  20. ______is a metaphorical way of saying ______.
  21. The choice of words shows______about the speaker's beliefs
  22. This part of the story is similar to, yet different from (title of another novel) in that____
  23. Discuss a stage of hero’s journey as it relates to the novel. Compare and contrast this stage to another novel, movie, or real life.

Direct Quote & Page Number / Response
“It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” (3).

Quote side Checklist
“This should be a direct quote. You may use part of a quote, but use an ellipsis to indicate the portion you have left out. Use enough of the quote so that the key parts are there” (#).
“Choose purposeful quotes-ones you feel that are worth analysis and discussion” (#). / The opening lines of the book reflect Montag’s thoughts as he considers his career as a fireman.Describing joy at seeing items burned and “eaten” sets a sinister tone. Pleasure is a strong word for burning. Usually negative feelings are associated with the destructive power of fires. If this society is one that celebrates destruction over creation, then certainly this belief would be an example of dystopia. We find out that our protagonist is a fireman whose job is to set fires instead of extinguishing them. That’s the exact opposite of our society. There may be an illusion of perfection projected; however the sinister tone reflects an evident societal flaw.
Response side Checklist
Use the response stems (on back) to guide you.
Begin with a one sentence summary of the events taking place around the quote.
Discuss your thoughts and be sure to connect them to the direct quote.
Don’t use the word quote in this section!
Paragraph form with a minimum of five sentences of various lengths
Use the characters’ names when referring to them.
Avoid the over-use of pronouns (He, it, they…)
Remember, short quick answers get short quick grades-make me work!

Dialectical Journal Directions: Option B

Response to Literature
Sample Entries
  1. Create a table in WORD or on notebook paper that looks like this:

Direct Quote & Page Number / Response
  1. As you read, identify quotes that stick with you (make your brain “bump”).
  2. Type,or neatly hand-write in ink, your best quotes and your responses/analysis in the columns.
  3. Please complete FIVE entries spanning from the beginning to the end of the novel.