Guide to Dialectical Journals

AICE General Paper 8004 ASSouth Broward High School

What is a Dialectical Journal?

Dialectic means “the art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving questions and answer”

A series of conversations between you and the text

Provides a platform to further develop reading, writing, and critical thinking skills

Useful reference for completing additional assignments or as a study guide

FormatDual-column

Left Column: excerpt with direct quotation AND page number(s)

For plays or poems, use lines, scenes, etc.

Use ellipsis for more than two lines

Right Column: draw evaluative conclusions about the text, discuss author’s use of language to create a deeper meaning or its effect on characterization, mood, etc.

AVOID PLOT SUMMARY!

At least one entry for every TWO pages of text, unless otherwise noted

MUST be your own ideas- not your friends, not Sparknotes. Cheaters will earn a zero on ALL dialectical journal entries for the given text.

How do I know what to write about?

Many times I will give you directives as to what to look for in the text- characterization, mood, figurative language.

You can use SQUIDS to help you:Select a Quotation: Choose a quote that stands out in the text for its effect; find quotes

that are significant to the theme of the work; select quotes that affect you as a reader.

Understand: Take some time to consider the quotation’s relevance to the section of the work in which it is found and the work as a whole. Think about the sentence structure and its effect.

Identify: Now begin writing; note the context of the quotation (where/when does it appear in the text?) and categorize its status as a literary device. Explain what is happening in and around the quote.

Describe its Significance: Explain what makes this quote important. What makes you, the reader, take notice? Why does it matter in the context of the reading?

Guided Practice:“The Necklace”

Guy de Maupassant

Build Background: You Ought To Be In PicturesImagine that you are one of the people depicted in this painting. Answer the questions in the character of that person to help define the image.

1. What is your name? Describe yourself. What is your situation?2. What happened on this day? When was this image captured?3. What are you thinking? How do you feel?4. Imagine you are sitting with a good friend ten years later. You are looking at this painting. Describe your present situation

and what memories you have of this day.

Build Background“The Necklace” takes place in Paris in the second half of the 19th century (1850-1899). At that time, the life of a typical French woman was dictated by the income and social class of her father or her husband. A wealthy woman of the upper class could look forward to a life of luxury. A middle-class woman was expected to find happiness in taking care of her family and modest home. A woman of the lower class could expect a life of poverty and hard work. The only way a woman could improve her status was by marrying someone in a higher class. A major obstacle to such a marriage, however, was the tradition of the dowry— money or property that the bride’s family was expected to give her new husband.

“The Necklace” Dialectical Journal: ModelingDirections: Copy down the quotations and conclusions to use as a model.

Direct Quotation Evaluative Conclusion

“With no dowry, no prospects,…she was finally married to a minor clerk in the Ministry of Education” (28).

We know from this statement that the character is Middle Class but tried to marry above her station. This

might set up a conflict between this female character and society or her husband.

“All these things, which another woman of her class would not even have noticed, gnawed at her and made her

furious” (28).

This reveals the true nature of this character - perhaps spoiled or ungrateful and definitely covetous.

“But my dear, I thought you’d be thrilled to death…. I had an awful time getting a card. Everybody wants one; it’s

much sought after, and not many clerks have a chance at one. You’ll see all the most important people there” (29).

Monsieur Loisel adores his wife and has gone through a lot of trouble to make her happy. He obviously knows how much she wishes she were of a higher class, most likely because she seems to be the kind of woman who reminds her husband of his shortcomings in her eyes.

“She thought it over for several seconds, going over her allowance and thinking also of the amount she could ask

for without bringing an immediate refusal and an exclamation of dismay from the thrifty clerk” (29).

This illustrates Mathilde’s cunning nature because she is thinking about how much money she could ask for

without angering her husband, possibly sabotaging the invitation altogether. This line also shows how little

power women had at this time as her husband provides her with an allowance.

“The Necklace” Dialectical Journal: ApplicationDirections: Match the conclusion with the correct quotation.

Direct Quotation Evaluative Conclusion

1. “She wasn’t at all convinced. ‘No…There’s nothing more humiliating than to look poor among a lot of rich women” (30).

A. Her behavior illustrates Mathilde’s vanity, as well as her longing for a life she will never have. She is reveling in the attention she’s receiving. This excerpt both makes the reader feel contempt and pity for Mathilde.

2. “All at once she found, in a black satin box, a superb diamond necklace; and her pulse beat faster with longing… she stood in ecstasy looking at her reflection” (30).

B. Mathilde’s response makes the reader feel some pity for Monsieur Loisel. Her words here emphasize her preoccupation with material wealth, which a modern reader finds off-putting. However, status was the only success afforded to Victorian women.

3. “She danced madly, wildly, drunk with pleasure, giving no thought to anything in the triumph of her beauty, the pride of her success,… all the adulation, …of all the awakened longings… that is so sweet to a woman’s heart” (30).

C. Mathilde’s reaction to the necklace further emphasizes her longing for status and maybe even importance. It’s as if the necklace represents all that could be right in her life.

4. “For her, it was all over. For him, there was the thought that he would have to be at the Ministry at ten o’clock” (31).

D. While this party meant everything to Mathilde, it meant relatively little to her husband. Again, this illustrates women’s lack of power and how few options open to obtain it; men approach this privilege with ambivalence.

“The Necklace” Dialectical Journal: SynthesisDirections: Write your own conclusion for the quotations below.

Direct Quotation Evaluative Conclusion

“ ‘We’ll have to write your friend,’ he said, ‘to tell her you have broken the catch and are having it repaired. That

will give us a little time to turn around” (32).

“He went about raising the money, asking a thousand francs from one, fourhanded another, a hundred here,

sixty there… without knowing if he’d be able to honor it, and then, terrified by the…blackness of despair…, he went

claim the new necklace…” (32-33).

“Mme. Loiself appeared an old woman, now. She became heavy, rough, harsh, like one of the poor…. But,

sometimes, …, she would sit near the window and think of that long-ago evening when, at the dance, she had been so

beautiful and admired.” (33).

“ ‘Yes, I’ve had a hard time since last seeing you. And plenty of misfortunes— and all on account of you!’ ” (34).

Thinking Critically

Girl Sweeping (1912), William McGregor Paxton. Oil on canvas.

How does Madame Loisel change as result of her experiences? Think about:

what she values in life

her positive & negative behavior traits

her behavior toward others

Suppose that Madame Loisel had not lost the necklace. On the basis of her feelings and actions up to that point in the story, what do you think her future would have been like? Do you think her life turned out better or worse?

To what degree is the pursuit of status and wealth worthwhile?