How to Make a Double-Sided Journal (Dialectical Journal)

Summary

In this educational video, the creator guides viewers on crafting a double-sided journal, also known as a dialectical journal, which is a tool for deep literary analysis. The journal features two columns: one for text excerpts and the other for personal responses. The video uses 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison to demonstrate how to record thoughts, analyze themes, and explore character development. It also touches on magical realism, reader's personal journey, and author's word choices, encouraging a deeper connection with the text.

Takeaways

• 📔 A double-sided journal, also known as a dialectical journal, is a tool for deep reading and analysis, allowing readers to record thoughts in two columns.
• 🔍 The left column is for quoting text or excerpts from the material being read, such as books, poems, or articles.
• 🖋 The right column is reserved for personal responses, questions, or comments related to the quoted text.
• 🎨 The journal can include analysis of themes, literary strategies, character studies, and connections to other cultural sources.
• 📝 Sample entries from 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison are used to demonstrate how to fill out a double-sided journal.
• 🧙‍♀️ The character Cersei embodies magical realism, a genre characteristic that blends the supernatural with reality, as seen in the book.
• 🎶 The journaling process encourages readers to consider character development, such as Milkman's journey and his connection to his ancestors.
• 🔑 Identifying plot points and turning points, or 'aha' moments, is crucial for understanding the narrative's progression.
• ✍️ Personal pronouns like 'I' can be avoided to prepare for more formal essay writing, though their use is a personal choice.
• 🌟 The final sentence of the novel is analyzed for symbolism, representing the protagonist's triumph and self-realization.
• 👥 Indirect characterization, where a character's traits are revealed through their interactions with others, is highlighted as a key literary device.

Q & A

What is a double-sided journal?

A double-sided journal, also known as a dialectical journal, is a two-column chart that allows you to record your thoughts on a piece of text as you're reading. It can include questions, comments on style or context, author background, analysis of themes, literary strategies, characters, and connections to other sources.

What kind of text can be used in a double-sided journal?

The text can be from a book, a poem, an article, or any other reading material that you are currently reading.

What is the purpose of the left column in a double-sided journal?

The left column is for the text or a quote or excerpt from the actual work that you're reading.

What should be included in the right column of a double-sided journal?

The right column is for your personal response to the piece of text included in the left column.

How does the double-sided journal help in analyzing a book like 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison?

It allows for a detailed analysis of characters, themes, literary strategies, and connections to the genre or movement of the book, as well as personal reflections and interpretations.

What is an example of a character analysis in the double-sided journal from 'Song of Solomon'?

The character Cersei is analyzed as embodying magical realism, a technique used in the book to blend the supernatural with the real world.

How does the double-sided journal help in understanding the central metaphor of 'Song of Solomon'?

It allows the reader to mark and analyze passages that contribute to the understanding of central metaphors, such as the revelation of the flight metaphor in the book.

What is the significance of the quote 'besides I do accept my name it's part of who I am' in the context of the double-sided journal?

This quote is used to explore the character's acceptance of their identity and the author's choice of names, reflecting on the distinction between slave names and slave status.

How does the double-sided journal help in understanding the climax of the novel?

It encourages the identification and analysis of important plot points or turning points, such as the character's acceptance of their name and identity, which could be considered the climax.

What is the final quote of 'Song of Solomon' and how is it analyzed in the double-sided journal?

The final quote is 'for now he knew what Shalimar knew if you surrendered to the air, you could ride it,' which is analyzed in terms of symbolism, representing the main character's triumph and realization of his full identity.

How does the double-sided journal help in understanding indirect characterization in 'Song of Solomon'?

It allows for the identification and analysis of scenes where a character's traits are revealed not through direct description but through their interactions and the author's depiction of events.

What is the role of the author's word choice in the double-sided journal analysis?

The double-sided journal helps in examining the author's word choice and literary devices, such as the contrast between 'surrender' and 'ride,' which can reveal deeper meanings and character development.

Outlines

00:00

📔 Introduction to the Double-Sided Journal

This paragraph introduces the concept of a double-sided journal, also known as a dialectical journal, which is a tool for readers to record their thoughts on a piece of text as they read. The journal consists of a two-column chart where the left column is for the text or quote from the work, and the right column is for the reader's personal response. The video script provides a template for this journal and explains that it can include questions, comments on style or context, knowledge about the author, analysis of themes, literary strategies, characters, and connections to other sources. The script uses 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison as an example, with the presenter filling in sample entries to demonstrate how to use the journal effectively.

05:02

🔍 Analyzing 'Song of Solomon' Using the Double-Sided Journal

In this paragraph, the presenter delves deeper into the analysis of 'Song of Solomon' using the double-sided journal method. The analysis includes examining character development, such as the character Ceresi and her embodiment of magical realism, a genre characteristic of the book. The presenter also discusses the main character Milkman's journey and his connection to his ancestors, as well as the central metaphor of flight. Questions are raised about character motivations and the author's choices in naming characters, which are then explored in the journal. The paragraph concludes with an analysis of the novel's final sentence, focusing on symbolism and the protagonist's realization of his identity. The presenter emphasizes the importance of considering the author's word choice and literary devices, as well as the potential for different readers to have varying interpretations of the same text.

Keywords

💡Double-sided journal

A double-sided journal, also known as a dialectical journal, is a method of note-taking that involves recording thoughts in two columns. The left column is for quotes or excerpts from the text being read, while the right column is for personal responses. This technique is used to engage deeply with the material, allowing for a more interactive and analytical reading experience. In the video, the creator demonstrates how to use a double-sided journal to analyze 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison, showing how to record and respond to various elements of the text.

💡Dialectical

Dialectical refers to the process of engaging with a text by considering different viewpoints or interpretations. In the context of the video, a dialectical journal encourages readers to not only record what they read but also to critically think about it, offering a space for dialogue between the reader's thoughts and the text's content. This is exemplified by the creator's entries where they analyze characters, themes, and literary devices from the book.

💡Magical realism

Magical realism is a literary technique where supernatural or fantastical elements are blended with the real world in a way that they seem ordinary or natural. In the video, the creator uses the example of the character Ceresi from 'Song of Solomon' to illustrate how magical realism is used in the novel, showing how the character embodies this style and how it contributes to the book's genre.

💡Character analysis

Character analysis involves examining the traits, motivations, and development of characters within a literary work. The video script includes an analysis of characters like Milkman and Guitar, discussing their roles and the implications of their actions. The creator uses the double-sided journal to explore how characters interact and the symbolism behind their actions, such as Milkman's final flight representing his triumph and self-realization.

💡Thematic analysis

Thematic analysis is the process of identifying and exploring the themes or underlying messages within a text. The video demonstrates thematic analysis by discussing the central metaphor of flight in 'Song of Solomon' and how it relates to the characters' journeys. The creator also considers broader themes such as socio-economic class differences and their impact on community and identity.

💡Literary devices

Literary devices are techniques used by authors to convey meaning or enhance the narrative. The video mentions the use of literary devices such as symbolism and indirect characterization. For instance, the creator analyzes the symbolism of Milkman's final flight and how the author uses indirect characterization to reveal Milkman's sense of entitlement through his interactions with others.

💡Excerpt

An excerpt is a selected passage from a larger work, often used to illustrate a point or provide a sample of the author's style. In the video, the creator uses excerpts from 'Song of Solomon' to demonstrate how to fill out a double-sided journal, showing how to quote and respond to specific parts of the text to facilitate a deeper understanding.

💡Personal response

A personal response is the reader's individual reaction or interpretation of a text. The video emphasizes the importance of personal responses in a double-sided journal, where the creator writes their thoughts, questions, and connections to the text. This allows for a more engaging and reflective reading experience, as seen in the creator's entries where they share their insights and interpretations.

💡Chronological order

Chronological order refers to the sequence in which events occur in time. The video mentions that while the creator's journal entries are not in chronological order, typically, a double-sided journal would be, with responses written as the reader progresses through the text. This helps to maintain the flow of the narrative and the reader's thought process.

💡Indirect characterization

Indirect characterization is a literary technique where a character's traits are revealed through their actions, dialogue, or the reactions of other characters, rather than direct description. The video provides an example of indirect characterization through the way Milkman is perceived by others in the community, highlighting his wealth and sense of entitlement without explicit authorial description.

💡Socio-economic class

Socio-economic class refers to a group of people within a society who share a similar economic and social status. The video discusses how 'Song of Solomon' explores themes of class differences, using the example of Milkman's upbringing and its impact on his relationship with the people of Shalimar. This illustrates how class divisions can lead to a disconnect within communities and from one's own heritage.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of a double-sided journal for literary analysis.

Explanation of how a double-sided journal helps record thoughts while reading.

Description of the two-column format for organizing thoughts and text excerpts.

Suggestion to include questions, comments, and analysis in the journal.

Example of using the journal for analyzing 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison.

Analysis of magical realism in the book through the character Cersei.

Discussion on character development and relationships in the novel.

Importance of noting revelations and personal responses to the text.

Explanation of how to use personal pronouns or maintain an academic tone in entries.

Highlighting the climax and turning points in the narrative.

Analysis of character dialogue and its significance.

Encouragement to question and research authorial decisions.

Discussion on symbolism and its role in understanding the narrative.

Analysis of the author's word choice and its impact on the story.

Identification of indirect characterization through scene depiction.

Exploration of themes such as socio-economic class differences.

Invitation for viewers to suggest topics for future videos.

Transcripts

what's up everyone today i'm showing you

how to make a double-sided journal

also known as a dialectical journal this

video was requested by a commenter so

make sure to drop your ideas for future

videos

in the comments down below so what is a

double-sided journal

it's a two-column chart that allows you

to record your thoughts on a piece of

text

as you're reading and this text can be a

book

a poem an article whatever you're

currently reading in the moment and what

you can include in this journal

is a question a comment on the style or

context of the text

knowledge about the author's background

analysis of

themes literary strategies and

characters

or connections to other sources

including

books music and movies here's a blank

template of the double-sided journal and

as you can see

the left column will have the text or

the quote or excerpt from

the actual work that you're reading and

on the right you'll have the

response your personal response to that

piece of text

so i filled in some sample entries in

this journal

from the book song of solomon by tony

morrison

take a second to just pause this video

and read over these entries on your own

it's totally fine if you haven't read

this book i'll be explaining each of

these entries in detail

right now let's take a look at this

first row

the quote on the left says but cersei is

dead

this woman is alive that was as far as

he got

because although the woman was talking

to him she might in any case still be

dead

as a matter of fact she had to be dead

so the woman in this excerpt is cersei

and the hymn

which the quote is referring to is

milkman the main character

who is seeing this woman in front of him

who's supposed to be dead but she is

clearly

alive in his eyes so on the right you

can see my

paragraph response to this quote and

i said that cersei is this character who

embodies this style of magical realism

so in my double-sided journal analysis

i am making a connection to the

characteristic of the book's genre or

movement

because magical realism is a technique

used in song of solomon

that is meant to blend the supernatural

or the fantastical

with the real world so i think this

excerpt

really exemplifies that trait and if we

go further down here

we can see that cersei is encouraging

milkman to become a bridge

between his ancestors and his own family

so i'm drawing

similarities or possibly even

differences between characters

in my analysis of this excerpt allowing

me to think about different characters

at the same time

and also extrapolate beyond

the passage and think about the context

of the whole book in general

let's take a look at the second piece of

text which says

he couldn't be mistaken these children

were singing

a story about his own people and

again the he in this passage is milkman

the main character

and just a quick note i know that if you

can tell by the page numbers that i

didn't do this in chronological order

but usually in your double-sided journal

it would be in chronological order

because you'd be writing your responses

as you are reading but going back to the

passage

if you see my analysis on the right

i'm saying that this passage marks a

revelation for the reader

because the central metaphor of flight

begins to fall into place

so here we're examining the reader's

personal journey or my personal journey

through the novel

so you don't just have to think about

what the characters are feeling but also

really talk about your own

personal experience going through this

book

i know that a lot of double-sided

journals use personal pronouns such as

the word i

i personally don't use the word i

because i'm

trying to set myself up for writing an

essay in which i wouldn't write a use

any personal pronouns but it's really

really up to

you so next we can see

that i am calling this potentially the

climax of the novel

so you should definitely point out any

important plot points or turning points

also known as an aha moment this quote

says

besides i do accept my name it's part of

who i

am guitar is my name baines is the slave

master's name

and i'm all of that slave names don't

bother me

but slave status does so this is

actually a piece of dialogue that's

spoken by guitar another main character

and in my response to the right you can

see that i've written some questions to

either answer now

research for the future or continue to

think about

i'm asking what distinction does guitar

make between slave names and slave

status

and how did the author choose his first

name considering the fact that she did

choose to name certain characters

after biblical and mythological figures

so

not only am i asking a question for

myself

but i'm also asking a question about the

author and her

decisions when writing this novel this

quote

is the last sentence of the novel and it

says

for now he knew what shalom are knew if

you surrendered to the air

you could writhe it so on my

right column here i'm talking about

symbolism so symbolism is analyzing the

deeper significance of this event

object or place so i'm delving deeper

into the symbol

of this final flight between

guitar and milkman and in my opinion

this flight represents milkman's final

triumph that final push

to realize his full identity after he

has reconnected with his family heritage

but that representation is definitely

personal

it will vary based on the reader so just

keep that in mind as you're writing your

response

i also really delved into the

author's word choice when i said that

the contrast between the words surrender

and ride shows that milkman's discovery

of light allows him to let go of his

regrets

so it's great to in this double-sided

journal

explain the author's choice in terms of

the language

that they use think about the literary

devices

or the figurative language that they may

use

when describing a scene or just

setting up an event in general

and in my last excerpt in this

double-sided journal

i included this quote which says they

looked at his skin

and saw it was as black as theirs but

they knew he had the heart of the white

men

who came to pick them up in trucks when

they needed

anonymous faceless laborers so in my

response on the right

i included an example of indirect

characterization

through the main character's

interactions with others so i'm

describing milkman's

wealth and sense of entitlement which

comes across

not through the author's direct

description

but rather through her depiction of a

particular scene so

it's great to highlight either direct or

indirect characterization

in your double-sided journal and i also

explained an idea that may lead to a

larger theme

which is that milkman and the people of

shalamar

are separated by socio-economic class

differences

this theme may be the fact that

communities are divided

by categories such as class differences

and this may cause members of that

community to

drift apart for example milkman being

raised in a different part of the

country and having a

very wealthy upbringing makes him

distant

from the people of shalamar and distant

from his own family history

thanks for watching i hope you found

this video helpful

if you did remember to like comment

subscribe and tap the bell to receive

notifications whenever i make a new

video and let me know in the comments

what you think

the topic of my next video should be

i'll see you next time