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.