Today, we will work on Dialectical journals and focusing on what essays you wish to write.
Unit
Learning goal
Students will be able to write a series of short analysis
papers looking at one book read during this unit in five different ways. Each short essay will connect commentary both
to DIRECT TEXT EXAMPLES (cited with the correct page number!) as well as
to the BOOK or TEXT AS A WHOLE. Students will choose five from the following:
1. THE AUTHOR AND HER/HIS TIMES: Biographical and historical
information pertinent to the novel.
What important family, community, national, and world events helped
inform this material? Do not provide an exhaustive biography; merely provide
those details that can be directly linked to the novel in a manner that is
convincing. This is one of the few sections that will require some outside
research, so please remember to cite your source(s).
2. FORM/STRUCTURE, PLOT: How is the novel organized and what
techniques are used? Discuss techniques
such as sequencing, multiple, complex, or simple plot, foreshadowing, chapter
choices. Then, provide a BRIEF outline
of the events of the plot (no more than 200 words). For some modern novels, the
plot may be difficult to describe succinctly – but try to do it anyway. When
you discuss structure, remember that you need to discuss the effect of the
intentional internal arrangement of parts.
3. POINT OF VIEW/
PERSPECTIVE: From what vantage point does the reader receive the
information? Is the perspective
reliable, or is it highly subjective?
How are important ideas received?
Is there an agenda that the narrator seems to have, either consciously
or subconsciously? Does the perspective shift, and if so, to what end? Are
characters explicit in their dialog, or does on omniscient narrator fill the
reader in concerning the larger issues?
Why is the perspective used particularly effective for this novel?
4. CHARACTER: Are each of the characters highly developed, or is most
of the writing devoted to one character? Do you learn about them through what
is not included in the text? How is
character revealed for the most part? Is through what they say? What they do?
What they wear? What they think? The people with whom they associate? What the
narrator says about them? How complex are the people that you meet? Describe the central characters including
what you find out about their names, ages, physical descriptions,
personalities, functions in the novel – in other words, the responses to the
questions asked in the preceding sentence. Also include one short quotation
that reveals their character, and explain why the quote reveals character.
5. SETTING: Where and when does
the novel occur? How many locations are
described? Are there connections between the setting(s) and character(s)? How
is the atmosphere described? Are there
any important settings that contrast or parallel each other? Why is this setting so effective in
supporting the ideas in the novel as a whole? Conversely, if the setting is
ambiguous, what details seem most important and what is the effect of the
ambiguity? Why is this story best told in this setting? When discussing
setting, remember that it does not only mean the geographical location
(topography, scenery) but also the cultural backdrop, social context, and the
artificial environment (rooms, buildings, cities, towns) as well.
6. THEME: Identify one major
theme (a central or controlling idea) and explicate the theme using specific
moments from the text, either paraphrased or directly quoted. What is the abstract concept being addressed
and what is the evaluation of that concept through the text? Are there any
“universal” truths are revealed, supported, or challenged by this theme? Be aware that a theme cannot be expressed in
a single word, and with complex works of literary merit the elucidation of a
theme requires a full paragraph or more. Also note that the theme is rarely
stated explicitly, but rather is implicit. Remember that a theme has TWO (2) PARTS: An abstract concept AND
the author’s commentary on or evaluation of that concept through the
text.
7. CRITICAL REVIEW: Find
one critical review (not a Cliffs Notes or similar source) of you novel and
offer your opinion of the critic’s analysis in two or three paragraphs. Attach
a copy of the critical review to your paper, and cite it directly. When
expressing your response to the review, be specific in your discussion. If you
agree, then explain why and carry the argument beyond what the critic pointed
out. If you disagree, provide support for your position from the text.
8. DICTION: Analyze the
novelist’s word choice. Is the language high
or formal,
neutral,
informal? Does the novelist
employ slang(faddish words)? Colloquialisms (nonstandard regional
ways of using language(like someone from Boston asking where you “paah-ked yeh caaah”)?
Jargon
(language associated with a particular trade)? Dialect (think Tom Sawyer)? Is the language plain? Flowery?
Concise? Vulgar? Dense?
Elevated? Select a passage that
illustrates your observations and discuss this passage directly.
9. SYNTAX (Sentence
structure): Analyze the sentence and
phrase patterns. Are the sentences
predominantly simple, compound, or complex?
Are the sentences intentionally long and complex or are they precise and
simple? How is punctuation used? Select a passage that illustrates your
observations concerning syntax, complete the attached Style and Syntax Analysis Chart,
and discuss your example specifically.
10. TONE: What is the author’s attitude towards the
subject of the novel? Discuss how the
author creates the tone you identified through a variety of vehicles including
plot, characterization, setting, and anything else that contributes to tone.
Use specific text examples to support your findings.
11. TITLE: Why is this title so appropriate for the
novel? Does it have literal or symbolic
significance? Does it actually appear in
the novel, and if so, what is the situation? Is the title an allusion, and if
so, why would the title include this allusion? Does the title implicitly
connect to the theme of the work?
12. MEMORABLE QUOTE: Choose and
type out one quotation that you believe to be significant or noteworthy. Please explain your choice. Is it an
especially moving moment? Is it especially well-written? Why does this quote
stand out for you?
13. Symbol or literary
device: Choose a symbol or literary device that you believe to be significant
to this book. Discuss how it is used,
what ideas it backs up (what it means), and perhaps why the author used it. Make sure you use examples for the text and
you connect the symbol or device to the text as a whole.
Scale/Rubric
relating to learning goal:
4 – The student can write on five different views of the
book relating them to each other to form one main argument or idea.
3 – The student can write adequate on at least five
selections looking at the epic poem in five different ways.
2 – With help from the instructor the student is able to
write adequate on at least five selections – from the least above – looking at
the epic poem in five different ways.
1 – Even with help from the instructor the student is
unable to write on five selections (they maybe able to write on 1-4) looking at
the epic poem in different ways.
