The Book of Negroes English 12 Mrs. Swimm

What is the purpose of this assessment (dialectical journal)?

- To read and make sense of a text so you can recognize its most important features quickly. - To apply your own literary insights rather than depend on ideas that you have read about or been

taught.- To be able to analyze style and structure of a text. - To understand how writers use language to create different effects according to audience and

purpose. - To use critical thinking when approaching a text rather than basic comprehension. - To organize your ideas into a coherent and persuasive piece of writing.

How to I choose a quotation / passage? What constitutes a good quotation / passage?

When choosing a quotation / passage for your dialectical journal please think about the following questions.

- Does the quotation use a lot of descriptive language (imagery)? - Is the quotation significant to character development?- Does the quotation contain figurative or rhetorical language (metaphor, simile, personification, etc)- Does the quotation consist of complex / interesting diction. (Connotation, denotation)- Is the quotation significant to the elements of fiction (setting, theme, plot, conflict, point of view,

etc.)?- Is the quotation somewhat poetic in the way it is written? Does it sound poetic when I read it

aloud? (Consonance, dissonance, cacophony, etc.)- Is the quotation an example of the change in tone? Why is this change in tone significant?- Am I able to write 500 words about the authors writing style from the quotation I chose?- Do I need help finding a quotation? (do I need extra help?)

Now that I have picked an excellent quotation / passage what do I do?

Now that you have found an excellent quotation / passage you will do the following:

1. Write ( or photocopy and glue) the quotation / passage into your composition book. The quotation should be on the left hand side. Please include the author’s last name and page number in parentheses after the last word in the passage.

2. Annotate your quotation.

How do I annotate my passage?

Please complete the following steps when annotating a passage:

***NOTE: This detailed annotation is to be done ONLY for the passages you choose for your dialectical journal. It is NOT possible to annotate, in this great detail, the entire novel. Please refer to your bookmark to help you with annotating the entire novel.

These steps will help you gain literary awareness.****Do not be concerned if you do not have all the answers to the questions in this section. Keep asking questions; keep your intellectual eyes open to new possibilities.

1. Diction. Diction, with its emphasis on words, provides the crux of the explication. Mark all verbs in the passage, mark or list all nouns, all adjectives, all adverbs etc. Examine each grouping. Look up as many words as you can in a good dictionary, even if you think that you know the meaning of the word. The dictionary will illuminate new connotations and new denotations of a word. Look at all the meanings of the key words. Ask questions such as: Is the diction simple or complex? Are technical or scientific or archaic words used? Are there words, or types of word, that recur? Are there words that seem unexpected or out of place?

2. Literal content: this should be done as concisely as possible. Briefly describe the skeletal contents of the passage in one or two sentences. Answer the journalist's questions (Who? What? When? Where? Why?) in order to establish character/s, plot, and setting as it relates to this passage. What is the context for this passage?

3. Structure / Style. What is the overall structure of the piece? Divide the passage into the more obvious sections (stages of argument, discussion, or action). What is the interrelation of these units? How do they develop? Again, what can you postulate regarding a controlling design for the work at this point? How many paragraphs and does each one deal with a different aspect. Are layout and meaning closely related? Look at sentence structure. Are the sentences long or short? Ask yourself how this contributes to the overall meaning. Look for alliteration, internal rhymes and other such poetic devices, which are often used in prose as well as in poetry. A caesura? Enjambment? You need to look closely here for meanings that are connected to these rhyme schemes.

5. Characterization. What insight does this passage now give into specific characters as they develop through the work? Is there a persona in this passage? Any allusions to other literary characters? To other literary works that might suggest a perspective. Look for a pattern of metaphoric language to give added insight into their motives and feelings, which are not verbalized. You should now be firming up the few most important encompassing postulates for the governing design of the work, for some overriding themes or conflicts.

6. Figurative Language. Examine the passage carefully for similes, images, metaphors, and symbols. Identify any and all. List implications and suggested meanings as well as denotations. What visual insights does each word give? Look for multiple meanings and overlapping of meaning. Look for repetitions, for oppositions. See also the etymology (origin) of each word because you may find that the word you think you are familiar with is actually dependent upon a metaphoric concept. Consider how each word or group of words suggests a pattern and/or points to an abstraction (e.g., time, space, love, soul, death). Can you visualize the metaphoric world? If there is imagery in the passage explain how the text is making you use your five senses.

7. Tone. What is the tone of the passage? How does it elucidate the entire passage? Is the tone one of irony? Sentimental? Serious? Humorous? Ironic?

Now that I have annotated my passage what do I do?

Now that you have annotated your passage and you fully understand it, you must write a literary analysis explaining what the author is saying and how the author using words to convey meaning and insight.

How do I organize my response? (over)

Your response must be organized like an essay, and therefore, it must have (1) Introduction (2) Body (3) Conclusion.

1. Introduction - Briefly outline the subject of the essay. Sometimes it is useful to give a very concise introduction of the text you are writing about. This might include one or two sentences to establish the context of the piece, for example, in terms of theme and setting. Do not describe what the poem or piece is about at great length, but do not be so brief as to be enigmatic. In the introduction you should deal with the text as a whole.

2. Body- Discuss the separate elements of the text. Here is where you will discuss your personal connection to the text as well as how the author has written the text to convey meaning and insight. For example you might discuss, in one paragraph, how the author used imagery to describe the setting in the passage and how this connects to the character’s mental state at that time. In another paragraph you may want to discuss the authors use of cacophony and how it is reflective of the character at that moment in time. So basically you are not only commenting on what the author says you MUST also discuss how the author says it (how they get their meaning across). Why did the author choose the words they did? What effect does that have on the reader?

3. Conclusion - Once you have explored all the ideas you want to mention and feel that your analysis of the text is complete, finish by explaining what conclusion you have reached and /or summing up the most important points you have made. Do not just repeat what you have said in your introduction. You can conclude by suggesting other possible interpretations or making personal comments on the impact of the piece.

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