Dialectical journals & Bloom s taxonomy

Dialectical journals - strength Overall, you guys know the lens (especially Marxism, naturalism and feminism). Strong synthesis connections!

Dialectical journal things to improve Elaborate! Many of you are struggling to elaborate, and do not address Steinbeck s purpose (remember those analytical verbs) Too much summary, not enough analysis Correct citing and spelling (Casy; capitalizing titles like The Road, etc.)

To help you increase your analysis Come meet with me, or give me your journal ahead of time The people who did this got As :D yay!! Cite specifics! (The examples are there to help! Use them!!) Use your analytical verbs to help Don t rush! Fill in the chart in it s entirety (if there s empty space, there s empty analysis) Use Bloom s Taxonomy to help guide you

How we ll use it Many of you are struggling with moving past summarizing (you re describing what is happening, rather than why we should care) Using Bloom s taxonomy will help give you the language and ideas for how to increase complexity.

Remember hard work is hard! Analyzing literature is hard, but with diligent, thoughtful practice, it gets easier. If you always rush through, you won t improve. If you are still struggling to get past surface level details, ask yourself the following questions.

Questions to ask yourself Surface level What details is Steinbeck including? What lens can I interpret this through? What universal theme is shown here? In depth What is the effect of the details Steinbeck includes? By reading through this lens, what information am I directed to that I otherwise wouldn t know? How does that change my reading? How is Steinbeck writing so that this universal theme is clear? What is he most emphasizing and why? It is not enough to ask what, you must also ask why

Responses to avoid make sure you understand the quotation in context, not just by itself Mules! Hey, Joe, hear this? This guy wants to trade mules. Didn t nobody tell you this is the machine age? They don t use mules for nothing but glue no more Steinbeck 21) The issue with this response is that it does not realize the salesman is lying. If you analyze this passage taking his word for it (that mules really are obsolete), you miss out on what the passage is actually saying. Jesus, Joe, that was a hot one!.. I got that team, an if I can t get seventy-five for that team, I ain t a business man (Steinbeck 21).

A stronger response Mules! Hey, Joe, hear this? This guy wants to trade mules. Didn t nobody tell you this is the machine age? They don t use mules for nothing but glue no more Jesus, Joe, that was a hot one!.. I got that team, an if I can t get seventy-five for that team, I ain t a business man (Steinbeck 21). When read through a Marxist lens, this passage demonstrates the harm that comes from making a living off of exploiting others. The salesman cares only about money, and as a result exploits the migrant s desperation. He denigrates his mules and lack of knowledge regarding cars (the Machine Age) in order to manipulate the man into taking the lowest value possible for his goods. The salesman delights in his extreme profit margin, thereby demonstrating that capitalistic systems that prioritize profit over anything else may benefit those at the top, but causes great suffering for those at the bottom who are exploited.

A stronger response Things to include: The best lens Analytical verbs Cause/effect relationships The author s purpose or intent: what message is being conveyed? Why is Steinbeck including this in the novel? When read through a Marxist lens, this passage demonstrates the harm that comes from making a living off of exploiting others. The salesman cares only about money, and as a result exploits the migrant s desperation. He denigrates his mules and lack of knowledge regarding cars (the Machine Age) in order to manipulate the man into taking the lowest value possible for his goods. The salesman delights in his extreme profit margin, thereby demonstrating that capitalistic systems that prioritize profit over anything else may benefit those at the top, but causes great suffering for those at the bottom who are exploited.

Example from chapter 4 Determine it s complexity I went off alone, an I sat and figured. The sperit s strong in me, on y it ain t the same. I ain t so sure of a lot of things (Steinbeck 21) Steinbeck uses a transcendental lens by describing how Casy sat and figured. This shows he is transcendental because he is thinking by himself.

Example from chapter 4 Determine it s complexity Comprehension This response is identifying the lens, but is mostly summarizing the action. The writer is demonstrating that she understands the material, but is not analyzing it. Steinbeck uses a transcendental lens by describing how Casy sat and figured. This shows he is transcendental because he is thinking by himself.

Increase the complexity: what can you add or change to make this analysis? I went off alone, an I sat and figured. The sperit s strong in me, on y it ain t the same. I ain t so sure of a lot of things (Steinbeck 21) Steinbeck uses a transcendental lens by describing how Casy sat and figured. This shows he is transcendental because he is thinking by himself.

Increase the complexity: what can you add or change to make this analysis? I used to think it was jus me. Finally it give me such pain I quit an went off by myself an give her a damn good thinkin about I says to myself, What s gnawin you? Is it the screwin? An I says No, it s the sin. Maybe it ain t a sin. Maybe it s just the way folks is Well, I was a layin under a tree when I figured that out, and I went to sleep (Steinbeck 23). Steinbeck uses a transcendental lens by describing how Casy sat and figured out alone in nature in order to come to an understanding. By being alone under the tree, Casy was able to confront and work through his thoughts independently, which allowed him insight. Casy develops his own spirituality independtly of others, which reflects his growing individualism. Casy finds peace in this realization (he goes to sleep after figuring it out), thereby illustrating that personal truth is not only possible by oneself, but that it bring peace and understanding.

Synthesis Go beyond summary Don t just describe your outside source, you also need to analyze the connection. Think about it in 3 steps: What is your source? (summary) How does it connect to The Grapes of Wrath? What does this say about life as a result? (Why should we care?)

Example In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker has exiled himself to the island of Ahch-To due to his failure as a Jedi Master. When Rey arrives, she demands to be taught by Luke, something he firmly resists. Luke is only able to finally come to peace with his legacy and the state of the Jedi Order when he realizes it can be reborn in Rey, and does need to be the same religion it had been for a thousand year. This openness to change and adapt allows Luke to come to terms with his past failure, help save the Resistance, and move on ultimately. Both Luke and Casy reflect that when structured belief systems no longer work, one does not have to loose all belief entirely, but should seek answers inside themselves to determine a new truth that can not only lead to inner peace, but can help others as well (The Last Jedi).

Moving forward These responses should take time Don t settle for the first quotation you see; there should be at least 3-4 quotations per chapter you can use Use my reading questions to help guide you to significant moments Elaborate! Use a separate sheet of paper (or type) if you feel like you need more space than what the boxes provide