DIALECTICAL JOURNAL DIRECTIONS

Grading Dialectical Journals
Quotations &
Plot Details
Level 4 (90 – 100
points)
Detailed, meaningful
Level 3 (80 – 89
points)
Less detailed but still
good
Level 2 (70 – 79
points)
Few good details
Level 1 (50 – 65
points)
Hardly and good
details
Interpretation
Thoughtful, avoids
clichés
Intelligent, discusses
theme
Vague, unsupported,
plot summary
Plot summaries and
paraphrases
Literary
Elements
Questions and
Connections
Coverage of
Text
Discusses diction,
imagery, syntax, etc
and how these
contribute to meaning
Insightful, personal
connections, thoughtprovoking
questions
Covers text
thoroughly
Includes them but
doesn’t explain how
they contribute to
meaning
Some personal
connections,
questions arise from
text
Covers important
parts thoroughly
Lists literary
elements but little
discussion of
meaning
Few connections,
obvious question
Covers most parts,
but quickly
Few literary
elements, almost no
discussion of
meaning
Few connections, no
questions
Way too short
Presentation
Neat, organized,
looks professional,
follows directions
Neat and readable,
follows directions
Neat but hard to read,
doesn’t follow
directions
Hard to read, doesn’t
follow directions