Reading

When we read pieces of information that are outside of a text book
there are several things that we can do with that information.
This is one of them…

Double Entry Journal

This reading activity "shows" the conversation you have with yourself, with the novel, and/or with the novel's author while you read. It is thinking on paper so your teacher can see how you make sense of what you read.

To create a double entry journal you fold a piece of paper in half (or make a 2 column table if you are typing). On the left side of the page you will indicate exactly which part of the reading you are thinking about and on the right side of the page you will write out your thoughts. There are many kinds of thinking that would work for the right side. Depending on what you read, you might find yourself:

• asking questions
• making connections to class, what you hear others say, something you read in another place
• predicting what will happen next
• analyzing your response to the actions or thoughts of the characters (angry/sad/excited/confused because...)
• seeing images in your mind

It is difficult to say exactly how many entries a journal should have, but for the novels you are reading you should have one entry per every 3 or 4 pages (average) and at least one per chapter.

Click here if you'd like to see an example.