Dialectical Notebook

Bard College Seminar II

Peer Feedback Session with Dialectical Notebook

Instructor: Dr. Rosie Jayde Uyola

Learning Objective: Using Hess’ DOK 4 criteria and Dialectical Notebooks to give meaningful, academically rigorous feedback to your classmates.

Opening Freewrite (4 minutes)

FFW: How can giving critical and thoughtful feedback to your classmates help you deepen your own analytical and writing skills?

Understanding Our Feedback Criteria 

We'll use Hess’ DOK Level 4 guidelines. Remember to provide feedback that includes:

1. Evaluation and Synthesis: Thoughtfully critique HOW your peer presents and analyzes evidence.

2. Argumentation: Identify strengths and offer constructive suggestions to strengthen arguments and counterarguments.

3. Connecting Ideas: Clearly suggest ways your peer can deepen their analysis by connecting their ideas to broader contexts.

Peer Review Process (15 minutes)

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Exchange dialectical notebooks with your assigned partner.

2. Read your partner’s notebook entry carefully.

3. Use the following prompts to guide your feedback clearly and thoughtfully:

   1. Evaluation and Synthesis: Identify two strengths in how your partner uses evidence to support their ideas. Quote their writing directly and clearly explain why this evidence is effective.

   2. Argumentation: Suggest one specific way your partner could strengthen their argument or better address a potential counterargument. Clearly explain your recommendation using direct quotes from their notebook.

   3. Connecting Ideas: Recommend one clear and specific connection your partner might make to another text, historical event, or contemporary issue. Clearly explain how this connection would enhance their analysis.

4. Write your feedback neatly and thoughtfully in your partner’s notebook or on provided feedback sheets.

Review and Revision Notes (5 minutes)

Now, carefully review the feedback your partner provided. In your notebook, write down a few brief notes explicitly detailing HOW you plan to revise your writing based on the feedback you received.

Whole-Class Reflection (4 minutes)

We'll briefly discuss together:

What is the most valuable insight you gained from your partner’s feedback today, and how might this improve your future analytical writing?

Closing Reflection (1 minute)

Quickly reflect in your notebook:

FFW: Based on today's peer feedback, what specific changes will you incorporate into your next writing assignment?

Student Checklist 

Use this checklist to confirm you completed each task today clearly and effectively:

☐ Completed opening freewrite thoughtfully

☐ Understood clearly Hess DOK Level 4 criteria for feedback

☐ Provided detailed, academically rigorous feedback to my peer

☐ Included direct quotes from my peer’s writing in feedback

☐ Suggested specific and actionable improvements clearly

☐ Identified thoughtful connections to broader contexts clearly

☐ Reviewed feedback carefully and wrote specific revision notes

☐ Participated thoughtfully in whole-class reflection

☐ Completed closing reflection clearly in my notebook

Bard W& T - Dialectical Notebook

Your Name: __________________________________ Partner’s Name ______________________________________

Direct quote from peer’s writing	paragraph #	Respond / Analyze / Evaluate
		Evaluation and Synthesis: Identify two strengths in how your partner uses evidence to support their ideas. Quote their writing directly and clearly explain WHY this evidence is effective.
		Argumentation:Suggest one specific way your partner could strengthen their argument or better address a potential counterargument. Clearly explain your recommendation using direct quotes from their notebook.
		Connecting Ideas:Recommend one clear and specific connection your partner might make to another text, historical event, or contemporary issue. Clearly explain how this connection would enhance their analysis.