Journal Entry Guidelines
Each week please write a two page typed journal. Although choosing which weekly readings to write about is up to you, your journal entries should focus on your thoughts and responses to that reading. I'm looking for thoughtful analysis and critical thinking about the literature. Don’t be overly concerned with grammar, but do put a lot of thinking into your journals since they will be key to fruitful discussions in class and help you when it comes time to write essays. Journals that do nothing more than summarize the literature will not receive credit. Journals will be collected in clusters according to the dates that I will announce next week; I will most likely collect them every three- to five weeks. Following is some information on how to format these journals and ideas for your journals.
Journal Entry Format
Include the following information at the top of each numbered journal entry:
Your name ______________ Journal # ______________ Date ______________
Title of book/chapter/story/poem ________________________ Page #’s ______
Author’s name _____________________________________________________
Suggested Ideas for Journal Entries
1) Choose a quote(s) from the reading and comment on its meaning, significance, and/or impact on you as a reader (remember to pay attention to how the work is affecting you, how you feel as you read). Be sure to indicate the page number of the quote(s).
2) Briefly summarize the reading selection and comment freely on what you have just read.
3) Comment on one or more of the characters that you’ve encountered in the reading. For example, what did you think of them? What did you think of their relationship with others? How do they change/grow/develop? Why are they significant?
4) Pinpoint significant issues/themes that have surfaced in your reading and comment on them.
5) Comment on ideas, characters, or events in the readings that particularly caused you to reflect on your life and experiences.
6) Write about what the reading has revealed or taught you about the subject.
7) Write a letter to one of the characters, about an issue, problem, etc. that has surfaced within the reading.
8) Pretend that you are one of the characters, and write a “Dear Diary” entry related to an occurrence, issue, etc. within the reading.
9) On a blank sheet of unlined paper, sketch/draw a concept, character, or scene from your reading. Then include a one-page written explanation of how that sketch/drawing represents your understanding of the reading.
10) Create your own journal entry. You can also draw from any of the questions that we go over in class.