Reading Log Journal
The reading log is a way for you to organize and keep track of what you are reading. At the top of your entry write the author’s name and the title of the article, book or story. You can organize the journal entry in whatever way seems best; I suggest dividing the page into two columns and writing the authors main points on one side and any questions or comments you have about them on the right hand column. Use the reading log to jot down any questions you have about the reading, things you liked or disliked, agreed with or did not agree with or sections you may have had trouble with. For each essay/article you should keep a running summary of the main points. See below for ideas of what to include in a journal entry.
· Two journals are due for each essay "unit" [i.e. all the readings that go with essay 1, etc., are considered a unit]
· Each journal entry must be at least two pages, typed
· Journals are to be turned in with the final draft of the essay for that unit [i.e. two journals are due with essay 1, two journals are due with essay 2 etc.]
summary of argument--
What is the main idea of each paragraph?--could be the topic sentence, but does not have to be. Jot down the main idea of each paragraph as you go through the essay.
main idea of the reading--
What is the essay/article about?
What is the tone of the essay? Is it an argument essay? persuasive? descriptive? narrative?
author’s thesis/point of view--
What is the author trying to say about the topic? Is he/she for or against topic (argument)?
How familiar does the author appear to be with topic? Is he/she an expert? or a novice exploring it for the first time?
Your reaction to the reading--
What did you like about the reading? About the author's points? Did you agree or disagree with what the author had to say? On what points?
What did you dislike, if anything, about the reading and why?
How does this reading relate to other readings in the same "unit"?