Journal Guidelines
Journal Guidelines
Reader Response Journals
All reader's response journal entries must be dated and numbered sequentially. Use normal print. Using large print, just for the sake of filling up the page, will result in a massive point reduction. Each entry must be at least one full page in length with no more than two blank lines. Do not use profanity. Do not include any information which you are not willing to share as you may be called upon to present your journal to the class. Do not use texting short cuts in your journals, or for any other class assignment. Keep it clean.
You will complete a Reader's Response journal entry after every short story, every chapter from an assigned novel, every act of a play, and every completed outside reading book which you complete for this class. It will follow the guidelines stated above and will include your response to the selection you have read.
Consider the following questions when writing a reader’s response journal entry: How did the story make you feel? What did you think of the characters and their motivations? Would you have written the story differently and why? I do not need or want to see a summary of the story. I already know what happened. I want to see your thoughts and reactions. I want to see analysis and insight.
Non-fiction Article Response Journals
Non-fiction article response journal entries, which will often be completed on the first day of the week, must be a minimum of two pages in length and consist of a one page summary and a one page response to a news article acquired over the previous weekend. This article may come from a recent newspaper, magazine, or may be a recent article printed from a reliable internet source. This is a standing assignment for each and every weekend unless otherwise stated in class.
Consider these questions when writing a response to a non-fiction article: How does the information in the article relate to your life and experiences? How might the subject matter affect your future? What is your emotional response to the information presented in your chosen article?
These will be kept in the same composition book as your reader response journals and will be numbered and dated sequentially.
Journals will be taken up and checked at least twice during each nine week grading period.
Vocabulary Journal
You will also maintain a second composition book, for use as a vocabulary journal, into which you will place any vocabulary lessons completed in class. You will use this journal to study for your vocabulary tests.
Story Words
You will also keep a running list of new vocabulary words introduced with each story or selection from your text book. These words will be highlighted in blue throughout the story and the definitions can be found in the margins. List each word and write its definition. Number these, and add to this sequential list, as you read each story. For example, one through ten may come from the first story read in class and eleven through fifteen from the second story. Some stories may have only a few words to add to this list, others will have many. These words usually show up on literature tests and quizzes.
Word Bank
In the back of this vocabulary journal you will also keep a record, or word bank, of any words you encounter throughout the course of this class with which you are not familiar but that are not included in the “story words.” List and define them. These words may come from any source; from the novels and stories you are required to read in each class, to the terminology you encounter in during your research projects. You may also find words to add during your personal pursuits or from work completed for other classes. Any difficult or unknown word, from any source you read, may be added to this list. You are expected to add a minimum of ten words per week, but you may add as many as you like. These words will not be tested but keeping this list will help to improve your vocabulary. You will receive a grade for maintaining the word bank itself.