Journals are a place to write a bit more informally about the ideas of a unit or novel. It's a chance to develop your voice. However, these journals are not sloppy. Although you may write down your ideas as fast as you can initially, I expect them to be edited for punctuation, spelling and clarity by the time you turn them in. I give you time in class for these journals because I think this type of writing is an important muscle in your development as a writer.
Here are the specifics:
- You are expected to write during the time allotted, not check your email or surf the internet. If you need more time to finish the journal (the expectation is one page, double-spaced per journal), you need to complete that work at home. I collect the journals in batches, usually after five.
- I may check individual journals for completion beforehand.
- The due date for these journals: Friday, September 27.
- Here is the rubric for these journals: journal rubric
What is your creed, or belief? Write a poem or a paragraph which clearly states your beliefs. For now, don't worry about offending anyone, just say what you believe as clearly as you are able.
You could use the repetition of "I believe...", as Meg Kearney did in her poem I read in class.
Journal #2: What is your legacy? Using "Portraits of Grief" from the New York Times as a model, write a snapshot that someone might use to represent your life. Write in third person. You can make up quotes, imagining what someone might say about you. Try to bring yourself into focus and avoid cliches if you can. It should be between 200-300 words.
Portraits of Grief link: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/us/sept-11-reckoning/portraits-of-grief.html#/portraits-of-grief/0
Journal #3:
This should include five mini "flash fiction" pieces based on the snippets of songs you heard in class. Each mini entry should have the emotion or mood each piece of music evoked in you (melancholy, calm, jaunty et al) followed by a description of a scene which this music could serve as the appropriate soundtrack.
Journal #4:
Complete each sentence of sensory detail power point.
Then, choose one and write a descriptive paragraph about that moment in your life. Make sure to include both your self at that age AND a reflective voice which gives us what you think about that kid, now that you have had some time to grow up. REMEMBER: Balance the external small details with your reflection and meditations.
Journal #5:
Think about the "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros. Then write your own reflection (It can be called "Eleven (or Twelve or Fourteen)" Choose a moment when you stepped into adulthood from childhood and focus in on both the small details as well as the feelings you felt in that moment.
I want you to think about language as well as small, sensory details. You may want to write this journal in the following format:
Paragraph #1: What they don't understand about _________________ and what they never tell you is that when you are ______________,
Para #2 Scene from this age that says something specific, both about you and about this time period of life for many people.
Para #3: I'm _____________ today. I wish________________
End with image that shows how you felt ("like a runaway balloon, like a tiny o in the sky, so tiny-tiny you have to close your eyes to see it.
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