Journals for In the Time of the Butterflies

Journal #1:

How do you define social justice? Courage?  What cause is worth fighting for in our society? What could this resistance look like? Under what circumstances (and for what cause) would you stand up for your beliefs? What specific action would you take, if any, for this idea? Give specifics in your answer.

Journal #2:
This journal is a free choice. You may write about anything you choose. The idea is it will reflect your voice and insight or paint a picture of a particular scene or moment. Here is the suggested prompt in case you don't have an idea:
Write about the best (worst?) holiday disaster in your family? Try to include details about the place, people (small gestures, physical features) and dialogue.
The standard length (one page double-spaced in Google docs Times New Roman 12 pt) applies.

Journal #3:
Part One:
Complete the following metaphors or similes with the first idea that comes to your mind. These should be brief.


Love is like
Courage is
[Your favorite pastime] is
Our country is like
When I was a freshman I was like
When I was a junior I was
Graduation is
Winter is
School is
Now that I am a senior I am like
Make up your own simile or metaphor

Part Two:
Choose your favorite example from above and free write for 10 minutes, allowing whatever  associations you have to take over. Don't worry about having it make sense right now. Your only job is to keep writing.  Here are two examples of my own free associations. Yours will probably be a bit longer.
 

Love is an anvil, a feather, a wisp of smoky soot that somehow manages to be longing and sweetness intertwined, a perfect soft pillow, a cold snow that shimmers glints of diamonds, a razor wire woven around the majestic oak bark, a cross hatched scar beneath the chin, tired wrinkles beneath a retired ballerina’s soft gaze

leaving is like the curl of a wave before it smashes, like a package which arrives without warning, an email in your inbox or a phone call in the sweet peace of night. I could tell her how it can leave you broken, folded up alone on a corner of your futon, wondering how you will survive. But, I could also tell her leaving can be freedom, like the seconds before takeoff to a land undiscovered, a possibility for a new molted self. 

Part Three: Now, think about a memory you have that connects to one line of part two. Write about this memory, making a conscious effort to use some metaphors, similes, imagery or figurative language (the details do two things at once). If you are one of those people who like concrete tasks, think about incorporating five phrases that use some kind of figurative language. 250-300 words
See example I read here

Journal #4:
Choose two of the sisters. Then choose an event from the novel you have read so far. Write TWO letters which briefly describes the event, but more importantly shows the reactions you believe the character would have to the event. Lastly, include at least one image that could be interpreted on a figurative level, like Alvarez has done (moths, rain, bunny, bird of paradise) or feel free to choose your own motif.

Journal #5: 
Part One: This will involve making a table in Google Drive. You can do it! Make a table with twelve rows and two columns. Then, label rows with the following: Character Name, Wanted (State a problem faced.), But (Explain some forces that worked against the problem.), So (Show how the problem stands now, at this point in the book. There should be some shift from the But line.)
Part Two:

Choose one character above and explain how their desires impacted their actions and those around them. You may use some of the ideas above, but develop this thinking into a complete paragraph.