Independent Reading and Poetry journals

Journal #1:

Consider the questions the author is asking in the independent book you are reading and what you think about those questions. Most of these big questions are at the center of the character's struggle and journey and when we step back, we often understand more. Don't spend too much time on summary. 1-2 sentences at the beginning will suffice.

Note: I have sent an exemplar for this question to each student in Google docs. 

Journal #2:
Brainstorm at least five ideas about potential topics. They could be anything, but think about a variety of things which you feel strongly about. These could be likes, dislikes, passions, loves, heartbreaks.

Based on the poem "Remember How We Forgot?" consider the following questions:

What have you forgotten about the person you used to be?  What memories show that person? What do you wish we as a society would remember more? What do we seem to have forgotten? 

You can take one of these questions or weave in all three. Try to use at least some specific detail or language every three lines. 

Journal #3:
For these journals, I want you to draft a poem. If you have an idea from journal #2 you want to try out, go for it. Below is a suggested prompt. 
Write a poem to an old flame. To make sure it doesn't get sappy, use one of the following words: dung beetle, politician, nuclear, exoskeleton, oceanography, pompador, toilet.

If you would like to add some poetic moves, try to write this poem in couplets.  

Journal #4: 
Turn on the radio (or your ipod) to any channel. Write a poem inspired by the first thing you hear (lyrics to a song, commercial, etc.) 

Journal #5:
Look at the poem you constructed and compare it to the original (either "Faith" or "Hanging Fire"). Then write an analytical paragraph in which you compare your choices with the poet. Here are some questions to consider:
What was your poem title? Why did you choose it? How does it compare to the original? Why might the poet have chosen this title?
How do your line and stanza breaks compare with the original poem? Talk about some of your decisions and compare it to the original poem. Be specific.
How do the endings compare? Which poem is more effective? Why? 

Journal #6 
Write a sonnet, villanelle or sestina. See rules on blog for 4/14 post.