DAILY JOURNALS
Journal Format
Journals are to be typed (or neatly handwritten, no scribbles) and are graded on content and grammar. They should include the students name, date and period in the right hand corner and a unique title in the middle of the paper that is underlined.
Journal Objectives
Every journal entry is designed to fulfill a 3 part process. One, I'm interested in finding out how well students can summarize a story in their own words. Secondly, I want them to become accustomed to defining moral dilemnas that are constantly present in this book in order to help them recognize those that may go on in their own lives. Lastly, I want them to put themselves in Ben's shoes and try and imagine themselves in the complicated situation, starved for food with no clothes. How would they approach the situation? Maybe they would have taken the money, or had another plan to survive. By creating this scenario in their heads, it allows for them to fully engage with the reading and not just regurgetate what they have read. It also helps to develop their minds to analyze and challenge the characters actions in this story. The goal is to have the students think critically, and become problem solvers and develop "possible" alternative solutions to the decisions that characters are making.
THREE PARTS TO JOURNALS
REQUIRED FOR ALL JOURNALS
What would you have done?
Moral Dilemna
Summary
This book is loaded with moral dilemnas and chances for Ben to escape the trap that he has created. Why has Ben not taken Mordecai's offer for fortune? He needs the money! Why would Ben allow himself to starve?
In the chapters that have been read, what is happening? Who are the main characters? Where is this taking place? Describe the weather conditions, the terrain, survival issues? What have the characters been doing?
Do the characters' actions upset you? Explain? If you were in Ben or Mordecai's shoes, what would you do in the chapters scenarios? Would you take the money and try and forget? Would you hold to your morals and risk dying of starvation?
Journal Assessment
-
+
ACCOMPLISHED - Included all 2 parts of the journal. Few grammatical and spelling mistakes. Disorderly and minimally neat.
BEGINNING - Did NOT include all 3 parts of the journal. A lot of grammatical and spelling mistakes. Journal was messy and had no order.
EXEMPLARY - Included all 3 parts of the journal. No grammatical or spelling mistakes.
Very neat and orderly.
Teachers Comments
Every journal will be graded with comments. The student has the opportunity to rewrite their journals as many times as they like in order to receive a check plus. The objective is not to simply produce a journal, but to produce one of quality. Writing is a process, and many times our first drafts our not our best work. This will give students the opportunity to rewrite and fix errors so that they will become better writers and producers of well-thought-out ideas.
