journal.page

Reflections Journal

Introduction

Goals

JMP Level Work

Extra Help

Enhancement

Materials

Required Texts

Class Structure

Journal

Discussions

Weekend HW

Examinations

Honesty

Disabilities

Attendance

Resources

Grading Policy

REFLECTIONS JOURNAL REQUIREMENTS

The purpose of the Reflections Journal is to two-fold:

1) To help you generate ideas and questions to be the Discussion Leader (Please see How to be a Discussion Leader and Participator);

2) Serve as a rough draft for your Weekend Assignments (Please see Weekend Assignments).

Reflections Journal responses will help you understand the readings and class discussions in greater depth. Your Reflections Journal is NOT a diary. Responses must be written only in the marble cover notebook. Do NOT write class notes in your Reflections Journal.

What is important is that you take time to think about what you are reading and the daily question(s) proposed by the instructor as homework. In other words, think independently and write imaginatively. Carefully read and adhere to the following requirements, as any discrepancy will greatly affect your grade.

� Bring your Reflections Journal notebook to class every day because it will serve as your guide to be a Discussion Leader (chosen at random daily) and will be collected unannounced during the semester for a more formal assessment;

� Each entry should be a minimum of one complete handwritten (handwriting must be legible) page front and back, with correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation;

� Each entry should have the date on the left corner of the first line;

� Each entry should have the title of work(s) being discussed on the right corner of the first line.

DIVIDE YOUR RESPONSE INTO THE FOLLOWING FOUR SECTIONS:

1) SUMMARY - One paragraph only

Your summary paragraph should include the title of the work and the author, the main points of the reading (who, what, when, where, how, etc.). Express the main points and the key supporting details in your own words.

2) RESPONSE - Three paragraph minimum

� Answer question(s) proposed by instructor;

� Give two examples of particularly vivid or meaningful quotes in the story (quote these passages within the response) then explain why these appealed to you or their importance to the story;

� Discuss what you find remarkable (i.e., distinctive) about any of the following: plot, point of view, style (i.e., word choice or sentence length), dialogue, setting, description, tone (i.e., ironic, humorous, sarcastic, light-hearted, serious, angry, judgmental). Note: not all of these qualities will apply to every reading;

� Expand on the author's ideas and attempt to discover your own. (Don't forget to explain why);

� How does this work relate to other works and/or authors we have discussed or that you have read on your own? (Compare and/or contrast to works within the same unit and/or works and authors in other units);

� How does this work relate to the time period in which it was written? (Refer to class notes and discussions);

� DO NOT SUMMARIZE IN THE RESPONSE. Quite often you will need to look beyond the surface level to discover more meaning. You cannot be wrong in your responses as long as you support your opinions, so take risks and be honest. Let me hear your voice.

3) MULTI-MEDIA CONNECTIONS - One paragraph minimum

Your connection should relate to some aspect of the work that reminds you of a movie, video game, television show, or any other entertainment medium. Remember to explain the significance of your connection with the work and PLEASE be appropriate in your choice of content (a good guide to use is any content beyond a PG-13 rating is not appropriate).

4) READING VOCABULARY - Three words minimum

Using a dictionary, you are to include words and their definitions that you did not know from the reading or if unable to meet minimum requirement of three words then find words from either the New York Times or Wall Street Journal (available for free online). The READING VOCABULARY is not the same as our Class Vocabulary (to be kept in your loose-leaf binder in the Class Vocabulary section) and they MUST be kept in their separate sections.

The Reflections Journal will be graded by the following criteria:

� Completeness (All journal entries assigned as class exercises should be clearly present);
� Clarity (Entry should address Reflections Journal Requirements);
� Communication (Writing style and grammar);
� Comprehensiveness (Relevant course material is referenced and the importance/significance of the quote to the reading is discussed);
� Depth (Shows use of the skills of comparison, analysis, causation, and evaluation).