Writing Journal Assignments
Journal 1
–Read the introduction to Graff, pages 1-15 (also available under “course content”). Then complete exercise 2, page 15
Journal 2
–Read the Rodriguez essay, “The Lonely, Good Company of Books” 189-194, and think about your own education and the ways you have educated yourself. For this journal, write a few paragraphs (250 words or so) on something you taught yourself or something that you have learned or are learning that is distinct from something your parents or siblings have learned. In other words, how are you carving a path in education and learning that none of your family is familiar with? This journal can deal with something in school or out of school. The idea is to get you thinking about how education has made your different than those around you.
Journal 3
–Read “What College Can Mean to the Other America” (194-198) by Mike Rose, and then reread it again and decide which are the three key sentences of the essay, or locate what you feel are the three most important points to you personally. Discuss these sentences in your journal and why you selected them. This journal should be around 1-2 pages.
Journal 4
–Take a look again at the Essay #1 Assignment Sheet. It is time to start thinking about a topic getting ideas moving in your mind and computer screen. For this journal, write 400 words on potential topics or anything related to choosing a topic for Essay #1. You can write about potential places you may want to describe and profile or you may discuss topics you definitely do not want to work with! This is a fine form of prewriting too!
Journal 5
-Read Jacoby “When Bright Girls Decide that Math is ‘A Waste of Time'”215-219. Summarize Jacoby’s essay being sure to include at least 3 important quotes from the essay. Try the templates from Graff ch. 3 to help introduce and explain your quotes.
Journal 6
-Hood “Street Scenes” 238-241. What point, lesson, or theme does Hood’s essay convey? What do you think are the most important narratives, descriptions, and symbols she uses to convey this point? Explain how they advance the theme.
Journal 7
-Dillard “An American Childhood” 241-248. What does Dillard’s mother like and dislike (explain some of the examples and comparisons)? What lesson(s) do you think Dillard wants us to take away from her essay? In what ways is Dillard’s essay similar and/or different from Hood’s and White’s?
Journal 8
–Read: Rodriguez “Family Values” 257-263. Journal 8: Essay 2 prewriting – free writing – It is time to start thinking about essay 2. which essays have you liked so far and why? Discuss some of the similarities and differences that you have noticed among them, and be sure to give some examples. You could either focus just on one pair or try free writing on a few pairs for about 250-500 words. Read: Graff – Ch. 4 “Three ways to respond”
Journal 9
-Read Sullivan “Why Gay Marriage Is Good for America” 252-257. Summarize Sullivan – what is his thesis and how does he support it? After summarizing, respond to his argument (agree/disagree) using templates from Graff.
Journal 11
-Read Chief Seattle “Letter to President Pierce” 648-650. Read McKibben “The Environmental Issue from Hell” 666-669. conduct some preliminary research on environmental topics, select one (or a few) that interest you and freewrite (300 words or so). What is the issue? Could it be manageable for a 6-8 pp essay? Why does it interest you? What could be potential solutions?
Journal 12
-Read Carson “The Obligation to Endure” 669-675. Watch Youtube video on Carson. Start researching your topic primarily on the internet. Find one strong and one weak source. Cite each in either MLA or APA style. Then Summarize both briefly, and explain why they are strong or weak.
Journal 13
-Read Handout “Banana plantations student essay”. Read the student essay on Banana plantations (handout or available on Bb). It mostly presents a problem. In the conclusion, however, the author does provide a few suggestions. For this journal (250+ words), write a counterargument challenging some of her suggestions and offering one or two better alternatives to solving the issue. You can use your own ideas or conduct some brief research.
