1. Journal Topics

2. Journal writing is a good way to develop writing skills. It is also a great place to try out ideas for school essays and papers.

3. All your journals must all be written in the same spiral bound, college-ruled notebook.

4. Nothing else may be in your journal notebook. Keep class notes and class work in a separate place.

5. You will be graded on the amount you write. For full credit each day, you must write at least one page, top to bottom, single spaced. Do not skip lines. You must use college ruled paper. You must write in English You must write on the given topic. Some journals will be used for later assignments

6. You will not be graded on grammar, spelling, or punctuation. You will not be graded on the quality of your ideas.

7. You will ONLY be graded on the amount you write.

8. Think of journal writing as free writing. It is a place to practice writing and explore new ideas.

9. When you get a topic, the first thing you should do is copy the topic down.

10. Then, you should begin writing. Write whatever comes to mind that is related to the topic. Continue to write until time is called.

11. Do not try to “come up with” ideas before you begin writing.

12. Trying to figure out what to write before you start writing can lead to writer’s block.

13. Instead, just write what comes to mind.

14. You can: Define words in the topic Relate a personal experience you had with the subject of the topic Relate an experience a friend had with the subject of the topic Describe the physical characteristics of the subject in the topic Tell about something you know related to the topic

15. If you cannot think of anything, rewrite the topic until you do.

16. Rewriting the topic is like “tricking your brain” into coming up with ideas

17. If you get stuck while you are writing, take the last word you wrote and repeat it again and again until you find a new idea. Keep your pen moving!

18. If you get stuck stuck stuck stuck stuck while you you you you you you are writing, take the last word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word word you wrote and repeat it again and again until you find a new idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea idea.

19. Q: Does the teacher read the journals? A: NO.

20. For full credit, you need 1 full page, single-spaced, top-to- bottom. If you don’t finish, finish at home.

21. Journal Topic #23 What have you learned this semester in English 21? Describe.

22. Journal Topic #22 Describe how you spent the weekend.

23. Journal Topic #21 Define the term “illegal immigrant” without looking it up in a dictionary. Use your own words and examples from your life to define the term.

24. Journal Topic #20 What are the characteristics of a powerful argument? How can someone structure an argument to convince an audience that argument is correct?

25. Journal Topic #18 How are your grades in your classes right now? What can you do to improve them? Where can you get help?

26. Journal Topic #17 Describe your favorite person. How does it make you feel to be around that person? Explain.

27. Journal Topic #16 (choose 1) Choice #1 Using U.S. military intelligence, France bombed the Syrian city of Raqqa last night, in response to the Friday night attacks in Paris. What is your response to this? Choice #2 How did your draft go? What did you struggle with? What was easy for you?

28. Journal Topic #15 How strong are your English skills in grammar, spelling, and punctuation? How do you know? What do you need help with? Describe your past experiences with learning grammar.

29. Journal Topic #14 Do you believe the American media harms women? Why or why not? Use examples from TV or movies to back up your side.

30. Journal Topic #13 Describe your Saturday night. What did you do? Explain fully and completely.

31. Journal Topic #12 Imagine someone close to you has gone missing. Describe that person so well, a sketch artist could accurately draw that person.

32. Find a Partner. 1. Decide who will go first and who will go second. 2. The first person will read his or her journal entry. 3. The second person will be the sketch artist. Draw the person your partner describes. 4. When time is up, switch roles.

33. Journal Topic #11 How do you manage timed exams? What strategies do you use for making sure you have enough time to finish the test?

34. Meet in Groups of 4 Share your strategies for managing time during tests. Have the writer write the best ideas on the white board.

35. Journal Topic #10 What study skills and techniques do you use to study for midterms? How do you prepare for a test? Describe and explain.

36. Journal Topic #9 Describe the online research you did for homework. Did you find a good article? If so, tell what about it is good. If not, tell what about it is lacking.

37. Journal Topic #8 Describe your current financial situation. Are you in debt or do you have savings? What are your personal financial goals for your future?

38. Journal Topic #7 Should college for U.S. citizens be free? Why or why not?

39. Journal Topic #6 Was there anything you didn’t say during the debate that you wish you could have? Explain.

40. Journal Topic #4 Do you enjoy speaking in class? Why or why not? Describe some experiences you’ve had speaking in class.

41. Journal Topic #5 In your personal opinion, should schools be allowed to ask students their race? Why or why not?

42. Journal Topic #3 Describe one thing you found interesting from the reading you had for homework (you may use your book): Amitai Etzioni, “Leaving Race Behind,” pg. 351-360 Glenn Loury, “Why Should We Care about Racial Inequality?” pg. 345-350 Why did you find it interesting?

43. Journal Topic #2 Is racism a problem on college campuses? Why or why not?

44. Journal Topic #1 Did you reveal your race to the college when you applied? Why did the college ask? How did it make you feel? Does it matter? Why or why not?

46. Topic #20 Do you know or have you ever met an immigrant? Describe the experience. What do you know about that person?

47. Topic #23 Describe what you learned in English 21 this semester. Include debates and Town Hall.

48. Topic #22 What is your biggest problem right now? What led to, or caused, that problem? How do you plan to solve it? Explain, giving enough detail to fill the entire page.

49. Topic #19 ___________________

50. Topic #18 Describe someone you know. Use enough detail that someone could draw that person using only your description.

51. Find a partner. Groups of 3 are ok. Decide who will be the reader. Decide who will draw. Remember you can only draw what the person reads to you. If they neglect a nose, your drawing should have no nose.

52. Topic #17 For full credit, you have to say 5 things during town hall. How are you going to prepare? Describe the research you are doing as well as the ways you will practice to share your research.

53. Topic #16 Describe your classes this semester. Which one(s) do you like best? Why? Which do you like least? Why?

54. 1. Circle the category you are in (#1) 2. Define the problem you will solve (#2) 3. Articulate the solution (#3) 1. Make sure it is something viable 2. Make sure it’s something lawmakers can do 4. Give 2 quotes from different sources that prove your solution will work. Cite your sources.

55. Topic #14 Explain, in a step by step manner, how to make a phone call to someone not listed in contacts. Don’t forget the small steps, like entering numbers.

56. Topic #12 Describe what you did over the weekend. Start from Friday night and continue through Sunday. Don’t leave anything out (not even the boring parts)!

57. Topic #10 Describe your favorite book or movie. What was it about? What was your favorite scene? What did you like about it?

58. Topic #11 Speaking in class is an important way to practice for speaking in the workplace. How can you help people on your debate team feel comfortable enough to speak today? How can we help them take the chance?

59. Topic #8 Describe the last homeless person you can remember seeing. Where was he or she? What did he or she look like? What was he or she doing? How did you react?

60. Topic #7 Describe the in-class debate we had on Monday. Did you enjoy it? Why or why not? What can we do to improve the experience for everyone? If you weren’t here, describe what you were doing instead.

61. Homework Essay #1 Due -Library Assignment #2 Due: Visit the MOODLE SITE for our class (English 21, Section 0260) (Not the Town Hall site) Print first 3 pages of the article, “Homes for the Homeless in Utah” (under week 6) Bring the article to class on paper for credit

63. Topic #6 Describe your weekend from start to finish, even the boring parts. Try to account for each hour you were awake.

64. Topic #5 Do you support the side of the debate you were assigned? Why or why not? Give examples from your own life.

65. Topic #3 Have you ever participated in an academic debate? If so, what was it like? If not, what do you expect an academic debate to be like? How can we make our debate a positive experience for all?

66. Topic #3 What experience have you had writing essays? Were those experiences positive or negative? Why?

67. Topic #2 What does the word “feminism” mean to you? Why?

68. Take out your journals. Don’t take notes in your journals! Take out some notepaper

69. Journal Topic #1 Did you reveal your race to the college when you applied? Why did the college ask? How did it make you feel? Does it matter? Why or why not?

70. Next! Find a partner. Interview your partner. Learn: Your partner’s first name How your partner feels about speaking in class TAKE NOTES!!

71. SHARE SHARE your partner’s: first name feelings about public speaking Do not raise your hand to speak. Instead, just speak. It will work itself out!

72. If you are absent… Make up a topic or Describe your day or Get the day’s topic from a friend or Get a topic from Moodle site YOU STILL MUST WRITE A JOURNAL!!

73. Topic #1 How do you feel about speaking in class? Do you like it? Hate it? Why? Describe a time you spoke in class. What was it like?

74. Topic #2 Describe the worst homework assignment you ever had.

75. Topic #3 What’s the worst part about writing essays?

76. Topic #4 What do you enjoy about writing?

77. Topic #5 Do you believe in alien life forms? Why or why not?

78. Topic #6 What has been your experience with speaking in class? Do you love sharing your opinion? Do you hate sharing your opinion? Why?

79. Topic #7 Maus is a graphic novel, or a novel with pictures. Do you like reading graphic novels? Why or why not?

80. TOPIC #9 Describe the painting below using descriptive words. Try to describe it so that someone who had never seen the picture before could draw it from your description.

81. Topic #10 What’s your favorite movie or book? What is that movie or book about? Why do you like it?

82. Topic #11 Wednesday is our in class midterm. Do you get nervous about tests? Why or why not? What can nervous test-takers do to reduce their worry?

83. Topic #12 Describe your dream vacation. Where would you go? What would you do?

84. Topic #13 Define the word “love” without using a dictionary. What does “love” mean to you? Use examples from your life to help define the term.

85. Topic #14 Describe your weekend, starting with Friday and ending Sunday night. What did you do?

86. Topic #15 What is your biggest problem right now? What caused it?

87. Topic #16 Describe the picture below.

88. Topic #17 This semester, you’ve been using the Pierce library databases. Describe your experience. What’s good about using the databases? What has been difficult or challenging?

89. Topic #18 Who do you consider your best friend? Why? Give examples.

90. Topic #19 Describe your family. Who are the members of your family? What are they like?

91. Topic #20 Describe a person you know so well, someone reading your journal could draw a sketch of that person.

92. Topic #21 What’s your favorite meal? Describe each part of your meal in detail.

93. Topic #22 What do you think your college major will be? If you haven’t picked a major yet, what are you most interested in? Why?

94. Topic #23 What classes are you taking next semester? Why?