JOURNALS

You will be asked to write at least one journal entry to turn in for each unit (There are five units). Each entry should be at least two pages typed, one-and-a-half spaced.

Requirements

What should the two pages of writing be about? Consider your journal an opportunity to make meaning; that is, to draw connections between ideas, events, experience and thought. Here are some additional suggestions:

• Respond to the reading assignments: You may wish to write about a passage in the reading that confused, delighted or enlightened you. You might also consider writing in the style of the author or experimenting with your own fictional passage or poetry. Try writing a diary entry for one of the characters in the literature we are reading (or in the history reading for your history journal), or work on writing a new ending to the chapter or book you just read.

• Make connections: What does the reading make you think of? Does it remind you of anyone or anything? Make connections with other texts or events. Consider how the history informs the literature and vice-versa.

• Argue: Argue with the book, the author, the teachers or a peer on a point raised in the reading or in class discussion. Work on building a persuasive counter-argument. Think about the outside sources you might turn to for more evidence to bolster your point of view. You might also work on identifying the flaws in the argument you are disputing. You may want to use the argument you build as the basis of an essay.

• Work on your own historical fiction: For the final writing assignment, you may write a piece of historical fiction; you are welcome to start experimenting with character, plot and setting in your journal. For example, you may want to write a descriptive entry of a block in New York City as it must have appeared a century ago. Or try writing a monologue, dialogue or diary entry of a character (or characters) in the same era or neighborhood as the book we are currently reading. Even if you do not create a historical fiction for your final project you should try out the form in a journal.

You are welcome to experiment in other ways in your journal as well. If you are unsure about whether you are writing what is expected of you, please feel free to check it out with us. Your journal ought to become a useful resource for you--for essays, fiction, class notes and most of all, in making these courses more meaningful to you.

Journal Grading

Your journals will be graded (Pass, Fail or Honors) each time they are collected; the grades will be based on the following:

• To receive at least a P (Pass), you must have written at least a full two pages in your journal when they are collected in class; late journals (received after class meets) or incomplete entries may receive lower grades

• Writing worthy of honors grades (H) takes risks and indicates careful reflection, thoughtful and creative expression and an investment of the self in the writing

• Writing worthy of honors grades takes the writer and the reader beyond ground previously covered and locates new ideas, connections and territory (intellectual, personal, creative, insightful); generally, this requires sticking to the writing beyond the moment when it feels as though you aren't getting anywhere

•You will want to pace yourself and stay on top of the entries so that they may reflect the best of your abilities. You may write one two-page entry or two or more separate entries that add up to two pages. You are certainly welcome and encouraged to write more than the required two pages should you feel inspired. Note that you will occasionally be expected to have more than two pages of writing, such as when an in-class writing assignment is done in your journal.

•We will collect and grade your journals at least once each unit. These are opportunities for you to pursue a question of interest or explore a form you feel is appropriate.