Journal Writing - September 13, 2012

Journal Writing 

You will be required to keep a journal (and record it in your blog) as part of this course.

Journals are useful because they can help you to:
• see how your skills and knowledge have increased during the course;
• let you write about concerns that are of personal interest;
• express personal thoughts and feelings;
• gather together information or material that you could use on another assignment.

Reflective writing is done after you have had time to think about the plications of your experience in relation to the ideas and theories you are studying.

Some of the following questions may help you with this writing:

• What elements seemed most memorable or important to me?
• How did I respond, and why?
• What was I thinking and feeling at the time about the experience, event or issue?
• What do I think and feel now about what happened? Why?
• What did I learn?
• What insights did I gain?
• How or why was this significant for me?
• What aspects of my practice or learning do I want to focus on?
• How can I apply what I have learned to my life or future career?

In general, a good journal should be AT LEAST two paragraphs in length, and those paragraphs should be about five (5) lines long each.

The idea is to think out loud in writing and consider possibilities.

There is no worry about right or wrong answers. There is, however a right (or wrong) way to do this kind of writing.

Today we begin with Journal #1 -

Why did you choose the book you chose in the library? Be specific.
You’ve read a little bit of it. Is it appealing yet? Why or why not?
Most writers start their books with a “hook” - which is some scene or moment or some question or idea that “hooks” the reader in. Did you find a hook yet in your book?
What is the best book you’ve ever read? Why is it?
If you have never read a whole book in your life, explain why.