Journal Topic Suggestions

I'm trying to come up with a lot of options to help you get moving in your journal. Keep checking in; I'll keep adding things.

Some people are doing great in their journals, but others are having trouble getting started, so I'm starting to post suggestions.         

• For this Thursday, aim to have at least 10 pages.
  
• However, if you have been stuck and are just getting started, try for 6. I'll help you get caught up. 

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:

TV & Internet

Watch Dancing with the Stars. Describe the dances. Evaluate them -- what score would you give them & why? Evaluate the judges. Do you agree or disagree with them?

Watch your favorite TV program or a movie. Describe the action as it happens. Evaluate the acting & the photography. 

Watch your favorite sport and describe the action. Put yourself in the shoes of a sports writer. What would a reporter say about this game?

Track down YouTubes of your favorite singer, dancer, actor, athlete. Again, describe as objectively as you can; then give your objective response.

Politics

Choose an issue or candidate to follow in the news. Follow a two-step structure: 

• Report the information that you have found. Evaluate the information: How reliable is it? How objective is your source?
  
• Discuss your subjective response to the information that you have found?

Women's Issues

I found a great PBS website entitled Women, Power, and Politics. It a number of topics, videos, and even a poll that you can vote in:

•   http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html (here's the poll)
•   http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/437/index.html (the larger website)

You as Researcher

Be a people watcher. Go someplace where there is a lot of human action. Write down what you see. You can reflect on it, or just stick to observations. We'll actually be doing some of this later as an assignment, but you can get started now if you would like.

Interview people about their lives: We'll brainstorm in class about questions that you could ask.

Write a family history. Choose a family member (or members) and tell their story. You can do some interviewing for this if you'd like.

Thinking Back

What do you miss -- or not miss -- the most about high school? 

Think about people who have been important influences on your life. Who are they? What did they do that mattered to you? What are their priorities and commitment?

GETTING PERSONAL

Write a letter to someone who did you wrong. Tell them what you think!! (You don't need to send it!)

Write a letter to someone who has contributed to your life in important ways. Describe their contribution and tell them what kind of difference it has made to you.

Be aware: If you want to write about personal topics, I don't need to read them!! I just want to see that you are scribbling the pages. You can show it to me from four feet away. If I see the pages filled with ink, they will count.

ACT Prep

Start thinking ahead to the ACT school-based topics. What needs were met, or not, in your high school: 

• Physical (health & safety)
• Relationship (friendship and belonging)
• Growth (free choices: intellectual, creative, spiritual, altruistic)