1. A paragraph-long (4-8 sentences) description of the plot a blurb that explains A. the main characters, B. the setting C. the problem they face D. and what happens to them in the end; 2. Answer the question: What is the emotional message of this story: what does it tell us about how humans respond to problems like this? 3. Answer the question: What is the philosophical message of this story: what do you think the writer believes about human relationships/ human nature/ society/ love/ death/ hope/ faith/ fear/ or a combination of those essentially human problems? 4. Answer the question: Is there a social problem (civil rights, sexism, environmentalism, depression, greed, class conflicts, etc.) behind this story? Each journal should then summarize the story and answer those three questions to be counted.