Journals covering Madden, Frank. Exploring Literature 4th edition

Paper details:

The text book  Madden, Frank. Exploring Literature. Fourth ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print. ISBN-13: 978-0205-64018-8. ISBN-10: 0205-64018-4.

Who what when where why
Simplify what was being said
stay within the poem, dont jump to conclusions,
read the surface reading
how did it make you feel?

Reading/writing journal. You’ll read a lot from your text because good readers are more likely to become good writers. After or while you read, write a journal entry. At a minimum, summarize the reading. For higher grades, you might answer the questions and suggestions that follow the readings. You may also define words from the readings. If you find certain language striking, write why. You may write about other things if you explain their significance to what you read. For example, if reading about a parent-child relationship gives you insight into your parent-child relationship, you could explain the insight and how the reading led you to it.

Write one journal entry about each reading from your text. I’ll evaluate and grade your journal based upon the number of entries you submit, the number of pages you write, what’s missing and why, your consistency in submitting entries, and the quality of the entries:

• A below-average entry includes generalities, no rationale, or glaring errors in understanding;
• An average-quality entry convinces me, by a thorough summary, that you read the selection;
• An above-average entry provides not only a good summary but also a thorough understanding of the selection, thoughtful responses, rationale, and/or use of some of the methods of exposition identified on page three of this syllabus.

You’ll probably receive an A for the journal if you write entries for 90% of the selections, 30 pages or more, AND average to above-average quality. If you write fewer than 20 pages, you’ll probably receive a D or less regardless of the quality. You won’t receive credit for any journal entry that’s identical or substantially the same as any other student’s entry.

Keep an index for your journal. For each journal entry, write the author’s last name, the title, in EN 101 the chapter it’s from, in EN 102 the genre it’s from, whether the reading is non-fiction, fiction, drama or poetry, and the number of pages you’ve written. The index is easier if you write it as you read.

Use MLA format in your journal, with these exceptions: you may write by hand, single-spaced, and on both sides of each page. Begin a new paragraph each time you write about a new selection, and make sure you write the title and author of each selection. Use 8 and 1/2 by 11-inch college-ruled paper.

I’ll keep your journal entries and give you one grade for all of them at the end of the course. If you want to know how you’re doing on journals, just ask me and we’ll review them. There is also an assignment at the Blackboard web site by which you can self-evaluate your journal.

Begin your journal index. Start to read and write in your journal about Chapter 1; Chapter 2, pages 37 – 51; Tan’s essay “Mother Tongue” at page 144, and ten selections from Family and Friends at 206 – 436 (two fiction, “My Papa’s Waltz” at 264 and four other poems, two essays, and one drama).
Read and write in your journal about ten selections (three fiction, five poems, and two essays) from Innocence and Experience at 437 – 537.
Read and write in your journal about ten selections from Women and Men at 711 – 936 (two fiction, five poems, one drama, Simmons’ essay “Learning to Fall” at 1,281, and one other essay).
Read and write in your journal about ten selections (two fiction, five poems, one drama, and two essays) from Culture and Identity at 937 – 1,147
Read and write in your journal about Chapter 5, pages 178 – 192, and Appendix C.
june 16 – Read and write in your journal about ten selections from Faith and Doubt at 1,148 – 1,311 (three fiction, five poems and two essays).
June 23 – submit the rest of your journal index. You may not submit any journals after the start of the second class of the week.

Journal Self-evaluation
This repeats the self-evaluation of your journal that you did mid-way through the course.

Use your journal index and entries to answer the following questions:

1. How many entries have you written? There are 55 possible.

2. How many pages have you written? Your goal was 30 or more. Count full pages; the front is one and the back is one. Adjust for partial pages, margin width, small paper, small or large writing, etc.

3. What’s missing? Any chapters or genres? Long reading selections? Why?

4. Have you consistently submitted your entries? Give yourself a plus, a check or a minus.

5. What’s the quality of your entries? Have you talked to me about the quality of our entries? Give yourself a plus, a check or a minus.

Writing Prompts – Final Journal Entry

1. Why do you read what you do? Because of the topic? Author? Genre? Length?

2. How do you read? That is, where? When? For how long at a sitting? Under what conditions?

3. What kind of thoughts do you write about the readings? Summary? Evaluation? Criticisms? Do you answer the editors’ questions? Do you come up with your own topics?

4. Do you write about other topics, such as your formal writing, classroom activities, feedback from other students or me, or – in the light of your readings – your own experiences?

5. How often do you read? Do you read consistently? Do you procrastinate?

6. How many of the assigned entries from each chapter did you read?

7. Has something else affected your reading?

8. Which reading is most memorable? Best-liked? Least-liked? Why?

You can also answer any of the questions above for your journal writing. For example, how did you write?

These next three questions are both larger and more important:

1. Why do you do (or not do) what you did?

2. Have you changed any reading or journal writing behavior? If you have, what? If you haven’t, why not?

3. Have you learned anything from reading or journal writing? If you have, what? If you haven’t, why not?