This Week's Journal Prompt
Every week, Honors students write three pages (front and back) in their journals, while College Prep students write two pages (also front and back). The writing must include -- but is not limited to -- the assigned weekly topic. Once per month, students in both classes must additionally address a Tumblr image in their writing; see our Class Tumblr Journal for more information.
Week of February 6 - 10
Think about what you could do if only you were invisible... then write about it. If that's not inspiring enough, think about how the government would respond to you if you were able to become invisible at will. Week of January 23 - 27 This week's journal assignment is to interview an adult family member or friend and ask them what they were like when they were your age. Find out how they've changed since then, how've they've stayed the same. Try to learn what their biggest dreams and goals were when they were your age, and whether they achieved those or found new, different ones to pursue instead. Write up your findings in a 10-sentence (or more) paragraph. |  |
Week of January 17 - 20
This week you will write a 10-sentence commentary on something interesting you read in Upfront magazine. Remember to "anchor" your commentary by stating the relevant information first. For instance, This week in Upfront magazine, I read that there are one million ants for each human being on the planet. This fact pretty much boggles my mind... and it sort of disgusts me, too. It's not that I don't like ants, but the image of humans being so outnumbered be creepy, crawly, bitey things is a bit disturbing. . . (and so on with my opinions/comments for 7 more sentences).
Week of January 9 - 12
This week's journal topic is an oxymoron: Worthless Treasures. Think about something you own that you know is basically worthless (it wouldn't sell -- or would sell for only a little -- at a yard sale) and yet, you love it anyway and it is priceless to you. Write about that item: what it is, why it matters to you, and so on. For example, I have a doll my mom made for me when I was four years old. Buffy was absolutely beautiful when I got her -- all handmade, with brown hair and big blue eyes. I slept with her every night from the Christmas I got her up to when I went to college. Nowadays she's all raggedy, her eyes have been worn off, and she's just not in the best of shape. I know no one in the whole world would want her... but I still do.
Week of January 3 - 6
This week's journal topic is New Year's Resolutions, which brings to mind a Sheryl Crow song with the line, "I think a change would do you good." Write about your resolution, why you're making it, how you'll judge your progress on that front, etc. If you didn't make any resolutions at all, write about a past resolution you made, or someone else you know's resolution, or about why you didn't bother with resolutions this year. Failing all that, just write about one change you'd like to see happen in your life during the year 2012 (could be a change you make or a change in someone around you... could just be the change to being a sophomore this coming fall!).
Week of December 19 - 22
This week's assignment (which stretches into the holiday): Describe the best gift anyone ever gave you. Simple enough, right?
Week of December 12 - 16
College Prep students are talking about words that hurt. In their journals, they are supposed to discuss a particular word (your choice which one) that other people use but should be more careful with. In Honors, students may write about one or more of the following questions (all from Ms. Young's copy of Q and A a Day):
This week you will write a 10-sentence commentary on something interesting you read in Upfront magazine. Remember to "anchor" your commentary by stating the relevant information first. For instance, This week in Upfront magazine, I read that there are one million ants for each human being on the planet. This fact pretty much boggles my mind... and it sort of disgusts me, too. It's not that I don't like ants, but the image of humans being so outnumbered be creepy, crawly, bitey things is a bit disturbing. . . (and so on with my opinions/comments for 7 more sentences).
Week of January 9 - 12
This week's journal topic is an oxymoron: Worthless Treasures. Think about something you own that you know is basically worthless (it wouldn't sell -- or would sell for only a little -- at a yard sale) and yet, you love it anyway and it is priceless to you. Write about that item: what it is, why it matters to you, and so on. For example, I have a doll my mom made for me when I was four years old. Buffy was absolutely beautiful when I got her -- all handmade, with brown hair and big blue eyes. I slept with her every night from the Christmas I got her up to when I went to college. Nowadays she's all raggedy, her eyes have been worn off, and she's just not in the best of shape. I know no one in the whole world would want her... but I still do.
Week of January 3 - 6
This week's journal topic is New Year's Resolutions, which brings to mind a Sheryl Crow song with the line, "I think a change would do you good." Write about your resolution, why you're making it, how you'll judge your progress on that front, etc. If you didn't make any resolutions at all, write about a past resolution you made, or someone else you know's resolution, or about why you didn't bother with resolutions this year. Failing all that, just write about one change you'd like to see happen in your life during the year 2012 (could be a change you make or a change in someone around you... could just be the change to being a sophomore this coming fall!).
Week of December 19 - 22
This week's assignment (which stretches into the holiday): Describe the best gift anyone ever gave you. Simple enough, right?
Week of December 12 - 16
College Prep students are talking about words that hurt. In their journals, they are supposed to discuss a particular word (your choice which one) that other people use but should be more careful with. In Honors, students may write about one or more of the following questions (all from Ms. Young's copy of Q and A a Day):
- What do you find irresistible?
- What surprised you today?
- Where do you find joy?
- What is on your wish list?
- What is your biggest regret?
- Why are you impressive?
- Moderation or excess?
Week of December 5 - 9
This week we are doing quotation journaling. I distributed this handout with five famous quotes on it. First, you will pick one that "speaks" to you and copy it into your journal. Next, explain what your chosen quote means in your own words. Last, relate the quote to your life or to something you've seen in the lives of people around you. Altogether you should come up with 10 sentences about the quote.
This week we are doing quotation journaling. I distributed this handout with five famous quotes on it. First, you will pick one that "speaks" to you and copy it into your journal. Next, explain what your chosen quote means in your own words. Last, relate the quote to your life or to something you've seen in the lives of people around you. Altogether you should come up with 10 sentences about the quote.
Week of November 28 - December 2
This one is fairly straightforward, but tends to yield interesting results. Your goal is to write about a dream or a nightmare that you've had at some point in your life. If you truly don't remember any of your dreams, then you will need to talk to a friend, coax him or her to tell you about a past dream, and then write about your friend's dream. In addition to the dream topic, Honors classes are catching up on two topics that College Prep students covered earlier (manipulation and fighting words).
This one is fairly straightforward, but tends to yield interesting results. Your goal is to write about a dream or a nightmare that you've had at some point in your life. If you truly don't remember any of your dreams, then you will need to talk to a friend, coax him or her to tell you about a past dream, and then write about your friend's dream. In addition to the dream topic, Honors classes are catching up on two topics that College Prep students covered earlier (manipulation and fighting words).
Week of November 21 - 23
This is a short week due to Thanksgiving, so we're going to keep the topic simple: Thanksgiving. I know, sounds like a boring topic, but honestly you can go in lots of directions with this one. You could write about how your family celebrates or about a particularly memorable Thanksgiving, or you could compile a list of 25 things for which you're grateful. If you find yourself really stuck for something to say, try doing a combination of all three subtopics and I bet you'll make it to 10 sentences easily. Good luck and happy turkey day, people!
This is a short week due to Thanksgiving, so we're going to keep the topic simple: Thanksgiving. I know, sounds like a boring topic, but honestly you can go in lots of directions with this one. You could write about how your family celebrates or about a particularly memorable Thanksgiving, or you could compile a list of 25 things for which you're grateful. If you find yourself really stuck for something to say, try doing a combination of all three subtopics and I bet you'll make it to 10 sentences easily. Good luck and happy turkey day, people!
Week of November 14 - 18
This week we're doing True Life Confessions. Everybody gets away with something, sometime. Now's your chance to admit to what you did privately (in your journal). For instance, once upon a time, Ms. Young borrowed the really nice scissors from her mother's stash of supplies and didn't return them. Later when her mother went on a screaming rampage because they were missing, Ms. Young didn't want to 'fess up, so she instead planted the scissors in her younger sister's room and allowed her sibling to take the fall. (I know, that was truly awful; I feel terrible!!). -
Try to think of something less-than-angelic you've done and confess it... If you're truly an angel, then rat someone else out instead. In any case, feel free to keep this a record of a minor transgression (not anything horrible!).
Week of November 7 - 10
Imagine that you went to the bank to deposit a check from your grandmother, who gave you $25 for your birthday. When you deposited it, the bank got confused and credited your account with $25,000,000! What would you do? Keep in mind that technically it is illegal to touch the money, even though you didn't purposely steal it! In case you're curious, a similar case to this actually happened in New Zealand in 2009; you can Google the story with the names "Leo Gao" and "Kara Hurring."
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Week of October 31 - November 4
This week Ms. Young took a look at her iTunes music collection and discovered that she has over 10,000 songs (and has spent easily $3,000 on music in the last five or so years). This is an interesting thing to think about: What is the point of music? Why do people spend so much time and money on it? Is it worth anything? Why or why not?
Week of October 24 - 28
Have you heard the Bruno Mars "Lazy Song" song? If not, take a minute to listen to it here, then describe your own idea of a perfect lazy day (and note how it differs from his ideal day off) in 10 or more sentences.
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Week of October 17 - 21
This week we are doing a short fiction piece. Write the prompt into your journal (it counts toward the 10-sentence minimum!):
Dr. Hart strolled into the waiting room and gave the patient a quick glance, followed immediately by a gasp and a double-take. In 15 years of medical practice, the doctor'd never seen a case like this! The patient was covered in . . .
Week of October 10 - 14
This week, you are trying to imagine a truly horrifying prospect: Ms. Young wakes up in YOUR body tomorrow morning. Your objective: Write instructions that will take her from the moment you wake up all the way to homeroom without anyone noticing something is amiss. (Presumably she will return your body to you during homeroom.)
This week we're doing True Life Confessions. Everybody gets away with something, sometime. Now's your chance to admit to what you did privately (in your journal). For instance, once upon a time, Ms. Young borrowed the really nice scissors from her mother's stash of supplies and didn't return them. Later when her mother went on a screaming rampage because they were missing, Ms. Young didn't want to 'fess up, so she instead planted the scissors in her younger sister's room and allowed her sibling to take the fall. (I know, that was truly awful; I feel terrible!!). -
Try to think of something less-than-angelic you've done and confess it... If you're truly an angel, then rat someone else out instead. In any case, feel free to keep this a record of a minor transgression (not anything horrible!).
Week of November 7 - 10
Imagine that you went to the bank to deposit a check from your grandmother, who gave you $25 for your birthday. When you deposited it, the bank got confused and credited your account with $25,000,000! What would you do? Keep in mind that technically it is illegal to touch the money, even though you didn't purposely steal it! In case you're curious, a similar case to this actually happened in New Zealand in 2009; you can Google the story with the names "Leo Gao" and "Kara Hurring."
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Week of October 31 - November 4
This week Ms. Young took a look at her iTunes music collection and discovered that she has over 10,000 songs (and has spent easily $3,000 on music in the last five or so years). This is an interesting thing to think about: What is the point of music? Why do people spend so much time and money on it? Is it worth anything? Why or why not?
Week of October 24 - 28
Have you heard the Bruno Mars "Lazy Song" song? If not, take a minute to listen to it here, then describe your own idea of a perfect lazy day (and note how it differs from his ideal day off) in 10 or more sentences.
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Week of October 17 - 21
This week we are doing a short fiction piece. Write the prompt into your journal (it counts toward the 10-sentence minimum!):
Dr. Hart strolled into the waiting room and gave the patient a quick glance, followed immediately by a gasp and a double-take. In 15 years of medical practice, the doctor'd never seen a case like this! The patient was covered in . . .
Week of October 10 - 14
This week, you are trying to imagine a truly horrifying prospect: Ms. Young wakes up in YOUR body tomorrow morning. Your objective: Write instructions that will take her from the moment you wake up all the way to homeroom without anyone noticing something is amiss. (Presumably she will return your body to you during homeroom.)
The point of this writing exercise is to make really clear, detailed instructions that include all the minutiae of your life, much of which probably doesn't sound interesting now, but WILL be interesting in a couple of years when you reread your journal. Remember how different your life was even 5 years ago?? It will be even more drastically changed in another 5, 10, or 15 years. So make your instructions super-complete.
Week of October 3 - 7
This week's journal is more research-based. Google your Quia password online, and write an entry explaining what it is. Some classes are saddled with dinosaurs, others with mythological beasts, still others with cars or birds. You may print out a picture of your password to help take up space in your journal.
This week's journal is more research-based. Google your Quia password online, and write an entry explaining what it is. Some classes are saddled with dinosaurs, others with mythological beasts, still others with cars or birds. You may print out a picture of your password to help take up space in your journal.
