Journals

Were you absent? Click here to see Writing Prompts I've assigned.

Bring your journal to class everyday! 

Not having it with you (even for one day) could have a negative effect on your grade.

Your ability to keep your journal up-to-date will be a major part of your grade.

When Will Journals Be Collected?

I will collect journals a few times each marking period.  I won’t tell you when I’m going to collect them.  You need to make sure that your journal is up-to-date & with you every time you walk into class.  

What’s Required?

You need to write at least one journal entry for every weekday that you are enrolled in Creative Writing...including days when our class does not meet.

Each entry must start with the date.  After that, write for at least 5 minutes (nonstop)/or fill the page.

How It Will Be Graded

Once I have all the journals, I will pick a span of dates..usually ten days at a time.  Then I will check those ten entries.

You will get 5 points per entry if:

• the date is at the top of the page

• you wrote for at least 5 minutes (nonstop) or filled the page

AVOID WRITING DIARY TYPE ENTRIES. “I gotta go to the mall after school” type stuff.

Use your journal to exercise your creativity.

Writing Prompts

Most of your entries will be "freewriting" exercises, but I will often give you writing prompts.

Have writers block?  Try a prompt from CreativeWritingPrompts.com

FAQ about Journals

Question: What if I’m absent

Answer: You are responsible for having a journal entry for every day of the semester, even when you are absent.  If, for any reason, you aren’t in class you are still responsible for writing on that day.

Question: What if I forget to bring my journal to school on the day you collect them?

Answer: You will get a zero for that collection.

Question: What if my journal is in my locker when you collect them?

Answer: Go get it!

Question: What if I’m absent on the day you collect journals?

Answer: Hand it in as soon as you return to school.