Journal AKA Composition notebook

washington stream Your composition notebook is the place where most of your preliminary writing takes place. One part will be dedicated to Ender's Shadow, one part will be dedicated to your pre-reading writing and vocabulary, one part will be for in-class shortwrites and freewrites. I suggest you set up your journal in these sections to make your life easier.

  • Ender's Shadow Section:

    Dedicate and label at least one page (front and back) to each chapter of the novel (24 chapters in all). We will cover each chapter in class, and you will write a summary of each chapter. These summaries are due before class; I will ask students to read their summary aloud before we discuss that chapter. As the semester progresses, I will assign different types of summaries and various other critical reading strategies to be completed in this section. This work will not be typed up and turned in.

  • Short article section: Norton Field Guide readings and other handouts

    For each article we read (from NFG and handouts), you will be responsible for class preparation and vocabulary: one paragraph pre-reading freewrite, assigned questions, and a personalized vocabulary list. The pre-reading freewrites will be shared in groups and sometimes with the rest of the class. Students will go over their vocabulary and short answers to text questions before the general full class discussion of the article. This work will not be typed up.

    After we have discussed the article in class, students will have one week to write a paragraph summary and paragraph response to the text. These will be typed in a MLA format and turned in within a week of class discussion: posted to the reading journal on mahara.

  • In class writing (not the timed writing) - freewrites, short writes and other techniques such as double journal entries:
    Save one section of your journal for extemporaneous writing in class. Keeping all written work in one place will help you stay organized, and allow for the greatest practical use of your time.

    One final note. I collect your journal in order to give you credit for work done. I have suggested a methodical way to set up the journal. I do not expect any journal work to be re-written to be neater and/or tidier, but the writing must be readable. I also have to be able to find and read the work in your journal, so be sure to label your work as you go. If you choose to type any of the journal work, please make sure to include this work by stapling to a journal page.