Directions for JournalingWhat are they?1. Throughout this course, you will maintain an online journal in which you

respond to writing prompts I give in class (which you will type on your iPad) or for homework.

2. These short writing assignments are intended to give you time to develop your thoughts on a question related to the text, as well as a lot of opportunities to practice writing.

3. They are meant to be informal and won’t be graded on grammar or style (but you shouldn’t have any words misspelled).

4. While your journals are personal, they are not diaries. You will always be given a prompt to which you should respond. Anything inappropriate in your journal will result in a failing grade and possibly further disciplinary action.

Where do we write them?5. Your journals should be typed in the same document in Notability. Each time

you complete a journal response, you should make sure it is saved in this document. Once per quarter, I will ask you to email me your journal document to check them for a quiz grade.

How will they be graded?1. If you are absent on a day that a journal prompt is assigned, it is your

responsibility to find out what you missed and write the journal within one cycle.2. I will check each class’s journals once for a quiz grade towards the end of the

quarter.3. I will grade the journals on a four point scale:4 = all journals are complete, and the writer demonstrates excellent critical thinking

and thorough reflection3= most journals are complete (missing 1-2), and/or the level of critical thinking and

reflection is very good2= most journals are complete (missing 1-3), and/or the level of critical thinking and

reflection is mediocre 1= more than 4 journals are missing, and/or the level of critical thinking and

reflection is poorTotal: 4 = 100% (A), 3 = 92%(B+), 2 = 85%(B), 1= 80%(C)

This should be an easy 100% quiz grade for everyone, as long as you put in the effort!

How to Set Up Your Online Journals

1. Open the Notablilty app on your iPad. 2. Tap the pencil button to compose a new note.3. Delete the title and type your name’s & Journal (e.g. Ms. Saraco’s Journal)4. When you type the headings for your journal, make sure you type the number

and the date of the journal (e.g. 1. August 27, 2013). This is important for grading purposes.

5. Write your journal response underneath the heading. 6. Each journal response should be at least one full paragraph, and no longer

than 2 full paragraphs. 7. When you have completed your journal response, make sure it is automatically

saved in Notability.8. Remember to complete each journal response in the same document.9. Stay up to date with your journals, so that when I ask you to turn them in via

email, you are ready to do so.

Example:

1st Journal: “Us and Them” Pre-Reading Response1.How did you celebrate

Halloween as a child?2.What is something that you have

done in the past that you can be self-deprecating about now?