Journals: Semester 2

1. Journals: Semester 2 Copy down the journal number and prompt name only. Then answer the prompt with complete sentences.

2. Journal #1: What Do You Think • Read the following Letter to the Editor and tell me if you agree or disagree with the author. • Read the article titled “Two reasons to give up on hunting in Idaho” • http://www.idahostatesman.com/letters/story/1031299.html

3. Journal #2: The Best Education • “The best education in the world is that got by struggling to get a living.” —Wendell Phillips • Many students sick of high school make arguments similar to Phillips. Do you agree with Phillips that hard work provides a sufficient education, or do you think success is more likely for those people who receive a traditional education?

4. Journal #3: No T.V. • Before the age of television, people entertained themselves largely by reading, telling stories, playing music, chatting and doing things outside. If you had to stop watching T.V. for one month, how would you fill your time? Would you miss TV terribly, or would you welcome the break?

5. Journal #4: Everyday Heroes • How do you define hero? Do you think fame is an important component of heroism, or do you think most heroes are unknown? Is there anyone you know personally whom you consider a hero?

6. Journal #5: About My Name • Many names have special meaning or history. For example, the name Hannah means “favor” or “grace.” • Write about your own name. Who named you? What does your name mean? Does it have a special ethnic or religious significance? Are you named after someone in your family? If you could change your name, would you?

7. Journal #6: The Worst Time of Life • What was your most humiliating middle school experience? Write a short, possibly funny, description of it using ten adjectives. • An adjectives describes/modifies a noun.

8. Journal #7: About My School • You have been chosen to describe you school in a brochure that will be given to students who live across the country. Assume that your readers know nothing about your city or school. Address the following topics • Sayings (i.e., “yo”) • Dress • Character types (i.e., Cowboy) • Groups/cliques (i.e., Mean Girls) • Best thing • Worst thing • The ONE thing your readers should know

9. Journal #8: What I’ve Learned • Imagine you are moving to a foreign country and won’t see your friends and family for many years. Write a letter to a friend or sibling, shelling out some words of wisdom and explaining how you would have done certain things differently.

10. Journal #9: Childhood Memories • Most people have vivid memories of certain events from childhood. What sticks out in your mind? Pick on particularly strong memory and describe it in detail using 15 adjectives.

11. Journal #10: Alone at Last!! • Your parents just left on a weekend vacation—leaving you all alone, in charge of the house. What do you do? Instantly call your friends and announce a party? Decide to have a party and then regret it when you’re cleaning for six hours the next day? Worry and don’t do anything?

12. Journal #11: I’m nobody, who are you? I’m NOBODY! Who are you? Are you—Nobody—Too? Then there’s a pair of us? Don’t tell! They’d advertise— you know! How dreary—to be—Somebody! How public—like a Frog— To tell one’s name—the livelong June— To an admiring Bog! Using this excerpt as a frame, write about who you are. (Don’t worry about rhyming every line.) I’m ________________! Who are you? Are you—_____________—Too? Then there’s a pair of us? Don’t ____________! They’d ___________— you know! How _____________—to be—____________! How ________________—like a Frog— To tell one’s name—the livelong ______________— To a (an) _________________!

13. Journal #12: Active and Passive Voice • The active voice occurs when the subject performs the action. in the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted on by another agent. Look at the following examples: • PASSIVE VOICE: Snuffles was taken to the vet by my mom. • ACTIVE VOICE: My mom took Snuffles to the vet. • Eliminate the passive voice from your writing as much as possible. In the beginning, it will seem impossible, but after a while it will get easier, and you’ll notice that your writing has become far more interesting and punchy. • Rewrite the following sentences, changing the passive voice to the active voice: • The exam was administered by the teacher. • Georgia’s outfit was chosen by the saleswoman. • The city was invaded by barbarians.

14. Journal #13: Similar Similes • A simile is a comparison using like or as, as in my heart is like a drum. Think of several words or phrases to complete the following simile: • My heart is like_____________________. • My heart is like_____________________. • My heart is like_____________________. • My heart is like_____________________. • My heart is like_____________________.

15. Journal #14: Mismatched Similes • Come up with a word or phrase to complete each of the following similes: • I’m as hungry as a _________________. • My hair is like ____________________. • A rainy day is like _________________. • The cars on the street sound like _____. • I woke up feeling like _______________. • Now, mismatch the word or phrase you came up with, applying them to the other four similes. What sorts of results do you come up with?