As a part of this course you will post journal entries.  The modules will provide prompts based on your readings. Each journal entry which will be submitted on the Assignments tool should be at least 200 words (try to stick to this word count–I definitely do not want anything longer than 300 words for the journal assignments) in length in your best writing style. Each journal entry will include a thesis and adequate support using references from the story under study.  You will be graded for both content and form. 

Please follow these format requirements:

• Write the prompt at the top of each entry
• Use Times New Roman size 12 font
• Double space all
• Consult Manuscript Format Guidelines for form and writing tips
• Works Cited page and In-text citations

*Failure to include a Works Cited page and in-text citations will result in partial credit for the journal. 

Criteria for Journals:

The journal assignments will look different than the essays for this course. Instead of writing an introduction and wrapping up with a conclusion (typical to essay writing), students should focus on answering the prompt in the most concise, direct manner. Generally, academic essays are no less in length than five body paragraphs (an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion), but since we are looking at the journal assignments in a different light, I am only looking for 2-3 paragraphs that answers the prompt.

Approach:

Start with a thesis statement. The thesis should answer the prompt, and should mention the author’s name and the story under discussion (in quotes). The thesis should be one sentence, and it should be the first sentence of the journal. Pay mind to grammar and sentence structure.

Find quotes to back up your claim (thesis). You are required to include examples from the primary source with appropriately formatted in-text citations. Choose examples appropriate to your claim, and always explain how that quote/example is working to back up the thesis statement. Your voice should always outshine source material. Do not reference any outside sources for the journal assignments. Stick only to the primary source. There is plenty to work with there. Trust me.

Include a Works Cited. Remember, in-text citations can not live without a citation page, and vice versa. Failure to include one, or both, will result in partial credit for the journal assignment.

*Think of the journal assignments as practice for Essays 1 & 2, and, more important, for the research paper. Always make sure you are reading my commentary on these graded journals so that you will know how to approach upcoming assignments.

Reference the document below for an example journal.