Writing is like any skill.  The only way to improve one's writing is to practice all the time, just as you would to improve your skills at playing any sport or at playing a musical instrument.  "Practice!  Practice!  Practice!" makes the difference.  The Journal is an assignment to help you get more practice.  

How Much Should You Write?
You decide.  The list below summarizes how many journal pages you should fill as determined by the grade you want at the end of the course.

• For an A, 45 to 50 pages (three pages per week)
• For a B, 40 to 45 pages (two to three pages per week)
• For a C, 35 to 40 pages (no fewer than two pages per week)
• For a D, 30 to 35 pages (two pages almost every week)
• For an F (if you really want one), fewer than 30 pages in your journal (fewer than two pages per week)

But What Should You Write About?
The purpose of the journal is to give you a place where you can explore topics for the writing assignments.  Its purpose is also to give you practice using the techniques that we talk about in class. The only way to become a better writer is to practice the techniques—over and over and over!  Discipline yourself to write in your journal on a regular basis. Try to write for fifteen minutes a day.

Here are some ideas for journal topics that coincide with activities that we will be working on in class.
 

Week 2	Chapter 3, steps 1 and 2 Writing Suggestion p. 220 Writing Suggestion p. 222 Writing Suggestion p. 226
Week 3	Your opinion or analysis of the "passages" on pp. 39-40 Writing Suggestion p. 231 Chapter 4, steps 1 and 2
Week 4	Your opinion or analysis of the "passages" on pp. 48-49 Writing Suggestion p. 235 Your opinion of your work on the "Growing" assignment
Week 5	Writing Suggestion p. 314 Writing Suggestion p. 319 Your reaction to something you've read
Week 6	Writing Suggestion p. 242 Chapter 6, steps 1 and 2 Writing Suggestion p. 246 Your opinion or analysis of the "passages" on pp. 70-73
Week 7	Writing Suggestion p. 250 Writing Suggestion p. 256 Writing Suggestion p. 259
Week 8	Reflections on the semester so far
Week 9	Chapter 9, steps 1 and 2 Your opinion or analysis of the "passages" on pp. 112-115
Week 10	Writing Suggestion p. 270 Writing Suggestion p. 274 Writing Suggestion p. 284
Week 11	Whatever
Week 12	Chapter 12, step 1 Your reactions to the "Cinematypes" handout Writing Suggestion p. 345
Week 13	Chapter 12, step 2 Writing Suggestion p. 325 Writing Suggestion p. 330
Week 14	Writing Suggestion p. 291 Writing Suggestion p. 296 Writing Suggestion p. 299
Week 15	Writing Suggestion p. 338 Writing Suggestion p. 341 Chapter 14, steps 1 and 2
Week 16	Reflections on the semester

What Does NOT Count in Your Journal?
Journaling should be original words and ideas that come from your own head.  Therefore any of the following will not be counted as journaling:

• Grammar exercises from our textbook
• Lecture notes from other classes
• Words copied from other writers 
• Drafts of old papers from courses you took in previous semesters