Purpose: to help you engage the material and really think over the assigned readings. To explore thoughts the passage evokes or questions it raises.
After reading an article choose one sentence that you wish to discuss. Copy it on your paper, note its page, then skip a line. Begin to discuss your reaction to this sentence. Write a whole page (handwriting) or half a page (typed). If you have not written that much and cannot think of anything more to say about the sentence you chose, then you must choose another quote and respond to it. Each journal entry should take about 20 minutes, and is due at the beginning of class, sometimes to start a class discussion.
I find it useful to make small pencil marks in the margin as I am reading to note interesting sentences. This makes it easy for me to look back and choose the juiciest section for me, that which is easiest to respond to. Look for statements that you disagree with, or strongly agree with, or have a personal experience which supports the author or where you can compare the work to something else you have read or seen. Then give your evidence to support your case. Find a passage that you know something about from a previous course or book or lunchtime argument. Sometimes you may recall something relevant from your childhood. Assessment: Grade is just a count of journal entries submitted. No make-ups.