Journal Assignment
Your journal will be turned in at the end of the unit, and it will be worth 60 points. You must
include a cover page that really represents who you are. Each prompt should have at least one full
page of writing—handwritten. If you choose to type out your journal, then you would probably
average around one page to one and a half pages double spaced. I will not struggle to read your
handwriting—if I can’t read it, you will not get full points on that entry. If you know your
handwriting is not easy to read—please type your journal or make an effort to write neatly.
If you are absent on the day of a prompt, you are still responsible for that in your journal.
Be honest in your journal…explore your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. I am not grading this
journal for right/wrong answers or for grammar and spelling. Instead, I am looking to see that
you have fully explored the prompt…that you have taken the time to truly respond and think
about each entry.
**I will also check for completion of your journal entries on certain days**
Journal Entry #1 (Monday, May 3rd)
Read the excerpt from Emerson’s Self-Reliance. Choose a sentence or phrase that
really speaks to you. Write the sentence in your journal and respond to it. Think
about what he is saying and give your opinions—agree? Disagree? Etc…
Journal Entry #2 (Wednesday, May 5th or Thursday, May 6th)
Read the excerpt from Thoreau’s Walden. What do you think of Thoreau—as a
writer and as a personality? Is his message still valid, or do you find it dated and
irrelevant? Explore your reactions to Walden.
Journal Entry #3 (Friday, May 7th)
Read the excerpt from Emerson’s Nature. Emerson was clearly exhilarated by the
beauty and tranquility of nature…describe an experience you’ve had in nature that
had either a very positive effect or very negative effect on you. Try to use as much
imagery and description as possible to really re-create the moment. Explore what it
was about nature that affected you.
Journal Entry #4 (Monday, May 10th)
Read the excerpt from Into the Wild. What is your opinion of Chris (Alex)
McCandless based on his decision to ‘live off the land’ and his ultimate end? Would
you ever do something like this? Why/why not? What kind of person do you think
McCandless was to do this? Finally, explore your reactions to this excerpt.
Journal Entry #5 (Monday, May 17th)
Read the excerpt from The Perfect Storm. Discuss your personal reaction to both the
reading (and the movie if you have seen it). Incorporate your feelings about the
tremendous power of nature, and whether or not you agree with Ernie Hazard when
he says, “…People think you always have to go for life, but you don’t. You can quit.”
Your entire journal will be collected on Tuesday, May 18th