MAUS JOURNAL
OBJECTIVE​: ​Students will write thoughtful reflections and commentary in response to what they
read in the graphic novel ​Maus.
​METHOD​: ​Students will write by hand a journal of their reading of the novel, where they will record
their reflections and commentary.
The journal must be a physical journal of some kind (not electronic)*.
#1 Use a piece of white paper to create a context related cover page about MAUS for your journal (use your creativity!!)
#2 You will receive paper from your teacher (hojas de papel ministro) to do your journal activity.
#3 The journal will not be accepted if its not handwritten.
#4 You should not use a translator or any other device. Remember I know how you write.
#5 All of your journals activities if they need supporting details from the novel, you must use page numbers.
#6 Each day you must take a picture of your work and uploaded to HYPERCLASS :)
#6 Follow the requirements below for the activity:
​REQUIREMENTS​:
-
Each entry must contain…
- The date you wrote that entry
- The Chapter the “Topic/Question” corresponds to
- The “Topic/Question” re-written.
- Thoughtful Response at minimum one paragraph of at least 7 sentences (Topic
sentence, details, and closing sentence). You can, of course, write more.
-
You must have the following entries from the chart below (at minimum), however, if
you are inspired or outraged by something you have read, you can also create
additional entries and write/reflect more than what is listed below. Please label those
“Additional” as the “Topic/Question.”
ENTRIES MUST BE KEPT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER!
​GRADING​:
-
-
Many of these questions are opinion questions,
so you will be graded on completeness, effort,
and thoughtfulness.
You will also be graded on neatness. If I cannot
understand what you wrote, it will not count.
Remember to add the page numbers.
JOURNAL TOPICS
Use the “Done?” Column to keep track of your entries. Read the directions for each “Topic/Question” and
remember that you should keep your responses for each “Topic/Question” limited to that section of the novel
that you are reading. This is especially important if it is a “Free Write” day.
BOOK ONE
Done?
Chapters
Topic/Question
Before
Reading
What are your initial thoughts about the Holocaust? What do you already know?
(4 paragraphs for this entry at minimum please; this is the only one w/ that length)
1-3
What do you think about Vladek and Artie’s relationship? Is it healthy? Explain.
4
Free Write - You have the ability to write about anything you read in this chapter.
5
Pick 1 Topic: 1) Relationship among Jewish people ​OR​ 2) Vladek’s Cousins
6
Free Write - You have the ability to write about anything you read in this chapter
Finish 1st
Book
Answer All: 1) What is your opinion of the book; 2) Anything you liked/disliked?
3) Did anything stand out in particular? 4) DId you learn anything new?
AFTER READING
MAUS JOURNAL RUBRIC
Name: _____________________________________ Score: ________________
CATEGORY
Completeness
4 - Excellent
3 - Acceptable
2 - Improvement Needed
1 - Unsatisfactory
The journal is
complete and features
all of the journal
entries indicated on
the directions. Each
entry is the required
length of at least 7
sentences.
The journal is complete
and features all of the
journal entries. ​Some o
​ f
the entries may not be
the required length,
however the responses
aren’t less than a
paragraph O
​ R​ ​the
student has the
required length for
their journal responses,
however is missing one
entry.
The journal either has
all of the journal
entries, however has
responses that are too
short O
​ R​ ​the student is
missing 2-3 entries.
The journal is missing 4
or more entries O
​ R​ ​the
student has all of the
entries however the
responses are only a
sentence or two. It is
not a complete journal.
Includes page numbers to
support their ideas.
Neatness /
Organization
The journal is very
neatly written or
typed, and easily
understood. Each
entry features the
correct heading (date,
chapter, and
“Topic/Question”)
before the response.
The entries are in
chronological order.
The journal is neat
enough and easily
understood. Each entry
features at least the
date and “Topic
Question.” The entries
are basically in
chronological order.
The journal could have
been more neatly
written. It was
sometimes difficult to
understand due to
sloppiness, but overall
the meaning wasn’t
lost. O
​ R​ ​The heading
for each entry isn’t
correct O
​ R​ ​The entries
are not in
chronological order.
The journal was
difficult to understand
or confusing due to
sloppiness, lack of the
heading for each entry,
and/or the order of the
entries. The student
should have put more
care and concern into
their work..
Thoughtfulnes
s
& Reflection
The student’s
responses are
relevant to the
chapter at hand,
thoughtful, and
reflective. The student
also proves their
knowledge of the text
because they
referenced ​or ​quoted
it. Lastly, the student
makes connections to
his or her life.
The student’s responses
are relevant to the
chapter at hand,
thoughtful, and
reflective.
Some of the student’s
responses are
relevant, thoughtful,
and reflective. There
are some that are not.
The student could
have put more detail
in their responses or
thought.
The student’s responses
were not relevant,
thoughtful, and/or
reflective. The answers
may ​appear ​rushed or
done at last minute.