English 10 Honors
Independent Reading Project
Ms. Morrison
READING JOURNAL ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Journal entries can be handwritten (MLA heading, last name and page number in the upper right
hand corner of every page).
2. Journal entries can be typed (MLA heading, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, 1
inch margins, last name and page number in the upper right hand corner of every page).
3. Journal entries must contain a minimum of 250 words.
4. Journal entries must be written in multiple paragraphs.
5. You must have five quotations for each book.
6. You must have four journal entries for each book.
7. Your journal will be worth one test grade for the term.
8. Your journal must contain memory joggers for each chapter.
How To Set Up Your Journal
Step 1: MLA Heading: your name, instructor’s name, English 10 Honors; Period 3, date due
Step 2: Center the title of the book (underlined!) and author’s name on the page.
Step 3: Create QUOTATIONS pages. You will have five required quotations. Your QUOTATIONS
pages should look like this:
QUOTATIONS
1. Quotation: (Copy quotation from text)
Page number(s):
Why I love this quotation: (at least one paragraph using specific details)
Step 4: Create MEMORY JOGGERS and JOURNAL ENTRIES pages.
1. Before your begin writing memory joggers, record MEMORY JOGGERS on the page.
2. Skip a line.
3. Record the chapter number in the left hand margin (i.e. Chapter 1). Then list at least five
significant events/memorable items from the chapter. Remember to list- do not write these in
1
a paragraph. Do this for each chapter (some exceptions apply, i.e. if the chapters are very
short).
4. When it is time to pause to write a journal entry, start a clean page and write JOURNAL
ENTRY at the top. Your JOURNAL ENTRY page should look like this:
JOURNAL ENTRY # ___
Pages ______ to ________ OR
Chapters ___ to ___
7. When you are done with your journal entry, you should skip a line and then resume your Memory
Joggers.
Here are some things you can write about:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
You can make connections between the text and things you have read, seen, or experienced.
You can make predictions about what will happen next.
You can record opinions, responses, and reactions.
You can fill in the blanks; you can guess or theorize about information that is missing.
You can record observations about:
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Character development
Narrative voice/Speaker
Structure/Organization
Style
Mood
Tone
Genre
Setting
Theme
Plot/Topic/Subject
Author’s purpose in writing
Diction
Imagery
Figurative language
6. Most importantly, show me you are thinking deeply and critically about what you are reading.
7. Always use supporting details from your reading as evidence to support your thoughts,
ideas, and opinions.
8. Use your Markups handout for paragraph starter ideas.
Grading
Quotations and Response
Journal Entry 1
Journal Entry 2
Journal Entry 3
Journal Entry 4
4 points each
10 points x 2
10 points x 2
10 points x 2
10 points x 2
20 points total
20 points total
20 points total
20 points total
20 points total
___________
100 points
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JOURNAL ENTRY RUBRIC
CRITERIA
SCORE
9-10
CONTENT
CONVENTIONS
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Entry contains predictions, comparisons,
contrasts, reactions, questions, opinions,
response, etc.
Evidence from the text is used to support
the above.
Critical thinking is evident (Student asks
him/herself Why? and addresses the
“because” portions of the writing prompts
above)
Student has written above and beyond the
required minimum of 250 words.
Entry contains some predictions,
comparisons, contrasts, reactions,
questions, opinions, response, etc.
Evidence from the text is used sometimes
to support the above.
Critical thinking is sometimes evident
(Student asks him/herself Why? and
addresses the “because” portions of the
writing prompts above)
Student has written the required minimum
of 250 words.
Entry contains few predictions,
comparisons, contrasts, reactions,
questions, opinions, response, etc.
Student summarizes rather than uses
information from the text as evidence for
the above.
Critical thinking is not evident
Student has written less than the required
minimum of 250 words.
Entry contains no predictions,
comparisons, contrasts, reactions,
questions, opinions, response, etc.
Entry consists mostly of summary.
Critical thinking is not evident
Student has written less than the required
minimum of 250 words.
Entry contains no predictions,
comparisons, contrasts, reactions,
questions, opinions, response, etc.
Entry consists mostly of summary.
Entry consists of summary.
Critical thinking is not evident
Student has written less than the required
minimum of 250 words.
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No journal entry
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7-8
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5-6
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3-4
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1-2
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0
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Journal entry is complete and legible (if
handwritten)
There are little to no errors in grammar,
spelling, syntax, etc.
Entry is organized in multiple paragraphs.
Journal entry is complete and legible (if
handwritten)
There are some errors in grammar,
spelling, syntax, etc.
Entry is organized in multiple paragraphs.
Journal entry is incomplete, but legible (if
handwritten)
There are some errors in grammar,
spelling, syntax, etc.
Entry is somewhat organized in multiple
paragraphs.
Journal entry is incomplete, but legible (if
handwritten)
There are frequent errors in grammar,
spelling, syntax, etc.
Entry is not organized in paragraphs.
Journal entry is incomplete, but legible (if
handwritten)
There are frequent errors in grammar,
spelling, syntax, etc.
Entry is difficult to understand due to
frequent errors in grammar, spelling,
syntax, etc.
Entry is not organized in paragraphs.
Journal entry is incomprehensible because
of errors in grammar, spelling, syntax, etc.
Journal entry is illegible.
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