Free Writing Journals:
I created this list of Journal topics some years ago, and it has proved
a good list of topics for free-writing. I have used it with native speakers
in high school as well as with ESL students on varying levels. (For COM,
I suggest the lower levels - I have taught 63 and 73 and used it in both.)
I usually have students write for 12 minutes in class, double-spacing their
work and writing on one side of the page, preferably in ink. They are
supposed to write without regard for “correct” grammar or spelling, and
without referring to a dictionary, to build fluency.
If they don’t complete two pages on their chosen topic, they are supposed
to finish it at home, hopefully soon after class. When they have completed
five writings, they turn in their journals, stapling their entries in order.
I read and comment, and I do grade them, but leniently, because they have
not been asked to polish their work. I usually have a “read-around”, after
I have returned their entries, where students select one of their preferred
entries to read to the entire class as we sit in a circle.
Sometimes I ask students to select an entry to develop into an essay of
four to five paragraphs. This is a good exercise for them.
In the example I attach, a student chose to write all her entries for one
assignment on the same topic of “A Childhood Memory.” As you can see,
she had material which was very significant to her, probably providing
explanation of journal assignments as a catharsis, as writing can do! – Ruth Britton
SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR FREE-WRITING IN JOURNALS
Free-writing gives you an opportunity to develop fluency, because the
idea behind it is to write freely, without stopping to look up words and
without being too concerned about grammatical correctness, spelling
errors, etc. Try to keep writing for the length of time the instructor sets;
as time goes by, you will be able to write on a topic for a longer time.
Sometimes the instructor will give you a number of pages to write, and if
you do not finish in class, you will be asked to finish at home. You may
separate your ideas into paragraphs, but even that isn’t necessary. Try
to give examples to make your writing more specific and more
interesting.
1.
2.
3.
4.
A Childhood Experience
One of the Best Teachers I Have Ever Had
Someone I Admire and Respect
A Problem in America (political, social, economic, environmental,
etc.)
5. A Problem in My Native Country
6. A Plan That Might Help Me Make Money
7. An Experience I Had That Taught Me A Lesson
8. Something I Like About My Home, Family Life, or a Member of
My Family (or Dislike)
9. A Possession I Have That Means A Lot to Me
10. A Pet I Have or Had in the Past
11. A Product I Use Which I Recommend to Others
12. A TV Show I Like and Why I Like It
13. A Movie I Like and Why I Like It
14. A Good Book I Read
15. One of the Best Places I Ever Visited
16. Something I Would Like to Do Some Day
17. Something I Have Been Putting Off
18. A Short-Term Goal of Mine
19. A Long-Term Goal of Mine
20. A Sport or Game I Like
21. My Favorite Clothes to Wear
22. Something That Frightens Me
23. Something That Makes Me Happy (or sad, or angry, or worried)
24. An Unusual Person I Know (or knew in the past)
25. What I Would Do If I Had a Year Off and Enough Money
26. A Good Friend of Mine
27. My Current Job (or A Job I Had in the Past)
28. My Favorite Foods
29. A Holiday Celebration or Tradition I Like
30. A Fault I Have (or A Good Trait I Have)
31. Something I Know How to Do Well
32. A Conflict In My Life
33. Something That Is Important to Me
34. Why I Came to the United States
35. The Best Things About Living in the U.S.
36. The Worst Things About Living in the U.S.
37. The Best (or Worst) Things About my Native Country (or City)
38. Think of a subject that you want to write about that isn’t on this list.