More than 350 Journal Topics
Page 1 of 8
Adolescence
1. Stress and its effects on young people today
2. The process of applying to college
3. Solutions to prevent high-school drop outs
4. Should the secondary school curriculum be increased or reduced
5. Should contraceptives be available in high schools
Advertising
6. False advertising
7. Political campaign advertising and its effects
8. Sexism in the media
9. To what extent should the government control advertising
10. Ads for tobacco and alcohol
Minorities
11. Should colleges have admissions quotas
12. How has the Afro-American youth changed in recent years
13. Racism in the courtroom / in prisons
14. The verdict of Scott Peterson / Martha Stewart / Michael Jackson
15. The impact of Latin Americans as the largest minority in the US
Americana
16. The high costs of funerals or / the social pressures of planning a funeral
17. Who benefits from the lottery or does it exploit the poor
18. A nationalized health care system
19. The disappearing middle class in America
Social Problems
20. Censorship in art / in the media
21. Should convicted criminals be eligible for social welfare
22. Mandatory HIV testing or testing for drugs
23. Poverty fosters crime…Yes or no?
24. Hunting (deer, birds) is necessary in some cases
Transportation
25. Should airlines be nationalized
26. The car as a status symbol
27. The minimum age or the ideal age to get a driver’s license
28. The impact of the “chunnel” tunnel connecting English to the European continent
29. The effects of increasing or eliminating speed limits on the highways
Ethics
30. Should the morning-after pill be available in the US?
31. Should HIV+ patients have to identify themselves as positive
32. The denial of health care benefits to illegal immigrants
33. Homosexuality in the military
34. The treatment of Native Americans on reservations
Children
35. The possible effects of videogames or violent toys on children
36. Overseas adoption of children
37. What kids can learn from grandparents and great-grandparents
38. How to train or hire a reliable babysitter
39. The worst nightmare of my childhood / or the best dream I can remember
Community
40. Fire arms should be required to be registered with the police…why or why not
41. The effects of gangs in and beyond urban centers
42. The advantages and disadvantages of legalizing prostitution
43. Write an editorial to your mayor complaining about problems in your town or city
44. What the individual can do to help protect the environment
More than 350 Journal Topics
Page 2 of 8
Consumerism
45. The effects of fast food on your health
46. Cell phones, television, computers…luxuries or necessities
47. Should phone surveys and telemarketing be prohibited
48. Are brand name clothes worth the price (Abercrombie, Ralph Lauren, Nike)
49. Advantages and disadvantages of credit cards
Current events
50. The importance of the ozone layer
51. The shortage of teachers nowadays
52. How to improve security of air travel
st
53. Should Puerto Rica be the 51 state, a commonwealth or independent
54. Modern-day heroes and idols for young people
Customs and Traditions
55. How to plan a surprise party
56. Witchcraft and its practices
57. Smoking in public places
58. Why are tattoos in style and what do they express
59. How the institution of marriage has changed for modern society
The Environment and Pollution
60. The causes and effects of acid rain
61. The causes and effects of noise pollution
62. Recycling should be mandatory…why or why not?
63. The pros and cons of being vegetarian
64. The importance of the Amazon rain forest
Family
65. What every father/mother should know about raising children
66. The impact of divorce
67. Same sex marriages
68. The concept of family in the US vs. Latin America, Europe, Asia
69. The ideal age to get married / to have children
Fashion
70. Is buying /wearing a fur coat unethical
71. School uniforms should / should not be required
72. Describe the fashion styles of the 70s / 80s / 90s
73. The impact of sweatshops on the clothing industry
74. European influence on fashion in the US
Food
75. How your diet is influenced by religious beliefs
76. How to prepare your favorite dish
77. Myths and misunderstandings about certain food items
78. How mechanization has changed the quality of food (vs. organic)
79. Eating disorders and how to prevent them or cope with them
The future
80. Should the US continue space (and other planets) exploration
81. UFOs: Reality or fantasy
82. The benefits of solar energy
83. The car / house / school / workplace of the future
84. The impact of overpopulation
More than 350 Journal Topics
Page 3 of 8
Government
85. The role of First Lady of the US
86. Why American can’t recite the pledge of allegiance / cite any of the declaration of independence / the constitution / find
basic places on a map
87. States need and deserve more autonomy
88. Pros and cons of social welfare programs
89. The national deficit
Health
90. The benefits and risks of organ transplants
91. Hunger in the Third World
92. Unnecessary operations by surgeons / corruption in the health care industry
93. The effects of caffeine on your diet
94. Bodybuilding: Only for the ego or for health reasons
Philosophy
95. Does the American Dream still exist? What does it consist of?
96. How does one define love / honor / truth
97. Lying is OK sometimes
98. Is terrorism revolutionary?
99. Today’s attitudes about what is good and bad / right and wrong
100. “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” Discuss.
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Euthanasia / Death with dignity
Experiments on animals (for medicine, cosmetics, etc)
Abortion
Death penalty
Affirmative action
Donating organs for transplant or in exchange for money
Foreign aid
Sex education in schools
Violence in the cinema and on TV
Prayer in schools
A flat tax (fixed income tax)
Tobacco advertising and its effects
Free drugs and syringes for addicts
Animal rights
Immigration laws
Gun control
The military’s policy of “Don’t ask, don’t tell”
Censorship
Global warming
Televised court decisions
Year-round schools
Drug testing for athletes, coaches, teachers
Eliminating the grading system in high schools
Eliminating the SAT or the ACT for college admission
Santa Claus destroys the meaning of Christmas
Avoiding “Merry Christmas” and using “Happy Holidays” / Christmas trees vs. ornamental trees
Minimum age to drink
English as the official language in the US
Locker searches in schools
Women on the battlefield (role in the military)
Effects of rap and hip-hop lyrics on teen language / behavior
Can money buy happiness / what money can’t buy
If you could create a national holiday for someone (past or present), whom would you choose and why?
The commercialization of the sports industry
More than 350 Journal Topics
Page 4 of 8
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"A good name is more desirable than great riches
"A wise person learns from the mistakes of others" Do you agree?
"How I think will determine how I live" Do you agree or disagree? Explain
"If I'm not as close to God as I used to be, who moved?"
"There is a time to plant and a time to uproot
A Special Gift in My Life
A Time I Was in Trouble
A typical day in the school cafeteria
Answer this question," Have I in any way done something that has hurt my parents?"
Are horses obsolete?
Are you planning to go on any missions trips with your church youth group?
automobiles you like
Babies
Bugs
Cars
Catching those "few extra winks" in the mornings
cats
Choose a fairy tale
Colors
Could a lapidary play leapfrog in a lyceum?
Could you keep ice cream in a calabash?
Could your dad have been a pirate? What characteristics does he have that would fit one?
Cowboys
Create a menu from a fictitious restaurant and describe the entrees
Dating on a dime
Describe a friend who is NOT in the room
Describe a headache to someone who has never had one
Describe a summer thunderstorm
Describe a typical day for you in the summer
Describe dinner time at your house
Describe Sundays at your house
Describe the action between a predator and its prey at the moment of attack
Describe the actions of a person who has just hit his or her thumb with a hammer
Describe the actions of an athlete in the final moments of a close contest when he or she makes a winning (or losing) shot, play,
move, or effort
Describe the BEST ice cream and tell why you feel that way
Describe the feeling of being chased in a dream
Describe the motions of a ballet dancer
Describe the plight of an animal caught in a forest fire
Do you accept yourself as you are, or would you like to be someone else?
Do you ever "eat on the run"? Explain
Do you ever have trouble doing your history homework? Tell about it
dogs
Dreams
Everyone feels rejected biy family or friends at some point
Everything I remember about this morning
Explain how to make your favorite sandwich
Explain this idiom: "After the accident, things were touch and go
Eyes
Favorite memories
First Grade Memories
food you strongly dislike to eat
foods you like to eat
Friendship
Games I like to play
Give advice to a new student who will start school at Lexington next year
Good things about me
Has a parent ever told you that you waste your time? How could you manage time better?
He (or she) is as quiet as a mouse
He (or she) was as stubborn as a mule
Hospitals
How a classroom sounds
More than 350 Journal Topics
Page 5 of 8
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how a flower smells
how a puppy feels
how a sunset looks
how an ice cube tastes
How are the professional sports teams doing in this city?
How can you make friends?
How can your town or church honor senior citizens?
How could a vector be harmful to a rector?
How do "clothes make the man" or "clothes make the woman" ?
How do scientists and police now work together?
How do you keep your teachers happy?
How do you like frozen food? Tell about some you have tried
How do you think a person finds out God's plan for his/her life?
How do you think this idiom got started: "Will you lend me a hand?"
How I would like to have changed this school year
How is a skiff like a lugger?
How It Feels to Win/Lose
How many ways can you serve a potato?
How might an astronaut feel who discovers that he/she will have to return to earth early because of a rocket malfunction?
How should we raise money to support a middle school newspaper?
How to do a somersault
How to do a somersault
How to dribble a basketball
How to drink with a straw
How to eat an apple
How to eat an apple
How to jump rope
How to make a paper airplane
How to pack efficiently for a trip
How to snap your fingers
How to tie a shoe
How to whistle
How to whistle
How would you feel as a passenger in a space ship on the way to the Moon?
How would you help him/her find it? What would you do? Would you be able to find it? It might be a ring, a pet, a key-something that must be found
I am the one who
I believe
I can
I Did Something Really Nice
I remember the stiffness in my jaw from my last dentist's appointment when he
I wish I was there when
I wish (the name of a person in your life) would understand that….
If I could be doing anything right now, I'd be
If I was a crayon
If I was President of the United States
If you won the Texas lottery, what would you do?
I'll never forget the day ______(teacher's name) did __________
I'm thankful for
Imagine that a close friend has lost something very valuable
In 20 Years I'd Like to Be
In the left corner, behind the filing cabinet
Inside the box with the big red bow is
Inside the cave
It isn't fair
It makes me blush when
It was as clear as a bell
It was so funny when
It would be funny if
kindness
List things that give protection, such as a turtle's shell, seat belt, etc
More than 350 Journal Topics
Page 6 of 8
123. Make a list of all the words that are related to or describe heat Write a story about North Hollywood in the summer using these
words
124. mirrors
125. Money
126. Mother Goose
127. My Biggest Gripe
128. My Dad
129. My dream house
130. My family
131. My full name and how it was decided on
132. My Grandma
133. My Grandpa
134. My hero
135. My Life as a Pencil
136. My Mom
137. My most embarrassing moment
138. My Relationship with God
139. My responsibilities
140. My shoe
141. My talents
142. Mysteries
143. Name as many uses for ice cubes as you can
144. No one would believe me when
145. Observe at least 5 things you see happen on your way home from school Write about them
146. people you don't know, but would like to know
147. Pick out any appliance in your home and write about how it works
148. Pizza
149. Places you dislike
150. places you have never been to, but want to go to
151. Places you like
152. Rainbows
153. restaurants you like and dislike
154. Review the last movie you saw
155. Secrets
156. Secrets
157. Should grocery stores continue to throw away good food each day?
158. smells you like and dislike
159. Snow
160. Some of the richest times in your life can come from your quiet thinking and/or
praying alone time Discuss these
times in your life
161. Something people usually don't notice about me is
162. sounds you like and dislike
163. sports events you don't enjoy
164. sports events you enjoy
165. Summer Memories
166. Sunshine makes me feel
167. Television
168. Tell about a time when someone has been kind to you
169. Tell about the moment when a person realizes that he or she has forgotten to do a major assignment that is due today
170. Tell about your favorite childhood book and explain what you like about it
171. Tell abut a ride on the most exciting amusement park ride you have ever ridden
172. Tell how you could have avoided some accident, bump, or bruise
173. The art of babysitting
174. the baby was sad because
175. The best book I ever read
176. The book someone should write is
177. The cartoon I like the most on Saturday mornings
178. The Conversation between Mr Triangle and Ms Circle
179. The day I went to the circus
180. The day of the Lord is close at hand
181. The dispute over comic books
182. The door was locked and I couldn't find the key
More than 350 Journal Topics
Page 7 of 8
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The faces in the subway (train, plane, bus) are stamped by the heel of life
The first thing I remember
The Holiday I Wish We Had
The knight lifted his sword amidst the dragon's flaming breath
The Midnight Visitor
The most amazing thing I've ever seen is
The Perfect Pet
The Saddest Day of My Life
The struggle to eat neatly while in the car or on a plane
The valentine I'd like to send/receive
Things to Do When You Are Bored
things you have never done, but would like to do (conduct an orchestra, etc
things you have never owned, but like
things you would never own and never want
TV shows you dislike
TV shows you like
Violence
Well, Doctor, it's like this
What an alphabet journal entry 26 sentences long with each sentence starting with the alphabet letter as it appears in sequence
What are all the things you can think of that come in pairs?
What are some uses for peach pits?
What are the "in" places in town?
What are your plans for the summer?
What can you do to recycle old calendars?
What chores at home do your parents expect you to do?
What classes should you take in high school?
What confuses me about math
What Courage Means to Me
What do fuchsia and mignonette have in common?
What Do You Mean the Next Stop Is Hell?
What do you mean when you say “Whatever!”
What does this mean: "I was furious but I held my tongue
What farm machines have you ever seen? Describe them
What games can you play with 3 people?
What I Like About Being a Kid
What I Would Change About My School
What I Would Change About My World
What I would like to receive at Christmas
What I'd like to give people for Christmas
What if our school classess only went until noon each day?
What if school was in session 6 days a week?
What if teachers were paid as much as professional baseball players?
What is a rainbow?
What is an experience you would hate to repeat?
What is the best place to get pizza in your town? What makes it so good?
What is the ideal age to be? Why?
What is the same about a coracle and a raft?
What is your favorite Disney character or movie and why is it your favorite?
What Makes a Person Nice
What might a cloud and the wind talk about?
What might a cup and saucer talk about?
What might a curb and a car tire talk about?
What might a shoe and a sock talk about?
What might thunder and lightning talk about?
What My Best Friend and I Have in Common
What my mom must have been like as a baby
What part of the newspaper do you read first, and why?
What would you do with a bairn?
What would you do with a dirigible?
What would you do with a polyglot?
When and how did Israel become a country?
When I get to high school, I will
More than 350 Journal Topics
Page 8 of 8
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Where Would I Go in a Time Machine
Who Filled the Pool with strawberry Jello?
Why are leaves green?
Why do some Christians seem ashamed to share the gospel with others?
Why do you think some people don't exercise their right to vote?
Why I use my particular brand of toothpaste every morning
Write a note to a teacher
Write about a time when you were "sweating it", a time when you were very nervous
Write about an "ideal day"
Write about an Old West shoot-out in the streets of a western town
Write about some compliments people have given you
Write about some compliments you have given others RECENTLY !
Write about the taste of peanut butter, how it smells, and how it looks
Write the directions to a favorite place (home, restaurant, ice cream shop, etc) from the school parking lot
Yesterday I
You are a small animal at a historical event Tell what is happening
You are doing morning announcements
Your mom desires your respect and attention Are there places you can take her for an evening to show her your appreciation?
Write a letter to the best school teacher you have ever had in your life, without mentioning his or her name.
Write a letter to the worst school teacher you have ever had in your life. You may not use profanity or insults, but you may
explain to that person why you hated his or her class, and how he or she has made you feel. Tell that teacher what he or she
should do in order to improve.