8th Grade Language Arts
Two Column Journals
Game Plan and Goal: In language arts we will visit the media center to check out books every two weeks, typically on a
Friday. We will also increase our reading stamina, comprehension, and critical thinking through independent reading.
In order to achieve credit for reading, you must write a two column journal for the book and a bibliography citation.
This journal will be due at the end of each week.
You can read fiction, nonfiction, and even graphic novels or manga! If you are unsure of a book you have chosen, please
come see the teacher for approval. Journaling may NOT be done over magazines, books made into movies, or ANY
OTHER BOOK YOU HAVE ALREADY READ!!
***NO LATE PAGES WILL BE ACCEPTED!***
Example of a Two Column Journal Entry:
1.
1.
“Quote.” page number.
3-5 sentences explaining what this quote
makes you think/ feel and how it is meaningful
in your life.
2. Good Example: I really agree with this quote.
I’m a very hopeful person and I see the world
like this. I know there is a lot of bad in the
world, but most people have good intentions.
2. Example: “In spite of everything, I still believe
that people are really good at heart.” The Diary
of Anne Frank, page 843.
Good Example: She is very brave to make the
statement that people are good at heart even
though she witnessed terrible behavior around
her. I think that it is courageous to hope for the
best in people, because you could get let down.
I would like to think that I am willing to take
that risk and think positively about the world
too!
Bad Example: This means that she liked
people and wasn’t mad at them. She thought
they were good.
Each Two Column Journal needs 5 quotes and 5 responses. Each response should be 3-5
sentences long and explain what this quote makes you think/feel and how it is meaningful in your
life. You also need a bibliography citation at the end of the page.
Reports will not be accepted without a bibliography citation or if it is done incorrectly. Most citation information can
be found on the publisher’s page within the first two or three pages, near the title page. The correct way to do a
bibliography citation for a book with one author is:
Correct Format: Author’s name (Last, First.) Title of Book. City of Publication: Publisher, Year of
Publication.
Example: Frank, Anne. The Diary of a Young Girl. New York: Random House, 1993.
Please show that you and your parents understand the assignment and recognize the due
date by signing below. Journals will be turned in on the last day of the school week.
_____________________________
________________________________
Student Signature
Parent Signature
Signature due by _______________________