Journal 1 Are you excited for school to

Journal 1 Are you excited for school to start? Do you like English? Why/Why not? What did you do this summer? What is the American Dream? Does it still exist? Why/why not?

Journal 2 Free Write!

Journal 3 Many parents give children a weekly or monthly allowance regardless of their behavior because they believe an allowance teaches children to be financially responsible. Other parents only give children an allowance as a reward for completing chores or when they have behaved properly. Explain what you think parents should do and why.

Journal 4 Have you ever read a text that was so difficult you felt as if it was a foreign language? When you’re reading do you ever feel as if you are carrying on a conversation with the text in your head? Explain. What do you know about annotations? Have you ever used them? Do you think they are beneficial? Why do you believe annotating is considered a mature study practice?

Journal 5 What do you know about the 20’s? From what you know about the 20’s what do you think it would have been like to live during the time? Write a journal entry as a person from the 20’s.

Journal 6 You have achieved your dream award / position. Perhaps this is an Oscar or Grammy, a Pulitzer Prize, a political office, a multimillion dollar sports contract, etc. Write your acceptance speech for the occasion. Be sure to thank those who helped you and to tell your audience what it means to accept the award / position.

Journal 7 Write about a dream that you have already accomplished. Describe the challenges you faced in realizing this dream and how you felt when you accomplished it.

Journal 8 In chapter 1 of the Great Gatsby, Daisy discusses her hopes for her daughter. She remarks: “I hope she’ll be a fool-that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. ” What does Daisy’s remark about her infant daughter tell you about Daisy’s own character? What does it tell you about society in 1922, the year the novel takes place?

Journal 9 In real life, F. Scott Fitzgerald had to work hard, amass a fortune, and throw himself into a glamorous social world in order to win the hand of his socialite wife, Zelda. This experience, as well as his difficult marriage with Zelda (who eventually suffered a nervous breakdown) probably complicated his attitude toward women. Discuss the attitude toward women in The Great Gatsby. As you try to establish your argument about women in the novel, closely examine the behavior of the female characters and think about how the narrator, Nick Caraway, describes them. You might also consider the behavior and attitudes of the various male characters toward the female characters. How do the men treat the women?

Journal 10 In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald places a great emphasis on the use of symbols, or the significance we place on the objects and people in our lives. For example, to Gatsby, the green light at the end of the Buchanan’s dock, and even Daisy herself, stand for his dream of recreating his happy times with Daisy in Louisville five years ago. To another man, this green light and this woman might be meaningless. Which objects or individuals hold particular significance for you?

Journal 11 In chapter 4, Gatsby asks Nick, “Look here, old sport…what’s your opinion of me anyhow” (Fitzgerald 69)? Comparing what we learn about Gatsby in Chapter 4 and Chapter 6 what is your opinion of Gatsby? How has your opinion of Gatsby changed over the course of the novel?

Journal 12 In The Great Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s marriage is ruled by a double standard. Tom feels that he is free to engage in extramarital affairs, but he is outraged at the thought that his wife might get involved with someone else. Double standards are fairly common in families, in relationships, and even in social institutions. Frequently, what seems to be good for one person is not allowed for another. Make a list of double standards you have experienced or observed. Are they connected in any way? Does there seem to be a logical reason behind any of them, or are they all the result of irrational prejudice?

Journal 13 Jay Gatsby totally reinvents himself. Imagine that as you go off to college, you decide to change your name and to alter large portions of your personal history. Who do you become? *Keep at least one true detail from your past.

Journal 14 Why might pursuing a dream or goal be more satisfying than actually achieving it? Like Gatsby, have you ever become blindly obsessed with a goal (money, soul mate, vehicle, group membership, G. P. A. , etc. )? Were the results destructive for anyone? Explain with examples.

Journal 15 At the end of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream has shifted from its original idea of “the pursuit of happiness” to a materialistic pursuit of wealth. Do you agree? Is the American Dream now just a matter of money? A combination of money and happiness? Or does the dream depend on the person? What did you think of the ending of the novel? Explain. Would you suggest the book to someone else? Why/why not?

Journal 16 Free Write!

Journal 17 People often say “Don’t judge a book by its cover. ” Describe a time when you misjudged someone based on his or her appearance or when someone misjudged you.

Journal 18 PSAT

Journal 19 What would you be willing to do for a friend? How far would you go? Explain.

Journal 20 In your own opinion, what should happen to someone who commits a crime who isn’t mentally capable of understanding what they did was wrong? Should they be punished just like anyone else? Should they go completely free? Who should decide who is and isn’t capable of making decisions based upon their mental state? Explain.

Journal 21 What do you know about the great depression? What do you know about migrant workers? How were minorities treated during this era? What do you think life was like for the majority of these workers? Explain.

Journal 22 Free Write!

Journal 23 To a Mouse

Journal 24 Do you think George is kind or mean to Lennie? Explain. Do you think that someone could get away with talking to a person like Lennie the way that George does? Why do you think that George puts up with Lennie when he doesn’t necessarily have any reason to stick with him?

Journal 25 What aspects in the story Of Mice and Men can you parallel to your own life? Do you think any of the characters are relatable? Explain? Do you think that you could handle the situation that George is in any better? Have you ever had your patience tested to the point where you finally broke down and did something that you are ashamed of? Explain.

Journal 26 Why do some people struggle with knowing where they belong? Can you identify with this struggle? Why or why not? Explain why it is important to have a sense of belonging at your age.

Journal 27 Can murder ever be justified? What’s the difference between murder and mercy-killing? Who decides? Do the best-laid plans often go awry? Did you like the ending of the novel? Explain. Why do you think Steinbeck chose to end the story the way he did? What other endings would have been possible, given the circumstances of the story?

Journal 28 Free Write!

Journal 29 Think of the old cliché: “Home is Where the Heart is”. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Use specific examples from Of Mice and Men and from real life to explain your answer.

Journal 30 What are your plans for Thanksgiving break? Does your family do the same thing every year? If you could do anything (money isn’t an issue) what would you do? Explain.

Journal 31 Do you think there have been any types of mass hysteria that have broken out recently? Do you think it is possible/likely for it to break out again? Explain. What would you do if people you loved were being accused of something that would result in them being jailed if you knew it wasn’t true? Do you think you could do anything that would actually help? Explain.

Journal 32 Write about a time when… 1. You thought you might be in trouble, and you lied to avoid it. 2. You were among a group of people who had trouble getting along. . . what were the underlying problems or motivations among them? 3. Your emotions prevented you from making a good choice.

Journal 33 What is something that you are afraid of? Why are you afraid of that? When did you start being afraid of that? Have you ever tried to face your fears? What happened?

Journal 34 Write about a time when… 1. You found yourself "in over your head" because of a bad choice you made. 2. You made a bad choice that you wish you could go back and change 3. You made a good choice that played a role in who you are today.

Journal 35 Write about a time when… 1. You (or someone you observed) was on a "power trip. " 2. You were frustrated by the blatant lies someone was telling that everyone believed.

Journal 36 Write about a time when… 1. You pretended to be something or someone you are not. 2. You became totally disillusioned with someone or something that you believed in. 3. Free Write!

Journal 37 What did you think of the play? If you could rewrite the ending of the play how would it end? Or… Rewrite a scene of the play as if it were in modern times. How would the play change?

Journal 38 How was your break? What did you do? Are you excited to be back at school? How do your grades look? There is only 2 weeks left in the semester! LATE WORK CUT OFF DATE IS THIS FRIDAY 01/08!!!

Journal 39 All-girl schools have been gaining popularity in recent years because of the belief that girls learn better when they aren’t competing with or intimidated by boys, who statistically get more attention in the classroom. Do you think single-sex schools are a good idea? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position. LATE WORK CUT OFF DATE IS THIS FRIDAY 01/08!!!

Journal 40 Webster defines Carpe Diem as “enjoyment of the pleasures of the moment without concern for the future”. What does it mean to you? What do you think this meant to the Transcendentalist writers such as Emerson and Thoreau? If you could come up with a modern day slogan to live by what would it be? Explain. NO MORE (MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED) LATE WORK! (IT WAS FRIDAY 01/08)

Journal 41 Respond to the following quote: "We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. " What does this mean to you? Do you think there is any truth behind it? Explain. NO MORE (MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED) LATE WORK! (IT WAS FRIDAY 01/08)

Journal 42 What is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the word romantic? Explain. If you could describe romanticism in modern times how would you describe it? Do you think that romanticism is still around today? What makes something scary? Explain. What was your favorite story when you were younger and why? (This story can be a family tale, urban legend, town history, or favorite book growing up. ) NO MORE (MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED) LATE WORK! (IT WAS FRIDAY 01/08)

Journal 43 Free Write! NO MORE (MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED) LATE WORK! (IT WAS FRIDAY 01/08)