Guidelines for Writing Your Journal
Objective: This class is about deep and meaningful learning, not busy work. Your journal is designed to help you get the most possible out of this course by providing a space for you to reflect on and consolidate your personal interpretations of course events.
Content: Your journal is a way for you to record the main ideas you want to remember about course materials and discussions. Because your journal is inherently personal, there are many "right answers" you could have to get full points. In general, we are interested in the main points that you find most meaningful in the course readings and discussions. The prompts below might help you get started:
Before class:
- In your opinion, what were the main points of this reading?
- Compare and contrast this reading with other course materials.
- Would you say that this reading changed your perception of this topic? Why or why not?
- What obstacles do you think this topic might present as a topic of discussion? Do you think the facts are clear? Is it emotionally-charged?
- Is there important information that was left out of this reading? Please explain what and why.
- How do you think other people might interpret this information differently than you? Comment on your personal background and how it influences your perceptions.
After class:
- What was the most important message in the class discussion today? Why?
- What surprised you about the discussion today? Why do you think it seemed surprising?
- Did your understanding of the topic change from before class discussion to after discussion? How so?
- During the class discussion, were there other people who interpreted the reading differently from you? How so, and why do you think you arrived at different conclusions?
- Are there any important aspects of this topic (or from the reading) that were left out of the class discussion? Please explain what and why.
- Reflect on your personal goals and career plans. How might this information be useful to you in the future?
Length and Formatting: Each pre- and each post- journal entry should be approximately five sentences or 150 words long, for a total of ~300 words per full entry. We will not deduct points solely because your journal is above or below the exact word count (e.g. 149 or 151 words!). However, please note that excessively short (<200 words) or excessively long entries (>400 words) are not likely to meet the criteria for thoughtfulness, clarity, and conciseness. We encourage you to be creative with formatting (colors, fonts, pictures, etc.), as long as the journal is clearly-organized.
Due Dates: Your Journal will be due essentially on the last Friday of every month (except for May 1, the last day of class). See the Schedule Page for due dates.
Examples: The table below contains some additional information to help you self-evaluate your performance on the journal.
| EXCELLENT | NEEDS WORK | |
| Thoughtfulness | The journal demonstrates deep reflection on the course material. It integrates scientific and personal perspectives, drawing meaningful connections between course readings, discussions, and personal experiences. It is free from serious grammar or spelling errors, demonstrating that the author has put time and care into journal entries. | The journal demonstrates a surface approach to learning. The author summarizes readings or discussions without really thinking hard about them. It contains serious grammar or spelling errors and gives the impression that the author "didn't really care." |
| Clarity | The journal is logical and precise. The author is careful to specify where their information came from (which reading, discussion, or personal experience). Each entry is a complete, coherent thought. | The journal is vague and uses imprecise terminology. It is not clear what the author is talking about, or from where they got their information. |
| Conciseness | Each word in the journal conveys a meaning. Even if the journal is used as a "brain-dump," it is clear the author has gone back to organize and remove extraneous information. It is clear what the author has found to be the "main point" of that day. | Information is repeated or rambling, without a clear logical progression. It is difficult to determine what the author found to be the "main point" of the material. |
Thoughtful, insightful, clear, and concise highlight(s) of readings (pre-class) and "take-home message(s)" from class activities (post-class): 4.0 pt
Entries that may be relevant but lack in one of the areas listed above: 3.0 pt
Entries that lack in two of the areas listed above (superficial or poorly written entries): 2.00 pt
Entries that lack in all three areas listed above (entry written for the sake of "writing something"): 1.0 pt
No journal submitted by the deadline: 0.0 pt