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Journal |
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Journal
The purpose of a journal is to develop the habit of reflecting on life so
that you can live more intentionally. All
too often people flounder through their daily activities without giving adequate
thought to the process of living and living well.
Many seem unsure of their values, goals, and priorities.
Keeping a journal can help you define your values and grown in
self-knowledge and understanding. In this class the journal provides a tool for you to examine
your life and a means of communication between you and your professor.
Think of your journal as: 1.
A way of personal searching. Periodically
you will be given questions to help you learn more about yourself. View the
journal as part of yourself, as a growing experience not a burden. 2.
A consideration of on-going life events. Part
of your journal entries will be in response to your daily life experiences, in
and out of class. Don’t fall into the trap of making your journal read like a
laundry list of activities. Your
journal should focus on experiences of intellectual or emotional significance to you 3.
An intellectual diary of ideas, thoughts, and
reflections. As
you progress through college, you will confront challenging ideas that you may
wish to record in your journal. An
important part of the learning process is reflecting on and wrestling with these
ideas. 4.
An opportunity to focus.
As we journey through life, we are all bombarded with diverse
experiences, value systems other than ours, and conflicting thoughts.
By recording these in a journal, you will have the opportunity to focus
on your own value system and how this system may or may not relate to those with
whom you come in contact 5.
A context of continuity.
To know where we are, we need to know where we have been.
As we get further away from an experience, it begins to fade from our
memory. By recording the events and
our feelings and thoughts about the events, we then have a means of going back
to check on how we are growing. 6.
Private conversation between writer (student) and
reader (faculty).
The journal will allow the two of you to carry on a conversation you
otherwise might not make time for. The
faculty member may question and challenge you to think further.
This will also provide you with the opportunity to communicate more
deeply with the faculty member. 7.
A tool for creating your future. As
Alfred Kazin once wrote in his journal: “I
write in order to become that which I write of.
I write in order to lay claim to what I would like to become.”
(Quoted in the New York Times, May 16, 1996 B5)
Only by reflecting on what is important, defining your goals and values,
and being aware of the impact that your experiences are having on you, can you
live intentionally and with a sense of direction rather than allowing your life
to be shaped by external situations, persons, etc. How it works:
Keep a journal with a minimum of two significant
entries (at least a page each) a week to be shared with your teacher each
Thursday and returned to you on Tuesday. Topics for some of these entries will
be assigned; others will be at your own discretion. You will need a loose leaf notebook for your journal.
Turn in only the entries for that week so that you can keep the rest of
the journal in the notebook. Final assignment - A paper based on the journal The final assignment is designed to encourage you to reflect carefully on your college experience thus far and to think about who you were, how you are growing and evolving, and who you are becoming. Learning is a process of changing one's mind. How has your mind (heart, attitudes, worldview, etc.) changed over the past three months? The
Assignment: Write an
analytic and reflective 1200-1600 word paper about yourself and your experiences this semester using
your journal as the primary source, but also using other class materials as
appropriate. Throughout the semester various types of events and readings
were used to help sharpen your sense of who you are, your sense of direction,
vocation and work, health and wellness, and your sense of personal values, along
with issues of faith and belief. Before you begin:
Begin working on the assignment by compiling an index of topics contained in your journal, using date or page number to locate them. (This will help you analyze and review the issues that have been important.) When you quote from the journal, use quotation marks and give the date or page number. Use additional material when it is appropriate, documenting the source. Specifically referring to and quoting from your journal, describe and evaluate your experience this semester. Examine the course goals and ask yourself:
These questions are designed to
begin the process of reflection. You do not necessarily need to address
all of them. You may think of others that better reflect the growth that
you have experienced since arriving at Maryville College. Conclude the paper with consideration about where you would like to be in
terms of some of these issues a year from now. Grading criteria will include writing accuracy and style, so write as
skillfully as possible. |
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Copyright 2000: Margaret Parks Cowan |
