Reflective Journal Assignment--English 0310

Keeping a journal helps clarify ideas and improve the fluency of writing.  Though different teachers will have their own grading standards, in most cases, they do not revise spelling or grammar errors when evaluating journals.  Instead, a student’s journal entry will be evaluated on dedication and engagement.  

Friday, Jan. 28--Reflection Journals 1a & 1b

  1a.  Why do you believe that you were tested into this class?

   1b.  Discuss the barriers that may interfere with your success in this class.  Barriers may include

 -         financial problems; lack of support at home; difficulty in a specific subject matter such as

         writing, math, or reading; managing your time; or other obstacles that will make going to

         college difficult for you.  How could your instructor or UTEP help?

Friday, Feb. 4--Reflection Journals 2a & 2b

  2a.  How well do you like reading?  Why?

   2b.  How will reading be important in your life once you graduate from college, both in your

         personal and professional life?  Please give specific examples.

Friday, Feb. 11--Reflection Journal 3

  3.  What are the qualities or skills of a successful college student?  Which of these qualities      

       would you like to improve in yourself? 

Friday, Feb. 18--Reflection Journal 4

   4.  What strengths do you have as a reader?  How could you become a stronger reader?

Friday, Feb. 25--Reflection Journal 5

   5.  When you find an assigned text difficult to read, what do you do to understand the

         information presented in the text?

Friday, Mar. 4--Reflection Journal 6

   6.  How are you applying what you have learned in this class to your other classes?  Please

        give specific examples.

Friday, Mar. 11--Reflection Journal 7

    7.  How have your basic reading skills changed since the beginning of the course?  Discuss all

         of the following skills that apply to you:

• taking notes while reading
• remembering what you read
• summarizing a text
• analyzing a text
• responding to a text
• building your vocabulary
• finding main ideas
• recognizing organizational patterns

Friday, Mar. 25--Reflection Journal 8

  8.  What do you think you have done successfully in your classes so far this semester?  What

       reading strategies or study skills could you use to be even more successful during the rest of

Friday, Apr. 1--Reflection Journal 9

   9.  When you find an assigned text difficult to read, what reading strategies do you use

        to help you understand the information presented in the text?

Friday, Apr. 8--Reflection Journal 10

10.    How have you applied what you have learned in this class to your other classes?  Please

         give specific examples. 

Friday, Apr. 15--Reflection Journal 11

11.  How might you apply what you have learned in this class to a job or future profession? 

       Please give specific examples.

Friday, Apr. 22--Reflection Journal 12

12.  How have your basic reading skills changed since the beginning of the course?  Please

       discuss ALL of the following skills:

• taking notes while reading
• remembering what you read
• summarizing a text
• analyzing a text
• responding to a text
• building your vocabulary
• finding main ideas
• recognizing organizational patterns

Friday, April 29--Reflection Journals 13a & 13b

13a.  What are the qualities or skills of a successful college student?  Which of those qualities

          would you like to continue to work on?   

13b.  What strengths do you have as a reader?  What reading skills do you plan to continue

          improving? 

For educational purposes only.