Third Quarter Journal Prompts

Write for the entire allotted time (generally 10 minutes) a minimum of one page on each topic.

How would you describe your: Mother Father Boss Coach Best friend Gym teacher

Use direct and indirect characterization

Prompt 1: 10A/H

Describe a journey you have experienced A personal journey A travel to a foreign land, another state, etc An emotional journey A physical journey

Prompt 1: 12A

Synectics---making the familiar strange and the strange familiar---respond to one of the questions in #18 of your Writing Portfolio packet

Prompt 2: 10H/A

Write about a friendship that is important to you: One you lost One you’ve had for years One that has withstood the test of ups and

downs One you’ve just acquired

Prompt 2: 12A

Think back to August 29th,2011—your first day as a senior at BRHS. What were your feelings then---the expectations? …and now???

Prompt 3: 12 A

Marriage---who has the “upper hand”?Write about the topic of marriage—who would

be the ideal mate for you? What do you think constitutes a good marriage?

Prompt 3: 10H/A

What does the media do to perpetuate stereotypes?

Prompt 4 for Both 12A and 10H/A

If you could host a dinner party inviting any four from history, who would you invite and where would the party take place?

Prompt 5 for both 12A and 10H/A

Respond to the activity from your writing portfolio packet on color (#8)

Prompt 6 for 10A/H

Generate a poem by mimicking a sample poem from the packet on poetry.

Prompt 7: 10H/A

Writing Prompt--Respond to the following:

If you could eliminate one day from your past so that you would never have to live through it, which day would it be? Explain why in detail.

Prompt 7/8: 12A and 10H/A

Synectics---making the familiar strange and the strange familiar

Prompt 8—Block 5

Two years ago, a 22-year-old UVA student kicked in the door of his former girlfriend and beat her to death in a drunken rage. Yesterday, he received the lighter of two sentences, partially due to a convincing argument from defense that his violence could be directly attributed to his abuse of alcohol and that the jury wanted him to serve some time behind bars so that when he was released, “he would be more mature.”

 

Is alcohol an excuse for violence? Are some people more influenced than others? What do you think of the decision in the Yeardley Love-George Huguely murder case from UVA?

 

Prompt 8/9—12A and 10H/A (Blocks 1/4) Alcohol—its use and abuse

If your life as you see yourself were made into a theatrical production, what type of story would be told? A tragedy? A comedy? Maybe a bit of both? Write the introduction to your story, not as others perceive you, but as you see yourself.

Prompt 9/10-My Life as a Movie

In some schools, senior mentors get paired up with freshmen for the first weeks of school. What wisdom would you pass along to a freshman student? What three or four tips would you provide for success in high school? Write an essay explaining the way to succeed in high school.

My Tips for Success

List all the BOARD GAMES you remember playing in your lifetime. Choose several from your completed list and write about HOW BOARDGAMES CAN DICTATE WHAT TYPE OF PERSON YOU BECOME."

Board Game Personality

You have an extra $100,000 to give away; you cannot spend it on yourself. What would you do with the money?

What's the first step you can take to making a difference in the world today? Would you try to feed the hungry, improve the environment, promote peace? How would you start?

What Would You Do?

Last night I awoke to a bright beam of light coming in my window… (finish the story)

Weave a Story….

Describe the ocean to a person who is blind.

Using all of your 5 senses, describe your favorite food.

Creative Exercises

“Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.”

Assignment: Do you agree that technological progress has made us go backwards? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your viewpoint on the issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experiences, or observations.

Technology…forward? Or backward?

“Technology designed to make our lives simpler often turns out instead to make our lives more complicated.”

http://www.utdallas.edu/~duym/topicsIV.htm Assignment: Write a unified essay in which you perform the following

tasks: explain what you think the above statement means; describe a specific situation in which a new technology might not make our lives more complicated; and discuss what you think determines whether a new technology simplifies or complicates our lives.

If you and your best friend could have a free limo for 24 hours, where would you go and what would you do?

Free for a Day…

Consider some of the parents others you know had growing up. What type of person would you be if you had one of those situations?

Suspend reality for a moment and just suppose…

Hypothetical Situation

“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” -- Sam Walton

Assignment: What is your view of the statement that the customer is really the boss? Do customers have the ability to fire members of the company? In an essay, support your position by discussing an example (or examples) from your work experience with customers or with companies that have provided services to you.

Who’s the Boss?

“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” - Sam Walton

“Treat every customer as if they sign your paycheck…because they do.” –Anonymous

Assignment: What is your view of the idea that the customer is always right? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning, and examples from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Who’s the Boss?

When was the last time you cried?

Teary Tale

“When I find myself fading, I close my eyes and realize my friends are my energy.” --Anonymous

Assignment: What is your view of the idea that friendships are a source of energy? Is that always true? In an essay support your position by discussing an example from reading, studies, or experience

Frienergy…

If absent find the prompt that comes right after the last one you did in class and complete a page for journal credit.

Fourth Quarter Quick Writes

“A leader should never apologize for his or her actions because it shows a sign of weakness.” For a leader not to apologize or to show remorse is easier to do because s/he is denying his or her shortcoming, or choosing to ignore the issue at hand.

Assignment: What is your view of the idea that to apologize shows a sign of weakness? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your experience, reading, studies, and observations.

Never Apologize?

“Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” --Buddha

Assignment: What is your view of the idea that living in the moment is the way to live? Is that always the best way to live? In an essay support your position by discussing an example from reading, studies, or experience.

Living in the Moment

On Saturday morning you have plans to meet your friend down the street. You walk to the house, knock on the door, and a stranger opens. You ask for your friend. “Who?” the stranger replies…

The wind howled through the window. The girl sat huddling her knees waiting for the storm to be over. . .

The kid ran fast. His legs pumped and he pushed himself past the point of pain. He needed to get away. . .

What if….?? And other Story Starters…

• What would happen if animals could talk? What are some of the questions you would like to ask animals?• Alternatively, write a story in which your pet is narrating the action at your home.

If animals could talk…

If you were principal of Broad Run, what would you do?

What Would YOU Do?

Our Age of Anxiety is, in great part, the result of trying to do today’s jobs with yesterday’s tools.

Assignment: Do you agree that we are more anxious because we use old tools for today’s jobs? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your viewpoint on the issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experiences, or observations.

Age of Anxiety

There are many symbols of America and American history. Some include the Declaration of Independence, the Lincoln Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, the Capital Building and the White House. Which national monument or symbol of America do you think best represents America? Why?

Symbol of America

I wish there really was..... If there really was, then.....

If there was a …. I…

What is something you dislike about yourself? What is something you do well?

“If I am not for myself, who is for me?”

- Hillel “The Elder,” Pirque Aboth, c. 30 B.C. - A.D. 9

What I like about me…

What is your favorite room in your home and why?

How many places have you lived? Describe the place you remember the most. Pick one room of the house that you remember the most and describe it.

My Favorite Place

What do you think the world will be like when you are in your thirties?

Thirty-Something

What are you afraid of? Why?

List twenty uses for a toothbrush.

Describe the sights and sounds at 4:00 (when school is out).

Explain what you think life would be like without: plumbing, electricity, cars, windows, air conditioning. On a daily basis, what things would you do differently?

This week’s theme is quotable quotes! We’ve all heard a saying or quote that strikes a chord in us and remains permanently encased in our memories. We’ve chosen a quote for each day of the week for you to ponder and write about. You could write what you think the speaker meant, or you could write about what the quote means to you personally. Free writing is an excellent way to get inside your own head. Give it a try!

Monday“When we ask advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice.”

- Marquis De Lagrange d. 1876, Pensees

Consider carefully the following excerpt and the assignment below it. Then plan and write an essay that explains your ideas as persuasively as possible. Keep in mind that the support you provide – both reasons and examples – will help make your view convincing to the reader.

It is often said that experience is a great teacher, but experience isn’t the only way to learn. Write a brief essay to a person younger than yourself, comparing and contrasting learning by experience to learning by studying a subject.

Learning by Experience

A vacant lot in your neighborhood has become an eyesore, with tall weeds, litter, and insect pests. The city has recently purchased the lot and is calling for proposals for public use of the land. Write an editorial to your local paper, proposing a plan for using the lot. Provide specific details in your proposal and use strong reasons to convince readers that you have the best plan.

Proposal for Ashburn

What is the best place to get pizza in your town? What makes it so good?

Everyone feels rejected biy family or friends at some point. Tell about one such time.

Write about a time you had high hopes for something and got let down.

In 1965, the famous science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clark remarked, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” In 2004, we have many more electronic, electrical, and radio-controlled devices than Clarke knew in 1965. Electronics, electricity, and radio waves act invisibly, so we must wonder if we can tell the difference between technology and magic.

Source: Arthur C. Clarke, The Lost Worlds of 2001. (Dutton) Assignment: What is your view of the idea that advanced

technology is no different from magic? In an essay, support your position by discussing an example (or examples) from literature, the arts, science, technology, current events, or your own experiences or observations.

How would do you think your parents views would change if they lived your life for one day?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

In 20 years, I will be...