Journal Starters Mr. Cleon M. McLean Ontario High School Sophomore English

Language Strategies for journal responses n Expressing your thoughts: – –I think that… – –I learned that… – –I discovered that… – –I observed… – –I was surprised that… – –I am beginning to wonder… – –I now realize that… – –It seems to me that… – –In my opinion,… n Individual Reporting: –I discovered from____ that… –I found out from ____ that… –___ pointed out to me that… –___ shared with me that… n Disagreeing: –I don’t agree with ___, because… –I see things differently from… n Affirming (agreeing): –I agree with ____, because –I hadn’t thought of ___ until…

Journal Starters 1. 1.If you had enough power, how would you change the world to make it better? 2.If you could have been someone in history, who would you have been? Why? 3.If you could take only three people with you on a trip around the world, who would you take? Why? 4.When you are angry, how do you look? (describe) 5.When you choose a friend, what qualities do you look for in that person? Why?

Journal Starters 7. Once, when you were frightened, what happened 7. Once, when you were frightened, what happened? 8.If you could describe the best teacher you ever had, what would you say? 9.If you received $5,000, as a gift, how would you spend it? 10.When you feel very safe, how do you feel? (describe) 11.If you could describe a happy family, what would you say?

Journal Starters If you had enough power, how would you change the world to make it better? 13.If you could describe the “ideal” life, what would you say? 14.If you could express your deepest feelings, what would you say? 15.How would you define love? (describe) 16.How would you define peace? Explain.

Journal Starters 17.Describe your feelings when you were once hurt 17.Describe your feelings when you were once hurt? 18.If you could do whatever you wanted to do right now, what would you do? Why? 19.What three words would you use to describe how you feel right now? Why those three words? 20.Which of all your material possessions give you the most pleasure? Why? 21.What do you think about when you can’t fall asleep? Why?

Journal Starters 22.What is your favorite song? Why? 23. What is the best possible birthday present you could receive? Why? 24.What is something that makes you feel sad? Why? 25.If you could hang a motto or saying in every home in the world, what would it be? Why that saying? 26. What is your favorite book? Why?

Journal Starters 27. What talent(s) do you have? Describe it/them 28.What do you plan to do when you graduate from Ontario High School? Why? 29.What is your idea of “heaven on earth”? Explain. 30.If you could give any gift in the world, what would give and to whom? 31.What is something that really “bugs” you? Why?

Journal Starters 32.When are you happiest? 33.What television or movie star would you like to invite to your birthday party? Why? 34.What is something that really makes you angry? Why? 35.If you could become invisible, where would you like to go? 36.What is the best advice you have ever received? Why?

Journal Starters 37.When have you ever felt lonely? Describe 38.What five things are most important in your life? Why? 39.What do you think courage means? Describe 40.What advice would you give to a new student at OHS? 41. Who do you talk to when you have a problem? Why that person?

Journal Starters 42.What was one of the happiest days of your life? Describe why that day was the happiest. 43.If you were the student body president at Ontario High School, what would you have done first? Why? 44.What is the most sentimental possession you have? Why? 45.What is beauty? (describe) 46.When do you feel proud of yourself? Why then?

Journal Starters 47.What things can you say about your best friend? 48.What things do you dislike about yourself? Why? 49.What things do you life most about yourself? Why? 50.What talent do you wish you had? Why? 51.What do you like to do in your spare time? Why?

Journal Starters 52.When did someone let you down? Describe. 53.Of what are you most afraid? Why? 54.When you act like a child, what do you do? Why? 55.What things would you tell your imaginary son or daughter about being a teenager? 56.When was the last time you cried? Why?

Journal Starters 57.If you were a mouse in your house in the evening, what would you see your family doing? Describe. 58.What things make your life complicated? 59.What does freedom mean to you? Why? 60.What do you think the world would be like in 25 years? 61.Who do you think is a “good sport”? Why?

Journal Starters 62.If you had to move and could take only three things with you, what would take? Why those three things? 63.What makes you laugh? Why? 64.What kind of animal would you like to be? Why? 65.What kind of trophy would you like to win? Why? 66.What kind of store would you like to own? Why?

Journal Starters 67.Describe your feelings about earthquakes? 68.If you were a doctor, what ailment would you like to cure? 69.What is the best thing about today? Why? 70.What do poor people need most? 71.What color do you think of most when you think of happiness? Why?

Journal Starters 72.Describe something that you can do pretty well? 73.What does America mean to you? Why? 74.How do you feel when someone laughs at you? Why? 75.What is something that really disgusts you? Why? 76.What makes you feel frustrated?

Journal Starters 77.What is your best friend like? Describe. 78.What has been your best experience in school? Why? 79.What are three things for which you are thankful? Why? 80.What kind of people are the luckiest people in the world? Why those? 81.What would you like to invent to make life better?

Journal Starters 82.Describe your feelings about ghosts. 83.If you had to choose, which two famous people would you like to have as parents? Why? 84.If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? 85.What are your feelings about war? Explain. 86.What would you do if you wanted to be friends with someone who could not speak English?

Journal Starters 87.What things make a family? Describe. 88.What do you think the world needs now? Why? 89.What makes a good neighbor? Why? 90.In your home, what is your favorite room? Why? 91.What words would you use to describe yourself to someone who does not know you? Why?

Journal Starters 92.Describe your favorite food. 93.What would you do if you found $1,000 in a vacant lot? Why? 94.What are your feelings about policemen? Why? 95.What would you do if you had a magic wand? Why? 96.What things do you think are beautiful? Why?

Journal Starters 97.What kind of television commercial would you like to make? Describe it. 98.What are the best things parents can do to/for their children? 99.What would you like to do to become famous? Why? 100.What do you think your friends say about you when you’re not around? 101. If you were lost in the woods, during the night, what would you do?