Journal Requirements and Format:

Your journal is structured as an independent activity this semester.  I will post the journal assignments, but it is your responsibility to initiate the reading and to write the reflections.  Although I will be happy to look at one or more of your journal drafts to reassure you that you are doing the project correctly, I will not read most of the journal submissions until the due dates.

The journal will be due twice during the semester:  once before midterm and again before finals.  Presentation will be in a paper folder with center brads.  All journals should follow the format directives below:

    A title page (in 12-point font, no bold or underlining) with your name, class time, and Clayton State University

    A header in the upper right corner of each page with your last name and the page number

    Continuous pagination (your first journal entry begins on page 1; your second journal entry begins on page 3 or 4, etc.)

    Each journal entry should have the essay title and essay author as its title (no bold font or underlining)

    12-point font throughout, including titles

    Double-spacing with no additional spacing between titles and text

    Standard 1-inch margins

    Clear, readable font, no script

    Each reflection should be a minimum of 2 pages, a maximum of 3

Your task will be to select an essay from the assigned genre/chapter in your Axelrod text (one which I have not assigned for class discussion).  Read the essay at least twice.  Then select a meaningful phrase or sentence (no more than 2 sentences) for reflection.  Type the phrase or sentence under the essay title and author.  Be sure to use quotes and note the page number(s) in parentheses following the quotation. (Remember that MLA only uses the page number, not the word "page.") Then reflect on your selection from three perspectives:

            First, consider the significance of your choice within the essay itself.  How does this insight/idea/concept impact or direct

                    the essay?   Why did you make this selection?     

            Next, consider your choice from a personal perspective (perhaps compare to a personal experience or something else

                    you have read)

            Then consider your selection from a more universal perspective.  Does this insight/idea/concept have broader implications

                    outside of the essay and outside of your sphere of influence?

Finally, before you hand in your journal at midterm and again at the end of term, please submit the document as a single upload to turnitin.com.  (This is accomplished by joining your 4 reflections into 1 document--one entry following another.)  You will do this twice during the semester.  Do not resend the first set when you submit the final set of 4.