Third Quarter Journal Prompts

Write for the entire allotted time (generally 10 minutes) a minimum of

one page on each topic.

Prompt 1: 10A/H

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

Use direct and indirect characterization

Prompt 1: 12A

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 2: 10H/A

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

Prompt 2: 12A

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 3: 12 A

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: 10H/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 4 for Both 12A and 10H/A

What does the media do to perpetuate stereotypes?

Prompt 5 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 6 for 10A/H

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

Prompt 7: 10H/A

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

Prompt 7/8: 12A and 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 8—Block 5

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

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

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 9/10-10H/10A/12AMy Life as a Movie

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 10/11My Tips for Success—12A

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.

Prompt 11/12Board Game Personality

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."

Prompt 12What Would You Do?

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?

Prompt 13Weave a Story….

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

Prompt 14Creative Exercises

Describe the ocean to a person who is blind.

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

Prompt 15Technology…forward? Or backward?

“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.

Prompt 16Free for a Day…

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

Prompt 17Hypothetical Situation

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…

Prompt 18Who’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

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.

Prompt 19Teary Tale

When was the last time you cried?