Academic Journal1


Suggestions for using Academic Journals

    What is a Journal? A journal is a place to practice writing and thinking. It differs from a diary in that it should not be merely a personal recording of the day's events. It differs from your class notebook in that it should not be merely an objective recording of academic data. Think of your journal rather as a personal record of your educational experience, including this class, other classes, and your current extracurricular life.

    What to write. Use your journal to record personal reactions to class, topics, students, teachers. Record wildlife (or pet) field observations. Make notes to yourself about ideas, theories, concepts, problems. Record your thoughts, feelings, moods, experiences. Use your journal to argue with the ideas and readings in the course and to argue with me, express confusion, and explore possible approaches to problems in the course.

    When to write. Try to write in your journal at least three or four times a week (aside from your classroom entries. It is important to develop the habit of using your journal even when you are not in the academic environment. Good ideas, questions, etc., don't always wait for convenient times for you to record them.

    How to write. You should write however you feel like writing. The point is to think on paper without worrying about the mechanics of writing. The quantity you write is as important as the quality. Use language that expresses your personal voice--language that comes natural to you.

Suggestions:

1. Choose a notebook that you are comfortable with; I recommend a small (6" x 9" or smaller) hard- bound or spiral-bound notebook.

2. Date each entry; include time of day.

3. Don't hesitate to write long entries and develop your thoughts as fully as possible.

4. Use a pen (pencils smear).

5. Use a new page for each entry.

6. Include both "academic" and "personal" entries; mixed or separate as you like.

     Interaction. I'll ask to see your journal several times during the term: I'll read selected entries and, upon occasion, argue with you or comment on your comments. Mark any entry that you don't want me to read and I'll honor your privacy . None of the dialog with you will affect how much your journal is "worth." A good journal will be full of lots of long entries and reflect active, regular use.

    Conclusions. At the end of the term please (1) put page numbers in your journal, (2) make a table of contents for significant entries, (3) write an introduction to the journal, and (4) an evaluation of its worth to you.


Adapted from Fulwiler, T. 1987. Teaching with writing. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook Publishers.