journal hw

Journal Entries: Format and Grading Criteria

Points: /100 points

Following specific in-class exercises (see Syllabus for Learning Journal Activities) you will choose one of the LJ activities and write a 3-6 page journal entry. This assignment is your way of reflecting and commenting on the experience. The format is designed to mirror the learning process, making you conscious of each element as you work to actively learn from the class or group exercises. The following questions should be used as a guide for structuring your journal entries; however the content of each entry is up to you. That is, which elements of an exercise you choose to address depend upon what you feel was most important, interesting, and/or surprising about the experience.

I. CONCRETE EXPERIENCE Exercise Description: What happened during the experience?

Does this section contain a clear, objective description of the exercise? (e.g., as if describing to others)

Does it contain a subjective description of feelings and perceptions that occurred during the experience?

Does it provide too much irrelevant detail? This section should not be longer than 1-2 paragraphs

II. REFLECTIVE OBSERVATION Themes: Upon further review, what seemed to be happening?

Does this section look at the experience from the different points of view of the major actors involved?

Did you attempt to figure out why the people involved, and you in particular, behaved as they did?

Did you make use of verbal and non-verbal cues to understand how others viewed the experience?

III. ABSTRACT CONCEPTUALIZATION Theories: How did you make sense of the experience?

Did you draw on at least two course concepts to understand what was happening in the experience?

Did you accurately apply concepts or theories from the assigned reading, either for today or earlier?

Did these concepts help you sort through the experience, to find meaning in what the exercise was about?

IV. ACTIVE EXPERIMENTATION Relevance, Future Skill Development: So what?

Did you summarize practical learnings that you derived from the exercise? These could be about yourself, others, or similar experiences at school or work?

Did you thoroughly describe actions you will take in the future to put these learnings into action?

(e.g., in the workplace, or other group projects?)

INTEGRATION AND WRITING QUALITY

Is the entry clear and well-written – cohesive, organized, striking a professional tone?

Is the entry free of spelling and grammar errors? Have you provided appropriate citations from readings?

Are the four sections integrated, drawing your major theme(s) through all parts?