Journal Expectations Guide

    The journal discussion portion of this course is an arena for students to react to a specific portion of an assigned reading.  The focus for these journals is posted on the Discussion Board link on Bb.  When a journal question is assigned, notice of that posting will be on the homepage (campus courses) or on the Assignments link (online classes) for that week, under the "Journals" section.

    In completing a journal, keep in mind that Bb will often "timeout" if a page is "still" for more than 10 to 15 minutes.  If you are not a fast typer, read the journal focus and then log off and go to MS Word to type your response.  Go back to Bb when you are finished, click on the Discussion Board and then on the title of the discussion, and do a copy/paste of your response from MS Word into the Discussion posting section.  If you are unsure of how to copy/paste, either see me, go to the A Center and ask for help, or find a friend who has completed a similar assignment and beg them for some help :)

    Please keep in mind that these journals are NOT essays--instead they are "talk it out" style--say what you think and say it without a lot of process.  You do need to seriously think about/consider the focus and back up your reaction with detail from the readings, but I do NOT want you to sit down and develop an essay-style writing for this assignment.  Certainly, if you are "spellingly challenged" you should use Spell Check before you submit, and you need to be specific and clear in your point(s) and support, both in response and reaction.  So--responding in general sentences or posting a quick  "Good job" to someone's reaction does not qualify as a full journal reaction and as such will be considered an incomplete assignment.  Be specific and support your ideas but don't languish away from spending hours on this assignment.  Consider it much like an in-class writing piece in which you are given a focus and you respond/react.

Keep this writing in an informal, conversational style.  Be thorough and support your ideas.  Be considerate and clear on your reaction to others.  Let your ideas shine!