Format for the Interactive Reading Journal

For all entries, you must write your responses in your journal (not on the reading assignment paper.) All reading assignments should be taped or glued into the interactive journal in proper sequence, with no blank pages in between. Your journal will be graded in four areas: 1. Reading Comprehension: this is based on factual questions you create from the reading 2. Word Study: this is based on the completeness and correctness of your Vocabulary definitions 3. Summarizing: this is based on how well you paraphrased the reading selection in your own words along with the vocabulary words 4. Responsibility to the Group: this will come from the thought you put into the quality and depth of your Discussion Questions (this is the area that will separate the Advanced from the Proficient journals.) Vocabulary In this section, you will copy down each vocabulary word for the week youre your journal and find and write the dictionary definition. You will write the word, part of speech, and the definition. Summary of the Text Using the key vocabulary, summarize what you think was most important or significant in this passage? Questions for In-Class Discussion Write two factual questions (Right There or Think and Search) about the text that you can ask others in your reading group. You must answer these in writing. Then, write two questions that probe more deeply (Author and Me). Remember, these are questions to which you cant find an easy answer in the text, or that has more than one correct answer. You do not have to write the answers to these in your journal, but you must be prepared to discuss them in your group. *Correct Formatting is an essential part of higher education. Points will be taken off if the journal is not completed using the guidelines above and the Model Entry as an example. If you are unsure, PLEASE ASK A QUESTION!

Example of an Interactive Journal Entry Model Entry for the Introduction of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Read: The Introduction, p. v-vii Vocabulary: Accumulate, Impetus, Stimulus, Conspiring, Euphoria gather or pile up especially little by little. Impetus: noun. A driving force, incentive, stimulus Conspiring: verb. To act in harmony toward a common end. Euphoria: Noun. A feeling of great happiness or well-being. Summary Vocabulary Accumulate: transitive verb. To

The Introduction of Paulo Coelhos book The Alchemist, was written by the author himself. It talks about the books Theme of Following Your Dreams. He discusses how as the years accumulate, we forget that anything is possible. He argues that Love is the impetus and stimulus of realizing our dreams, and the Universe is conspiring to help us reach our Euphoria.

Discussion Questions
Factual 1. What are the four obstacles Coelho discusses in his Introduction? The four obstacles are: 1. Years of negative feedback regarding our dreams; we are told from childhood that things are impossible, 2. Love, or fear of losing in pursuit of our dreams, 3. Fear of the obstacles we will face, and 4. Fear of actually realizing our dreams. 2. Which is the most dangerous obstacles, according to Coelho, and why? The most dangerous obstacles, according to Coelho, is the last one: Fear of Realizing Your Dream because it has a kind of saintly aura about it, renouncing joy and conquest.

Probing
1. 2. What do you think Coelho means when he says, The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.? Do you think it is important to know what your personal calling is? Why or why not?