Independent Reading Journal Prompts

**These are listed in chronological order so students can answer/can be

assigned prompts as they’re reading. For example, #2 would be appropriate
to answer at the start of reading a book and # 15 would be appropriate to
answer at the conclusion of the book. Obviously, do what you need for your
kids! Enjoy!
1. What role does the setting play in your story? How might your story be
different if something in your setting changed?

2. Who is the narrator? How does the voice, persona, and choice of
narrator by the author affect the tone, plot, and credibility of the story?

3. Based on what you've read so far, create 3 hashtags for your novel.
Explain the meaning behind the hashtags and how they relate to the
novel so far.

4. What is the genre of this particular book? How might the story told in
this book change if the genre was different? Explain why using what
you've read so far as support for your response.

5. Write a letter to one of the characters giving him/her advice on how to

handle a problem or situation he/she is facing.  Be sure to include a
greeting and a closing.
 
6. What is the overall conflict/problem that fuels the action? Identify the
problem faced by the character(s) in the exposition, and then discuss
crucial passages/ incidents that add to the conflict as the novel
progresses. Explain your response to by discussing whether you were
surprised, excited, disappointed, or pleased.

7. Select a quote from your book that in some way has intrigued you.
Perhaps it has appealed to your emotions, triggered your memory,
stimulated some questions, or caused you to become emotionally
involved with a character(s). Write the quote and the page on which it
is found. Write a response discussing this quote. Explain both the
meaning it has to the novel and the meaning it has for you.
 
8. If a character in the novel called a radio station to request a song, what
song would it be and why? Would the song relate to the character's
personality? A conflict the character is dealing with? Explain the song
choice and how it applies to the character.
9. Write a letter of recommendation for one of the main characters in the
book. It can be a letter of recommendation for a job or for college
admission. Discuss the good and bad points of the character and why
you are recommending that character for the job or school.

10. Think about different ways the book is connected to your life, our
world, or another book you have read. Text to Self – What happens in
the book that reminds you of people, places, or things in your own life?
Copy a passage and explain the connection.

11. Think about different ways the book is connected to your life, our
world, or another book you have read. Text to World - What happens in
the book that reminds you of people, places, or things in our world?
Copy a passage and explain the connection.

12. Think about different ways the book is connected to your life, our
world, or another book you have read. Text to Text - What happens in
the book that reminds you of people, places, or things in other things
you have read? Copy a passage and explain the connection.

13. Now that you’re well into the book, what do you think of the title
of your book? Why do you think the author chose this title? Explain
how the title fits the book or make up a better title and tell why the
new title is better.
 
14. What factors went into your decision to read this book
(interesting cover, back cover, peer recommendation)? Would you
recommend this book to the class? Explain your answer.

15. What is the author’s position on any relevant theme or issue? As

a result of this reading, what can you infer is the author’s position on
any relevant theme or issue? This will often be a social issue–poverty,
love, war, courage, race, etc.

16. Who is the audience? Who wants or needs to know the

information relayed from the overall narrative? Does there seem to be
a specific audience the author is trying to reach? Why do you think so?
If not, what makes you think there is not a specific audience?