JOURNAL WRITING The best way to get into writing is simply to write . . .and write . . . and write . . . freely.

This practice helps you develop a feel for writin . To et started! you"ll need a topic to write a#out. $elow! you will find lists of ideas to serve as startin points for personal or %ournal writin . Suggested topics for the journal writing: DAY Da# $ Da# ) Da# + Da# Da# / Da# 0 Da# 1 Da# 2 Da# 3 Da# $5 Da# $$ Da# $) Da# $+ Da# $Da# $/ Da# $0 Da# $1 Da# $2 Da# $3 JOURNAL WR ! N" %# fa&ourite su'ject in school is((((( 'ecause((( %# fa&ourite teacher is (((((((('ecause(((** li,e the colour((**'ecause(((** !hings a. afraid of So.e things re.e.'er a'out .# first da# at school %# fa&ourite artist is ((* 'ecause((** %# fa&ourite songs are (**'ecause((( A list of things enjo# doing !hings don4t lea&e ho.e without %# fa&ourite person %# fa&ourite ti.e of the da# is !he 'est place e&er &isited was(('ecause !he 'est teacher e&er had !hing .# parents as,ed .e to do in life !hings .# parents as,ed .e not to do in life What a 'est friend should 'e What li,e a'out .# parents What li,e a'out .# 'est friend As a teenager wish((*

Da# )5 Da# )$ Da# )) Da# )+ Da# )Da# )/ Da# )0 Da# )1 Da# )2 Da# )3 Da# +5 Da# +$

Who would 'ring to an island and wh#6 A list of things wish for 'ut ha&en4t got !he first ti.e rode a 'ic#cle !hings a. unhapp# a'out in school What li,e 'est a'out .# life as a student 7ow .# father .et .# .other A stor# which .# grand.other8 grandfather told .e What li,e a'out li&ing in this .illenniu. What would li,e to do after .# e9a.ination What .# future hus'and should 'e li,e !hings that would li,e to change a'out .#self !he place that wish to 'e right now and wh#6

&ore ideas for your %ournal writin '

A special #irthday I"d li(e to see . . . The #i est thin I ever saw Noisy ti)es and *uiet ti)es I li(e to )a(e . . . What if toys could tal(+ &y shoppin list ,on"t litter$i pets and s)all pets Insects! insects everywhere I") happy when . . . .ow plants row

&y adventure /riendly places &y favorite foods I (now a lot a#out . . . 0icnic fun Who"s at the 1oo+ What will I share+ I rode on a . . . The parade I wonder why . . . What"s under )y #ed+ What if I was 23 years old+ What )a(es )e lau h+ Ga)es I play with friends .ow to )a(e new friends A %o(e that )a(es every#ody lau h 4o)ethin funny that happened to )e What I (now a#out dinosaurs An i)portant person I (now a#out Good thin s a#out )y nei h#orhood &y favorite foods After5school a)es 4o)eti)es I wish . . . What I li(e a#out )ath &y new friend A 6(noc(! (noc(7 %o(e

Words I thin( are funny What I (now a#out stars What I (now a#out the ocean 4o)ethin I don"t understand Thin s that could #e #etter in )y nei h#orhood /oods I don"t li(e Ga)es we play at recess 4o)e of )y favorite #oo(s &y #est #irthday &y favorite fa)ily story &a ic tric(s I can do A)a1in facts I (now The #est house pets Activities for outdoor fun What I li(e a#out where I live A place I"d li(e to visit A sport I") ood at Thin s I"d li(e to chan e $oo( characters I"d li(e to )eet Thin s that are hard to #elieve /unny thin s )y pet has done The weirdest house pets Activities for indoor fun A helpful person I"ve )et A reat place to o .avin fun at school

4tayin at a friend"s house A special secret place When I was upside down What if we suddenly had to )ove+ &y )ost e)#arrassin )o)ent Tal( a#out #ein scared,o I want to #e fa)ous+ 8reepy! crawly thin s What if I were the teacher+ I"ll never eat another . . . &y #i est surprise This school really needs . . . The first day of school is the worst9#est. A pet sitter needs special instructions to care for )y pet. ,oin ho)ewor( A son that )eans a lot to )e &y #est day A day in the life of )y pet I don:t understand why . . . ,irt #i(es and in5line s(ates A visit to a friend"s school What is i)portant to )e+ A terri#le stor) &e and the outdoors &y first school )e)ories .ere"s what a new student needs to (now a#out )y school.

Why wee(ends should #e lon er A narrow escape fro) trou#le What I"ve #ro(en or lost that #elon s to so)eone else &y first friend A visit to a relative"s house &y chores A dedicated teacher or coach When I was lost &y idea of a fun wee(end A school field trip I"ve done so)ethin no one else has done. I") principal for the day. .ere"s )y schedule of events. A typical lunch hour If only I would have listened.ow could T; #e #etter+ &y favorite nei h#or &y #edroo) fro) top to #otto) A )e)ora#le #us ride &y #est class ever &y first concert /inally! a ood asse)#ly If I could #e so)eone else! I would #e . . . The )ost fun I"ve had recently &y cra1iest e<perience in a restaurant or shoppin )all The hardest thin I"ve ever done &y first encounter with a #ully

Let"s hear it for )y favorite senior citi1en. The toys I"ll never ive up A friend who )oved away I couldn"t #elieve that )y )other volunteered )e for that %o#. 0uttin )y foot in )y )outh What if school sports were dropped+ Who (nows )e #est+ What do I worry a#out+ &y )uscles were so sore after . . . What do we A)ericans do well+ 6O#stacles are what you see when you ta(e your eyes off the oal.7 I ad)it it= I en%oy professional wrestlin . An unfor etta#le drea) &y worst vacation A 6visit7 to a hospital! doctor"s office! or dentist"s office 8opin with #rothers and sisters A typical evenin at ho)e &ornin )adness When I was a discipline pro#le) A )eanin ful ift I"ve iven or received We all )a(e )ista(es. Why do I deserve the %o#+ &y #rother >or sister? )ade )e so )ad.an in out 4o)ethin this school really needs is . . . Why are soap operas so popular+

I ta(e so)e thin s too seriously. What do I do to #rea( routine+ A trip on a roc(et ship At the li#rary ,ear Geor e Washin ton! The #i est #u##le5 u) #u##le Why I love to sin 0layin a a)e with Grand)a A day in the rain forest 8oo(in dinner with ,ad &y )o)"s ho##y I li(e sprin #ecause . . . A day at the #each Losin )y teeth Why I li(e to read 0layin with pets @atin lunch with )y friends Goin to the circus Our clu#house Learnin to ride a #i(e The last ti)e I cried $uyin so)ethin with )y own )oney The funniest 1oo ani)al This person )a(es )e lau h. Goin rocery shoppin

An ani)al I (now a lot a#out

.ow to )a(e )y favorite dessert A trip on a )onorail Water #alloonsA #icycle I"d li(e to have .elpin out around the house &y favorite #a#y5sitter 4wi))in at the pool or la(e Unusual fruits and ve eta#les Thin s to do in the snow ,ancin to )usic A day in the desert 4o)ethin I wish would happen What if there were no electricity+ 4o)e thin s I li(e a#out the )useu) &y favorite #oard a)e If I could fly What )a(es )e special A wal( in the woods Who is #eautiful+ 0uttin on a play Our classroo) pet A dar( hallway ,onuts for dinner &y drea) A reat treehouse &y ho)ewor( place

$uildin a fort Goin to the dentist What it"s li(e to use a wheelchair Loo(in at a lo#e An e<cellent #irthday party Gone fishin Rin s on her fin ers 0i11a is . . . Why )y )o) and dad are the reatest Gettin )y first pair of lasses 4u))er a)es What I use a co)puter for &y favorite for) of e<ercise .ow to stop hiccups A trip in a su#)arine A special photo raph 8reatures that live in the ocean A cartoon character I li(e Thin s I see when I ta(e a wal( Why I li(e9disli(e playin tea) sports ,iscoverin a new friend .ow we divide the chores at )y house Grand)a"s attic I"d li(e to invent a )achine that . . . &y favorite clothes A toy I"ve held onto all these years

A trip to a space station The wildest hairstyle I"ve ever seen What"s ood a#out hard wor(+ A cool store Why parents should #e honest with their (ids ,ear 4enator' Why school fund5raisers are i)portant &y favorite sin er>s? Ri hts that (ids in )y rade should have What a house of the future will loo( li(e &y participation in an outside5of5school activity .ow I picture )yself four years fro) now 8an far)ers row enou h food for everyone+ The worst food I ever ate 4u))er in a ca#in #y a la(e .ow I can chan e the way I loo( We couldn"t stop lau hin We ot cau htA toy! stuffed ani)al! or a)e that once )eant a lot to )e Why I deserve a lar er allowance The #oo( that ot )e hoo(ed on readin This really #u s )e. One thin I want to do #y the ti)e I finish Ath rade I would li(e to have lived durin this ti)e in history. The ne<t wave of personal co))unication Greed

Alone on a desert island Let"s push alternative sources of ener y. BBBBBB is li(e a #oo)eran . .ow it would feel to wal( in space ItC"s a rule! so it"s ri ht . . . ri ht+ What invention would you li(e to see in your lifeti)e+ Why appearance is not so i)portant .ow I e<press )yself artistically Is pollution a necessary evil+ What different colors )ean to )e Why are soap operas so popular+ I ta(e so)e thin s too seriously. .ow do people who are in constant pain cope+ Is this love+ /oods I love! foods I hate Tools I"ll need in )y intended profession Why are so)e people so cruel+ What ani)als can teach hu)ans 4elf5estee) 4o)eti)es! adults see) . . . &y drea) car The idea hit )e li(e a tornado. &y We# site If I were a superhero! I"d #e . . . 4o)ethin this school really needs is . . . What do I do to #rea( routine+

If I were the teacher, I would... If I were a leaf, I would... (snowflake, wind, rain, etc.) If I could get anything in the world for my birthday, it would be...(Tell me what you'd do with it.) My hero is...(Tell me why.) Describe a nightmare that you had recently. I remember when _____ taught me to_____. Describe how. (I remember when my father taught me to tie my shoes.) !oke that makes me laugh is... My fa"orite foods... The foods I dislike are... #hen I grow u$ I want to be.. (#hy%) Is there an e"ent that took $lace in your life that has changed you% Tell me how. Tell me about your $et (s). If you don't ha"e any, what kind of $et would you like to ha"e% I was most angry when... I was most ha$$y when... I was most disa$$ointed when... My fa"orite holiday is... Tell me why If I looked under your bed, what would I find% Describe your $erfect "acation. My worst mistake was... &ometimes I wish that... #hat would you do if you were 'rinci$al for a day%

#hat would you do if you were the 'resident% If you could change $laces with anyone, who would it be and why% (ou could go anywhere in the world. #here would it be, what would you do, and why% (ou ha"e an e)tra *+,,,,,,,, to gi"e away- you cannot s$end it on yourself. #hat would you do with the money% .ow would you make this world a better $lace to li"e in% Tell me about your family. Tell me about your best friend. #hy is that $erson your best friend% If you were an animal, what kind would you be and why% #hat is silence to you% #hat is your fa"orite season% #hat is your fa"orite animal% If you were this animal what would you do% (where does it li"e, what does it eat, how does it $rotect itself, etc.) #hat I know about...(/ould be anything you are studying, or anything the child knows a lot about) My fa"orite book is... My fa"orite character is... If I could be any color in a crayon bo), I would be... If I were a fireman, I would... (a flag, $lant, $encil, bo), a book, etc.) My fa"orite mo"ie is... Ten things that make me laugh. (cry, make me angry) list of things I'll ne"er do.

Ten cra0y reasons why I couldn't do my homework. If I were...(mother, father, teacher) I would... If my friend were an alien, I would111