Writing Workshop Lesson: Writing a Journal Entry with Reflection

A Journal Entry

Some types of expressive writing, such as a work based n an autobiographical incident, are meant to be shared. but other types of expressive writing are just for the writer. For example, a journal is a tool for exploring what you think and feel. A journal is more than a record of events--it's a place where you can write freely about events, reveal your thoughts, and express your anger and other emotions.

The following excerpt is from The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. Anne was a Jewish girl who, along with her family and four Jewish family friends, spent much of World War II on the top floor of an Amsterdam house, hiding from Holland's Nazi occupiers. Eventually, they were discovered. Anne died in a concentration camp a few months before Germany surrendered.

From The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Wednesday, February 23, 1944

My Dearest Kitty,

The weather's been wonderful since yesterday, and I've perked up quite a bit. My writing, the best thing I have, is coming along well. I go to the attic almost every morning to get the stale air out of my lungs. This morning when I went there, Petter was busy cleaning up. He finished quickly and came over to where I was sitting on my favorite spot on the floor. The two of us looked out at the blue sky, the bare chestnut tree glistening with dew, the seagulls and other birds glinting with silver as they swooped through the air, and we were so moved and entranced that we couldn't speak. He stood with his head against a thick beam, while I sat. We breathed in the air, looked outside and both felt that the spell shouldn't be broken with words. We remained like this for a long while, and by the time he had to go to the loft to chop wood, we didn't say a word either. I watched him from where I was standing, and could see he was obviously doing his best to chop the right way and show off his strenth. But I also looked out the open window, letting my eyes roam over a large part of Amsterdam, over the rooftops and on to the horizon, a strip of blue so pale it was almost invisible.

Thinking it over:

1. Anne addresses her diary entries to "kitty," an imaginary friend. What does Anne tell "kitty" that she might not share with others?

2. What is your impression of Anne? What do you think she feels for Peter?

Writing a Journal Entry

Prewriting--In your journal, you can write about any subject. Don't worry about coming up with something that you can show the world. Just write to explore what you think and remember.

Writing--Write your journal entry. Then reread it, and think about whether there's anything else you want to say or explore.

Publishing--You might want to share your journal entry with a friend or family member. Or you can save your entry in your portfolio. If you choose to save your entry, date it and include your responses to these questions:

• Did you discover anything new about yourself or your subject?
• How freely do your ideas flow in this type of informal writing? Is writing easier when you prewrite?
• Could you use your entry in a more formal piece of writing such as an autobiographical incident or a short story?

Anchor Standard: Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.