READING JOURNAL 101

1. What you have always wanted to know but were too overwhelmed to ask. READING JOURNAL101

2. Reading Journals are Scientific articles chosen by your teacher. You have to follow very specific directions and complete written tasks, using each article as a base. You will have to do over 20 of them this year. They directly help you on our unit tests, the EOCT, and on the HSGT. This is a cross-curricular lesson, which will help you in every class in high school. Each RJ follows a particular standard that we are working on that week as well as Characteristics of Science Standards • SCSh6. Students will communicate scientific investigation and information clearly. • a. Write clear, coherent laboratory reports related to scientific investigations. • b. Write clear, coherent accounts of current scientific issues, including possible alternative interpretations of the data. • c. Use data as evidence to support scientific arguments and claims in written or oral presentations. • d. Participate in group discussions of scientific investigation and current scientific issues. • SCSh7. Students analyze how scientific knowledge is developed. • Students recognize that: • a. The universe is a vast single system in which the basic principles are the same everywhere. • b. Universal principles are discovered through observation and experimental verification. • c. From time to time, major shifts occur in the scientific view of how the world works. What is a Reading Journal? Why are they important?

3. 20% category: classwork/homework. Take note: These things add up. If you do not turn one in, that lowers your grade by a little, but ends up dragging you down. Trying to go back and make them up after the deadline will only get you 50% credit. What percentage of my grade?

4. First, read the directions. There is a paper given out and on Kezh website that tells you exactly how do create a Reading Journal • Here is the link. • http://fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us/~Rachel_S_Kezh/ • Look under the page: Reading Journals • There will be directions and this semester’s Journals. HOW DO I DO THIS?

5. There are 7 total pages (minimum) to each Reading Journal. Each one has the same format, but a different article. PROPER PAGE ORDER: 1 RUBRIC 2. ARTICLE 3. HEADING; CITATION; SUMMARY 4. QUIZ 5. QUIZ KEY 6. PUZZLE 7. PUZZLE KEY Let’s go over it briefly.

6. These are located in the classroom, in the “frequently used documents files” • Also they are online on kezh website. See link above • You must fill out the rubric fully, • Last, First name • Article name AND RJ # • Block • Due date First page: the rubric

7. You will receive the paper article in class You can also access them all online. See website You must include the article for full credit You must READ the entire article first. Really read it and underline/highlight. Now read it again. Yes, even the second page. 2nd page: the article

8. On this “page” you will have the following: Main heading Citation OUTLINE Rough draft Final draft * note: you may need more than one page to complete the summary. It can be marked 3.A, 3.B, 3.D, etc. Page 3: The Basics

9. HEADING: This is your full Reading Journal Heading. RJ full name and # Class; teacher; block and due date You must put the heading at the top of every single page. Example: Reading Journal #2: Lucy Skelton Kezh, Susie; Kezh Biology; B2, due 9/10/2010 3rd page continued: HEADING

10. MAKE SURE YOU USE THE APA FORMAT. I use a lot of website articles Ex) Website or Online Magazine Article form Author of article. “Title of Article.” Title / Name of Magazine. Date of Magazine, website Examples: Brain, Marshall. "How Batteries Work." howstuffworks. 1 Aug. 2006 http://home.howstuffworks.com/battery.htm. "Learning Center." Energizer. Eveready Battery Company, Inc. 1 Aug. 2006 http://www.energizer.com/learning/default.asp. "Learning Centre." Duracell. The Gillette Company. 31 July 2006 http://www.duracell.com/au/main/pages/learning-centre-what-is-a-battery.asp. Here are two great website for this purpose: http://citationmachine.net/ http://www.easybib.com/ Page 3 continued CITATION

11. This actually has three parts OUTLINE ROUGH DRAFT FINAL REPORT Page 3 continued SUMMARY

12. This is a chart that shows only main ideas and simple supporting ideas • Evidence of Ms. Kezh insanity • I. Ms. Kezh is insane about Biology • A. Kezh lights up when she talks about it • 1. Kezh has been known to cackle with glee about really gross things • 2. Kezh will talk about ANY Biology topic, even if you do NOT want to hear it. • B. Kezh has dead animals in her classroom • C. Kezh gave up a larger salary to return to teaching. • II. Ms. Kezh is insane about student success in every area • A. Kezh teaches bell-to-bell … and beyond • B. Kezh treats our classroom as a professional office – or a federal courthouse • 1. She requires that you check your phone at the beginning of class • 2. She calls us by our professional names and requires us to follow suit. • C. Kezh gives us “wet noodle” Quizes to determine if we are paying attention 3rd page continued: outline

13. ROUGH DRAFT: This is a “first thoughts” paper where you just put down all your ideas in order. You do not worry about spelling or grammar. You are surely going to revise it. You should follow your OUTLINE on your draft, but just make sure all your ideas get on paper. This should by typed in a computer document so you can save it and revise the final. 3rd page continued: ROUGH DRAFT

14. FOLLOW YOUR OUTLINE. You need an opening and closing paragraph. These are where you HOOK your audience and then “tell them what you just told them” You should have about 4-5 main idea sentences. These are the beginnings of your paragraphs. Each paragraph should have at least 4-5 supporting sentences The paragraphs should flow or tie together Page 3 continued: final SUMMARY

15. Behold: The paragraph Dragon • Head: teeth to “hook” the audience. It definitely grabs your interest. This is the first thing you are going to see. The opening paragraph is the first thing your reader will see • Body: Notice the spikes? There are at least 4-5 of them. Each one is a paragraph. Each one has a main idea and supporting ideas. They flow and fit together to make the whole body. • Tail: This is the final paragraph. Watch out. It is sharp and comes back to whack you with the same force as the Head. “Say what you just said”

16. Use this formula to construct your paragraphs: W5H Who, What, Why, When, Where, How Answer each question for EACH paragraph. SUMMARY, continued

17. Make a QUIZ about the article’s content. This quiz must have at least 5 good questions. Make the 5 questions have all the different formats for written testing. multiple choice fill-in-the blank, narrative answer (short/long written answer), matching, True & False) You will get extra credit if you come up with another question that uses a format that will allow students to use a different way of learning. (ex: art, drawing, poetry) 4th page: The Quiz

18. On the NEXT page, you must include a KEY for your quiz. You must answer each and every question. 5TH page: The Quiz key

19. 6th page: the puzzle Take 10 key words from the article and create either a word search or a cross-word puzzle. If you do this by hand, you should create the key first, then create the puzzle. Here is a great website for this purpose: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/

20. You must include a key for every puzzle. This goes on the last page 7th page: the puzzle key

21. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: Type into computer if you can. It is easier. You must staple the packet together with only one staple in the top left corner Make sure your pages are in order and neat. Make sure the rubric is on top Headings on every single page Do not use the backs of pages Reading Journals are generally due the last day of the week. 10 points off for each business day late.

22. Recap: PROPER PAGE ORDER: 1 RUBRIC 2. ARTICLE 3. HEADING; CITATION; SUMMARY 4. QUIZ 5. QUIZ KEY 6. PUZZLE 7. PUZZLE KEY