Journal Prompts: I Beat the Odds

1. Journal Prompts: I Beat the Odds Finding deeper connections to the text through writing

2. STUDENT DIRECTIONS • Requirements: You will see the same prompts each day that we journal in class. Each time that we have a journal, your job is to pick a different prompt from the other days we have journaled. Please follow these guidelines for each journal: • 250 word minimum • ICE quotes (practice, practice, practice!) • Your strongest HOTS in a short amount of time

3. Option #1: Text to Self Connection • For this option, you will be finding a way to connect a feeling/emotion to Michael Oher’s. As most of us have not had the same life experiences as him, we cannot necessarily connect that way. However, emotions are relative to the individual, so your sense of abandonment/struggle/etc. probably looks very different than his, but that does not mean that you are unfamiliar with the emotion/feeling. • Example: Comparing something that Michael Oher faces to a situation in your life own life. Even though you probably have not experienced the same hardship, have you ever experienced the same feeling he had about something that is described in his memoir? • Non-example: Michael Oher has had difficulties in his life and so have I. Sometimes my siblings would eat my restaurant leftovers out of the fridge without asking my permission. Notice how this does not capture the same feeling and/or idea that he expresses when discussing how his family approaches dinnertime.

4. Option #2: Cause for Pause • Discuss ideas, events, statistics, etc. that surprised you enough to make you stop reading and think for a while. This memoir includes many anecdotes or stories that are probably very dissimilar to your own life. The example(s) that you select should demonstrate that they truly are surprising enough to make a person stop for thought. (however, it doesn’t have to be for a negative reason!) Likewise, your thought process after reading should be vividly described so that I can see your thinking! • Example: This memoir includes many anecdotes or stories that are probably very dissimilar to your own life. The example(s) that you select should demonstrate that they truly are surprising enough to make a person stop for thought. (however, it doesn’t have to be for a negative reason!) Likewise, your thought process after reading should be vividly described so that I can see your thinking! • Non-example: I was really surprised to learn that a kid who grew up in foster care could end being a professional football player. Not only could you get this from reading the back cover of the book, it is way too general for you to say that this literally stopped you in your tracks while you are reading.

5. Option #3: Words to live by: • Discuss or elaborate on a quote from the book that you find inspirational or meaningful. In addition to including the quote, explain why you find it meaningful and how it could impact your life. • Example: Using a quote to really show how this quote actually made you stop and think how you could apply it to your life. It should go beyond the obvious and SPECIFICALLY demonstrate how this could be applicable. • Non-example: Michael talks about the importance of never giving up. I think it is important because I want to be a doctor when I grow up and I won’t get there if I give up easily. Way too surface level and not specific to how this applies to your life.