Ms Zimm
English
A reaction log is essentially a log, or journal, of your reactions to various “trigger” events. This particular log is intended not only to be a record of your feelings, but of your thoughts about the “trigger.” (Indeed, I am looking for some depth of thought.) You are to reflect and react. This will be kept in a section of your binder for reaction logs.
A grammar mini-lesson will consist of a grammatical rule and example and two or three practice sentences. These will be kept in the section of your binder marked Laugh and other grammar.
Reaction logs
Some days there will appear on the board a quote, word, or an aspect of your reading assignment OR the overhead will project a picture or painting OR a piece of music will be playing. You will react for the first five minutes of class to this “trigger” in the following manner:
1. Fill in the heading of the reaction log answer sheet as indicated.
2. Then, comment on the significance of the “trigger” and explain what meaning it has
for you. You may discuss how relevant the trigger is to you personally—emotionally,
academically, or intellectually. You may discuss the trigger in relation to its
significance and
relevance to the community—local, national, or global. You must
demonstrate
that you have thought about the trigger in some way that is not
superficial.
Grammar Mini-lessons
1. You will be given a handout with the rule and the practices. These will be collected
and graded and returned to you the next day. There will be several of them on one
page. You must not lose the page.
2. Read the rule and study the example. Then, do the practice sentences. Hand it in.
3. Every ten practice sentences will be one grade.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
Reaction log
1. You MUST write in your log during the first five minutes of class every day. If
you are unable to finish your reflections in the allotted five minutes, you may continue
it later on your own time. You may NOT write only the trigger and react later.
2. Make legible and coherent entries in ink. You may neatly cross out items if necessary.
3. Log entries must be at least five sentences long, but may be no longer than three
paragraphs.
4. Follow the standards of good writing in your log entries. While I do not expect entries
to be examples of polished writing, grammatical and spelling errors should not be so
frequent as to interfere with understanding. Paragraphing (if you write more than one
paragraph) and sentence structure should be correct. These things should be
instinctive at this point.
5. Keep all log entries together in your binder. These will be collected periodically for
grading. Grades will be determined by:
a. Your having written in your log every day. If you are absent a day, write the
date you were out and the word absent for that date.
b. Your having chosen the correct number of entries for grading, usually about
three for every five written.
c. The depth of your reactions—in other words, how much thought and
consideration you have given to the trigger, how much effort you have
expended in writing about it, and the writing itself in accordance with the
guidelines in the preceding paragraph.