Custom Reading Journal – example 2

INDEPENDENT READING JOURNAL Name: Class:

JOURNAL PROMPTS BY STRATEGY: STRATEGY

PROMPT 1

PROMPT 2

PROMPT 3

1. Finding the main idea

What was the most important idea in what you read today?

What is the most important theme/concept in your reading today?

Explain a theme/concept in your novel which has extended your thinking.

2. Recalling facts and details

What new information do you remember from your reading today?

Note the important people and places from your reading and provide a description of one or more of these.

Write a detailed description of a character from your reading.

3. Understanding sequence

Is the text you are reading in chronological order or not? How do you know? Give examples.

Identify what stage of the narrative arc you are currently at with your novel.

Write an imaginative continuation of the story from any point in the reading.

4. Recognising cause and effect

Explain how an event that occurred in your reading was caused by a previous action or event.

Describe how a character has changed based on the events of the text.

Write about an example of cause and effect from your own life experience. How would you like this to play out?

5. Comparing and contrasting

How does your reading today reflect your own experience?

How is it different to your personal experience?

Have you read anything today that connects to something that occurred earlier in your book?

Provide details.

Does anything that you read today remind you of something you have read in another book?

Provide details.

6. Making predictions

What do you predict the next page/chapter will be about?

What are the clues that make you say that?

How do you think the story will end? What are the clues that make you say that?

Have you read anything today that either confirmed or contradicted a previous prediction you had? Provide details.

7. Finding word meaning in context

List any words that you are unsure of the meaning. Write a definition suggested by the context. Check it in the dictionary and make edits to your definition as required.

Write a paragraph that includes three words you were not familiar with, after checking their meaning in the dictionary.

Write a list of words that have different meanings, depending on the context. In your own words, explain how and why these words could have different interpretations.

8. Drawing conclusions and making inferences

Identify a section of the text that you read today that required you to read between the lines in regards to a character, setting, event, etc. What were the clues in the text, and what did you infer?

Think about a theme that is being implied in your book and, with the use of evidence, explain how the theme is explored.

Why do authors go beyond the use of literal meaning? How and why do these features enrich your reading?

9. Distinguishing between fact and opinion

Identify a statement in your novel which you know to be true within the world of the text.

Identify a statement in your novel which you know to be an opinion within the world of the text.

Write an opinionative paragraph or dialogue from the point of view of one of the characters in your novel.

10. Identifying author’s purpose

Choose an event or situation from your reading today and provide details. What do you think the author wanted you to feel about what you read? Why?

Identify a theme from your book (e.g. conflict, identity, family).

What message do you think the author is trying to convey regarding that theme?

Choose an action/decision that a character makes from your reading today. What did they do, and why do you think the author made the character do that?

11. Interpreting figurative language

Identify two examples of figurative language and state why you think the author has used this language in your novel.

Identify two examples of figurative language and explain what is being implied or suggested.

Create two alternative examples of figurative language in your book.

12. Summarising

In 20 words or less, summarise what you read today.

Think of a different title for the chapter you are currently reading. Explain your choice.

Give your novel a new title.

Explain your choice.

GOAL SETTING A reading goal I would like to achieve this semester is:

Teacher feedback/advice on my goal:

A reading goal I would like to achieve this semester is:

Teacher feedback/advice on my goal:

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