Each student is expected to keep a journal for this course. Your journal will be a place where you will use writing to articulate and process some of your questions and insights during the quarter. To receive maximum points for your journal, you must respond fully, carefully and thoughtfully to each of the prompts listed on the “Journal Assignments” handout. On the days that journals are due (9/27, 10/14, 10/25, 11/12, 11/27), you will submit the entries that are assigned for that day; late submissions are not acceptable. Journal entries should be submitted on ordinary 8 1/2” x 11” paper which is (or can be) punched for placement in a notebook.
Objectives: There are many benefits that can come from keeping a journal. Your writing will improve as you practice and receive feedback. Many of the journal exercises have been created to improve your understanding of the mathematical concepts. The connection between the mathematics and writing will become clear as you complete these assignments. Furthermore, the journal will be an opportunity for you to do some self-assessment and reflection on your learning. We also hope that the journal will be a method for students and instructors to communicate and give feedback.
Assessment: For each journal entry, one or both of your instructors will assign you a score of 3, 2, 1 or 0. Three will be reserved for journal entries that demonstrate unusual creativity, thoughtfulness and clarity. Two will be assigned to entries that are adequate. Entries in which responses to the prompt are insufficiently explored will receive a one, and if there is no entry or response at all for a prompt, it will receive a zero.
Guidelines:
Be sure to follow the general guidelines for how much you are expected to write for each prompt (we’ve indicated these general expectations next to each journal prompt in the Journal Assignments handout), but please know that length itself is not a measure of quality. Your genuine interest and engagement in the question is far more significant than length of your entries.
q Respond to each prompt on a separate piece (or pieces) of paper. Be sure to pay attention to all parts of the prompt.
q At the top of the page, write out at least a short version of the prompt you are responding to, your name and the date.
q In a journal, the writer’s main goal is to articulate and process thinking processes. However, as this is a writing class, we will expect you to follow conventions of standard English. Please use complete sentences and paragraphs. It is acceptable to use an occasional mathematical symbol, but you should not use symbols in place of prose to explain yourself.
q Regard your classmates as the audience for your writings in this journal unless the assignment specifically asks you to do otherwise.
Journal Assignments
9/23 Self-assessment survey (see separate handout)
9/24 Hirsch/Goodman 1.1.#95, 96 [use 2-3 sentences to explain your answers]
9/25 Choose two terms from Chapter 1 of the Hirsch/Goodman text that you were unfamiliar with or that still stump you. Explain these terms in your own words as if you were trying to help an 8th grader who is just beginning to be exposed to the world of algebra.
9/25 Reaction to the handout “Radical Equations”
q What is the writer’s thesis? [1-2 sentences]
q Did the article cause you to rethink any of your own beliefs or opinions? Explain. (Why or why not.) [at least a paragraph]
q Do you agree with the writer’s thesis? Explain. [at least a paragraph]
9/27 Divided-Page Exercise
q For at least one assigned word problem in Section 1.4 (Hirsh/Goodman), you need to try to solve it using the following divided-page strategy. Draw a vertical line down the center of your paper. Label the left-hand side, "My feelings/thoughts" and the right-hand side "My work." Now, as you attempt to solve the problem, record any thoughts/feelings that go through your mind on the left side while you jot down any "work" on the right side.
q It's okay if you have more writing on the left than the right side. The point is to get the thoughts/feelings to decrease to allow your mind to concentrate on solving the problem.
9/27 Reaction to the handout “The Case for Quantitative Literacy”
q In your own words, explain/define the terms “innumerate” and “numeracy” as they are being used in this article [one paragraph]
q Review the list of elements of quantitative literacy on pages 8-9: choose two elements and explain what they would “look like” in real life. [one paragraph]
q What do you think about these elements? How and why are they important? Do you agree that they’re all critical for success in real life? [at least one paragraph]
10/4 Questions about your math homework
q Write out at least two questions using full sentences (genuine questions work the best)
q Answer your own questions as best you can in short paragraph form
10/8 Medical Benefits assignment (see separate handout)
10/8 Hirsch/Goodman 2.3: #92,93
10/14 Self-assessment survey (see separate handout)
10/15 Questions about your math homework (at least one)
10/16 Hirsch/Goodman 3.1.#67
10/18 Hirsch/Goodman 3.3.#92
10/22 Analyze the math that is used for support in two of the essays that are assigned for English 100
q Explain the math in each of the essays (e.g., how are the percentages figured) [this can be written in note form, but please use prose in your explanations—i.e., not just symbols]
q Analyze the effectiveness of the math support in the essays (E.g., Does the inclusion of statistical information seem appropriate or logical to you? Is it misleading in some way? Is it helpful? Why?) [this should be written in paragraph form—at least one full paragraph per essay]
10/28 Questions about your math homework (at least one)
10/31 Hirsch/Goodman 4.3.#68
11/6 History of Math question—
q articulate at least one genuine question you would like to research for Essay #3 (see separate handout for Essay #3 description)
q explain why this question interests you [write at least one full paragraph]
11/7 Response to College Happiness Guide
q Describe two things that you learned from this handout. Then, discuss one or two tips that you plan to apply to your college experience. [at least one paragraph]
11/13 Questions about your math homework (at least one)
11/19 Hirsch/Goodman 5.3.#91
11/22 Hirsch/Goodman 5.5: #107
12/4 Self-assessment survey (see separate handout)