Hi!

It’s me again, Your

Journal.. a.k.a. your Reading
Journal, RJ for short. It’s time
to try a different kind of writing.
Think essays, so let’s change
my name to EJ! This is your
chance to practice logic and think-
ing on paper. Just follow the
directions below!
Directions: Choose one of the following topics
EACH WEEK and write a well organized FCAT style
essay in your journal. Be sure to include your
planning for your essay in your journal writing. We
will use the essays in class on Mondays!
Student Created Topics
1. Explain why students should GO to school
instead of having the school COME to them.
2. Persuade the Principal to allow high school
students to have “recess.”
3. Convince a friend that doing well in school will
give him or her a better future.
4. Explain why fast food restaurants might say
their food is grilled when it is really fried.
5. Convince Mrs. Spillane to use student essay
topics.

1. There is a great deal of discussion about the best
minimum age at which students should be allowed
to drive in Florida. Some people think the age should
be lower than sixteen. Some think it should be
higher, and some think it should stay the same.
Think about the age you believe is the best legal
driving age in Florida. Now write to convince your
audience to support your position on the minimum
driving age.
2. The School Board is thinking about eliminating
art, music and physical education as elective
courses.
Think about the effect that eliminating these
courses would have in your school. Write to
convince the School Board to accept your position
on eliminating these electives.
3. Everyone know about rules or situations they
think are unfair and would like to change. Think
about a rule or situation you think is unfair that you
would like to change. Write to convince your reader
to change the rule or situation you believe is unfair.
** check the class website for more topics**
6. Explain why we should or should not have only
4 classes at University High.
7. Persuade the School Board to start high school
later in the morning.
8. Write to convince the reader to adopt your side
about one high school rule.
9. You are on a deserted island. Explain who or
what you would like to have with you.
10. Explain why dismissal from school should or
should not be earlier.
11. Should students have to do homework for
classes? Write to persuade a teacher to take your
point of view.
12. Explain why students should or should not be
allowed to get up and leave in the middle of a
class.
© Lee Ann Spillane
** more to come **

What to do to get the grade:

A/√+ B/√ C/√− D F

space ship essay space ship essay some planning no planning no planning
plan, plan,
finished essay brief finished essay unfinished essay
finished essay finished essay
3/2+ score using 2 score using written during class
4 or 5 score using 3 score using
the FCAT rubric the FCAT rubric 1-2 score
the FCAT rubric the FCAT rubric