Making connections between what you read and your own life experiences is one
important way to call upon and build background knowledge about a topic. The journal prompts associated with each reading selection are
designed to give you an opportunity to extend your experience with the topic
of the article, and to think more about how it applies to your own life. You
may use these prompts to get started, but the purpose of your journal is to
write freely. If you find yourself going off in another direction than that
indicated by the questions, that's fine. Any connections you can make with the
reading topics will be valuable. Reading One: Why Go to College? What are your reasons for attending college? Write about any or all of your reasons for being here. What do you hope to accomplish? List anything that comes to mind, from your diploma or certification to the other benefits you hope to gain from attending school. How do these reasons affect your motivation to deal with the daily challenges of going to school? Reading Two: Hero on Parade What are the experiences from your past that have defined who you are today? What challenges have you faced so far? What issues are currently challenging you in your road to success? What are your biggest successes so far? What accomplishment are you most proud of? Is there any turning point, advice, or achievement in your life that you can look back on and say that it made a big difference in who you are now? Reading Three: Saved If you had time in confinement, whether in prison, because of an illness, or some other reason, how would you spend your time? Would you choose to do something in that situation that you don't do now? What goals would you set, and what steps would you take to meet those goals? | 
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education