Making connections between what you read and your own life experiences is one important way to call upon and build background knowledge, or prior 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: Sport Utility Vehicles: How Do I Hate Thee? Let Me Count the Ways What is your opinion about SUVs? Are you for, against, or indifferent to them? What could SUV owners or manufacturers do to improve their vehicles' reputation with the general public? What is your favorite automobile or method of transportation? How would you persuade others to use your favorite way to get around? Reading Two: Why Vote? Politicians Are All the Same Did you participate in the 2000 presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush? How did you react to the close results, delays in declaring an official winner, and all of the other consequences of that election? Did that election make you more or less likely to vote in the future? Discuss how this has made a difference in your life. Reading Three: Take Out the Trash, and Put It... Where? What are some ways individuals can reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills? What changes could you make in your school, workplace and home? How could manufacturers, merchants and others make a difference to reduce the amount of garbage produced? | 
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education