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: Career Choice

Write about what life would be like for you if you achieved your dream job. What would be your job title? How much money would you make? What employee benefits would you enjoy? Where would you live? What kind of work schedule would you have? What would this career offer to the world at large? How do you plan to achieve this dream? What steps can you take now to work towards that goal?

Reading Two: The Decision to Marry

What are your views on marriage? How does your current marital status (single, married, divorced, widowed) affect your attitudes towards marriage? In your view, what elements would be combined in a perfect marriage?

How do you think society affects marriage? Does our society have positive or negative influences on marriage? What challenges exist today for people who seek to have a happy marriage?

Reading Three: Reactions to Impending Death

How does society deal with death? Are you aware of cultural differences in the way people from different backgrounds handle death and bereavement?

Have you discussed this topic with your family and close friends? If so, how has this affected your own views of death? If not, has there been anything that has kept you from doing so?