Journal Exercise

We have included the questions that appear below the artworks that open each chapter, the journal prompts from the text's color insert, the “In Your Own Words,” and the “Art of Writing” exercises so that you can submit your answers to your instructor via e-mail, should he or she direct you to do so.

First, type your response in the blank provided here or type your response in a word-processing program and copy and paste it here. Next, edit and proofread your answer carefully. Then click the Submit Answers button at the bottom of the page. On the Results page, insert the requested information and appropriate e-mail addresses and click the E-mail The Results button.

Responding to Art (page 2)


1			What do you think the headmaster is saying about the young man? Write your own caption.




2			What qualities do you think a successful student must have?

View and Reflect (color insert page 2)
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” —William Butler Yeats


3			Based on both the quotation and the painting The Scholar (1926) by Norman Rockwell, write a journal entry in which you consider what makes a student successful.

In Your Own Words (page 16)


4			What is your personal reaction to each of Edelman’s lessons in her “Commencement Address” (text pages 12-13)? What do Edelman’s lessons say about her as a person? What are Edelman’s priorities in life?




5			The following is an excerpt from a speech given by President Theodore Roosevelt. “It is not the critic who counts; Not the man who points out Where the strong man stumbled, Or where the doer of great deeds Could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man Who is actually in the arena; Whose face is marred By dust and sweat and blood; Who strives valiantly; Who errs and comes up short Again and again; And who, while daring greatly; Spends himself in a worthy cause; So that his place may not be Among those cold and timid souls Who know neither victory nor defeat.” Which of Edelman’s lessons does Roosevelt’s speech support? In what ways is their advice the same?

The Art of Writing (page 17)


6			Create a top-five list of suggestions of your own by drawing on knowledge that you leaned the hard way include a short explanation for each of your choices. Try to give a personal anecdote illustrating each suggestion.




7			Colin Powell, secretary of state under George W. Bush, put together the following list of rules based on lessons he learned the hard way: Colin Powell’s Rules It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning. Get mad; then get over it. Avoiding having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. It can be done! Be careful what you choose. You may get it. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours. Check small things. Share credit. Remain calm. Be kind. Have a vision. Be demanding. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

In Your Own Words (page 26)


8			Psychotherapist Alan McGinnis, author of Power of Optimism, says that optimists see themselves as “problem solvers and trouble shooters.” According to McGinnis, the following qualities help optimists maintain a positive attitude while still being realistic: They look for partial solutions. They believe they have control over their future. They interrupt their negative trains of thought. They heighten their powers of appreciation. They are cheerful even when they can’t be happy. They accept what cannot be changed. In what ways has Michael J. Fox demonstrated the characteristics of an optimist in the selection “Wake Up Call,” from Lucky Man (pages 22-24 of the text)?

The Art of Writing (page 26)

In a brief essay, respond to one of the following quotes:


9			“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” —Mark Twain What do you think the author means? Do you agree? Why or why not? How does the quote apply to the situation that Michael J. Fox faced, as described in the excerpt from Lucky Man (on pages 22-24)?




10			“Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not, knows no release.” —Amelia Earhart What do you think the author means? Do you agree? Why or why not? How does the quote apply to the situation that Michael J. Fox faced, as described in the excerpt from Lucky Man (on pages 22-24)?

OLC Extra! Reflections on Reading and Study Skills

These Reflections on Reading and Study Skills exercises provide an opportunity for you to think about the skills you learned in the textbook. To complete these exercises and e-mail them to your instructor, type your response in the blank provided here or type your response in a word-processing program and copy and paste it here. Next, edit and proofread your answer carefully. Then insert your instructor's e-mail address in the "to" line and hit "send."

Write a brief response to each of the following questions. Spend more time writing about the issues that mean the most for your personal success in school.


11			What qualities do you think a successful student must have?




12			What does it take for a student to be successful in a reading class?




13			How well prepared you are to do well in college?




14			How strong is your commitment to be successful in your classes?




15			How well do you manage your time (e.g., do you always run late or do you complete assignments on time)?




16			Do you have a regular study environment that reduces distraction and encourages concentration?




17			How effective are you at reading and note-taking (e.g., do you remember what you read; can you decipher your notes after you’ve written them)?




18			Do you attend class regularly and listen for instructions and important ideas?




19			Do you participate actively in class discussions and ask meaningful questions? If not, what could you do to increase your participation?




20			Do you generally read assigned chapters in the textbook before attending class so that you are not reading the chapters the night before the exam?




21			Are you usually prepared before class with questions about material that needs clarification or that expresses your own interest in the subject matter?




22			How do you handle test anxiety (e.g., do you usually feel prepared for exams and quizzes so that you are not terrified by them)?




23			Do you actively evaluate how you are doing in a course based on feedback from your instructor and then make corrections to improve your effectiveness?




24			Do you seek out advice and assistance outside of class from your instructors or their teaching assistants?




25			What are your preferred learning styles? What can you do to take advantage of this strength?

Your Results:

E-mail Your Results