ABSTRACT
Typical academic work and journal writing are not the same thing. An academic term paper usually includes references to outside sources. This chapter focuses on the use of classroom-assigned journal writing and suggests ways to structure and place the journal within our curriculum. It guides instructors toward the successful use of classroom journal writing. The chapter shows different ways to communicate journalwriting expectations through the course objectives, syllabus, assignments, and in-class and out-of-class activities. Journal-writing techniques can show students how to brainstorm and cluster thoughts in the early stages of writing a paper. A written description can distinguish the journal from other types of academic writing. Instructors often make the mistake of thinking that because the journal can be loose and elastic, the assigning of the journal can be the same.
