Overview

Keeping a personal journal can help you become more aware of what you are learning. A learning log is a kind of journal in which to write comments and questions about what you are studying. Another type of journal is a reader-response journal, in which you can write down your interpretations of the literature you read.

Many writers use personal journals to help them think of writing ideas. A commonplace book is a type of journal in which you can store anything that you find interesting or significant and wish to remember: quotations, jokes, song lyrics, or menus. The entries in your commonplace book may inspire you to write a story or a poem or an essay.

Your journal can be a tool through which you may learn new things without pressure. You can relax and be direct because no one is going to grade your journal. You can explore questions that you have about what you are reading. You can experiment with different topics and styles of writing.

When you are ready to write a composition, you can use your personal journal as a starting point in the writing process. The writing process involves various stages: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading, and finally presenting. Following all the steps in order will help you write a polished paper.