Fiction Projects: Journal Rubric

The purpose of the journal entries is to both summarize important details from your novel and
provide a thoughtful reflection on those details. An important part of your reading will be
looking at your text for theme. These journals, with the details you provide, should address
possible themes in your novel and how you have developed those themes based on elements of
fiction (plot, character, setting, conflict, and point of view) from the novel.
Focus Points for each Journal Entry
Journal 1
Should focus on introducing your novel in terms of setting, conflict, plot, possible theme, POV/
narration, and character. Is there a foil, or a character who mirrors the protagonist? What are your
feelings about these elements in your text? What are the possible conflicts? What fuels these
conflicts? Entries should identify your novel title and who wrote it. You might talk about the title
of your novel as it pertains to the content: predict how your title might imply the meaning of
your text?
Journal 2
Briefly provides an update on the progress of characters, conflicts, plot, and address any changes
in setting, POV/narration, and theme. In other words, do not focus on repeating previous
information; talk about the change. As the novel progresses, what, if anything, is my main
character learning about life. You should also be able to identify two possible themes at work in
your text and discuss their development. Journal 2 should include new information on context.
What are historical events that impact the characters and conflict? How do these play out? What
have I learned about the time period of the novel? (Any laws, notable people, unusual events) Do
some research on your author, what are the autobiographical elements implied or directly stated
in your text?
Journal 3
Once again, begin your journal with an update on characters, conflicts, and plot. Address any
changes in setting, POV/narration, and theme. Identify at least three possible themes at work in
your novel and discuss how two of these have been developed across the course of the text. Be
sure to address content, characters, and language aspects that have affected the development of
theme. In closing identify whether your novel fits best into realism, regionalism, and naturalism
and explain why. Be sure to use the American Literary Realism Power Point to find discussion
points aka tenets/premises.
At the end of the unit you will revise one of your three journal entries to include research. You
may choose to complete research on two of the following: your author, the historical time period,
or the literary movement. You will revise your entry to include this information, in MLA format,
complete with in-text citations and a works cited page. This revised entry will be submitted as a
summative grade. Due Date_____________________________

Fiction Projects: Journal Rubric

Fiction Novel Projects

Diary/Journals
Inadequate
Developing
5-10
11-15
Entry is not organized at all.
Entry is somewhat organized
Entry includes a poorly done

and includes some

summary of the text with

vocabulary and information

little or no vocabulary use.

Content

Entry displays no evidence of

Entry is organized,
includes summary and
vocabulary from the text.

Entry is
thoughtful/insightful- it

thoughtfulness or

evidence of

provides opinions

insightfulness and includes

thoughtfulness/insightfulness

(concrete and inferred)

opinions which are not

and may include opinions

which are well supported

grounded in the text at all.

which are not well supported

Entry does not address

in the text.

Entry does not address

theme.

Entry displays some

elements of fiction.

from the text.

Proficient
16-20

Entry is well below 500

words.

conflict, character, setting,

plot, conflict, character,

and POV/narration.

Entry addresses theme and

Entry addresses theme but

provides analysis of

does not use analysis to

textual details to support

support textual details which

develop theme.

Entry discusses plot,

Entry does not fully address

setting, or POV/narration.

using text.

Entry is fewer than 500

themes development.

Entry is at least 500 words

(roughly one page typed)

words.

Grammar/
Mechanics

0-1

2-3

Student writing features more than

Student writing includes complete

Student produces writing with

4-5

seven grammatical errors and

sentences and three or four

complete sentences and few

frequent sentence fragments.

grammatical errors.

grammatical errors.