Part One

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Of
all the places you have traveled to, which has been your favorite? Why?
Which has been your least favorite? Why? Where do you still want to go?
Why?
So
often we (as the community, as the media, or as adults) only focus on
what is going wrong in the world. What do you see that is going right?
When it comes time for you to be remembered, what do you want to be best known for?
Describe a time when you were completely happy, sad, angry, or feeling any other strong emotion.

Part Two

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Part three

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Describe a few pivot points that you have experienced in your life.
Think
about the adults who are in your life right now. Choose one who you
feel has been a positive influence and write about that person.
Describe how you see your life thirty years in the future.

Part four

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

How do children learn the difference between right and wrong? Provide examples.
What choices in life are you most afraid to make? Which choices are you most excited to make? Why?
Adults often complain about teenagers today. Do kids deserve the bad reputation they have? Why or why not?
Teenagers often complain that adults don’t understand what life is like now. Is that a fair assumption?

Part Five

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

How are you affected by nature? Does it bring you comfort? Does your mood reflect the changing seasons?
What
does it mean to know something intuitively? For example, has a parent
or a sibling ever known something was wrong with you without having
talked with or seen you?
How do you demonstrate that you are an individual? Do you think independently of others, or do you follow the crowd?
In your opinion, what is a conscience?

Part Six

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Write
down every random thought that comes to mind for one whole page. Don’t
worry about spelling, punctuation, transitioning from thought to
thought, or even making sense. Just write!
What mark do you want to make on the world? What do you want to be remembered for?
What changes would you like to see made in your generation? Why?
How do you relax after a stressful day?
Why do you think people avoid facing their problems?

Part Seven

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Describe your worst fear.

Imagine that you must persuade someone to either believe or disbelieve in a ghost, and write about your experience.

In your opinion, why do people enjoy getting scared?

Write about a time when something unbelievable or bizarre happened.

If you were paid to spend the night alone in a house that was guaranteed to be haunted, would you do it? Why or why not?

Part Eight

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Listen to a public radio program or podcast, and write a summary about what you listen to.
On
the Internet, access a search engine and research a topic such as
“extraterrestrials” or “unidentified flying objects (UFOs).” Compare and
contrast two Web sites that discuss the same subject but approach the
subject differently.
Read
the editorial section of a newspaper and find two editorials that
reflect two different opinions on the same subject. Write a summary of
the two editorials and choose which editorial you feel best expresses
the writer’s opinion, even if you do not share the same opinion.

Part Nine

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Part Ten

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Speak
or write about your experiences with meeting people whose way of life
was different from your own—perhaps people from another country or
ethnic group, or people whose first language was not the same as yours.

Atticus
does not want his children to be in court, but they manage to sneak in
anyway. Do you think that it is good or bad for them to be there?
Discuss whether you think it is right for young people to be able to
witness criminal trials.

Think
of real-life examples of bravery—these could be famous people or maybe
someone not as well known—and explain why you think they are brave.

Write
about a dare that went wrong. If you like, you may base this on a true
account, and even change some details to make it more interesting.

My
mother always made me waffles and drove me to school on the first day
of school every year. What first-day-of-school traditions do you or your
friends and family have? Describe them and, if possible, explain when
they started.

Part Eleven

Select one of the following prompts and use it to write a journal that is approximately one full page in length

Describe a time when you misjudged someone or when you were misjudged.
Why do you think people spend so much time on their outward appearances when they say it is what’s on the inside that matters?
Describe your first public performance of any kind. How did you feel? What did you have to do? Were you a lead role?
What do you think is the best way to teach children to be trusting but at the same time cautious?
Jem
and Scout have been able to maintain friendships beyond every age gap,
racial divide, and socioeconomic boundary. Is this possible in real
life?