Little Nation and Other Stories Reading Response Journal

Purpose: This assignment provides practice in summarizing and responding to reading as well as
identifying your personal connections to the text. Practicing these skills regularly will help you develop strategies for managing reading assignments in your other classes. The reading process section of this assignment will help you develop your approach to understanding text and the strategies you use to manage reading challenges.
Skills: Written Communication, Problem-Solving
Before you write your RRJ, read carefully, taking notes on the text as you go. RRJs should include the
following:
A brief summary of the chapters (5-8 sentences) including major events, characters, and important
information about setting (place and time).
Your response to the reading (5-8 sentences) including your opinions about and reaction to the assigned chapters. This section is a place to think deeply about the book and the emotions and complex ideas it
brings up for you.
An explanation of your reading process (5-8 sentences). Discuss specific parts that were confusing or that
you have questions about it. Share strategies that helped you overcome reading challenges. You can use
these prompts to develop your ideas:
This reading went well for me because _ The most challenging parts were ___ because
The strategies I used to figure these out included _
This part of the text made me think of from my other class or other text/reading.
A possible topic from this section for my research project could be ______. I am considering this
topic because_________________.
Your Opinion about the role of individuals and community members in society. In this final section of Little
Nation, the author, Alejandro Morales, paints a fairly pessimistic view of the ability of community members to effect permanent change in their neighborhoods in the face of powerful opposing forces. However, he does leave a glimmer of hope in the form of the unexplained disappearance of Micaela. Reflect on your own neighborhood and those that surround you. In what ways are individuals and community members able to influence what happens in their neighborhood. Do you think you could have an impact on your neighborhood now or in the future? If so, how? (5-8 sentences)