ENG 121 Journal 4
ENG 121: English Composition I
Example Journal Entry: Summarizing
Purpose: Use this example student journal entry to explore important elements that make this an
exemplary submission. Hover over the information symbol ( ) or select the numbers within the text to
read about what the student has done well in this journal entry.
Summarizing
In the essay, “Good Boy, Beau. Stay,” the writer, Anna Quindlen, uses her dog, Beau, as an example of
how we should all live our lives. She tells us that we should live for the moment. ( )[The plot in 1
Quindlen’s essay is a little complicated. In the beginning of the essay, Quindlen is waiting at a
veterinarian’s office for medicine. She notes that she and the vet discuss putting the dog to sleep when the
time is right. In the next paragraph, she tells us about Beau and his current existence as an elderly dog
experiencing pain from arthritis, cataracts, and other ailments. From there, she segways into discussing
why she wishes to write about her dog who is about to pass away, and she explores what Beau was like as
a puppy. Afterwards, she turns back to discussing Beau in the present and reflecting on the fact that she is
beginning to age, too. She then discusses what she has learned from Beau. She ends by saying we should
all live life like Beau does. Beau focuses on enjoying life, no matter how old and achy he may be. We
should focus on enjoying our time here, too (2010).] Though the narrative order of the essay is
complicated, it is still probably the best organization. (2)[Quindlen wants us to see Beau as he is now and
as he once was, so switching from a past situation to the present situation is necessary. By doing so, she
shows us that, even if he is still not a puppy physically, he is a puppy mentally.] I may do something
similar in my own essay about my grandmother. She may not be as quick and strong as she was when I
was younger, but she’s still that same grandmother deep inside. (3)[Perhaps offering examples of her
strength in my youth and her frailty today could be an interesting plot organization.]
References
Quindlen, A. (2010). Quindlen: How an Old Dog Teaches Me Tricks About Life. The Daily Beast.
Retrieved from
http://www.newsweek.com/quindlen-how-old-dog-teaches-me-tricks-about-life-97257
ENG 121: English Composition I
Comments (color and number coded):
1. The purpose of this journal is to incorporate summary as support. A summary is a basic retelling of a
plot line, emphasizing certain details that support your view or stance on the text. Return
2. Here the purpose of summarizing the whole plot of Quindlen's essay is revealed. The student did not
want to focus on specific details, but wanted to show the overall organization and time line that Quindlen
presents to us. By using summary, the student is able to retell the entire essay in a few lines, focusing on
Quindlen's organization of events, which highlights the overall purpose --to show that the aging dog is
still a puppy at heart. Return
3. The student finishes the journal by making a connection to how she will write her own personal essay
similar to how Quindlen's organizes her essay. Return
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