English 1A
Journal #9 - Family/Tradition

Introduction:  Now that the holidays are upon us, many people's thoughts turn to family and tradition. What is the role of family and tradition in your life?

Directions: 

Note: The journals are intended to be a way for you to explore ideas that you might later wish to refine in a paper or a discussion.  I will not censor these journals in any way, nor will I grade them on content or grammar (though, like the seminars, they must be coherent and display some measure of critical thinking about the question at hand). You do not have to answer all the questions, nor do you have to confine yourself to these questions. Write about whatever is on your mind. 

Write a page or two about your family and holiday traditions you share.

Some questions to consider: 

• Who are your family members?
• What kind of relationship do you have with each of them? Have any of your familial relationships changes since you were a child?
• Are you satisfied with the relationships, or would you change one or more of them if you could?  What would it take to change an unsatisfactory relationship?
• What traditions does your family have? (could be Christmas traditions, or any other kind of tradition or ritual).
• If you have children of your own, dow do you incorporate those traditions into the their lives? If you don't have kids, but plan to some day, what traditions will you carry on with them?  What new traditions would you like to start?