What knowledge and skills have you gained in this module?
In this module, you began reading one of the most famous diaries of all time, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. First, though, you looked at several other diaries, journals, and travel logs. You spent some time thinking about why people write diaries—and why they read them. Study the slides below to review what else you should have learned in this module.
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For the Record
In markings on cave walls or in the hottest new vlog series, people have been recording the events of their daily lives for thousands of years. And for just as many years, other people have eagerly read, watched, or puzzled over those same records. Throughout this time, humans have continued to rely on diaries and journals to help them sort through their feelings about important life events.
What's Inside
Diaries often include elements that appear in other types of literature as well. For example, diaries contain descriptive details that can be either explicit or implicit about the messages they send. Diaries also have a point of view that affects the tone and mood of the writing. And like other types of literature, many diaries develop themes. To appreciate a diary as a work of literature, it's important to look closely at all of these elements.
The Spice of Life
Diaries, like other types of personal accounts, usually include a variety of types of writing. Some passages simply document the events that occur during the writer's life while others reflect at length on those events. In addition, some diaries include anecdotes and detailed descriptions of places. Anne Frank includes all of these types of writing in her lengthy notes to "Kitty".
All About You
In high school, you'll often be asked to write a particular form of autobiographical text—the reflective essay. For this type of assignment, you look back at an event and ask, "What does it mean to me?" Then you use descriptive details, such as sensory images and figurative language, to help readers imagine what the experience was like for you and what you learned from it.
Question
Why is it important to read diaries today?
When you read a published or historical diary, you can learn from other people's mistakes and apply those lessons to your own life. You can also learn how society was affected by historical events.
