GRADE 8 English TOURIST ATTRACTION SITES:AFRICA – WRITING:PERSONAL JOURNALS Notes
WRITING: PERSONAL JOURNALS
Topic: TOURIST ATTRACTION SITES: AFRICA (examples from Kenya) 🌍📝🐘
What is a personal journal?
A personal journal is writing in the first person (I, we) about your own experiences and feelings. For a travel journal about sites like Maasai Mara, Mount Kenya or Diani Beach, the writing should be honest, clear and full of observation.
Basic layout (use this every time)
- Date and place: e.g., "10 August 2025 — Maasai Mara"
- Opening line: short sentence telling what you did.
- Body: 2–4 short paragraphs describing events, feelings and details.
- Closing line: a thought or plan for the next day.
Which tenses to use?
- Past simple — use for finished actions: "I saw a lion." (Good for recounting the day.)
- Past continuous — background action: "We were driving when a herd crossed the road."
- Present perfect — for experiences related to now: "I have never seen so many flamingos."
- Present simple — for general facts: "Mount Kenya rises above the plains."
- Future (will/going to) — plans: "Tomorrow I will visit Lake Nakuru."
Tip: Stick mostly to past simple for a day-by-day journal. Use present perfect and present simple for general notes and feelings.
Use first person and simple, friendly voice
Start sentences with "I" or "We." Be natural: contractions are fine ("I didn't expect", "we're excited"). This makes the journal personal and easy to read.
Describing places — adjectives & adverbs
- Use vivid adjectives: hot, dusty, golden, calm, crowded, peaceful.
- Use adverbs for actions: "The jeep moved slowly", "Birds flew overhead gracefully".
- Combine senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste — e.g., "The air smelled of smoke and coffee."
Example: "The sky was orange as the sun set over the Mara. We watched quietly, feeling excited."
Sequencing & connection words
Use words to show order and cause: first, then, after that, next, finally, before, because, so that, although.
Example: "First we woke early, then we entered the park. After that, we followed a trail to the river."
Expressing feelings (keep them simple)
- Common verbs: feel, enjoy, love, worry, wonder, miss.
- Adjectives of feeling: excited, nervous, amazed, tired, proud.
- Short phrase: "I felt nervous when the elephant came close."
Using direct speech (quotes)
Use quotation marks to show what someone said. Keep it short and natural:
Example: He said, "Look over there!" I answered, "It's amazing."
Sentence variety
Mix simple and compound sentences so your writing flows:
- Simple: "We arrived at sunrise."
- Compound: "The sun rose, and the hippos moved into the water."
- Complex: "When the guide pointed, I saw a leopard hidden in the trees."
Common grammar mistakes & fixes
- Tense shift: Don't change tenses in the same paragraph. Keep past for the story.
- Subject-verb agreement: "The herd was" not "The herd were" (Kenyan English accepts both sometimes, but teach singular verbs for collective nouns).
- Missing commas: Use commas after introductory phrases: "After breakfast, we left."
Short example entries (look at grammar)
10 August 2025 — Maasai Mara
I woke at 5:00 AM. We drove into the park in the cool air. At first, the grass looked empty, but soon a herd of elephants appeared. I felt excited because the baby elephant was so playful. We watched quietly, and the guide said, "Don't make sudden noises." The safari was amazing — I have never seen so many animals in one place.
Grammar notes: Mostly past simple (woke, drove, appeared). Present perfect for experience (I have never seen).
12 August 2025 — Diani Beach
The sea was warm and clear. I walked along the shore while waves touched my feet. I felt calm and happy. Tomorrow we will snorkel near the reef.
Grammar notes: Past continuous for background (was walking while waves touched), future plan (will snorkel).
Quick practice (do in your notebook):
- Write one sentence describing a sound you heard at a park (use past simple).
- Write one sentence about how you felt (use an adjective).
- Write a closing sentence saying a plan for tomorrow (use 'will').
Proofread checklist
- Is the date and place at the top?
- Did I use first person (I, we)?
- Are tenses consistent (mostly past for the day's events)?
- Are sentences clear and not too long?
- Did I include at least one feeling and one description (sight, sound, smell)?
Keep practising. Your journal is for you — write honestly, check tenses, and use clear sentences. Happy writing! ✍️🌄