Determine how much writing should be accomplished each day or week. This will depend on the rest of your curriculum and homework load. For example, a class with a large focus on journal writing might write 1,000 words a week, while a small focus might only write a few paragraphs.
Create prompts that engage the student and tie in concepts learned in class. The prompts will vary depending on course material, and it is possible to have no prompts at all. Analytical prompts focus on a student's ability to develop a thesis statement and supporting ideas. Creative prompts can be engaging and develop a descriptive vocabulary.
Set aside time in class for peer editing of larger writing prompts. Students swap journals and correct mistakes. This familiarizes students with spotting grammar and spelling mistakes in their own work.
Allow students to rewrite their peer-edited writing. Students can rewrite as homework or in class, depending on your other criteria in class.
Schedule a routine time to collect and grade the journals. This can be done all at once or in chunks if the class is large. Make note of the changes between the edited copy and the rewrite. Edit, grade and comment on the rewrite and return the journal to the student.
Compare each student's writing over time. The journal allows you to see the progression of a student from the beginning of the course to the end. This writing history can help you notice patterns of mistakes in a single student or in the whole class.