Life As We Knew It is told entirely through Miranda's diary entries, so it is natural for teachers to ask students to write diary entries of their own. These assignments can produce wonderfully personal writing, but they also raise tricky grading questions about what counts as quality in an informal format. Without clear criteria, teachers may end up rewarding length or drama instead of the craft choices students actually made.

A diary is a unique genre because it blends private reflection with storytelling, and students need to understand that before they write. Pfeffer's narrator records events, but she also reveals fear, irritation, and slow changes in her thinking, which is what makes her entries feel real. A strong student diary does the same by pairing concrete events with honest reactions rather than simply listing what happened during the day.

When you grade these pieces, decide in advance what the assignment is meant to teach. If the goal is voice, then sentence variety and authentic tone deserve most of the weight, while grammar may count for less than usual. If the goal is to show understanding of the novel, then accurate use of its events and themes should carry the most points.

Define What a Strong Diary Entry Looks Like

Students usually write better when they can see the qualities you are looking for before drafting. Share a short model entry and point out how it moves between a specific moment, such as a conversation at the dinner table, and a reflection about what that moment means. Explain that you are grading for sensory detail, emotional honesty, and a sense that time is passing, since a diary should read like a record that unfolds across days.

• Consistent first-person voice that sounds like a real teenager
• Specific details such as sounds, smells, and spoken lines of dialogue
• Reflection that shows how the writer's thinking is changing
• Dates or time markers that create a believable sequence
• Connection to the novel's events or themes when the prompt requires it

Avoid Penalizing Informal Language Unfairly

Diary writing invites contractions, fragments, and a casual rhythm, and an overly strict grammar standard can flatten the voice you hoped to see. Decide which conventions still matter, such as spelling and clear sentence boundaries, and which are open to stylistic choice. Tell students ahead of time so they know that an intentional fragment used for emphasis is fine, while an accidental run-on that confuses the reader is not.

It also helps to separate the grade for voice from the grade for conventions rather than blending them into one number. A student who writes with striking honesty but makes several punctuation errors can see exactly where they succeeded and where they need to revise. This kind of split feedback is more motivating, and it keeps the conversation focused on writing skills instead of personal taste.

Watch for Plot Retelling in Place of Reflection

Some students simply recopy the novel's events in diary form, changing a few details and calling it original work. This is especially common with younger readers who feel safer staying close to the text. A prompt that asks them to invent a new scenario, such as how their own family might cope with a week without power, pushes them toward original thought and makes the assignment more meaningful.

When feedback is needed, point to the specific passage where reflection could replace summary. A comment such as "you describe the blackout, but how did it change your mood by the end of the day" gives a clear revision path. Students respond well to questions like that because they show the writer what the reader still wants to know.

Give Feedback That Respects the Personal Nature of the Work

Diary assignments can bring out real emotions, so feedback should be warm as well as precise. Begin by naming something genuine that worked, then offer one or two suggestions about craft instead of a long list of corrections. Students who feel respected as writers are far more likely to take risks in later drafts.

AI-assisted grading can help here by producing a first round of rubric-aligned comments so you can spend your time adding the human touch. You might read the draft feedback, edit it for tone, and add a personal note that reflects what you know about the student. That combination of speed and care makes it realistic to give meaningful responses to a whole class of creative writers.